CCleaner has been praised as one of the most effective tools you can use to clean up your junk. This junk can be anything from temporary files and broken shortcuts. You can also use the app to fix other PC problems that you might have, including issues originating from your computer’s registry. However, a recent controversy has forced people to look for an equally effective CCleaner alternative.
CCleaner Controversy
Despite its functions and widespread use, there are plenty of controversies that surround CCleaner. For example, people would occasionally get an email from a scammer pretending to be affiliated with CCleaner asking for payment because their trial expired. This led to people wondering about whether the app was actually free or not. Is CCleaner still free, then? Yes, it is, despite what dubious people might say about it.
Another example is that many people have reported their computers being hacked because of CCleaner, dating all the way back to 2017. This scared a lot of people and led people to believe that the people who made CCleaner were actually trying to hack them and steal their personal information. Is CCleaner still safe even after these hacks, then? A lot of people like to argue that it still is, but others believe that sticking with CCleaner could compromise their safety.
As a result of this, many who have previously done a positive CCleaner review in the past have begun to look for alternatives that are as effective as the popular software. This article provides you a list of the best CCleaner alternatives you can find in the market right now.
1. Ace Utilities
Ace Utilities has a variety of tools that you can customize to suit your needs. The app can free disk space, remove junk, and tell you what’s in your storage space. It can also help you duplicate your files and clean your desktop icons up. The program also helps you fix your startup menu icons and can help erase your browser cache as well as internet history. In terms of cleaning, Ace Utilities is basically an all-in-one package. Similar to CCleaner, it can also help you clean up your registry.
2. Advanced SystemCare
Advanced SystemCare, or ASC for short, is a software produced by IOBit that many say is easy to use and easy to install. It’s fast and you can understand the interface almost effortlessly. Its focus lies in improving the speed of your operating system as well as protecting your privacy. With it, you can speed up your computer by removing junk files and managing the order of your startup items.
It also accelerates your internet browsing and doubles as a privacy protector as it safeguards your contacts, email, and personal information. To top it all off, ASC automatically blocks untrusted programs as an optional feature. It is the best CCleaner alternative if you are looking for something to protect your privacy online.
3. Ashampoo WinOptimizer
Ashampoo WinOptimizer is probably one of the closest applications to CCleaner on this list. It’s a tool that is lauded by many for its ability to optimize the performance of Windows systems far beyond what any Windows-installed tool can give you. It also functions as a free system cleaner.
It is also an innovator in that it can give you a detailed benchmark on your disk storage. This CCleaner alternative also has a tool that allows you to use it like Task Manager, so you can see and even manage every running process in your system. And as if that weren’t enough, the app can also manage fonts that you install.
4. Avast Cleanup
Avast is largely known for being an antivirus program. However, they also have a an incredibly useful cleaner tool for PC. Avast Cleanup can be utilized in many different ways since it can delete broken shortcuts, update your applications automatically, and show you how healthy your computer currently is.
Aside from these features, it detects the junk of applications that are detrimental to storage space and removes them. It can also detect third-party toolbars and applications that are not used and may be potentially harmful to your system. As a bonus feature, Avast Cleanup gives you the option to put apps that aren’t being used but take up a lot of RAM and decrease speed in sleep mode. In terms of safety, Avast is a really good CCleaner alternative.
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5. AVG PC TuneUp
AVG, like Avast, is known for being a giant in the antivirus industry. Its PC TuneUp app fixates itself on making your PC run as fast as it can. It fixes crashes and bugs without you even telling it to and automatically removes junk programs that haven’t been used for a long time so you don’t have to worry about them.
It also sports a disk cleaner feature, which allows you to deep clean your hard drive easily. Similar to Avast Cleanup, it gives you the option of updating all of your apps automatically. This is probably the best CCleaner alternative in terms of safety aside from Avast Cleanup, since AVG is also a trusted brand.
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6. BleachBit
BleachBit, unlike most of the other entries on this list, is an open-source app. Bug fixes can be done by almost anyone in the community, so any problems that you encounter with this software can be fixed a lot faster. It doesn’t take up much space, isn’t intrusive, and has a really simple user interface.
BleachBit helps you get rid of unwanted junk files and protects your privacy by deleting browser cache. This CCleaner alternative also has a DeepScan option to explore deeper into your storage and has an optional file shredder to delete files to make it so they don’t leave any residue.
7. Clean Master PC
A personal favorite of many people, Clean Master is usually thought of as just a phone app that helps you clean your files and boost your phone speed. However, it also has a cleaner tool for PCs.
It has four major functions: junk cleaner, PC booster, privacy protector, and driver booster. Like the previous entry, it also has a file shredder. Clean Master has a free version as well as a premium version. Although its free version is already good as it is, the premium version gives you additional features like automatic junk cleaning to free drive space, browser tracing, as well as a file recovery option so files that you accidentally delete aren’t permanently gone.
8. CleanMyPC
While not a lot of people may know about it, CleanMyPC is an extremely useful PC booster that increases speed, cleans junk, and helps with your system’s performance. You can remove useless files permanently and clean your registry for a better experience.
One of the best things about this app is that it can delete Windows apps that you don’t need along with their residual files. It can also provide you with an easier and faster way to start up your computer.
Download for FREE on Windows
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9. Comodo System Utilities
Comodo System Utilities has one of the friendliest interfaces you’ll probably ever see on the market. It makes it so that even complete beginners know what they’re doing, and simplifies everything for you. It’s also a complete package, being a junk, privacy, and registry cleaner.
