CCleaner review
PC and Mac cleanup, privacy, and driver-update utility for Windows, Mac, and Android.
By Noahlast updated pricing verified
CCleaner screenshots & video
CCleaner in 20 seconds
Best for: Windows or Mac users who want to reclaim disk space, clear browser/app junk, and keep device drivers updated without manually hunting for updates
Pricing: Free tier available; paid plans start at $44.95/year for one device (Pro), rising to $64.95/year for 3 devices (Pro Plus) or 5 devices (Premium Bundle).
- CCleaner Free costs $0 and includes standard privacy protection, standard cleaning, and a basic health check.
- CCleaner Pro costs $44.95 per year for one device and adds Driver Updater, Performance Optimizer, and cloud cleaning for Google Drive and OneDrive.
- CCleaner Pro Plus costs $64.95 per year and extends the same features to up to 3 devices.
- CCleaner Premium Bundle is discounted to $64.95 per year (from a $89.95 list price) for up to 5 devices.
- CCleaner runs on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.
- In 2017, attackers compromised CCleaner's build servers and distributed malware inside signed CCleaner installers, affecting millions of downloads.
Limitations: The free version lacks driver updates and cloud-drive cleaning, which require a paid annual subscription.; CCleaner's 2017 supply-chain malware incident is a recurring trust concern raised by IT security teams.; Device-tier pricing jumps rather than scaling per-device, so adding one extra device beyond the 1-device Pro plan means paying for the 3-device Pro Plus tier.
Top alternatives: Advanced SystemCare, Glary Utilities, AVG TuneUp, CleanMyMac, MacKeeper — full list
What is CCleaner?
CCleaner is a desktop and mobile utility for cleaning junk files, clearing browsing data, freeing disk space, and updating drivers on Windows, Mac, and Android devices. It is developed by Piriform, a Gen Digital company, and has existed since 2004 as one of the most widely downloaded PC cleanup tools.
CCleaner is a system-cleaning and optimization utility made by Piriform (now part of Gen Digital) that removes temporary files, clears browser history and cache, cleans cloud drives like Google Drive and OneDrive, and updates outdated device drivers. It ships in a free version with basic cleaning and a paid Professional line that adds automated cleaning, a driver updater, and multi-device licensing. It runs on Windows, Mac, and Android, with separate CCleaner Browser and Recuva/Speccy utilities under the same brand.
Standout feature: One-click cloud drive cleaning that finds and removes duplicate or unnecessary files inside connected Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive accounts, in addition to local disk cleanup.
Biggest weakness: CCleaner has a documented history of security incidents, including a 2017 supply-chain attack where malware was distributed inside signed CCleaner installers, which still shapes its reputation among security-conscious buyers; the free tier also lacks the driver updater and automated cleaning that most paid alternatives bundle in cheaper subscriptions.
CCleaner: pros and cons
Pros
- Free tier covers basic junk-file and browser cleaning with no cost
- Driver Updater and cloud-drive cleaning (Google Drive, OneDrive) are useful features rivals often charge more for
- Available across Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS under one brand
- 30-day money-back guarantee on paid plans
Cons
- Past malware-in-installer incident (2017) remains a trust concern for some IT buyers
- Real feature parity (driver updates, automation) requires a paid annual subscription, not the free version
- Multi-device pricing jumps from $44.95 for 1 device to $64.95 for 3-5 devices, which can feel steep for single extra devices
- Registry-cleaning utilities like this carry inherent risk of removing entries a user still needs if used carelessly
CCleaner pricing
Free tier · paid from $44.95/yr · verified from the vendor's pricing page
| Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Standard privacy protection, standard cleaning, and basic health check. |
| Pro | $44.95/yr | Adds driver updater, performance optimizer, cloud cleaning for Google Drive and OneDrive, and complete health check on one device. |
| Pro Plus | $64.95/yr | Everything in Pro, licensed for up to 3 devices. |
| Premium Bundle | $64.95/yr | Everything in Pro Plus, licensed for up to 5 devices; discounted from a list price of $89.95. |
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