CCleaner’s free version has all the cleaning features we talked about above. The “Professional” and “Professional Plus” paid versions add features like real-time monitoring. Windows Disk Cleanup or CCleaner I like to clean my operating system on a regular basis, to wholly delete 'deleted' files, what's in the trash, Internet searches, etc. I have used both Windows' Disk Cleanup and CCleaner, and CCleaner always seems to take much longer, so that a process on Windows Disk Cleanup that may take 5 minutes, will take.

I’ve been using CCleaner for years on both my PC (HP laptop with Windows 10) and Mac (MacBook Pro with macOS 10.13 High Sierra). Above is the main screen of CCleaner on my Mac.

There is plenty of Mac optimization software out there, but when it comes to picking the appropriate one, users immediately have two solutions in mind: CCleaner, whose registry cleaner equivalent on PC is one of the most popular available; or CleanMyMac, a true powerhouse loved by many. Although CCleaner is a bit simpler it is still more than capable of handling the nasty scanning and cleaning process automatically for free, or for very cost-friendly prices if you choose to pay.

When I heard the news that the program had been hacked and more than 2 million users were at risk, I was absolutely shocked, just like you.

Am I affected? Should I continue using CCleaner? What’s the best alternative to consider? Questions like these all went through my mind.

In this post, I’ll quickly run through the issue and list a few similar cleaning tools for you to consider. Some of the alternatives are free, while others are paid. I’ll point out what each one has to offer and let you decide which is best.

Please note that you don’t have to switch because you may not be affected — but it’s always good to do the research just in case.

So, What Happened Exactly?

In September 2017, researchers at Cisco Talos published a post stating that

“For a period of time, the legitimate signed version of CCleaner 5.33 being distributed by Avast also contained a multi-stage malware payload that rode on top of the installation of CCleaner.”

Two days later, those researchers posted another article with their continued research on C2 and payloads (i.e. a second payload was found that affected 64-bit Windows users).

The technical description was too complicated to understand. Simply put, the news is this: A hacker “breached CCleaner’s security to inject malware into the app and distribute it to millions of users”, as reported by The Verge.

The malware was built to steal users’ data. It did not actively harm your computer system. However, it did collect and encrypt info that might be used to do harm to your system in the future. The second payload Cisco Talos researchers discovered was a malware attack targeted against big technology organizations like Cisco, VMware, Samsung, and others.

Was I Affected by the Malware?

If you are using CCleaner for Mac, the answer is NO, you are NOT affected! Piriform also confirmed on this. See this reply on Twitter.

No, Mac is not affected 🙂

— CCleaner by Piriform (@piriform) September 22, 2017

If you’re using CCleaner on a Windows PC, then you may have been affected. More specifically, you might have the malware that affected version 5.33.6162 released on August 15th, 2017.

Only the 32-bit version of CCleaner v5.33.6162 was affected and the issue is no longer a threat. Please see here: https://t.co/HAHL12UnsK

— CCleaner by Piriform (@piriform) September 18, 2017

To check what version you have, simply open CCleaner on your computer. Under the program name, you’ll see the version number.

Should I Switch to Another Cleaning Program?

If you’re on Windows, you might want to.

Cisco Talos recommends affected users to restore Windows to a state before Aug 15. Alternatively, you might also reinstall the whole Windows operating system.

If you’re not affected by the malware, I highly recommend you run an antivirus scan with Bitdefender or MalwareBytes to make sure no malicious software.

For those who are skeptical about any future CCleaner issues, another option is to uninstall CCleaner and perhaps install another PC or Mac cleaning app which we cover below.

7 Free and Paid CCleaner Alternatives Worth Considering

For Windows PC users, you may consider:

PrivaZer — Free. PrivaZer is another great yet free PC cleaner tool that’s packed with utilities to help clean privacy files, remove temporary files and system junks, etc. You may feel a bit overwhelmed by the number of features available on its interface after installing the program on your PC, but it’s actually fairly easy to figure out. Besides regular cleanup, you can also use PrivaZer to overwrite files to your storage device for deep cleaning to ensure data security.

Glary Utilities — Free. It’s an all-in-one utility for cleaning a PC, similar to what CCleaner offers. You can use it to scan and fix Windows registries, as well as clean junk files from web browsers and third-party applications. The program also has a professional version Glary Utilities Pro (paid) which offers several advanced features for power users including enhanced system optimizing and free 24*7 technical support. The latest version is 5.8.5 (Sep. 29, 2017) and is fully compatible with Windows 10.

CleanMyPC — Free to try (500 MB limitation on removing files, and 50 registry fixes), $39.95 to buy for a single license. The program works very well for cleaning unwanted files from your PC. We compared CCleaner with CleanMyPC in this review and concluded that CleanMyPC is more user-friendly and probably a better option for less advanced users. The latest version is 1.8.8 (2 August 2017) and is compatible with Windows 7, 8 & 10.

Advanced SystemCare — Both Free and PRO versions are available. As the name indicates, it’s a PC system optimization program for cleaning the Windows registry as well as many kinds of junk files. The Free version is free to download and use with limitations, while the PRO version costs $14.77 with an annual subscription.

