CCleaner Professional: A Full Feature Review
Is the paid version worth upgrading from the free edition?
CCleaner Versions Comparison
| Feature | Free | Professional | Professional Plus |
|---|---|---|---|
| PC Health Check | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Custom Cleaning | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Registry Cleaner | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Startup Manager | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Disk Analyzer | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Real-Time Monitoring | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Automatic Updates | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Scheduled Cleaning | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Software Updater | Limited | ✅ | ✅ |
| Premium Support | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Recuva Professional (File Recovery) | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Defraggler Professional (Defrag Tool) | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Speccy Professional (System Info) | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Price (Annual) | FREE | $29.95 | $49.95 |
All CCleaner Professional Features Explained
Real-Time Monitoring
Continuously monitors your PC and cleans junk files automatically in the background. Prevents temporary files from accumulating.
Automatic Updates
CCleaner updates itself automatically, ensuring you always have the latest features and security patches without manual intervention.
Scheduled Cleaning
Set CCleaner to run automatically at specific times (daily, weekly, monthly). Clean your PC while you sleep or during lunch breaks.
Premium Support
Priority email support with faster response times. Get help from CCleaner experts when you need it.
Extended Software Updater
Professional version monitors more applications (150+ vs 30 in free) and can automatically update them.
What is CCleaner Professional Plus?
Professional Plus bundles CCleaner Professional with three additional Piriform tools, all in their professional versions.
Recuva Professional
Recover deleted files from hard drives, memory cards, and USB drives. Includes deep scan and secure deletion.
Value: $24.95 standalone
Defraggler Professional
Defragment your hard drive to improve performance. Includes boot-time defrag and scheduled defragmentation.
Value: $24.95 standalone
Speccy Professional
Advanced system information tool showing detailed specs, temperatures, and hardware health monitoring.
Value: $19.95 standalone
Professional Plus Value Analysis
Save $20!
Individual tools worth $69.85, bundle price $49.95
Worth it if: You need file recovery, defragmentation, or system monitoring tools. If you only need CCleaner, stick with Professional.
Pricing & Is There a CCleaner Free Trial?
Free
Forever
- ✅ All basic cleaning features
- ✅ Registry cleaner
- ✅ Startup manager
- ✅ Disk analyzer
- ❌ No real-time monitoring
- ❌ No scheduled cleaning
Professional
per year (1 PC)
- ✅ All Free features
- ✅ Real-time monitoring
- ✅ Automatic updates
- ✅ Scheduled cleaning
- ✅ Premium support
- ✅ Extended software updater
Professional Plus
per year (1 PC)
- ✅ All Professional features
- ✅ Recuva Pro (file recovery)
- ✅ Defraggler Pro
- ✅ Speccy Pro
- ✅ Save $20 vs separate
💡 About Free Trials
CCleaner Professional offers a 14-day free trial. You can test all premium features before committing to a purchase. No credit card required during trial.
Tip: Try the free version first for a week. If you find yourself wanting scheduled cleaning or real-time monitoring, then consider the trial of Professional.
Is CCleaner Professional Worth It? Our Verdict
✅ Worth Upgrading If:
- • You want set-and-forget automation
- • You maintain multiple PCs
- • You need scheduled cleaning
- • You want comprehensive software updates
- • You value time savings ($2.50/month)
- • You need file recovery (get Plus)
❌ Stick with Free If:
- • You only clean once a month
- • You're comfortable with manual cleaning
- • You're on a tight budget
- • You use Windows built-in tools too
- • You don't need extra utilities
- • You only have one PC
Our Recommendation: Free Version for Most Users
The free version of CCleaner provides 90% of the value for 0% of the cost. Only upgrade to Professional if you specifically need automation features or manage multiple computers.