CCleaner Review: Is CCleaner safe to use now?

One of the common issues people have with their computers is slow performance and full storage systems. Usually, these problems are the result of accumulated junk files and other storage related issues. As a result, there has been an increase in the number of cleanup and system optimization tools.

One of the names that ring out in the cleanup and optimization discussion is CCleaner. This cleanup tool is popular for optimizing both Windows PC and Mac computers. However, how well does CCleaner live up to its hype and reputation? You will get the answer to this question in this CCleaner review.

This article will provide a detailed review of its features and how you can benefit from these features. You will also learn about how this cleanup tool compares with its alternatives in the market.

Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links that I receive a small commission for at no cost to you. You can read my full affiliate disclaimer in the footer.

CCleaner Reviews Overview

CCleaner Key Summary

CCleaner Pros & Cons

Pros

• Simple interface design, friendly user experience
• One-click browser and software cache cleaning to protect personal internet privacy
• One-click software uninstallation to remove residual files
• Support large files and duplicate files search, optimize disk space
• Support custom cleaning settings, automatic intelligent cleaning
• Support real-time monitoring of computer system
• Access to professional customer service support

Cons

• Junk cleaning is not thorough enough
• Does not provide virus and malware scanning

What is CCleaner?

CCleaner is an effective utility cleaner that helps you fix performance issues on your computers. It works by ridding your computer of junk files and fixing other storage problems. The tool also helps secure your privacy as it deletes your browsing history and other temporary internet files. CCleaner works for both Windows PCs and Mac computers.

CCleaner Detailed Review

As promised at the beginning of this CCleaner review, we will discuss this cleanup tool’s features and point out how you can benefit from these features. The following are the features of CCleaner:

Cleaner

The first and most important function of CCleaner is to clean your computer by removing junk files. To do this, i noticed CCleaner had two approaches; the Smart Cleaning and the Scheduled Cleaning. Both of these approaches are explained below.

Smart Cleaning

Smart cleaning is a feature of CCleaner that helps you clean junk files automatically or prompts you to do so. The mode of cleaning is based on your preference, i.e., if you want the cleaning to be automatic or prompted. I had to set a junk threshold for automatic cleaning. Once this threshold is reached, the cleanup tool will either clean automatically (with or without notification) or prompt you to clean.

I also noticed that the feature works for both your computer’s operating system and its browsers. So while it deletes junk files from the computer system, it aids your privacy by cleaning the browser history and other important login details. To access the smart cleaning feature on CCleaner, go to the Options menu, select Smart Cleaning, and proceed to Settings for Smart Cleaning.

Scheduled Cleaning

Scheduled cleaning is a feature that allows you clear junk files from your computer at specific times. When I chose this feature, CCleaner cleaned your computer system at the scheduled time with or without notification.

To access this feature, go to the Options menu on CCleaner. Choose Settings and proceed to Run CCleaner on Schedule option. You can then select the period, day, and time you want the scheduled cleaning to take place.

Registry (Windows Feature)

This feature is primarily for Windows PC. The Registry feature allows you to access and delete old and unused files on your computer system. These files include uninstallers, ActiveX files, help files, corrupted files, fonts, and shortcut messages.

The registry feature is a semi-automatic one, as I discovered. It analyzes the files on my computer system by itself and then detects these files. It then seeks permission to delete the files. However, before deleting the files, I was asked to create a backup for the needed registry files in a .reg file format. This file can be accessed, should there be a need for it.

Health Check (Windows Feature)

The health check is another feature that is peculiar to the Windows version. This feature is the official CCleaner optimization feature. If you used previous versions of CCleaner like me, you will notice the removal of the Easy Check feature. The Health Check feature is a replacement of the Easy Check feature that was present in previous versions of CCleaner.

It sees to the analysis and optimization of your Windows PCs. The feature cleans your computer, protects your privacy, and updates the software on your computer to enable the computer to boot faster and efficiently.

Besides, the feature relies on your discretion to delete or clean some files. Thus, you don’t need to be a technology-inclined person to use this feature, as files that are important to you will remain safe and untouched.

Tools

Tools are other features embedded in CCleaner that allow it to perform its optimization functions. They include;

Uninstall

This function allows you to remove applications and programs that you no longer need on your computer system. These unneeded applications and programs occupy sizable space on your computer storage, thus affecting the performance of your computer.

