Short answer: CCleaner is the established name, with a free edition and paid editions that add updaters, scheduling and a performance optimizer. Aurora PC Cleaner Pro is a smaller Windows-only cleaner that bundles junk cleaning, a registry cleaner, a startup manager, a duplicate finder and a disk analyzer in one offline app. I built Aurora, so read this as an interested but fact-checked comparison.
PC cleaners promise more than they can deliver, so this guide sticks to what each product says it does, what it costs, and where the evidence is thin. I do not claim speed gains or cleaning results for either, because I have not published a head-to-head test.
Disclosure: Aurora PC Cleaner Pro is my product. Aurora facts come from its product page. CCleaner facts come from its official download and pricing page, which I read on 23 October 2026 from India. CCleaner’s prices and editions can vary by region.
Aurora PC Cleaner Pro vs CCleaner at a glance
| Aurora PC Cleaner Pro | CCleaner | |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows 10 (64-bit) and 11 | Windows, plus Mac, Android and iOS versions |
| Price | Free to install per its page; see the page for licence terms | Free edition; Professional (1 device) and Professional Plus (3 devices) by the year |
| Junk and temp file cleaning | Yes, with a breakdown before removal | Yes (free edition) |
| Browser cleaning | Cache, cookies, history and downloads in major browsers | Browser data and temporary internet files (free edition) |
| Registry cleaner | Yes, with an offer to back up first | Not listed in the page’s feature table |
| Startup manager | Yes, with an impact rating | Its page describes Health Check disabling startup programs; a Full Health Check is listed in paid editions |
| Duplicate file finder | Yes | Cloud Drive Cleaner finds duplicates in cloud storage (paid) |
| Disk usage analyzer | Yes | Not listed in the page’s feature table |
| Driver and software updaters | No | Yes (paid editions) |
| Money-back guarantee | Not stated on the page | 30 days |
What each product actually is
Aurora PC Cleaner Pro is a Windows optimization suite. Its page describes a deep scan of temporary files, browser caches, registry entries, startup items and installer leftovers, and says it shows what it found before removing anything. It also has a one-click Smart Clean mode, a duplicate file finder, a disk usage analyzer and a health dashboard with CPU, RAM and drive bars. It runs offline.
CCleaner is a long-running cleaner with a free edition and two paid editions. Its page lists cleaning of files, apps and browsers, a Health Check, a Performance Optimizer that puts chosen apps to sleep, a Driver Updater, a Software Updater, automatic cleaning and a Cloud Drive Cleaner for Google Drive, OneDrive and Dropbox.
Free vs paid: where the lines fall
CCleaner’s comparison table is clear about what you pay for. From it:
- Free: cleaning of files, apps and browsers, and online privacy cleanup.
- Professional (1 device): adds Performance Optimizer, Driver Updater, Full Health Check, Software Updater, automatic cleaning, cleaning reminders, priority support and Cloud Drive Cleaner.
- Professional Plus (3 devices): adds file recovery, a hardware information tool and the Android and Mac Pro versions.
When I viewed the page from India, Professional showed INR 990 for the first year and INR 1,240 at renewal, and Professional Plus INR 1,590 then INR 1,990. These are regional prices on one day, so check your own.
Aurora does not split features into tiers on its page, and it has no driver or software updater. If those are what you want, CCleaner Professional offers them; Aurora does not.
Is registry cleaning worth it?
This is where honest advice matters. Microsoft’s support article on registry cleaners says it does not support their use and warns that serious problems can occur if the registry is changed incorrectly. Both Aurora and Registry Cleaner Pro (my separate registry tool, covered in Registry Cleaner Pro vs CCleaner) offer registry cleaning, so my advice is simple:
- Do not expect a registry clean to make Windows noticeably faster.
- Only clean the registry with a tool that makes a backup first, and create a system restore point as well.
- If you do not know what you are removing, leave it alone.
Aurora’s page says it offers to back up the registry before cleaning. CCleaner’s feature table, as I read it, does not list a registry cleaner, so I make no claim about it either way.
Safety and requirements
Aurora lists Windows 10 (64-bit) or Windows 11, an Intel Core i3 or Ryzen 3 equivalent, 4 GB of RAM (8 GB recommended), 150 MB of storage, and administrator rights for registry actions. CCleaner’s page does not list system requirements in the part I read. Whichever you use, read what it will delete before you confirm, and create a restore point before any deep clean.
Where CCleaner is the better choice
- You want a driver updater or a software updater built in.
- You want scheduled automatic cleaning and priority support.
- You use more than one device or platform (Mac, Android).
- You prefer a well-known vendor with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Where Aurora PC Cleaner Pro is the better choice
- You want a duplicate file finder and a disk usage analyzer in the same Windows tool.
- You want everything to run offline, in one app, without account or cloud features.
- You want to see a full breakdown of what will be removed before anything is deleted.
How to decide in 60 seconds
- Start with Windows’ own tools. Storage settings and Disk Cleanup free space without installing anything.
- Need updaters? Choose CCleaner Professional.
- Need to find what is eating disk space? A disk analyzer and duplicate finder (Aurora) are more useful than a registry clean.
- Back up first. Create a restore point before any cleaner touches system settings.
Frequently asked questions
Is CCleaner free?
CCleaner has a free edition for one device. Its pricing page also sells CCleaner Professional (1 device) and Professional Plus (3 devices) on a one-year basis. When I viewed the page from India it showed INR 990 for the first year of Professional and INR 1,240 at renewal, and prices can differ by region.
What does the free CCleaner not include?
According to CCleaner's comparison table, the free edition covers cleaning of files, apps and browsers and online-privacy cleanup. It does not include Performance Optimizer, Driver Updater, Full Health Check, Software Updater, automatic cleaning, cleaning reminders, priority support or Cloud Drive Cleaner.
Is Aurora PC Cleaner Pro free?
Its product page says it is free to install and works offline. Debmedia has not published a price on that page, so check the page for current licence terms before you rely on it being free long term.
Do PC cleaners really make Windows faster?
Clearing temporary files can free disk space, but there is no guarantee of a speed gain. Disabling unneeded startup programs is the change most likely to shorten boot time, and both tools offer a startup manager or health check for that.
Is it safe to clean the registry?
Microsoft does not support registry cleaning utilities and warns that changing the registry incorrectly can cause serious problems. If you use any cleaner on the registry, make sure it makes a backup first, and keep a system restore point.
Which Windows versions does Aurora PC Cleaner Pro need?
Its product page lists Windows 10 (64-bit) or Windows 11, 4 GB of RAM minimum (8 GB recommended), 150 MB of storage and administrator rights for registry actions.
What I checked, and what this comparison cannot tell you
I read CCleaner’s official page including its edition comparison table on 23 October 2026, and Microsoft’s support article on registry cleaning utilities. Aurora facts come from its product page. I did not benchmark either tool, so I make no claim about speed, space saved or detection quality. Confirm prices before buying.
See all my Windows apps on the products page.
