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Remove clutter from a computer and speed up its performance with this utility

Remove clutter from a computer and speed up its performance with this utility

Vote: (1,770 votes)

Program license: Free

Developer: Piriform

Version: 6.09.10300

Works under: Windows

Also available for Mac Android

Vote:

Program license

(1,770 votes)

Free

Developer

Version

Piriform

6.09.10300

Works under:

Also available for

Windows

Mac Android

CCleaner is a powerful tool to clean up registry entries, manage boot entries, and improve system performance.

What is CCleaner?

CCleaner is a free system tune-up tool from Piriform. It features a registry repair tool and several privacy-enhancing features. Windows 10 has some integrated tune-up tools, but CCleaner's interface is easier to use and understand. It also includes privacy protection tools like deleting cookies, passwords, and browser cache files.

CCleaner is also available as a Professional paid product for $24.99. Paid upgrades include thorough computer cleaning and real-time system monitoring. System monitoring can help you determine if your CPU or GPU is running too hot. Finally, a $39.99 Professional Plus plan also includes hard drive defragmentation and file recovery.

The license limitations on the paid versions of CCleaner are three licenses. That's unfortunate when many software licenses offer unlimited installs for multi-computer households. The Professional Plus package's extra paid features also come packaged as additional downloads – but more on that later.

CCleaner Features

CCleaner offers a free and easy way to analyze the performance of your computer. The system tune-up tool will help remove junk files, website trackers, cookies, and browser cache history. Clicking a large 'Analyze' button on the software takes care of everything – it is much more accessible than Windows 10's built-in options.

CCleaner's new interface is built for the non-techie to understand which files are being deleted and why. Prefer the old interface? It's available in the options section called 'Custom Clean.' CCleaner also showcases how much hard drive space is cleared after a scan.

Running CCleaner scan on a well-used PC may result in several gigabytes of freed up storage space. Best of all, CCleaner can be scheduled to run these cleaning tasks regularly to keep your PC running smoothly.

CCleaner's suite of professional tools also includes Recuva, Defraggler, and Speccy. Recuva allows users to recover deleted files. Defraggler is a hard drive defragmenter to make reading files faster. Finally, Speccy gives real-time information about a PC's hardware configuration, including CPU, Motherboard, RAM, and GPU.

Each of these pieces of software has a free version that works in tandem with CCleaner. Piriform's attention to detail in the CCleaner interface makes it a better alternative to Windows 10's built-in tools. Windows 10 scatters its tools across several different areas, making it difficult for beginners to use.

CCleaner Pros & Cons

CCleaner's easy-to-understand interface makes it a great tool to help speed up PCs. The scheduling feature makes regularly deleting cookies, browser cache, and other files an automated process. That's great if you have an older PC that doesn't run very well.

CCleaner offers significant performance improvements on heavily-used PCs. Even the free version is capable of recovering several gigabytes of storage space by deleting temporary files. CCleaner's initial scan will take longer than subsequent scans, too.

Adding Defraggler to the mix will add additional time to the system scrub. Because Defraggler is re-arranging different pieces of your hard drive to make it run faster, it's best to defrag overnight. Both CCleaner scans and defragmentation can be scheduled to run while the PC is not in use at regular intervals.

A computer that takes nearly three minutes to boot may see its boot time reduced to as little as one minute. CCleaner removes startup programs that take up resources at boot and repairs registry errors. Both of these maintenance tasks severely impact the boot speed of a PC. Scheduling subsequent junk file cleanings can keep the PC running like it's brand-new.

Pros:

  • Excellent system-tuning tool
  • Beginner friendly tune-up interface
  • Real-time system monitoring
  • Startup boot manager
  • Easy to understand interface
  • Drive wiper tool for deleting sensitive data
  • Repair registry errrors with backups
  • Recover deleted files
  • Delete cache, cookies, and other junk files
  • Schedule your system tune-up
  • Defrag your hard drive for faster performance
  • Easier to use than Windows 10 built-in tools

Cons:

  • Free version has limitations
  • Licensing agreement is archaic
  • Minor performance improvements on SSDs
  • May require separate download for defragging

What about CCleaner Professional Plus?

CCleaner Professional Plus is all of Piriform's tools lumped together in one license. It offers access to CCleaner, Recuva, Speccy, and Defraggler for one price. The upgrade is worth it if you find yourself using CCleaner regularly to keep your PC booting speedily.

Recuva is an excellent file recovery tool, and you may never know when you'll need it. Defraggler and Speccy have more spotty use cases, but they're nice to have on hand. Defraggler is more useful for traditional hard drives than solid-state drives.

Overall, the CCleaner suite of tools is a useful addition to maintain a PC's performance. They work better than many of Windows 10's built-in tools for managing storage, defragging, and startup. The startup manager, in particular, makes it easy for beginners to remove unwanted programs at boot.

Pros

  • Effective tool for removing junk files in minutes.
  • Removes registry errors with the touch of a button.
  • Simple user interface with useful features and tools.

Cons

  • Running a custom scan can prove tedious.
  • Basic tools solve basic problems and nothing more.
  • More advanced programs needed to solve certain issues.

CCleaner removes junk files and fixes registry errors on Windows PCs. Currently, the program is compatible with Windows 7, 8, and 10. Computers often run poorly and with noticeable issues when they become cluttered with junk. Such junk can range from old, unused files to registry errors and more. For that reason, PC users need to exercise caution and clear out their computers whenever possible. CCleaner makes this task easier than ever before, and it's available to the masses right now.

How Does CCleaner Work?

At its core, CCleaner focuses upon junk removal and registry errors. When the program is run, users click the Scan button, and the program takes care of everything. It's possible to customize the scan for junk and errors, but doing so is a tedious process. Therefore, most users are better off relying upon the Automatic Scan. The program identifies junk files, registry errors, and other data taking up space on a drive.

Most Windows PCs will have 500 megabytes to 2 gigabytes of junk data to remove. Luckily, removing this somewhat small amount of data can make a huge difference. A PC cleaned with CCleaner should run noticeably faster and more smoothly. Repaired registry errors can make a world of difference on a computer after all. After a quick PC restart, a given machine should start to run like new again in most cases.

Plus, CCleaner comes with a handful of other tools for users to take advantage of regularly. The program includes an easy uninstallation feature to get rid of pesky programs. Another tool suggests files for deletion that may or may not be important, which then requires a judgement call by the user. CCleaner's included tools tend to work well. For that reason, an individual shouldn't hesitate to use them.

The Downsides To CCleaner

Undoubtedly, CCleaner comes with certain flaws that might turn users off. The program runs best as an automatic solution for cleaning a PC. It's not necessarily going to solve more serious PC problems, though. With that in mind, users shouldn't rely upon CCleaner for major viruses and intricate registry error situations. If a single scan with CCleaner doesn't solve the problem, then a different program is likely needed.

The average PC user will love everything CCleaner brings to the table. For basic users, few programs provide a more simple user interface or better results. Automatic scanning takes the stress out of maintaining a computer on the software side. CCleaner won't solve dire PC problems, but it's an excellent maintenance tool nonetheless. In the end, CCleaner is an excellent download for the average PC owner, and it shouldn't be overlooked.

Pros

  • Effective tool for removing junk files in minutes.
  • Removes registry errors with the touch of a button.
  • Simple user interface with useful features and tools.

Cons

  • Running a custom scan can prove tedious.
  • Basic tools solve basic problems and nothing more.
  • More advanced programs needed to solve certain issues.