Autoruns vs IObit Smart Defrag

Autoruns shows programs and drivers configured to run during Windows boot, login, or when certain built-in Windows applications start. It reports startup items from locations such as the Startup folder, Registry keys, Explorer extensions, services, scheduled tasks, and Winlogon entries. Users can hide signed Microsoft entries to focus on third-party items, inspect startup images configured for other accounts, and disable an entry or delete its configuration. Scan options include signature verification and VirusTotal hash checks; submitting files not previously scanned requires the upload option, and VirusTotal features require accepting its terms. The download includes Autorunsc, a command-line version that can output CSV or tab-delimited data, verify signatures, and scan an offline Windows system. The Autoruns and Autorunsc download is listed as 3 MB, and Microsoft offers a Sysinternals Live option. Autoruns costs nothing, with no limit on installation or use on devices owned or supported by the user, but no redistribution license. Microsoft says Sysinternals tools are provided as is without official support and points users to a community forum.

IObit Smart Defrag is a Windows utility for defragmenting and optimizing storage drives. It supports both listed drive types and provides scheduled optimization, automatic optimization, and boot-time optimization. The Free plan includes basic file defrag, scheduled defrag, and game optimization. IObit also lists PRO 1 PC and PRO 3 PCs plans. PRO 1 PC covers one computer and shows annual billing, but no price is listed. PRO 3 PCs covers three computers and costs $19.99 a year, billed annually. The product has a freemium pricing model and a free plan. IObit was founded in 2004 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California, USA. Smart Defrag is intended for Windows users who want recurring drive maintenance, including scheduled or automatic operation. Its boot-time option allows optimization as part of startup maintenance, while game optimization is included in the Free plan.