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Utilities · head to head

CCleaner vs Magnet

CCleaner logo

CCleaner

Utilities

System cleanup and optimisation utility for Windows and Mac

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Magnet logo

Magnet

Utilities

Mac App Store window manager sold as a one-time paid app, with no free tier

From
$4.99/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; Magnet there is no free tier at all, so a user cannot try before buying beyond the Mac App Store return window.
  • They diverge on capability: CCleaner covers Junk file cleanup, Magnet covers Keyboard shortcuts.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CCleaner and Magnet actually diverge.

Attributes where CCleaner and Magnet differ
AttributeCCleanerMagnet
Starting priceFree$4.99/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 Magnet

  • Keyboard shortcuts
  • Drag to snap
  • Multi-display support
  • Mac App Store distribution
  • Menu bar access
  • Third display layouts

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

Magnet

  • A user who wants the App Store handling licensing, family sharing and updates automaticallynot CCleaner
  • Someone who prefers paying a small one-time fee up front over evaluating a free tool firstnot CCleaner
  • A less technical user who does not want to install from GitHub or Homebrewnot CCleaner
  • A family sharing one Apple ID that wants one purchase to cover multiple Macs in the householdnot 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

Magnet

  • There is no free tier at all, so a user cannot try before buying beyond the Mac App Store return window.
  • It offers fewer customisation options than Rectangle, such as fewer configurable snap zones and less granular per-app behaviour.
  • Update cadence has historically been slower than the actively developed open source Rectangle project.
  • It is Mac only and App Store only, so it cannot be scripted, redistributed internally by a company, or installed outside Apple normal channels.
  • Being a small independent app, support depends on the developer responding to App Store reviews or email rather than a dedicated support team.

Pricing, plan by plan

CCleaner

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Core functionality
    • Personal use

Magnet

$4.99/one-time
  • Magnet$4.99/one-time
    • Full app unlocked immediately, no trial gating
    • Mac App Store purchase and family sharing
    • Free updates through the App Store

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 Magnet if

  • You need keyboard shortcuts.
  • You work on Mac.
  • You also want drag to snap.
Magnet review

Questions people ask

Is CCleaner or Magnet better?
Neither clearly leads. CCleaner starts at Free and Magnet at $4.99/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CCleaner or Magnet?
CCleaner has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for CCleaner and $4.99/one-time for Magnet.
Does CCleaner or Magnet run on more platforms?
CCleaner runs on Windows, macOS, Android. Magnet runs on Mac.
Can I use CCleaner for free?
Yes. CCleaner has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Magnet starts at $4.99/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 Magnet is typically brought in for.
What can CCleaner do that Magnet cannot?
CCleaner covers Junk file cleanup, Registry cleaner, Startup manager, Software uninstaller. Magnet covers Keyboard shortcuts, Drag to snap, Multi-display support, Mac App Store distribution.

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.

Magnet: Does Magnet have a free version?

No. It has always been a paid Mac App Store purchase with no free 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.

Magnet: Can I share one purchase across my family Macs?

Yes, through Apple Family Sharing on the Mac App Store, the same as any other App Store app.

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.

Magnet: How is it different from Rectangle?

Magnet is a paid App Store app from the start; Rectangle is free and open source, with paid Pro features sold as a separate app.

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