Have you noticed the recent trend towards organizing and decluttering? Yes, it is common for homes, but why not extend it to our digital lives and make it about getting rid of unneeded junk to reclaim valuable space and speed up our Macs?
Mac users on forums recommend running Terminal commands to make Macs faster, but it requires profound background knowledge and includes the risks of deleting vital system data. It is where cleaner software can come into play — not only is it easier and safer to use but also quick and efficient.
Today, we'll introduce the best Mac cleaner software. A handy cleaning app not only deletes unnecessary files but also helps maintain and optimize your Mac. Keep on reading to learn about the best Mac cleaning tools available out there:
| CleanMyMac | Avast Premium Cleanup |
| Disk Doctor | Gemini 2 |
| DaisyDisk | Intego Washing Machine |
| OnyX | CCleaner |
| App Cleaner & Uninstaller | Mac Cleaner Pro |
Top 10 best MacBook cleaner software solutions
Updated in August 2024 with the extended details on free and paid features of each app
1. CleanMyMac
CleanMyMac takes the first place with good reason — this control and care app combines features of both cleaning software and an antimalware tool. Its Cleanup tool runs a thorough scan of your Mac's storage, detecting junk like user cache, system log files, language files, and other stuff. It also shows your document versions and lets you delete unnecessary files — no need to do this tiresome chore manually.
It comes with 25+ tools that let you control your Mac and keep it at peak performance, and you don’t have to dig deep into the Library and System folders or settings to do it. Each of its tools is a set of instruments that do much more than just remove unused files. It can uninstall apps and files left over after an incomplete manual app removal, update your applications, and run tasks to speed up, maintain, and optimize your Mac. All with just a few clicks.
One possible drawback is that the Malware Removal feature within the Protection tool sometimes may produce mixed results, but it is constantly being improved by the developer. But CleanMyMac is Apple-notarized, which means it's safe for your Mac. So, at least you are sure that it's not malicious itself.
Official website
Price: $39.95/year
Free trial: Available here
Free version: Full functionality of the app for 7 days
Full version: No limits on removing files, running maintenance and optimization tasks, or removing malware
| Pros | Cons |
| Has an intuitive and attractive user interface | Does not have a feature for visualizing what takes up space on your Mac |
| A rich feature set gives users peace of mind knowing they can achieve numerous goals using just one app | There's no option to schedule a scan |
| Runs in the background scanning system for vulnerabilities and notifies when cleanup is needed | Doesn't provide quarantine for threats and a firewall |
2. Avast Cleanup Premium
You probably heard about Avast antivirus, or maybe you even have it on your Mac. This cyber security software company has created many other products, and a Mac cleaner is one of them. Avast Cleanup Premium is a junk cleaner and a smart uninstaller: it lets you run various scans and delete unneeded system files, duplicates, and browser data as well as remove applications.
It also comes with a tool to analyze photos and find similar and bad ones. Besides, Avast Cleanup has an instrument for managing startup items, which is handy enough because it provides you with access to all login items from one place, and you do not have to look for them in System Settings. The duplicate file finder can scan not only your Mac's hard drive but also external hard drives, which many users may find convenient. And it locates not only identical files but also folders, songs, and videos.
Avast Cleanup, however, doesn't come with built-in antivirus, so if you're looking for an antimalware tool, you'll need to install the company's separate antivirus app.
Official website
Price: $65.99/year
Free trial: 30-day trial is available
Free version: Runs in scan-only mode
Full version: The deletion of files is unlocked
| Pros | Cons |
| Comes with several modules that are designed specifically for cleanup | Sends too many system notifications |
| Its uninstaller tool shows apps that have not been in use for more than 6 months | Doesn't have a tool for managing or removing email attachments |
| The trial version is not limited — a user can fully test all the functionality of all modules | Doesn't come with memory and CPU monitor |
3. Disk Doctor
Disk Doctor was developed in the UK and awarded the 'Mac Gem' award by MacWorld in 2013. CNET and other tech journalists also praise functionality. As of 2024, it still looks like a useful tool for Mac disk cleaning that removes junk slowing down and reducing the computing power of your Mac.
