BleachBit review
Free, open-source system cleaner for Windows and Linux that deletes junk files, clears browser and application traces, and shreds files.
By Noahlast updated pricing verified
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BleachBit in 20 seconds
Best for: Free, previewable cleanup of caches, browser data and temp files on Windows and Linux.
Pricing: Free and open source under the GPLv3, with no paid edition, registration or license key.
- BleachBit is free and open source under the GPLv3 and has been developed since 2008.
- BleachBit 6.0.6, released in October 2026, requires Windows 10 or 11; version 4.7.0 remains available for Windows XP through 8.
- BleachBit is translated into 61 languages, and its GitHub repository has 7,200+ stars.
- BleachBit can import winapp2.ini to add thousands of community cleaners on Windows.
- BleachBit cleans Linux package caches for APT, Pacman, Snap, Yum and DNF.
Limitations: macOS support is experimental.; No disk-usage visualization or duplicate finder.; Careless cleaner selection can delete saved passwords and cookies.
Top alternatives: CCleaner, PrivaZer, Wise Disk Cleaner, CleanMyMac, WinDirStat — full list
What is BleachBit?
BleachBit is a disk cleaner and privacy tool: it deletes files that applications and the operating system leave behind, such as caches, cookies, temporary files, logs, Thumbs.db files and recent-document lists, to recover space and erase traces of activity. Each supported application has its own cleaner (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, LibreOffice, VLC, system components and many more), and every cleaner explains what it removes and can be previewed before anything is deleted. Beyond plain deletion, BleachBit can shred files by overwriting them, wipe free space so previously deleted data cannot be recovered, vacuum SQLite databases to shrink them, remove private entries from INI, JSON and SQLite files without deleting the whole file, and delete Windows registry keys that hold most-recently-used lists. System administrators run it from the command line across fleets, and power users extend it with CleanerML rules or Windows winapp2.ini definitions. BleachBit is free under the GPLv3, needs no account or license key, is translated into 61 languages, and runs installed or portable.
BleachBit is a free, open-source (GPLv3) system cleaner for Windows and Linux that frees disk space and removes privacy traces: browser caches, cookies and history, temp files, logs, package-manager caches and application leftovers. Users tick the cleaners they want, preview exactly which files will go, then delete; extra options shred files, overwrite free disk space, vacuum Firefox and Chrome databases and, on Linux, clear memory and swap and remove unused localizations. Windows users can import winapp2.ini for thousands of community cleaners, and anyone can write rules in CleanerML or script cleaning from the command line. BleachBit 6 (6.0.6, October 2026) needs Windows 10 or 11, with 4.7.0 kept for XP through 8, and Linux packages cover Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, openSUSE and an AppImage. Developed since 2008 by Andrew Ziem, it has 7,200+ GitHub stars and no ads, telemetry or paid edition.
Standout feature: Cleaning that goes beyond deleting files: it can shred files, overwrite free disk space, vacuum browser databases and strip private entries out of config files and SQLite databases without deleting them, all previewable before running.
Biggest weakness: BleachBit only cleans known junk locations: it has no disk-usage map, duplicate finder or uninstaller, its macOS build is still experimental with limited features, and cleaners for saved passwords and cookies will sign users out of sites if they are ticked without care.
BleachBit: pros and cons
Pros
- Free and open source under the GPLv3, with no ads, telemetry, registration or paid upsell.
- Preview lists every file before deletion, so nothing is removed blindly.
- Shreds files and wipes free space, useful before selling or handing over a machine.
- Command-line interface and CleanerML rules support scripted cleanup across many machines.
- winapp2.ini import adds thousands of community-maintained Windows cleaners.
Cons
- macOS support is experimental with limited features; FreeBSD and macOS builds are still maturing.
- No disk-space visualizer, duplicate finder or uninstaller; it only cleans known junk locations.
- Distribution repositories often ship outdated versions (Linux Mint 22.3 ships 4.6.0), so users need the project's own packages.
- Cleaners for saved passwords and cookies can sign users out of sites if selected carelessly.
BleachBit pricing
Free · verified from the vendor's pricing page
| Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Free under the GPLv3 for any use; no registration, license activation or paid edition; donations accepted. |
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