Hello and goodbye

Hi! I created this account to say hello and to also say goodbye. I have been using Piriform software for many, many years freely and with satisfaction, but as of late, specifically with CCleaner, even the free basic features are going behind a paywall. THAT is unacceptable! I support the company and the software thats created, I've spread the name of CCleaner and Defraggler far and wide over the years, to friends and family and strangers alike cross the internet. Sadly today when I open my desktop version of CCleaner and tried to use my typical custom clean, I get a paywall nag. All the years of me being able to freely use CCleaner the way I want to with acceptable limits, all now things of the past. I will still use the software for as long as I can because the registry cleaner is really my jam, but this is the end of our relationship sadly. I was elated when 3.20 dropped all those years ago. I was very much into finding an alternative cleaning solution to the stock Windows cleaner. This is when I found CCleaner. I wasn't sure if it would destroy my HDD or if it was actually malware, but I tried it anyways. I was hooked ever since. I didn't know that there was so much stuff that wasn't needed, taking up the limited HDD space I had. Anyways... I would like to thank you all for your contribution to my computers care, but this is the end of the road. If ever you all decide to make a free version again, I will be sure to grab a copy. Thank you. 3.20 - 6.24 (XP to Win 10)

What free basic features do you mean, i don't recall anything being put behind paywall that was previously free.

8 minutes ago, Major Paiyne said:
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		, I get a paywall nag
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This shouldn't hapen can you screenshot it. I just tried custom clean on a free install and no paywall nag

Yeah. this is what I get when i click "Run Cleaner" sadly :(

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And you got it from CCleaner.com?

@CCleaner Cleaning Team

Can you clear this up?

1 minute ago, Nergal said:
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		And you got it from CCleaner.com?
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Originally from Piriform.com but yes.

Can you hang on until i can get someone to help (it may be tuesday as it's a four day holiday in the U.S.) because this would be news to us moderators (users like you who can ban spam). And is a very troubling move if they have.

Just now, Nergal said:
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		Can you hang on until i can get someone to help (it may be tuesday as it's a four day holiday in the U.S.) because this would be news to us moderators (users like you who can ban spam).  And is a very troubling move if they have.
	</p>
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Absolutely. I understand. Semi-sadly I have to work Memorial day. But its a paid holiday, so time and a half is always good. :D

Here is the comparison page from ccleaner.com (https://www.ccleaner.com/ccleaner/plans) and, as far as i know, "standard" cleaning is custom clean

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1 minute ago, Nergal said:
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		Here is the comparison page from ccleaner.com and "standard" cleaning is custom clean
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		<a class="ipsAttachLink ipsAttachLink_image" data-fileext="png" data-fileid="18868" href="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2024_05/image.png.3c304c1197e7b076ac23d7cb10298198.png" rel=""><img alt="image.png" class="ipsImage ipsImage_thumbnailed" data-fileid="18868" data-ratio="45.10" width="1000" src="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2024_05/image.thumb.png.84c32879861c93bb922007d020738029.png" /></a>
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Yeah. I was just looking at the page myself. The site ad and the software nag are technically the same. One is just a little bit more informative.

4 minutes ago, Major Paiyne said:
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		Yeah. I was just looking at the page myself. The site ad and the software nag are technically the same. One is just a little bit more informative.
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But the difference is what you're seeing is saying standard clean is behind paywall. Yeah, give @CCleaner Cleaning Team time to reply. They're new to me, i didn't notice when they were added, so I'm not sure on how hands on they are (We've had hands on and hands off CCleaner employees dedicated to the forum (which is mostly just users),

21 minutes ago, Nergal said:
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		But the difference is what you're seeing is saying standard clean is behind paywall. Yeah, give <a contenteditable="false" data-ipshover="" data-ipshover-target="<___base_url___>/profile/106020-ccleaner-cleaning-team/?do=hovercard" data-mentionid="106020" href="<___base_url___>/profile/106020-ccleaner-cleaning-team/" rel="">@CCleaner Cleaning Team</a> time to reply. They're new to me, i didn't notice when they were added, so I'm not sure on how hands on they are (We've had hands on and hands off CCleaner employees dedicated to the forum (which is mostly just users),
	</p>
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Oh, no, no, no. Standard/Basic cleaning is free and NOT behind the paywall. I can use that with no issues. Custom cleaning is now behind a paywall. Just to give some clarification.

1 minute ago, Major Paiyne said:
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		Oh, no, no, no. <em>Standard/Basic cleaning</em> is free and NOT behind the paywall. I can use that with no issues. <strong>Custom</strong> cleaning is now behind a paywall. Just to give some clarification.
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Afaict Standard ccleaning in the comparison is custom clean to differentiate with healthcheck.