For Apple Mac users, you may consider:

Onyx — Free. The “Maintenance” module allows you to run miscellaneous tasks like cleaning and system maintenance, e.g. delete apps, run periodic scripts, rebuild databases, and more. The latest version is 3.3.7 and is fully compatible with High Sierra. I also covered Onyx in this best Mac cleaner list.

CleanMyMac — Free to try (500 MB limitation on removing files), $39.95 to buy for a single license. It’s one of the best Mac cleaning apps in the market, offering a number of utilities for deep cleaning those unnecessary files. You can read our detailed review here. The latest version is 3.9 and is High Sierra compatible.

MacClean — Free to try (scan allowed, but removal restricted), $29.95 to buy for a personal license. This is another great cleaning tool for macOS. What’s unique about MacClean is that it has a duplicate finder feature (similar to what Gemini offers), which can help you free up more disk space. Read our review here.

What Else Should I Do?

If you are on a Windows PC, regularly run antivirus and malware scans. For Mac users, it’s always good practice to examine the apps you have installed, as well as make sure the apps you use are up to date. Consider removing unused apps. You can easily do so with CleanMyMac in just a few clicks.

One more tip: Always backup your computer data (or backup of the backups). You never know when another “CCleaner strategy” will hit and what consequences it will cause. If you have a backup at hand, your data is secure, and you can choose to restore your computer if needed.

CCleaner is one of the popular and long reliable system cleaning tools that earned user trust over the years. But this trustworthy tool is becoming worse and sneaky. First, it was hacked then was acquired by Avast. The program that earned its reputation for ease of use, displaying a clear indication of what’s being removed and how much space is recovered no longer does that. Instead what it does is, it runs in the background, displays nag and reports anonymous data back to the company’s servers. Turning from a system cleaner to crap cleaner, due to which users have started to look for the best alternatives to CCleaner on Windows10.

With that said, if you have been looking for the best CCleaner alternatives you’ve come to the right place. Here we’ve pointed out programs like CCleaner that will turn out to be an alternative to CCleaner on Windows 10 and older versions.

Before we proceed with the list, our recommendation is Advanced System Optimizer. One of the best CCleaner alternatives for Windows 10 users. This tool is a complete system optimization suite that comes with 25+ utilities to optimize your Windows performance. Advanced System Optimizer comprises of junk cleaner, disk defragmenter, anti-malware, privacy protector, and many. You name it and Advanced System Optimizer has it.

Of course, there are other alternatives to CCleaner that we will discuss in this article as we move further.

CCleaner Alternatives

Before we get to CCleaner similar, it’s worth noting that we’ve included all-in-one system utilities as they offer extra features, like duplicate finder, disk defragmenter, registry cleaner, optimizer or for that reason, a program with startup manager, anti-malware and other features. All the utilities listed here have their own perks. One recommended tool which is a great CCleaner replacement is Advanced System Optimizer.

Recommendations listed below are from the best to least. While looking for an alternative to CCleaner we took into consideration ease of use, features, compatibility with Windows 10 and older version & more.

10 Best CCleaner Alternatives For Windows 10 in 2021

Here is the list of programs like CCleaner for Windows 10 users that they can use effortlessly to optimize their Windows machine.

1. Advanced System Optimizer(Recommended):

It is a multi-functional optimization suite for Windows 10 that boosts PC’s performance. This software like CCleaner has features like system cleaner, registry cleaner, disk defragger, optimizer, junk cleaner, privacy protector, anti-malware and others to enhance PC’s performance and security. Thereby helping in tweaking and optimizing Windows 10 PC.

Moreover, Advanced System Optimizer’s Driver Updater ensures all your hardware devices are up to date. Memory Optimizer ensures memory is assigned appropriately when a program stops running. Security Advisor scans the system for security weaknesses, whereas Undodelte will recover deleted files, Secure delete will remove them securely and lot more. Using all these features is no hassle. By using the Scheduler feature you can do routine management.

Features & Benefits:

• Driver Updater to update out of date drivers.
• System cleaner to remove junk files.
• Privacy Protector to remove browse cache and other privacy exposing traces.
• Undo delete to recover deleted files.
• Secure delete to remove files permanently.
• Registry cleaner and optimizer to clean invalid registry entries and optimize the Windows registry.
• Advanced System Optimizer is Safe to download.
• User-friendly and easy to use.
• Compatible with all Windows versions.
• One of the best CCleaner Alternatives as it offers driver backup and update, Game optimization that most of the tools lack, memory optimizer, PC Advisor and a lot more.

2. System Mechanic:

System Mechanic from Iolo is a PC Optimization tool and an alternative to CCleaner on Windows 10. It is a handy and excellent tune-up utility that helps improve PC’s performance by deleting junk files, making changes to virtual memory, defragging the hard drive and performing other tasks. Where software like CCleaner constantly nags and frustrate users, System Mechanic offers various options to accelerate PC speed, optimize memory, and more without bothering the user.

