Bytopsy is a free, open-source PC cleaner and disk analyzer for Windows. Every feature is free, there is no Pro tier and no ads, and it deliberately has no registry cleaner.
The short version
| Feature | Bytopsy | CCleaner |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, every feature | Free edition plus a paid Professional edition |
| Source code | Open source (MIT) | Closed source |
| Registry cleaner | None, on purpose | Included |
| Treemap of every file on the drive | Yes, free | See ccleaner.com |
| Driver updates | From Windows Update, free | Paid tier |
| App updates | Through winget, free | Paid tier |
| Undo a delete | Recycle Bin by default, plus a restore journal | Varies by tool |
| Installer needed | No: portable zip | See ccleaner.com |
| Telemetry in the program | None | See CCleaner's privacy policy |
| Platforms | Windows 64-bit | Windows, macOS and Android |
From each vendor's public pages, October 2026. CCleaner is a trademark of its owner, and plans change, so check ccleaner.com for what is current. Something out of date? Tell us.
Why people look for an alternative
- Features sit behind a subscription. Driver and software updates, scheduled cleaning and similar conveniences are on a paid tier. In Bytopsy there is no tier: drivers come from Windows Update and apps through winget, for everyone.
- You cannot see what it does. Bytopsy's source is public, its releases are built in public on GitHub Actions, and every release has a SHA-256 file to check your download against.
- The registry cleaner. It frees nothing measurable and can break installers, repairs and file associations. Here is why Bytopsy has none.
- It cleans, but cannot show you why the disk is full. Bytopsy starts with a treemap of every file, so you clean what is actually big instead of what a fixed list guesses.
How Bytopsy cleans more carefully
- Protection levels. Drive roots, Windows, your profile and registry hives are Blocked. SSH keys, wallets, game saves, mail and Git repositories are Important and get an extra warning. Local AI models,
.envfiles, virtual disks and Downloads are Caution. - Measured first. Every cleanup item shows how much it would free before you confirm it.
- Reversible. Deletes go to the Recycle Bin by default, and every delete is written to a journal you can restore from.
- Uninstalls that show the leftovers. It runs the app's own uninstaller, waits, then lists the folders it left behind. Folders other apps use are never offered.
- Startup manager. Run keys, Startup folders, logon tasks and services with an honest impact estimate. Turning an entry off never deletes it.
Where CCleaner is ahead
Being straight about it: CCleaner has been around for much longer and runs on macOS and Android too. Bytopsy is newer and Windows only, and until its code signing application with the SignPath Foundation is accepted, releases are unsigned, so Windows SmartScreen warns you the first time. The code signing policy and the SHA-256 check explain how to verify a download in the meantime.
Switching
There is nothing to migrate. Download the zip, unpack it anywhere and run it. To keep settings and history on a USB stick, put an empty bytopsy.portable file next to the program. To go back, delete the folder.