Startup

When you switch on your computer, some programs and applications start running concurrently with the booting process. If these programs are much, the booting process of your computer is affected. That is why you need this feature.

This feature seeks to optimize the booting process of your computer. It ensures that only needed programs run at the time you startup your computer. As a result, the number of programs and applications that run with the booting process reduces, which will lead to a faster booting process.

Erase Free Space

The aim of this feature is to create more free space by deleting files from your disc. The process of deleting these files is not automatic and requires your permission. Thus, you don’t have to worry about losing important files while using this feature.

Large File Finder

The purpose of this function is to scan for and detect a large file on your computer. After detecting these large files, the feature seeks to delete them to free up space on your computer. Thus, you can select the large files that you wish to keep and those you wish to delete.

Duplicate Finder

This function works like the large files finder, except that it scans and detects duplicate files. These files accumulate to occupy a reasonable amount of storage space. Thus clearing them will help free up some storage space and aid the performance of the computer.

Privacy Protection

By deleting browser history, temporary internet files, and other login details, CCleaner helps protect your privacy. However, this claim has been faulted by the information collection allegation levied against the cleanup tool in recent years. As a result, most users do not have faith in the privacy protection feature of the cleanup tool.

Premium Support

One of the highlights of the offerings I enjoyed from CCleaner is the excellent customer support service it renders. This means that if and when you encounter any difficulty in using the cleanup tool, the developer is always ready and within reach to help you with it.

CCleaner Customer Support

CCleaner doesn’t provide any live service like online chat or phone service, but it offers premium tech support service for the paid plans. As CCleaner said, the premium support is professional and responsive, but it only supports email.

And CCleaner offers a very detailed help center to solve the customer’s questions as quickly as possible. You can easily find setup guides, FAQs, and license key problems. Even better, CCleaner has an online forum to connect with their customers. You can also get help from the forum members, maybe your problems are what they are facing or already solved.

CCleaner Pricing Plan

CCleaner for Mac

CCleaner provides a free and paid version, the free version is limited with only faster computer and privacy protection features. If you want to enjoy more, you need to pay $19.95 annually for 1 Mac. CCleaner doesn’t offer a one-time purchase model at all.

CCleaner for Windows

Payment & Refund Policy

CCleaner currently accepts Visa, MasterCard, PayPal, and Wire Transfer payments.

CCleaner does offer a 30-day money back guarantee, but there are many restrictions and limitations to follow. Before you start to request a refund, you firstly read the requirements. In our opinion, we recommend using the CCleaner free version to experience whether to buy it or not.

CCleaner FAQs

CCleaner Alternatives

CCleaner is not the only optimization tool in the computer market. There are many cleanup tools that function in a similar fashion as CCleaner. In the section of CCleaner review, we will discuss the difference between these applications and CCleaner.

CCleaner VS CleanMyMac X

CleanMyMac X is a reputable optimization tool for mac computers. It has a history of optimizing and cleaning Mac computers in a bid to make them work faster and better. However, there is a lot of difference between CCleaner and CleanMyMac X. While CCleaner caters to both Mac computers and Windows PCs, CleanMyMac X works only with Mac computers.

Also, CleanMyMac X has an antivirus and anti-malware feature. This means that you can protect your computer from malware and viruses with CleanMyMac X, and this is not possible with CCleaner. For more info, you can Read CleanMyMac X Full Review.

CCleaner VS MacBooster

Macbooster is another excellent optimizing tool for mac computers. It also removes junk files, malware, and viruses from your Mac computers. The difference between CCleaner and Macbooster includes the malware and virus removal features that are present in Macbooster but absent in CCleaner. Also, Macbooster works only on Mac computers as against CCleaner that works for both Mac and Windows computers.

You can click here to Read Macbooster Full Review.

CCleaner VS CleanMyPC

This is another computer cleanup tool from MacPaw, developers of CleanMyMac X. This tool can be said to be a Windows version of CleanMyMac X as it possesses almost all the features of CleanMyMac X, except it works for Windows PC only. It is also different from CCleaner because it works solely on Windows, as against CCleaner that works on both Mac and Windows PC.

CCleaner VS IObit Uninstaller 10

This tool is primarily an uninstalling tool. It helps you remove applications and programs that you wish to delete from your Windows computer. Thus, it is not a complete optimization tool as such.

Conclusion

If you have used CCleaner, please share your honest review (good or bad).