Utilities · head to head
Everything vs CCleaner
CCleaner
Utilities
System cleanup and optimisation utility for Windows and Mac
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Everything searches filenames only, not file contents, which is the deliberate trade for its speed; CCleaner registry cleaning has little measurable benefit on modern Windows and carries some risk of removing something needed
- They diverge on capability: Everything covers Instant results, CCleaner covers Junk file cleanup.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Everything and CCleaner actually diverge.
| Attribute | Everything | CCleaner |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free; donations accepted | Free tier with paid Professional; see vendor for current rates |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, macOS, Android |
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 Everything
- Instant results
- MFT-based indexing
- Tiny footprint
- Regex and filters
Only in CCleaner
- Junk file cleanup
- Registry cleaner
- Startup manager
- Software uninstaller
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
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
CCleaner
- Reclaiming disk space from accumulated caches and temporary filesnot Everything
- Controlling startup programs on a slow-booting machinenot Everything
- Bulk uninstalling softwarenot Everything
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
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
Pricing, plan by plan
Everything
Free- FreeFree
- Core functionality
- Personal use
CCleaner
Free- FreeFree
- Core functionality
- Personal use
Which should you pick?
Choose Everything if
- You need instant results.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows.
- You also want mft-based indexing.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is Everything or CCleaner better?
- Neither clearly leads. Everything starts at Free and CCleaner at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Everything or CCleaner?
- Everything starts at Free and CCleaner at Free.
- Does Everything or CCleaner run on more platforms?
- Everything runs on Windows. CCleaner runs on Windows, macOS, Android.
- Can I use Everything for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Everything best used for?
- Everything is most often used for finding a file by name instantly instead of waiting on windows search, locating duplicates and stray files across large drives, navigating a machine with hundreds of thousands of files. Of those, finding a file by name instantly instead of waiting on windows search and locating duplicates and stray files across large drives are not what CCleaner is typically brought in for.
- What can Everything do that CCleaner cannot?
- Everything covers Instant results, MFT-based indexing, Tiny footprint, Regex and filters. CCleaner covers Junk file cleanup, Registry cleaner, Startup manager, Software uninstaller.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Everything: Is Everything free?
Yes, free to use with donations accepted.
CCleaner: Is CCleaner free?
There is a free version, with a paid Professional tier adding scheduled cleaning and real-time monitoring.
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: 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: 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.
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.