Glary Utilities vs CCleaner: Which is Better?
Two popular Windows cleaners, compared side by side. We focus on what each free build actually includes — not lab benchmarks.
Overview
Glary Utilities by Glarysoft Ltd is an all-in-one system optimization suite with over 20 tools, including registry cleaner, disk cleaner, startup manager, file recovery, and driver updater. CCleaner by Piriform (now owned by Avast) started as a simple disk and browser cleaner and has evolved into a broader optimization platform, though many features now require a paid subscription.
Free Version Comparison
This is where the biggest difference lies. Glary Utilities offers registry cleaning, startup management, privacy protection, disk cleanup, and 1-Click Maintenance completely free. CCleaner's free version has become increasingly limited — registry cleaning was removed from the free tier, and features like real-time monitoring and software updating require CCleaner Professional ($29.95/year).
| Feature | Glary Utilities (Free) | CCleaner (Free) |
|---|---|---|
| Disk Cleanup | ✅ | ✅ |
| Registry Cleaner | ✅ | ❌ |
| Startup Manager | ✅ | ❌ |
| Privacy Protection | ✅ | ✅ |
| File Recovery | ✅ | ❌ |
| Driver Updater | ✅ | ❌ |
| 1-Click Maintenance | ✅ | ❌ |
Paid Version Pricing
Glary Utilities Pro is $19.97/year (auto maintenance, no ads). CCleaner Professional is $29.97/year. Glary costs less for a similar paid tier.
Performance
Both can free disk space and trim startup clutter. Results depend on how dirty the PC is — a machine that has not been cleaned in a year sees bigger gains than a well-kept one. Glary's 1-Click Maintenance runs several scans in one pass; CCleaner's free Health Check is narrower. For startup control without paying, Glary includes Startup Manager in the free tier.
User Interface
CCleaner has a more modern, minimalist interface. Glary Utilities' interface is functional and organized but looks slightly dated. However, Glary Utilities' 1-Click Maintenance is more intuitive for beginners — one button does everything. CCleaner requires navigating between multiple sections for a complete cleanup.
Security & Trust
Both sign their installers. CCleaner had a supply-chain incident in 2017 — always download from a source you trust. On this site we link to our hosted copy; check the Glarysoft Ltd signature before running.
Verdict
Glary Utilities wins for most users. The free tier includes registry cleaning and more bundled tools; Pro costs less than CCleaner Professional. CCleaner is fine if you only want basic browser cleanup and prefer its newer UI. For an all-in-one Windows tune-up, Glary is the better value.
On this site: Glary Utilities download · Is it safe? · Won't install · Not working