BleachBit report card
Excellent · out of 4.0 · graded Oct 9, 2026
Best for free disk cleaning on Windows and Linux
BleachBit is a free, open-source cleaner for Windows and Linux. It clears out temporary files, caches, cookies and browsing history, shows you every file before it deletes anything, and can shred files so they're harder to recover. No ads, no upsells, no registration. Mac users are mostly out of luck, though: macOS support is listed as experimental with limited features.
Who BleachBit is for
- Great if you're on Windows or Linux and want disk space back for nothing
- Handy when you want browser history, cookies and app traces gone in one pass
- Good for administrators who script clean-ups across lots of machines
Who BleachBit is not for
- Skip it if you're on a Mac, as macOS support is experimental with limited features
- Not for you if you want updates to install themselves, since you download each one by hand
- Tight if you're on Linux and want the winapp2.ini cleaners, because that import is Windows only
Why BleachBit gets a 3.6
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- AValue for moneyIt costs nothing, and the site calls it free forever. There's no registration, no license activation, no ads and no upsells. The code is open source under GPLv3, and donations are optional.
- AFree plan and trialEvery feature is free. The features page puts it nicely: every user has the "Pro" version. There's nothing to unlock, ever.
- AFeaturesBuilt-in cleaners for Chrome, Edge, Firefox, VLC and many more, a preview of every file before deletion, shredding, and free-space wiping. There's a command line for scripts, and you can write your own cleaners. On Linux it tidies APT, Pacman, Snap, Yum and DNF as well.
- BEase of useNo rating is on record to go by, so a B. You tick what to clean, click preview and delete only what you want, so nothing vanishes by surprise. Updates aren't automatic, mind. The app can tell you there's a new version, then you download it by hand.
- BPlatforms and integrationsWindows and Linux, which are two unrelated systems, plus a command line for automation. There's no regular macOS version, only experimental support with limited features, and no phone apps are listed.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from BleachBit's own pages on 9 October 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/bleachbit#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/bleachbit.svg" alt="BleachBit: 3.6 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>What is BleachBit?
BleachBit is a free, open-source system cleaner for Windows and Linux. It deletes temporary files, caches, logs, cookies and browsing history from browsers and other applications, shows every file before removing it, and can shred files or overwrite free disk space so deleted data is harder to recover. All features work offline with no registration, a command line supports scripting, and the code is licensed under GPLv3.
BleachBit is free to use. See every plan
Good for
- Windows and Linux users who want to free disk space at no cost
- People clearing browser history, cookies and app traces in one pass
- Administrators who script cleanup across many machines
Worth knowing
- There is no regular macOS version: the download page lists Mac OS X support as experimental with limited features.
- The current Windows installer is for Windows 10 and 11; Windows XP, Vista, 7 and 8 need the older 4.7.0 release.
- Importing winapp2.ini, which adds thousands of extra cleaners, is available on Windows only.
- New versions are not installed automatically; the app can notify you, and updates are downloaded from the website by hand.
Key features
- Junk and cache cleaning
- Removes temporary files, browser caches, logs and other junk, using built-in cleaners for Google Chrome, Edge, Firefox, VLC, system logs and many other targets.
- Privacy cleaning
- Erases browsing history, cookies, saved passwords and application traces across several browsers in one step. A cookie manager for keeping chosen cookies is new in the 5.1.0 beta.
- Preview before deleting
- You tick the items to clean, click preview to see every file that would be removed, and then delete only what you want.
- Shredding and free-space wiping
- Shreds sensitive files so their contents cannot be read, and overwrites free disk space to hide files that were deleted earlier.
- Command line and custom cleaners
- A command line interface supports scripting and automation, advanced users can write cleaners in CleanerML, and Windows users can import winapp2.ini for thousands more.
- Linux system cleaners
- On Linux it can clear memory and swap, delete unused localizations and broken shortcuts, and clean the APT, Pacman, Snap, Yum and DNF package managers.
BleachBit pricing
- Starts at
- Free
- Free plan
- Every feature is free, with no registration, license activation, ads or upsells; the site describes it as free forever. Donations are optional.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| BleachBit | $0 | The complete cleaner for Windows and Linux, open source under GPLv3. The features page says every user has the "Pro" version. |
Read from bleachbit.org on Oct 9, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with BleachBit before you buy.
Works with
- Google Chrome
- Microsoft Edge
- Firefox
- VLC
- LibreOffice
BleachBit alternatives
- BleachBit vs CCleaner
Free plan · from $44.95/yr
- BleachBit vs WizTree
Free plan · from $25 one-time
Common questions
Is BleachBit free?
Yes. BleachBit is free to use. Every feature is free, with no registration, license activation, ads or upsells; the site describes it as free forever. Donations are optional.
How much does BleachBit cost?
BleachBit lists one plan. BleachBit: $0. Prices were read from bleachbit.org on Oct 9, 2026.
What platforms does BleachBit work on?
BleachBit is available on Windows and Linux.
Does BleachBit have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. BleachBit is listed for Windows and Linux.
Does BleachBit have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. BleachBit is listed for Windows and Linux.
Is BleachBit open source?
Yes. BleachBit is open source, according to its own site.
Does BleachBit work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
What does BleachBit integrate with?
BleachBit's listing names Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Firefox, VLC and LibreOffice. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes BleachBit?
BleachBit is made by Andrew Ziem. It dates from 2008.
What are the alternatives to BleachBit?
The closest alternatives to BleachBit in our directory are CCleaner, WinDirStat and WizTree. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with BleachBit.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 9, 2026.