CCleaner vs BleachBit: Free Cleaner, Privacy and Platforms

Pick BleachBit if you want a cleaner on Windows or Linux that is free for good, open source, needs no account and has no ads or telemetry. Pick CCleaner if you want the same brand of cleaner on Windows, Mac and Android, and you are fine with a free tier that sits next to paid plans and, on Android, ads.

Both delete temporary files, browser caches, cookies and other leftovers to free disk space and remove traces of what you did. The differences are the business model, privacy, and which systems each one supports properly.

CCleaner vs BleachBit at a glance

Is BleachBit really free, and is CCleaner?

BleachBit is free with no catch. BleachBit's site says "100% Free Forever," "No ads. No upsells," and "You always have the 'Pro' version." All features work offline, without registration or licence activation, and the code is open source under the GPLv3.

CCleaner has a free version too. Its download page says "Download CCleaner for FREE" and describes cleaning "temporary files, tracking cookies, browser junk and more." CCleaner also sells paid plans and bundles, and its Android app has in-app purchases. Prices for those plans are not listed here, so check CCleaner's plans page for current ones before you buy.

Is BleachBit more private than CCleaner?

Yes, on the evidence each company publishes. On 6 November 2026 we read both:

• BleachBit: its features page promises "No adware, spyware, telemetry, malware, bloatware, backdoors, browser toolbars," and you do not need an account.
• CCleaner for Android: the Google Play listing says the app "Contains ads." Its data-safety section says the app may share location, app activity and two other data types with third parties, and may collect location, personal info and three other data types. Google Play also notes the data is encrypted in transit and that you can ask for it to be deleted.

We only saw the data-safety details for the Android app; Google Play does not cover the Windows or Mac versions.

What can each one clean?

BleachBit has the longer published list. It includes cleaners for Chrome, Edge, Firefox, VLC, system logs and temporary files, and can:

• shred files so they cannot be recovered, and overwrite free disk space to hide files you already deleted;
• remove Windows registry keys where "most recently used" lists are stored;
• import winapp2.ini on Windows, which adds thousands of community cleaners;
• clean Linux package managers (APT, Pacman, Snap, Yum, DNF) and shrink Firefox and Chrome databases without losing data;
• run from the command line for scripts, or in portable mode from a USB drive on Windows.

BleachBit also shows you every file before it deletes anything. It is translated into 61 languages.

CCleaner's PC version covers temporary files, tracking cookies and browser junk, according to its download page. Its Android app goes beyond junk cleaning: it shows which apps drain battery or use data, finds similar or poor-quality photos and compresses them, lists unused apps, and monitors CPU, RAM, storage and battery temperature. The Google Play listing shows more than 100 million downloads and a last update on 2 September 2026.

Does BleachBit work on Mac, and does CCleaner work on Linux?

BleachBit is built for Windows and Linux. Its Windows installer targets Windows 10 and 11, Linux users get .deb and .rpm packages, and the Mac version is marked "Experimental support with limited features." CCleaner's support site lists apps for PC, Mac and Android, but not Linux.

So on Linux, BleachBit is the one to use. On a Mac or an Android phone, CCleaner has the supported app.

How do you download BleachBit safely?

Use the official site. BleachBit warns that there are "imposter BleachBit websites and fake copies" online. On Windows, look for the verified publisher "Andrew Ziem" when you run the installer, and use the GPG-signed SHA256 checksums if you want to verify a download. When we checked on 6 November 2026, the latest stable release was BleachBit 6.0.6, published on 22 October 2026.

Still shopping around? Our list of CCleaner alternatives covers more cleaners.

Which should you choose?

• You want a free cleaner with no ads, no account and no telemetry: BleachBit.
• You use Linux: BleachBit.
• You want to script cleanups on several machines: BleachBit, with its command line.
• You want a cleaner on your Mac or Android phone: CCleaner.
• You want one brand across PC, Mac and phone: CCleaner.

FAQ

Is BleachBit safe to use?

Download it only from bleachbit.org, and check the preview before deleting. BleachBit lists every file it will delete before it deletes it.

Is there a free version of CCleaner?

Yes. CCleaner offers a free download for PC. Paid plans are also available, and the Android app has in-app purchases and ads.

Does BleachBit have a Pro version?

No. BleachBit says you "always have the 'Pro' version" because every feature is free.

Can BleachBit securely delete files?

Yes. It can shred individual files and overwrite free disk space so deleted files are harder to recover.