head to head · open source
BleachBit vs Edge-Drop
BleachBit has 6,950 GitHub stars, 454 forks, 313 open issues and last shipped today. Edge-Drop has 578 stars, 38 forks, 22 open issues and last shipped 5 days ago. BleachBit leads on adoption by 1,102% (6,950 vs 578 stars). BleachBit is written in Python under GPL-3.0; Edge-Drop is written in TypeScript under Apache-2.0. BleachBit has attracted 7% as many forks as stars, Edge-Drop 7%. BleachBit was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee. The two share 1 topic tag (desktop-app), so they are genuine substitutes rather than adjacent tools.
Two open source projects, one decision. Both are free and self-hostable — the differences are community size, license terms, language stack and release pace.
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Side by side
| BleachBit | Edge-Drop | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 7.0K | ★ 578 |
| License | GPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Written in | Python | TypeScript |
| Last push | 2026-09-20 | 2026-09-15 |
| Forks | ⑂ 454 | ⑂ 38 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick BleachBit if
- You weight community size — 7.0K stars and counting
- You want the GPL-3.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Python
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick Edge-Drop if
- You want the Edge-Drop feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- You evaluated both and Edge-Drop fits your workflow better
About BleachBit
BleachBit is a free, GPL 3.0 system cleaner written in Python that deletes files on Windows and Linux to free disk space and protect privacy, made for desktop users and administrators who want a cross platform alternative to commercial cleanup tools.
read the full BleachBit overview →
About Edge-Drop
Edge Drop is a free, Apache 2.0 licensed Windows desktop clipboard shelf that hides invisibly on the edge of the screen and springs open when the cursor approaches it, letting developers and designers drag text, links, images, and files directly into any application they are already using.
read the full Edge-Drop overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is BleachBit or Edge-Drop more popular?
BleachBit has 6,950 GitHub stars and Edge-Drop has 578. BleachBit has the larger community by that measure.
Are BleachBit and Edge-Drop free?
Both are open source. BleachBit is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Edge-Drop under Apache-2.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between BleachBit and Edge-Drop?
BleachBit is written in Python and Edge-Drop in TypeScript. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, BleachBit or Edge-Drop?
Choose BleachBit if you want the larger community (6,950 stars) or its GPL-3.0 licence terms. Choose Edge-Drop if its feature set, stack or Apache-2.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.