Features & Benefits:

• Cleans junk files.
• Schedule system cleaning.
• One-click optimization.

3. Glary Utilities:

It is another software like CCleaner and one of the best CCleaner alternatives is Glary Utilities. This freeware is an all in one utility that can clean your PC, stop errors, freezes, and crashes. It is an easy to use program that helps optimize your computer’s functioning. This utility has an interface like CCleaner and it offers extensive utilities to improve your system’s performance and protect your privacy. Moreover, this tool offers a registry cleaner, spyware detection, disk cleanup, memory optimizer and lot more.

Features & Benefits:

• All in one PC cleaning utility.
• Boosts PC Speed and fixes errors.
• Easy to use tool that provides automated options.

4. WinZip System Utilities Suite:

As you are looking for CCleaner similar it needs to be good and useful. WinZip System Utilities alternative to CCleaner as the name suggests brings a slew of useful features under one tool. It is a complete system optimization suite that helps in optimizing Windows 10 and older Windows versions. This tool is designed to improve your PC’s performance by cleaning registry errors, removing junk data, defragging hard disk, backup system data and more. It is considered as one of the best alternatives for CCleaner as WinZip System Utilities has all the features that will help to boost Windows performance. Moreover, using this tool is easy.

Features & Benefits:

• Backup and recovery
• Advanced diagnostic tools
• Cleans and protects PC
• Trusted and recommended

5. Clean Master for PC

This program like CCleaner cleans and optimizes your PC by deleting junk files and organizing files in a similar manner like native Windows file explorer. With this tool cleaning of junk files, obsolete registry entries or selecting categories you want to clean is super easy. Clean Master for PC allows cleaning what needs to be cleaned without running the complete tool. Moreover, you can clean each category entry individually this is what makes it the best CCleaner alternative.

Features & Benefits:

• Privacy protection
• File shredder
• Resolves system lag

6. CleanMyPC:

It is more than a regular PC Cleaner. This CCleaner similar program is designed to perform various tasks like cleaning unwanted files, protect privacy, manage Startup items, fix registry issues and so on. It is a user-friendly application and probably a good replacement that can be used by both advanced and novice users. Clean My PC is compatible with Windows 10, 8, 7 & older versions and it helps in keeping your PC organized.

Features & Benefits:

• Manage extensions and startup items.
• Uninstaller
• Privacy protector

7. Advanced System Care:

As the name indicates this CCleaner similar is an all in one system optimization tool that helps cleaning the Windows registry as well as junk files. This easy to use tool is an alternative to CCleaner on Windows 10, as it helps monitor PC’s RAM/Disk Usage/CPU temperature, block untrusted program, protect sensitive data, sweep privacy traces and more. The free version of the product is limited functionality while the Pro version is annual subscription-based.

Features & Benefits:

• RAM optimizer.
• Registry Cleaner.
• Internet speed booster.

8. Puran Utilities:

Puran Utilities is a program loaded with features that will help to improve your Windows 10 computer performance. It is an incredible tool for both beginners and pro. The program like CCleaner gives 20 boosters to optimize your Windows 10 machine and older versions. It is an alternative to CCleaner on Windows 10 as it offers a handy guide on how often each module should be used and in what order. Moreover, Puran utility defragmenter alternative to CCleaner does a good job of cleaning up hard drive and permanently deletes unwanted files.

Clean My Pc For Free

Features & Benefits:

• Disk Check.
• Fixes shortcut errors.
• Data Recovery.

9. Wise Care 365

Ccleaner Vs Cleanmypc

Wise Care 365 is a popular and high-rated PC cleaning, speed up tool that helps in cleaning invalid registry errors, junk files, protect system in real-time, clean file specific extensions, erase privacy exposing traces and more from your Windows 10 machine. This is an alternative to CCleaner on windows 10 as the tool adopts the world’s top technology and comes both a Free and Pro version.

Features & Benefits:

• Prevents unauthorized use of personal applications.
• Cleans, optimizer and fixes invalid registry errors.
• Data Recovery.

10. BleachBit

Ccleaner Vs Disk Cleanup

One of the most basic and freeware alternatives to CCleaner on Windows 10, older versions and Linux is BleachBit. Unlike other tools it is simple to use, requires less storage and comes in various languages like English and Spanish. This tool quickly frees disk space, guards your privacy by cleaning Internet history, deleting cookies, cache and more. Further, BleachBit includes advanced features like shredding files, securely wiping free disk space to hide traces and more. To know what else the product can do download it now:

Features & Benefits:

• Privacy protector.
• frequent software updates with new features.
• Compatible with Windows and Linux.

Clean My Pc Vs Ccleaner Windows 10

These best CCleaner alternatives listed above will help you optimize your Windows PC. Moreover, if you decide to go with our recommendation i.e. Advanced System Optimizer. No longer you’ll need to install a separate anti-malware tool as it includes one. Moreover, using Backup Manager, you can take a backup of your important data, recover deleted files, securely delete all the traces and a lot more. Do let us which tool you chose you to use and why. Your feedback is valuable to us.