Linux-based operating systems have complex structures. When you add a file or install an app, the system performs some arrangements by making the right configurations files to support the file or application.
These configuration files stack up and consume the system space. Similarly, when you install an update for the OS, it leaves backup files behind. This leftover data affects the system's performance.
To remove these temporary files and keep your computer optimized, there are system cleaning apps available for Linux. So, let's look at five of the best system cleaning apps for Linux that are free to use.
1. Stacer
Stacer is an open-source system cleaner app for Linux. It not only cleans redundant files from the system but also provides monitoring tools. The app has powerful features to optimize the system.
You get an interactive user interface that allows you to easily explore the app's features. The dashboard provides a graphical overview of the system, such as CPU, memory, and disk consumption.
You can also check the system information along with the download and upload speeds of your internet connection. Stacer also lets you clean the package cache, crash reports, application logs, application cache, and other junk with just one click.
Some processes consume a significant amount of RAM and slow down the system. Stacer allows you to list all the running processes and trace the processes slowing down your desktop.
If you are a new user, you might find it hard to uninstall apps on your computer. Stacer's uninstaller feature helps detect the installation packages and uninstalls them with an interactive GUI.
Moreover, the app's repository management lets you check, edit, and delete unnecessary repositories. This can improve your system's performance significantly.
Download: Stacer (Free)
2. BleachBit
BleachBit is an easy-to-use system cleaning app for Linux. It is an open-source app that aims to clean unnecessary files from the system. BleachBit also helps you guard the privacy of your computer.
The app has a simple interface that allows selecting the type of junk files you want to clean. You can delete junk files related to unnecessary repositories, bash configuration files, and the GNOME desktop on your system.
BleachBit also allows you to clean the thumbnail cache. Its Firefox cleaning features help delete crash reports, cookies, databases, and other junk to enhance the browser's performance. In addition, you can add the directory path explicitly for an app to scan and clean the unnecessary data.
BleachBit also shows detailed information and warnings while cleaning the files. It provides a report that shows which files it will delete and how it will improve the performance.
The preview feature of the app shows a list of file locations that will be deleted by cleaning action. Moreover, BleachBit provides privacy features as well.
The file shredder securely deletes files and folders and overwrites the disk space to prevent the recovery of sensitive files. Keep in mind to analyze the file details carefully before cleaning.
Download: BleachBit (Free)
3. Sweeper
Sweeper is a simple and open-source system cleaner for Linux. It is the default system cleaning tool on KDE. The minimal interface of the app allows you to easily delete unwanted files.
Sweeper provides features such as cleaning installation leftovers, system junk, thumbnail cache, and other unnecessary files. It also lets you clean web browser junk such as cookies, favorite icons, web history, web cache, and cookie policies.
Through this cleaning, Sweeper boosts the performance of the browser and makes it easy to claim storage space. You can select all files and clean them with a single click. The app displays a description of files to be deleted to make it convenient for the user to choose the right files for deletion.
Sweeper protects the system's privacy with its cleaning features. It can delete the history of recently used documents, and the commands run through the terminal, thumbnail cache, and web browsing traces. You can also delete the clipboard contents.
Sweeper is a lightweight and comprehensive system cleaning tool. If you use a shared computer, it is a good option to preserve your privacy using Sweeper.
Download: Sweeper (Free)
4. Ubuntu Cleaner
Ubuntu Cleaner is another easy-to-use system cleaning app for Linux. It is open-source and available for Ubuntu-based distros.
The GUI makes it easy to analyze the details of files that you want to delete. It allows you to clean the application junk files that include thumbnail data and browser cache.
The app also lets you clean system-level redundant files such as cache from APT repositories, old kernel junk files and configurations, package configurations, and unnecessary packages that are no longer used or supported.
Ubuntu Cleaner not only removes the redundant files from the system to optimize the performance but also helps optimize the system privacy. It removes private information from the system, such as browsing history, to keep the device secure.
Ubuntu Cleaner is extracted from the GNOME Tweaks tool and is now available as a separate cleaner app. It is easy to use for novice Linux users as well.
Download: Ubuntu Cleaner (Free)
5. FSlint
FSlint is a powerful system cleaner for Linux. It has various useful and unique features. It allows searching for hidden redundant files that slow down the system performance.
The powerful deep scan examines the Linux filesystem to detect and trace junk files. FSlint's solid tools enable advanced users to automate the cleaning process through scripts.
For certain features, you can write a bash script to automate them for an advanced experience. It has both GUI and command-line interfaces to automate the operations.
FSlint has a unique feature that detects duplicate files in the system and displays them on the interface. The app also finds empty folders and files. You can also provide custom paths to FSlint to scan and look for junk data.
Advanced search parameters exclude certain paths from the scan. The app scans for bad names, name clashes, temporary files, bad IDs, and redundant whitespaces. It helps regain the storage space occupied by junk data.
Download: FSlint (Free)
Keep Your Linux Desktop Nice and Tidy With These Apps
System cleaners are a must-have tool for modern devices. With the significant amount of data coming in and going out of the system, it is almost impossible to search and remove the unnecessary data manually.
Cleaning apps automate this process, and their advanced deep scan technology detects junk from within the roots. Manually deleting files can cause damage to your system as you may accidentally delete vital system files.
Cleaner apps improve the system performance significantly and free up disk space. They ease the system processes and hardware to work efficiently so that you can enjoy a smooth Linux experience.