Beginners can simply allow the application to do automatic junk and privacy cleanups, whereas advanced users can optimize it to suit their needs. Similar to Clean Master, this one also has a free and premium version.
10. Duplicate Cleaner
The main focus of Duplicate Cleaner is to manage your hard driv. As the name suggests, you can use it to scan for duplicate files and delete them. You can also use it to delete files you don’t need.
Unlike the majority of the entries on this list, Duplicate Cleaner is an application that lets you sort out images, scan music and video files for duplicates and problems, and even comes with a file assistant tool. It can help you look inside zip files, making it one of the most flexible applications on the list. In terms of versatility, this is probably the best CCleaner alternative.
11. FileCleaner
FileCleaner is not to be confused with Clean Master. Though they have similar logos, FileCleaner’s features are different from the latter. It is a cleanup software that ensures that your computer is running smoothly without any issues.
FileCleaner has a customizable schedule for you to scan your computer and can delete your browser cache as well. It uninstalls unneeded programs relatively quickly without any problems and also comes with a file shredder. On top of that, it has a file manager that you can use to go through your files and organize them effectively.
12. Glary Utilities
Glary Utilities is another app that is kind of like an all-in-one package. It gives you multiple tools that you can use to maintain your computer. It can also detect spyware, can clean your hard disk, and can also clean your registry.
The app can fix your crashes and scan PC errors, and you can also set it to automatically scan your computer for unwanted clutter. Additionally, it has an intuitive interface, so you can use all of its features comfortably, making it easy to use.
13. KCleaner
The software is a really efficient disk cleaner, so in terms of free system cleaners, it’s one of the best out there. You can run it in your background so it scans your computer automatically. Like other apps, it has a file shredder that deletes files for good.
The file shredder deletes files automatically, so you don’t have to do it yourself. However, it does give you the option to use the file shredder manually, so you can delete which files that you want to. It has a free and upgraded version as well, and its premium version lets the app self-update.
14. Privazer
Developed by Goversoft, Privazer is a free cleaner for your computer. Just like in its name, Privazer has a special emphasis on protecting your privacy. It gives you the ability to delete files that you dislike and don’t need for good, even when they can’t be deleted by normal means.
The interface is one of the easiest to read and its tools are easily utilizable, making it the most user-friendly CCleaner alternative on the list. It possesses basic and advanced modes, letting you optimize it to your heart’s content and giving you complete control over its processes.
15. Puran Utilities
Puran Utilities is one of the more complete products on this list. It contains twenty individual tools which were collected and collated in order to increase the performance of your computer. You don’t have to worry about the space it takes up, because, despite the number of tools it has, it only takes up a minuscule amount of space.
Some of the utilities include but are not limited to duplicate file finder, registry cleaner, and shutdown timer. If you don’t want a complete package, then most of the utilities can be downloaded separately. It’s free for non-commercial and individual use but requires a license for companies.
16. System Mechanic
A product of Iolo Technologies, System Mechanic is a paid software that doesn’t require management, since it updates applications, fixes bugs, and speeds up your computer automatically. What makes it really stand out is the fact that it speeds up your browsing by tinkering with hidden settings in your web browser.
Although it’s a paid software, it has normal and professional modes. The professional version doubles as something of an antivirus since it blocks malware and protects your data from online hacking. It also recovers lost data that you want back.
17. System Ninja
Although not as versatile as some of the other entries on this list, System Ninja excels in its simplicity and its efficient optimization software. The fact that it does what few features it has superbly is what got it on this list.
System Ninja can run a scan for junk files, cache, as well as cookies to remove them and improve operations. It has a startup and process manager for managing operations as well as an uninstaller to remove anything you don’t need. The only thing you need to do is run it, and it will do all the work for you. If you want simplicity and efficiency, then this is the CCleaner alternative for you.
18. Treesize
Treesize is a tool that enables you to export, copy, archive, as well as move files. It also possesses a duplicate scanner that you can use to look for and delete duplicate files. What’s more, it gives you a detailed analysis of your folders to see if there’s anything wrong with them.
The thing that really sells this application is that it gives you the ability to manage everything in your computer’s storage as opposed to just deleting junk files or things you haven’t touched in a while. It offers you complete freedom over your storage.
19. Winzip
Boasting more than over 20 tools to clean your system, protect your privacy, and optimize your computer, Winzip is more of a full-fledged utility suite than a tool. Rather than just a tool, it’s the whole shed.
It has registry enhancers, operating system optimizers, security and privacy tools, common problem fixers, as well as a junk cleaner. The only problem people have with Winzip is that it takes up quite a bit of space, but is still worth it for everything it offers.
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20. Wise Disk Cleaner
Staying true to its name, Wise Disk Cleaner is a free application that also functions as a defragmenter. It is relatively easy to use and is highly customizable in terms of its interface. Like most others, it lets you remove useless clutter and improves the speed of your computer.
What makes this one stand out is that it can clear your internet browsing history and allows you to schedule your scans for disk cleaning. Its defragmentation feature grants you the capability of rearranging the data stored in your files to make them run better. Moreover, it gives you a graphic representation of how your disk space is being used.
Which Is The Best One?
To be perfectly honest, it’s hard to objectively select the best CCleaner alternative. Though some of these do exactly what CCleaner does, and some even exceed it, ultimately each one has its own thing that makes it the perfect fit for a specific person’s needs. At the end of the day, it all comes down to personal preference and what you want in a file cleaner.