It is the best Mac cleaner for those seeking an affordable app. Disk Doctor can help reclaim disk space within a few clicks, and it is known as a fast and easy-to-use cleaner software. It has a large file finder and can be used to delete the following categories of unneeded files: caches, browser data, application logs, partial downloads, files from Trash bins, old iOS software updates, and many more. However, it cannot remove unwanted apps and identical files. Still, if your main concern is disk space usage, not a search for an optimization tool, Disk Doctor is a top pick.
Official website
Price: $2.99
Free trial: N/A
Free version: Not applicable
Full version: Full functionality available after the purchase: unlimited deletion of unneeded files
| Pros | Cons |
| Low price — it makes Disk Doctor one of the most affordable cleaner software solutions for a Mac | No free trial version |
| Safe tool since it's distributed over Mac App Store | Possible compatibility issues — lags between the release of new macOS versions and app updates |
| Intuitive user interface and the ability to preview files before deleting them | Doesn't come with the duplicates finder tool |
4. Gemini 2
Gemini 2 is the duplicate finder that allows you to free up gigabytes of storage and organize your files. In just a few minutes. You may have heard of it as a tool for finding and removing duplicate photos. But it does more than just that.
Gemini 2 quickly scans every corner of your Mac and weeds out useless copies. No matter what type of file it is: a photo, music track, or a doc... Gemini will definitely find it. And once the scan is done, you can remove the duplicates with a click. Or review results to make sure nothing important gets deleted. It's a great Mac cleaning solution that prevents unnecessary clutter.
If you remove something by accident, it takes just a click to put it back. And to make sure things like that never happen again, you can exclude specific files and folders from the scan. Try out the free version right here.
The app saw a major update in 2022, which included a real-time duplicate monitor. This new tool notifies you of duplicates the moment they are created on your Mac, so you won't even create these identical files. Also, it has a Recently Found app that lets you access the tool directly from the menu bar, so you would not have to search for it in the Applications folder. You can even finish the duplicate files cleanup from the menu bar. Convenient, isn't it?
Official website
Price: $19.95/year
Free trial: Available here
Free version: Unlimited number of scans, but a limit of 500 mb on deleting found data
Full version: No limits on the number of scans and the size of deleted data
| Pros | Cons |
| Can scan different folders and hard drives (including external hard drives) for duplicate files | Finds only similar files — doesn't find similar folders |
| Finds not only duplicate photos but also similar ones, with the preview available for comparing the detected items | Doesn't come with an app uninstaller |
| Highly specialized duplicate finder | Has no separate optimization tool |
5. DaisyDisk
DaisyDisk gives you a visual representation of your Mac folders, making it easy to see what is taking up space and delete the folders you don't need. All you need to do is select a drive; DaisyDisk will scan it, then you can delete everything that is wasting valuable space. This Mac cleaner software comes with a free and premium version.
To delete files, a user has to drag and drop the selected ones to the bottom of the window. The process starts within a few seconds, so there is still a chance to stop it. Also, it is possible to preview files before removing them. Users love "how organized DaisyDisk is and how user-friendly the app is."
However, even with this functionality, some research may be necessary on the part of the user — it is unclear whether the files displayed in this fun and attractive chart are absolutely safe to get rid of.
Official website
Price: $9.99
Free trial: Trial version available
Free version: Limited functionality — only scanning allowed, the deletion of files is locked
Full version: Cleanup of hidden and purgeable space unlocked, deletion of found files allowed
| Pros | Cons |
| The user interface is appealing and interactive | The functionality of the free version is limited |
| The scan process is fast, and it covers all the files, including large and hidden files | To delete files, a lot of manual work and effort is needed on the part of a user. The files get permanently deleted, so they cannot be restored |
| Multiple disks can be connected and scanned, including a startup disk and external hard drives | Potential issues with deleting vital information instead of unnecessary files |
6. Intego Washing Machine
Intego is best known for developing Mac protection software, but it also has a Mac cleaner app — Washing Machine. It is a part of the premium bundle, and its main purpose is to optimize and speed up your Mac. It has three main cycles: Reclaim, Duplicates, and Organize.
The Reclaim cycle is designed to help you reclaim space. It is a quick cleaner tool that searches for unnecessary files and lets you delete them quickly. You can choose what to look for, including downloads, caches, language files, trash, and log files.
