Suggestions appear as you type. Use the up and down arrows to choose one and Enter to open it.

This page's audience our own tag's counts — open to see them
–Visits
–Page views
–Clicks to vendors
–Time on page
–Reading now
Clicks to vendors, by tool
  • –
Top countries
  • –
Devices
  • –

– · visits, page views and clicks counted by our own tag, which counts more than our checked analytics; every figure rounded down · how we count

Head-to-head · Startup Manager Software

Autoruns vs StartupManager

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 4 checks side by side
Higher score Autoruns #1 in Startup Manager Software 9.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 4 features Visit Autoruns
StartupManager #8 in Startup Manager Software 8.1/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 4 features Visit StartupManager

Autoruns leads on 0 checks, StartupManager on 0, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 4 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreAutoruns · 9.4/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresStartupManager · 1 of 4

Autoruns scores higher on our rubric for startup manager software: 9.4 against 8.1 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #8.

Autoruns is the better fit for deep Windows startup inspection. StartupManager is the better fit for open-source startup entry management.

  • Autoruns fits best

    Deep Windows startup inspection

  • StartupManager fits best

    Open-source startup entry management

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Autoruns 9.4/10 Visit ↗ StartupManager 8.1/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.4 8.1
Ranking #1 in Startup Manager Software #8 in Startup Manager Software
Best for Deep Windows startup inspection Open-source startup entry management
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop Desktop
Platforms Windows Windows
Support Community, Docs Docs
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business
Features Autoruns 0/4 · StartupManager 1/4
Startup delay Not checked yet —
Service control Not checked yet —
Startup inspection Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Portable edition Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Windows support Not checked yet Not checked yet
Startup item limit Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Scans startup folders, Registry keys, services, drivers, and scheduled tasks
  • Verifies digital signatures and supports optional VirusTotal checks
  • Includes Autorunsc with CSV and XML output options
  • Displays startup paths and arguments for detailed inspection
  • Manages registry, Task Scheduler, and shortcut startup entries
  • Sets priority for Task Scheduler startup programs
Cons
  • Windows-only utility
  • Does not provide general-purpose junk cleanup
  • Does not update device drivers
  • Windows-only availability limits cross-platform use
  • Command-line operation may not suit users seeking a graphical interface
  • Does not provide startup-delay or service-control features
Our verdict

Autoruns is a Windows utility for inspecting and managing programs, drivers, services, and other components configured to run automatically. It suits users who need a detailed view of boot, login, and application startup activity,…

Read the review →

StartupManager is a free, open-source command-line utility for Windows startup management. It is designed for users who prefer command-line system administration tools and need to inspect or control programs that launch with Windows. The…

Read the review →
  1. AutorunsStartup Manager Software 9.4Free plan
  2. StartupManagerStartup Manager Software 8.1Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Autoruns — where it wins

    • Scans startup folders, Registry keys, services, drivers, and scheduled tasks
    • Verifies digital signatures and supports optional VirusTotal checks
    • Includes Autorunsc with CSV and XML output options

    Where it doesn't

    • Windows-only utility
    • Does not provide general-purpose junk cleanup
    • Does not update device drivers

  • StartupManager — where it wins

    • Displays startup paths and arguments for detailed inspection
    • Manages registry, Task Scheduler, and shortcut startup entries
    • Sets priority for Task Scheduler startup programs

    Where it doesn't

    • Windows-only availability limits cross-platform use
    • Command-line operation may not suit users seeking a graphical interface
    • Does not provide startup-delay or service-control features

More comparisons

All startup manager software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update