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Prune vs CCleaner: two cleaners for Windows and Mac
CCleaner is the long-running general cleaner for Windows and Mac. Prune is a newer disk tool that understands developer and AI caches. They overlap less than you might think.
| Topic | Prune | CCleaner |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows 10/11 and macOS 12+ | Windows and Mac |
| Price | $15/year or $29 lifetime ($19 until 20 December 2026) with 3 years of updates. One licence covers up to 3 machines across Mac and Windows. | Pro $39.95 to $44.95/year. |
| Free tier | Free scan lists every file name, path and size in 19 categories. Cleaning is Pro. | Yes, a free tier with basic cleaning. |
| AI and developer caches | Ollama, Hugging Face, LM Studio, Claude Code and Codex sessions, Docker, npm, pip, conda, Gradle, Cargo, IDE caches, idle node_modules | Browser and app caches. No awareness of AI or developer caches. |
| Safety model | Review every path first. Caches are deleted outright; your own files go to the Recycle Bin. | Scan then clean, with options per category. Reviewers call the interface dated. |
| Extras | No registry cleaner, privacy wiping, app updater or malware scanning. | Registry cleaner (Windows), startup manager, software updater, privacy wiping, scheduled cleaning. |
| Best for | Developers and local-AI users reclaiming large model, container and build folders. | People who want browser cleanup, privacy wiping and routine upkeep. |
Prices checked October 2026. Vendors change them, so confirm on their sites before you buy.
What CCleaner does that Prune does not
- A registry cleaner on Windows. Prune never edits the registry.
- Privacy wiping of browser history, cookies and traces.
- A startup manager, a software updater and scheduled cleaning.
- A free tier that already cleans, where Prune’s free tier only scans.
Where Prune is different
Most of the space on a developer or AI machine is not in browser caches. It is in model stores, Docker layers, package caches, build output, idle node_modules and months of coding-agent transcripts. Prune finds those by name and shows exact sizes, which a browser-and-temp-files cleaner does not.
Prune does look at startup items, but only to flag orphaned ones left behind by uninstalled programs, for you to review.
Safety and review
Prune lists every path before anything is removed. True caches are deleted outright because they rebuild. Your own files go to the Recycle Bin or Trash, so a wrong pick is recoverable. Prune’s Windows installer is unsigned for now, so SmartScreen may ask you to confirm once.
When to choose which
- Choose Prune if gigabytes are going to models, containers and builds, and you want one licence across your Mac and Windows machines.
- Choose CCleaner if you want registry cleaning, privacy wiping and a software updater.
- Related reading: our guides, Prune pricing, and the CacheCleaner comparison.
FAQ
Is Prune a CCleaner alternative?
For disk space, yes, especially if you develop software or run local AI models. For registry cleaning, privacy wiping, a startup manager or a software updater, no. Prune does not do those things, and CCleaner does.
Does Prune clean the Windows registry?
No. Prune does not touch the registry. It lists orphaned startup items and uninstalled-app leftovers so you can review them, but it is a disk space tool, not a registry cleaner.
Do both work on Mac and Windows?
Yes. Prune supports macOS 12 and later and Windows 10 and 11. CCleaner Pro also covers Windows and Mac. Prune’s Windows installer is unsigned for now, so SmartScreen may ask you to confirm once.
What does each cost?
CCleaner has a free tier, and Pro runs $39.95 to $44.95 a year. Prune’s scan is free; cleaning is Pro at $15 a year or $29 lifetime ($19 until 20 December 2026), covering up to 3 machines. Prices checked October 2026.