What cleaning is available to you, can you screenshot

11 minutes ago, Nergal said:
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		Afaict Standard ccleaning in the comparison is custom clean to differentiate with healthcheck.
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		What cleaning is available to you, can you screenshot
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Umm. I just did a Health Check for the first time in a very long time. I've only ever been about using the custom cleaner and registry cleaner. The Health Check did some cleaning of its own. Is that considered the "Basic/Standard" cleaner now? If that's the case, I guess it makes sense. Either way, I wouldn't know what to untick from the custom cleaner to make it basic anyways. But as far as it goes, I can only use the Health Check cleaner and Registry cleaner.

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10 minutes ago, Major Paiyne said:
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		Is that considered the "Basic/Standard" cleaner now? If
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I don't think so because they're differentiated in the comparison i posted, unless a big change.

Check your messages :)

Hi @Major Paiyne

Nothing has changed at all as regards the Free vs Pro features, it's just a misunderstanding of what that upgrade page is saying.

EDIT- Obviously I was wrong here, as later developments have proved this was the first report of an intended change that was/is being dribbled out.

I think it's just that upgrade page that has been changed.

It's very clumsily worded in a couple of places. and even misleading.


Obviously too clumsy if it's made you think that Custom Clean has gone Pro only.


<a contenteditable="false" data-ipshover="" data-ipshover-target="<___base_url___>/profile/106020-ccleaner-cleaning-team/?do=hovercard" data-mentionid="106020" href="<___base_url___>/profile/106020-ccleaner-cleaning-team/" id="ips_uid_7439_19" rel="">@CCleaner Cleaning Team</a> time for a rethink on some of the wording used there.

Custom Clean works just as it always has in CCleaner Free. It has NOT gone behind any paywall.

(I can see in your last screenshot that Custom Clean is there for you and the 'Analyze' and 'Run Cleaner' buttons are active, have you actually tried to run it?).

I'll try to clarify what each of those items on the upgrade page actually means in the order listed:

  • Basic Cleaning - Custom Clean or Health Check, whichever you want to use - Free.
  • Custom Cleaning - the only Pro features in Custom Clean (and Health Check) are the same as they always have been - the Scheduling, the advanced Smart Cleaning options, and the multi-user cleaning.
  • Performance optimizer - will scan in the Free version, but will ony do the full job in Pro.
  • Cloud Drive Cleaner - fairly new and still in Beta. It is launched from the 'My Account' button and works in your browser - and of course with CCleaner Free you don't have an account so it isn't on the 'My Account' menu.
  • Driver Updater - will scan in the Free version, but will ony do the full job in Pro.
  • Automatic history cleaner - the Automatic Browser Cleaning in Smart Cleaning, which has always been a Pro option.
  • Software Updater - will scan in the Free version, but will ony do the full job in Pro.
  • Priority customer support - is of course for those who have bought a licence. CCleaner Free users can still contact support, but will be in a queue behind any Pro users. (Despite what it says there you don't 'talk' to a person, the support is via email).

I hope that helps clear things up.

I think I may have spotted what your real issue is here:

12 hours ago, Major Paiyne said:
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		 I will still use the software for as long as I can because <strong>the registry cleaner is really my jam</strong>,
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Are you actually complaining because you can't see the Registry Cleaner anymore?

It's been moved to reflect that it is an advanced tool mainly for use when trying to fix an already broken machine, and that it should it not be used unnecessarily as part of a regular cleaning routine.

It can now be found in 'Tools' - with the other tools that are not meant to be used regularly when cleaning.

<a class="ipsAttachLink ipsAttachLink_image" data-fileext="JPG" data-fileid="18871" href="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2024_05/Capture.JPG.6438addf5636cdf555747f7191d0dca4.JPG" rel=""><img alt="Capture.JPG" class="ipsImage ipsImage_thumbnailed" data-fileid="18871" data-ratio="56.90" data-unique="srxujgbao" width="1000" src="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2024_05/Capture.thumb.JPG.4d68de5e84d58bdbf440182a0c9e4045.JPG"></a>

No nukecad, look at his screenshot custom is throwing up that paywall screen.

13 hours ago, nukecad said:
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	<p>
		I think I may have spotted what your real issue is here:
	</p>

	<p>
		Are you actually complaining because you can't see the Registry Cleaner anymore?
	</p>

	<p>
		It's been moved to reflect that it is an advanced tool mainly for use when trying to <strong>fix</strong> an already broken machine, and that it should it not be used unnecessarily as part of a regular cleaning routine.
	</p>

	<p>
		It can now be found in 'Tools' - with the other tools that are not meant to be used regularly when cleaning.


		<a class="ipsAttachLink ipsAttachLink_image" data-fileext="JPG" data-fileid="18871" href="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2024_05/Capture.JPG.6438addf5636cdf555747f7191d0dca4.JPG" rel=""><img alt="Capture.JPG" class="ipsImage ipsImage_thumbnailed" data-fileid="18871" data-ratio="56.90" width="1000" src="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2024_05/Capture.thumb.JPG.4d68de5e84d58bdbf440182a0c9e4045.JPG" /></a>
	</p>
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No no. I can use the registry cleaner with no issues. My sadness comes from not being able to use custom clean freely anymore. Also pardon if it takes me a bit to respond. There seems to be a daily post limit.

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