The Duplicates cycle is self-explanatory — it finds duplicate files in different locations across the macOS. The developer states that it is able to locate even renamed duplicates, making it a more convenient cleaner than those comparing names only. Finally, the Organize cycle analyzes Desktop, Dock, and Smart Folders to find what can be tidied up. It lets you create subfolders, add or remove items, and send files to Trash.
The only downside is that to get Washing Machine, you'll have to purchase a premium bundle, meaning that you get additional apps you might not necessarily need. However, if you are looking for an internet security tool and a malware protection app, Intego is well worth considering, although it is quite pricey.
Official website
Price: $84.99/year
Free trial: 14-day trial is available here
Free version: Demo version cannot clean up your Mac
Full version: Cleanup functionality unlocked, along with malware removal and net barrier activated
| Pros | Cons |
Has three well-developed and easy-to-use tools within one app | Can only be received with a bundle of other apps |
| Lets choose deletion criteria for unnecessary files | More expensive than other apps on the list — cheaper alternatives offer the same functionality |
Comes with a duplicate finder that can locate exact duplicates even if they were renamed | A lot of manual work included — can hardly be named a one-click solution |
7. OnyX
Another app among the best Mac cleaning software is OnyX. It is not a Mac cleaner app per se, but instead, it is an app that allows users to add a set of different rules that can optimize their Macs and give more control over files and whatever is taking disk space. It is especially loved among tech-savvy Mac users since it offers numerous options for customizing macOS.
With its rules, this Mac cleaner software can replace the use of Terminal or other command-line tools to run different tasks on the computer. On the part of Mac cleaning, the following can be performed: deep cleaning of apps, system, and internet browsers, removing log files and other system files, and deleting exact duplicates, to name just a few.
OnyX also comes with tools for maintaining your Mac as well as altering different settings and how the macOS looks and operates, and these changes are made at a very deep level. Handy as it may be, it also requires extra caution.
Official website
Price: Free
Free trial: Not applicable
Free version: Full functionality is available right after the download
Full version: Full version is downloaded
| Pros | Cons |
Offers a powerful toolset for Mac customization | Requires tech expertise to be used properly; novice Mac users will find it too sophisticated |
Allows customizing macOS at deep levels | For every macOS upgrade, users will have to install another version of the app — they are macOS-specific |
Runs on even the oldest macOS versions, and users say that all versions are always reliable | Developers support only the latest version of the app |
8. CCleaner
Created in 2004 by Piriform, CCleaner comes with a free and professional version, focusing on businesses and business customers. CCleaner is a cross-platform tool for PCs, Macs, and Android, and it has a Cloud, Network, and Technician tool, depending on what you need and the platform/software you use.
The free version comes with a cleaner, uninstaller tool, duplicate finder, and clutter finder. The app cleans both system and browser junk files, removes downloads, and disables startup programs. It can also detect large files. Besides, the free version is equipped with a tool for finding bad and similar photos. As for the duplicate files finder, developers claim that it looks only for files with identical contents.
The professional version comes with a lot more features, including real-time alerts, automatic browser cleaning, and dedicated support. This version of the cleaning software also comes with the scheduled scans function, which makes forgetting about cleaning Mac disk space close to impossible. No redundant files and clutter will remain unnoticed!
Although created for PCs in the early days, CCleaner does well in identifying unwanted files on a Mac so that users can select and delete the files and folders they don't need to free up space. As a cleaner for Mac, customers are pretty happy with the results of CCleaner. However, it is necessary to note that there have been reports of bundled software, so it is crucial to download this Mac cleaning app from the developer's site only to avoid unnecessary malware-related risks.
Official website
Price: $29.95/year
Free trial: Available
Free version: Comes with the functionality for uninstalling apps, cleaning junk, and finding duplicate files
Full version: All features unlocked (including browser cleanup, photo analysis, and automatic trash emptying)
| Pros | Cons |
| The process of installation and scanning Mac computers is fast | The trial version comes with the limited functionality |
| It's an all-in-one Mac cleaner software letting the user find duplicate files and unnecessary files | Even the professional version doesn't have an antimalware tool or mail attachments management tool |
| The app is regularly updated, and they are installed automatically in the background | Although it comes with an app uninstaller, leftover files are not removed — another dedicated tool or a manual deletion may be needed |
9. App Cleaner & Uninstaller
If you only need to uninstall apps on Mac, App Cleaner & Uninstaller is a great Mac cleaning software alternative for you. This app uninstaller developed by Nektony lets you remove applications, plug-ins, widgets, startup apps, and app-related files. The app's interface is also clean and easy to understand for a newbie.
