The State of PC Cleaners in 2025: Is CCleaner Still Worth It?
Remember the good old days of PC maintenance? CCleaner was the undisputed king, the go-to tool for keeping your computer spick and span. It was popular, trusted, and seemingly essential. But over the years, its reputation has taken a hit due to some significant stumbles.
From a malware injection incident back in 2017 that affected millions of users to its acquisition by Avast, CCleaner has faced criticism for bundling unwanted software and pushing forced updates.
Fast forward to 2025. Are people still using CCleaner? And if so, is it still a reliable choice? I decided to take a fresh look and see how it stacks up against some strong contenders.
Reinstalling CCleaner: A Look in 2025
Downloading and installing the free version of CCleaner required careful attention. While it didn't bundle extra software automatically this time around, the installation process still tried to push Avast antivirus. Declining this felt like navigating a minefield of checkboxes and prompts – a far cry from a clean, straightforward installation.
Once installed, the program felt... bloated. It immediately started pushing for the paid "Pro" version and constantly reminded me to upgrade to fix perceived "issues" (like necessary background processes). The constant pop-ups and upsells were distracting and detracted from the core function.
The Cleaning Test: How Does it Perform?
The main event for any cleaning tool is, well, cleaning. CCleaner offers a "Health Check" and a "Custom Clean" option. The Health Check felt basic and didn't provide much detail on what it was finding.
Comparing its scan results to other tools I use was telling. While CCleaner found some junk, it consistently reported significantly less potential cleanup space compared to alternatives.
Better Alternatives: BleachBit and Microsoft PC Manager
This is where the real value lies. Based on my experience, there are far better, less intrusive, and more effective tools available.
My personal favorites are:
BleachBit: This is a free and open-source option that offers incredibly detailed control over what you clean, including third-party applications. It might be a bit slower than some others, but its thoroughness and transparency are top-notch. You can find it here: https://www.bleachbit.org/
Microsoft PC Manager: While some might have minor quibbles, Microsoft's own tool is surprisingly good for system cleanup. It's fast, integrates well with Windows, and provides a clear breakdown of what can be cleaned, including application caches and system items. It's a solid, free option for quick and effective cleaning. Check it out here: https://pcmanager.microsoft.com/en-us
In direct comparison, both BleachBit and Microsoft PC Manager found significantly more junk to clean than CCleaner's initial scans, and they did so without constant ads or pressure to upgrade.
What about Registry Cleaning?
CCleaner used to have a prominent registry cleaner, but it's now buried deep within the tools menu. It's generally not recommended to manually clean the registry with these types of tools anyway, as it can cause system instability. A safer approach for removing registry entries is often using a dedicated uninstaller program when you remove software.
The Verdict
In 2025, CCleaner feels like a shadow of its former self. It's bloated, pushes premium upgrades aggressively, and doesn't seem to clean as effectively as free alternatives like BleachBit and Microsoft PC Manager.
While the core cleaning function in CCleaner's "Custom Clean" is decent, the overall user experience is marred by the constant upselling and bundled offers. For a simple, effective, and free PC cleaning solution, I'd recommend looking at BleachBit or Microsoft PC Manager instead.
I have also made a video in this topic so watch the video down below for more information.
What are your thoughts on PC cleaning tools? Do you still use CCleaner, or have you switched to something else? Let me know in the comments below!
Also check out my other posts, I post useful tutorials and tech tips, maybe you will find something useful 😉.
