Softwr

Utilities · head to head

CCleaner vs Hazel

CCleaner logo

CCleaner

Utilities

System cleanup and optimisation utility for Windows and Mac

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Hazel logo

Hazel

Utilities

Rule-based file organisation for macOS that watches folders and automatically files, renames or deletes

From
$42/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only CCleaner has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: CCleaner registry cleaning has little measurable benefit on modern Windows and carries some risk of removing something needed; Hazel there is no free tier, only a 14-day trial, so the full 42 dollar cost is a real barrier for a casual user just wanting one simple rule.
  • They diverge on capability: CCleaner covers Junk file cleanup, Hazel covers Folder watching.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CCleaner and Hazel actually diverge.

Attributes where CCleaner and Hazel differ
AttributeCCleanerHazel
Starting priceFree$42/one-time
Pricing modelFree tier with paid Professional; see vendor for current ratesOne-time purchase
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, macOS, AndroidMac

Identical on both: 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 Hazel

  • Folder watching
  • Conditional actions
  • Content-based matching
  • Duplicate detection
  • Trash auto-empty
  • App Sweep

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 Hazel
  • Controlling startup programs on a slow-booting machinenot Hazel
  • Bulk uninstalling softwarenot Hazel

Hazel

  • A freelancer who wants invoices and receipts auto-filed into client folders based on the text inside themnot CCleaner
  • Anyone whose Downloads folder becomes unmanageable and wants files auto-sorted by type or agenot CCleaner
  • A photographer who wants imported files renamed by date pattern and moved to a project folder automaticallynot CCleaner
  • A user who wants old files in a scratch folder auto-deleted after a set number of days without remembering to clear it manuallynot 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

Hazel

  • There is no free tier, only a 14-day trial, so the full 42 dollar cost is a real barrier for a casual user just wanting one simple rule.
  • Rules are entirely hand-built, so the tool provides no value until a user invests time writing and testing conditions.
  • A misconfigured rule can silently move, rename or delete the wrong files, and mistakes are only obvious after the fact unless tested carefully first.
  • It is Mac only, so it does nothing for a Windows machine sharing the same file workflow.
  • It focuses purely on file automation, so a user also wanting window management, clipboard history or gesture control needs entirely separate tools.

Pricing, plan by plan

CCleaner

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Core functionality
    • Personal use

Hazel

$42/one-time
  • Single User Licence$42/one-time
    • One user, Hazel 6
    • Free updates within the major version
    • 14-day free trial before purchase
  • Family Pack$65/one-time
    • Multiple users covered under one purchase
    • Same feature set as the single licence

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.
CCleaner review

Choose Hazel if

  • You need folder watching.
  • You work on Mac.
  • You also want conditional actions.
Hazel review

Questions people ask

Is CCleaner or Hazel better?
Neither clearly leads. CCleaner starts at Free and Hazel at $42/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CCleaner or Hazel?
CCleaner has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for CCleaner and $42/one-time for Hazel.
Does CCleaner or Hazel run on more platforms?
CCleaner runs on Windows, macOS, Android. Hazel runs on Mac.
Can I use CCleaner for free?
Yes. CCleaner has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Hazel starts at $42/one-time.
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 Hazel is typically brought in for.
What can CCleaner do that Hazel cannot?
CCleaner covers Junk file cleanup, Registry cleaner, Startup manager, Software uninstaller. Hazel covers Folder watching, Conditional actions, Content-based matching, Duplicate detection.

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.

Hazel: Is Hazel a subscription?

No. It is a one-time purchase per major version, currently 42 US dollars for a single user licence.

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.

Hazel: Can Hazel read the content of files, not just names?

Yes, rules can match on text found inside supported file types such as PDFs and text documents.

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.

Hazel: Does Hazel run in the background automatically?

Yes, it watches configured folders continuously and applies rules as files change, with no manual trigger needed.

Share

Related pages

More on CCleaner

More on Hazel

Keep looking

Other head to heads