Utilities · head to head
CCleaner vs Everything
CCleaner
Utilities
System cleanup and optimisation utility for Windows and Mac
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: CCleaner registry cleaning has little measurable benefit on modern Windows and carries some risk of removing something needed; Everything searches filenames only, not file contents, which is the deliberate trade for its speed
- They diverge on capability: CCleaner covers Junk file cleanup, Everything covers Instant results.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which CCleaner and Everything actually diverge.
| Attribute | CCleaner | Everything |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free tier with paid Professional; see vendor for current rates | Free; donations accepted |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Android | Windows |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Utilities).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in CCleaner
- Junk file cleanup
- Registry cleaner
- Startup manager
- Software uninstaller
Only in Everything
- Instant results
- MFT-based indexing
- Tiny footprint
- Regex and filters
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
CCleaner
- Reclaiming disk space from accumulated caches and temporary filesnot Everything
- Controlling startup programs on a slow-booting machinenot Everything
- Bulk uninstalling softwarenot Everything
Everything
- Finding a file by name instantly instead of waiting on Windows Searchnot CCleaner
- Locating duplicates and stray files across large drivesnot CCleaner
- Navigating a machine with hundreds of thousands of filesnot CCleaner
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
CCleaner
- Registry cleaning has little measurable benefit on modern Windows and carries some risk of removing something needed
- The free version prompts toward the paid one persistently
- A 2017 supply chain compromise distributed malware through an official signed build, which permanently changed how some administrators view it
- Much of what it does is achievable with the disk cleanup tools built into Windows
Everything
- Searches filenames only, not file contents, which is the deliberate trade for its speed
- Windows and NTFS only: no macOS or Linux build, and non-NTFS volumes fall back to slower indexing
- Requires administrator rights to read the Master File Table
Pricing, plan by plan
CCleaner
Free- FreeFree
- Core functionality
- Personal use
Everything
Free- FreeFree
- Core functionality
- Personal use
Which should you pick?
Choose CCleaner if
- You need junk file cleanup.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, macOS, Android.
- You also want registry cleaner.
Choose Everything if
- You need instant results.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows.
- You also want mft-based indexing.
Questions people ask
- Is CCleaner or Everything better?
- Neither clearly leads. CCleaner starts at Free and Everything at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, CCleaner or Everything?
- CCleaner starts at Free and Everything at Free.
- Does CCleaner or Everything run on more platforms?
- CCleaner runs on Windows, macOS, Android. Everything runs on Windows.
- Can I use CCleaner for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is CCleaner best used for?
- CCleaner is most often used for reclaiming disk space from accumulated caches and temporary files, controlling startup programs on a slow-booting machine, bulk uninstalling software. Of those, reclaiming disk space from accumulated caches and temporary files and controlling startup programs on a slow-booting machine are not what Everything is typically brought in for.
- What can CCleaner do that Everything cannot?
- CCleaner covers Junk file cleanup, Registry cleaner, Startup manager, Software uninstaller. Everything covers Instant results, MFT-based indexing, Tiny footprint, Regex and filters.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
CCleaner: Is CCleaner free?
There is a free version, with a paid Professional tier adding scheduled cleaning and real-time monitoring.
Everything: Is Everything free?
Yes, free to use with donations accepted.
CCleaner: Does registry cleaning actually help?
Very little on modern Windows. The measurable gains come from clearing caches and controlling startup programs, not from the registry.
Everything: Why is it so much faster than Windows Search?
It reads the NTFS Master File Table directly instead of crawling the filesystem, so indexing a whole volume takes seconds.
CCleaner: Is CCleaner safe?
It is a mainstream product from Gen Digital, though a 2017 supply chain attack distributed malware via an official build. That was resolved, and it remains a fair reason some administrators avoid it.
Everything: Can it search inside files?
Only in a limited way. It is built for filename search, and full content search is not what it is for.