Best app cleaners for Mac: Free and paid versions

Far too many Macs are full of apps people don’t need. Removing apps is not as easy a task as many would assume. Apps have a way of scattering files all over your Mac, which means simply deleting them won’t always clear up as much memory as you would hope.

Of course, you can delete apps manually. However, this process is time-consuming and requires effort on your part. For this reason, it is better to use a utility designed for the job. With the right app cleaner, you can delete apps in a few clicks and give your Mac some much-needed extra memory. In this article, we are going to cover the best apps to uninstall apps on Mac. Here are some options to begin with.

Rating

NameFeatures

Info

1CleanMyMac X
Powerful app remover that not only uninstalls apps but also comes with tools for Mac maintenance, optimization, and cleanupLink

2

AppZapperDrag-and-drop software that also removes app leftovers and lets you check app-related files before deleting themLink

3

AppDeleteElegant tool for basic-level app deletion letting you undo the removalLink
best-app-cleaners-for-mac

Top 7 app cleaners for Mac

Below are 7 great apps for uninstalling software. Choose the one that works best for you.

1. CleanMyMac X

CleanMyMac X does so much more than just remove unwanted apps and free up valuable space.

With 4 million users worldwide — and counting — over 10.5 million apps have been removed, with millions more files and folders that were taking up disk space and reducing the processing speed of Macs. With the Uninstaller tool, you can clean up old leftovers and delete apps safely.

Unused Apps in Uninstaller module in CleanMyMac X

Plugins and add-ons are also easily removed, with all of the extensions visible in a single dashboard, so you won’t need to open the app they are tied to. System junk, iOS backups, and email downloads are also easily removed with a few clicks, making this one of the most powerful app cleaners around, with hundreds of positive reviews from Mac users, tech bloggers, and experts. Powerful and efficient: CleanMyMac X is the only Mac app cleaner you will ever need.

Official website

Price: $39.95/annually with a free trial version available 

2. AppZapper

AppZapper is a ‘drag-and-drop’ app cleaner that makes it easy to remove unwanted apps.

Deleting an app isn’t as easy as dragging it out of your applications folder into trash. Apps keep files and folders scattered about your Mac; however, finding them is the hard part, which is why so many people hope to find a free app cleaner to remove them without any difficulties. Usually, good app cleaners aren't free, but they will get the job done.

AppZapper locates the files related to the apps you want to delete. Shows you them first, and when you are confident the right files and cache folders have been located, you can Zap them with one click.

Official website

Price: $19.95. 5 free zaps available.

3. AppDelete

Created by an independent software developer in California, AppDelete is an app uninstaller that deletes apps, widgets, and other related files. Before deleting files, it shows you them for a few seconds to make sure the right apps are going to be deleted — with the option that you can undo a removal, so you don't need to worry about deleting something important accidentally.

Once you are confident the right apps have gone, AppDelete removes the garbage files to free up space. This app remover for Mac serves a useful purpose for users that want to free up space.

Official website

Price varies from $5 to $7.99 based on the version.

4. TrashMe

TrashMe is an app designed specifically for what is mentioned in its name — trashing files. A great thing about this app is that it is an outstanding file hunter. Not only does it detect app-related files and leftovers, but it can also find redundant and duplicate files and incomplete downloads.

Another great feature of the app is a significant level of control granted to users. Most app cleaners delete files permanently. TrashMe, on the other hand, lets a user select which files will be removed right away and which of them are left in Trash so that you can restore them later. 

Official website

Price: $14.99

5. Hazel

Hazel is an app uninstaller and junk cleaner. With numerous ways to use it, the app lets you both remove apps completely and delete unnecessary files. It is possible by adding rules that would automate particular actions on your Mac. Some users, though, may find it an overly complicated process, regardless of its high efficiency. 

In relation to app deletion, Hazel lets you set condition-based rules that would automatically search for app support files. Once they are located, you can remove them. Also, you can set a rule that would automatically empty trash on a timely basis. 

Official website

Price: $42. Free trial version is available

6. App Cleaner & Uninstaller

A lightweight free app cleaner for those who download, capable of finding unwanted apps and deleting related files, including login items and launch agents. Deleting apps safely to ensure Macs have more space and computing power is the work of App Cleaner & Uninstaller. It comes with several positive reviews from those who've downloaded it.  

Official website

Price: $14.95/year. 3-day trial version is available.

7. CCleaner

CCleaner is a user-friendly and beautifully crafted app cleaner for Mac. It stands out for letting you find and remove unnecessary apps and their leftover files. In fact, you can even delete several apps at a time by merely selecting a few. 

Like some other app cleaners outlined above, it has tools for finding duplicate and unneeded files. Another great feature of this app is that it lets you find large apps, so if your goal is to free up space, it can be of value. The app can be downloaded for free, but the trial version comes with limitations.  

Official website

Price: $29.95

Laptop with CleanMyMac
CleanMyMac X

Your Mac. As good as new.