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Utilities · head to head

CCleaner vs Maccy

CCleaner logo

CCleaner

Utilities

System cleanup and optimisation utility for Windows and Mac

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Maccy logo

Maccy

Utilities

Free open source clipboard history manager for macOS with no account, sync fee or subscription

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; Maccy there is no iPhone or iPad app and no sync between machines, so clipboard history does not follow a user to another device.
  • They diverge on capability: CCleaner covers Junk file cleanup, Maccy covers Clipboard history.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CCleaner and Maccy actually diverge.

Attributes where CCleaner and Maccy differ
AttributeCCleanerMaccy
Pricing modelFree tier with paid Professional; see vendor for current ratesOpen source, no licence fee
PlatformsWindows, macOS, AndroidMac

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 Maccy

  • Clipboard history
  • Keyboard navigation
  • Local-only storage
  • Password exclusion
  • Lightweight footprint
  • Open source

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

Maccy

  • A developer or writer who copies and pastes constantly and wants fast, searchable history on one Macnot CCleaner
  • Anyone who wants clipboard history but does not want their clipboard data touching any cloud servicenot CCleaner
  • A user who tried Paste and does not need iPhone or iPad sync, only wants the Mac functionality for freenot CCleaner
  • Someone installing via Homebrew who wants a minimal, single-purpose menu bar utilitynot 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

Maccy

  • There is no iPhone or iPad app and no sync between machines, so clipboard history does not follow a user to another device.
  • It has no snippets, templates or organised boards, so a user wanting structured reusable text needs a different tool as well.
  • It is Mac only, so it offers nothing for a Windows machine in the same workflow.
  • As a volunteer-maintained open source project, there is no guaranteed support response time if something breaks.
  • Very large clipboard histories with many images can still use meaningful memory, though far less than a heavier commercial equivalent.

Pricing, plan by plan

CCleaner

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Core functionality
    • Personal use

Maccy

Free
  • MaccyFree
    • Free and open source under the MIT licence
    • Unlimited local clipboard history
    • No account or sync required

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 Maccy if

  • You need clipboard history.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Mac.
  • You also want keyboard navigation.
Maccy review

Questions people ask

Is CCleaner or Maccy better?
Neither clearly leads. CCleaner starts at Free and Maccy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CCleaner or Maccy?
CCleaner starts at Free and Maccy at Free.
Does CCleaner or Maccy run on more platforms?
CCleaner runs on Windows, macOS, Android. Maccy runs on Mac.
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 Maccy is typically brought in for.
What can CCleaner do that Maccy cannot?
CCleaner covers Junk file cleanup, Registry cleaner, Startup manager, Software uninstaller. Maccy covers Clipboard history, Keyboard navigation, Local-only storage, Password exclusion.

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.

Maccy: Is Maccy free?

Yes, entirely. It is open source under the MIT licence with no paid tier.

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.

Maccy: Does Maccy sync across devices?

No. It stores clipboard history only on the local Mac, with no iPhone, iPad or cross-Mac sync.

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.

Maccy: Is my clipboard data sent anywhere?

No. Maccy stores everything locally and does not upload clipboard content.

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