Free alternatives to Everything

5 system utilities programs worth considering instead of — or alongside — Everything.

Alternatives to Everything

CCleaner Free

Free tier
by Piriform (Gen Digital)

Clear out junk files and reclaim disk space.

  • Junk and temporary file cleanup
  • Browser cache and history clearing
  • Startup program manager
WindowsmacOS

Rufus

Open Source
by Pete Batard

Create bootable USB drives quickly and reliably.

  • Creates bootable Windows and Linux USB media
  • Notably faster than most alternatives
  • Portable — no installation needed
Windows

CPU-Z

Free
by CPUID

Identify exactly what hardware is inside your PC.

  • Detailed processor identification
  • Memory module and timing information
  • Motherboard and BIOS details
WindowsAndroid

HWMonitor

Free
by CPUID

Monitor temperatures, voltages and fan speeds.

  • CPU, GPU and drive temperature monitoring
  • Fan speed and voltage readings
  • Records minimum and maximum values
Windows

AutoHotkey

Open Source
by AutoHotkey Foundation

Automate anything on Windows with custom scripts and hotkeys.

  • Custom hotkeys and key remapping
  • Text expansion and auto-correction
  • GUI automation scripting
Windows

About Everything

Everything indexes filenames on NTFS volumes almost instantly and returns matches as you type, making Windows Search feel unusable by comparison. It uses very little memory and is a permanent fixture on most power users' machines.

It is free and runs on Windows. Below are 5 system utilities programs that cover the same ground — some open-source, some cross-platform, each free to use.

Everything alternatives compared

ProgramLicencePlatformsBest known for
CCleaner FreeFree tierWindows, macOSJunk and temporary file cleanup
RufusOpen SourceWindowsCreates bootable Windows and Linux USB media
CPU-ZFreeWindows, AndroidDetailed processor identification
HWMonitorFreeWindowsCPU, GPU and drive temperature monitoring
AutoHotkeyOpen SourceWindowsCustom hotkeys and key remapping

The alternatives in detail

CCleaner Free Free tier

CCleaner removes temporary files, browser caches and other accumulated junk to free disk space, and includes a registry cleaner and startup program manager. Notable for junk and temporary file cleanup and browser cache and history clearing. Runs on Windows, macOS.

Rufus Open Source

Rufus writes ISO images to USB drives to create bootable installation media for Windows, Linux and diagnostic tools. Notable for creates bootable windows and linux usb media and notably faster than most alternatives. Runs on Windows.

CPU-Z Free

CPU-Z reports precise details on your processor, motherboard, memory modules and graphics — the fastest way to find out what a machine actually contains before buying an upgrade or diagnosing a fault. Notable for detailed processor identification and memory module and timing information. Runs on Windows, Android.

HWMonitor Free

HWMonitor reads hardware sensors to report CPU and GPU temperatures, fan speeds, voltages and drive health. Notable for cpu, gpu and drive temperature monitoring and fan speed and voltage readings. Runs on Windows.

AutoHotkey Open Source

AutoHotkey is a scripting language for Windows automation: remap keys, expand text shortcuts, automate repetitive GUI tasks and build small custom tools. Notable for custom hotkeys and key remapping and text expansion and auto-correction. Runs on Windows.

How to choose

2 are fully open source (Rufus, AutoHotkey) — pick one of these if you value auditable code you can self-host. On a Mac, CCleaner Free support macOS natively.

All 5 are free to download from the publisher's own website, so installing two or three and testing them on your own files is the fastest way to decide — it costs nothing but a few minutes.

Head-to-head comparisons