As we use the computer, it begins to run slower and unnecessarily occupy more space on the hard drive. Therefore, if we want our PC to continue to function well over time, it is essential to carry out a series of maintenance tasks. And this is when we turn to programs, such as CCleaner, or BleachBit, to help us put our PC in order. However, can we do the same with these two well-known alternatives?
Of course, when we talk about cleaning and optimizing Windows, the best-known program that comes to mind is CCleaner. This program, currently owned by Avast, has been helping our computer run as smoothly as possible for many years and preventing junk files from cluttering up our hard drive. Unfortunately, various company practices (such as installing software without permission, limiting functionality to paying users, or collecting personal data) have led users to seek alternatives. And one of the best comes from an OpenSource project called BleachBit.
This program allows us to analyze the hard drive and delete all the data that is not necessary, such as temporary, cache or junk data generated by programs. Being an open source project, it has great support from the community, which constantly helps to improve its functionalities.
But aside from disk cleanup (which it does really well, by the way), there are a number of areas where it can’t quite catch up with CCleaner.
Features not available in BleachBit
The first feature that is not available in this OpenSource program, but is available in the Avast program, is automatic cleanup. To carry out maintenance with BleachBit we must manually launch it on the PC, which forces us to be aware of it. Instead, CCleaner can keep your PC clean automatically without you having to do anything.
Another function that we cannot find in this program is the driver updater. Keeping your computer drivers up to date is essential to guarantee the proper functioning of all your equipment. Paid users of CCleaner can use their program to keep drivers up to date (although we do not recommend doing this with this program). Instead, BleachBit does not offer this option.
Third, we come across the registry cleaner. Over time, this Windows database fills up with invalid entries that, little by little, affect performance. Thanks to this function we can clean and optimize the Windows registry so that we delete everything that is no longer necessary. It is true that BleachBit allows you to delete some registry entries, but its function is much more basic and it has nothing to do with that of CCleaner.
Finally, another of the functions offered by the Avast software is to update installed programs. If we have outdated software on the PC, it will appear in the program and we can use it to download the newest versions. Unfortunately, the OpenSource program is not able to offer us this possibility either.
So is CCleaner better?
NOT. CCleaner was better long before Avast’s acquisition of the program. However, the practices carried out by this company (including adware in the installer, collecting user data, cleaning functions to force the user to pay, etc.) do nothing but force us not to recommend this program. It is better to install BleachBit on your computer, a much cleaner, more private and reliable program, and make up for the deficiencies of this program with other OpenSource software, since we have alternatives for everything.
Only in this way can we ensure not only that our computer works well, but also that our data is safe.