After deleting apps with App Cleaner, you should visit the Remaining Files section of the app to erase leftover files. It also has a helpful Drag and Drop feature: simply drag any of your apps into the App Cleaner & Uninstaller window, and you'll see a complete list of files the app stores on your Mac.
It has a peculiar tool named Open With. Opening it, you can look through different file extensions and formats and check apps to open these files with. Wondering what it has to do with how much storage space you have on your Mac computer? You'll be surprised to find out that you could delete apps designed to work with the same formats. For example, this app cleaner detected 4 different apps we could use to open text documents. No need to say that we haven't opened some of them, so deleting these applications could clean some storage space. However, if you need a tool for removing junk files, finding hidden files, or scanning all the files you have on your Mac, you'll need an alternative.
Official website
Price: $14.95/year
Free trial: 2-day trial version is available
Free version: Unlimited features for 2 days
Full version: No limits on removing apps and leftovers and managing extensions
Pros | Cons |
| Can disable startup items, delete apps, and associated files | Cannot delete duplicate files, large files, or junk — other apps from the developer may be needed |
| Unlimited functionality of the free trial version | Cannot uninstall or reset native apps — those that come preinstalled with macOS |
| A clean and intuitive user interface | No malware detection or removal tool |
10. Mac Cleaner Pro
Mac Cleaner Pro is another tool developed by Nektony — also the creator of App Cleaner & Uninstaller. Users say they are quite satisifed with the app because "it does what it claims to do and makes using it very easy for the user." Mac Cleaner Pro is basically a cleanup and speedup tool for your Mac. Once you install and launch the app, you'll see a detailed chart with colored storage categories, similar to the one you'll see in the About This Mac section on your Mac.
The interface of Mac Cleaner Pro is clear and straightforward: click Clean up to see the junk files detected by the app and delete them right away. It detects numerous types of files that can be removed right away: mail attachments, caches, trash bins, language and installation files, screenshots, and downloads. At pressing each category of those described above, you can first preview what the app is about to delete. It is possible to select the files that will be removed, which makes it easier to ensure that no needed information will be lost accidentally.
In addition to the cleaner tool, Mac Cleaner Pro also comes with a duplicate file finder, app cleaner & uninstaller, hidden files hunter, memory cleaner, and space analyzer. All of these, basically, are separate apps that will be launched by pressing one of them. So, be prepared that the installation file comes with 6 apps instead of 1 you were hoping to install.
Official website
Price: $29.95/year
Free trial: 2-day trial is available
Free version: Full functionality for 2 days — you can use all modules and apps that come in a bundle
Full version: Unlimited junk cleanup and app removal
| Pros | Cons |
| Beautifully designed and user-friendly interface | Several apps come installed within 1 installation file |
| Offers a variety of tools for Mac cleaning and optimization | Doesn't detect malware |
| Offers a one-time purchase or an annual subscription | To use different tools, switching between apps is needed — not always convenient and may be resource-consuming |
Hopefully, now, you know what software is the best Mac cleaner app just for you. Make Mac cleaning enjoyable, and stay tuned for more updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can't my Mac clean itself?
Your macOS also has a built-in Mac cleaner, which Apple called Optimize Storage. It is accessed from the Storage tab in your Mac computer's System Settings. Though its capabilities are limited, it gives you basic directions on where to start the cleanup. But for thorough system cleanup and removing malware, you'll need a dedicated Mac cleaner app.
Can Mac cleaner apps delete my important files?
Typically, the best Mac cleaner apps have built-in protection. They will usually select only those files that are safe for deletion.
Will Mac cleaners slow down my Mac?
Some cleaners try to get into your Login Items, thus creating an extra burden on the processor. On the flip side, the reliable Mac cleaner apps might even speed up your Mac. They remove all the outdated junk files giving your Mac an extra boost.
