Many years ago, I compared the cleaning ability of the then most popular junk file cleaners to ascertain which was the most effective. Many of those junk file cleaners have now disappeared, leaving only several of the original popular titles available.
So, here is an updated comparison between CCleaner, Wise Disk Cleaner, and the junk file cleaner tool included in HiBit Uninstaller. All are free and all with portable versions available.
Methodology
The methodology is simple; I ran an analysis scan for each on the exact same machine in the exact same state with each cleaner at default settings. No cleaning, merely analyzing, so each program is analyzing with the system in the exact same state.
Note: The reason PrivaZer has been omitted from this comparison is that after the initial scan, it doesn’t display the total size of files to be removed. No reflection on PrivaZer’s cleaning ability
CCleaner Portable:
(click images to enlarge)
Wise Disk Cleaner Portable:
HiBit Uninstaller Portable – Junk File Cleaner Tool:
Results:
In summary: CCleaner identified 652 MB to be cleaned, Wise Disk Cleaner identified 2.78 GB, and HiBit identified 2.57 GB.
Wise Disk Cleaner on top, narrowly ahead of HiBit, with CCleaner a distant third.
A note on CCleaner:
I haven’t run CCleaner for ages and was dismayed when running through the opening windows; first a nag to purchase Avast, followed by a nag to update CCleaner to the Pro version.
Also, when I’d finished with CCleaner and closed it out, it was still running in the background. Clicking on its icon in the System Tray portion of the Taskbar did not present any options to quit. In the end, I needed to end it via Task Manager. Proving, to me at least, that since Avast acquired the software, it has gone way downhill.
BleachBit:
I’m mentioning BleachBit here because it is often recommended, but I am definitely not a fan. To find out why, please see my BleachBit Junk File Cleaner Review.
What junk file cleaner do you use?
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