Top Free Mac Cleaner Software for Mac
Let’s start with free apps. Who doesn’t love a good freebie, especially when it clears out junk and gives your Mac a noticeable speed boost? Free Mac cleaner software might not have every advanced feature, but they get the job done. Here are the best free Mac cleaner software options available in 2024:
OnyX
System Junk Cleaning: Yes | System Optimizer: Yes | Malware Remover: No | System Requirements: Intel-based Mac or Mac with Apple silicon using macOS Sequoia 15 (other versions are available for older Macs)
Overview:
OnyX is a powerful toolbox packed with system optimization and cleanup tools. It has been around for years, earning a reputation among Mac users for reliability and a clean, user-friendly interface. It makes optimization tasks—often requiring complex Terminal commands—quick and easy.
Each major macOS version has its own specific OnyX release. For example, OnyX 3.8.7 works only on macOS Catalina, not on macOS Sequoia. The good news is that a version compatible with Sequoia is already available, and all older versions can be downloaded directly from the official OnyX website.
OnyX is a great starting point for Mac cleaning because it’s completely free, receives regular updates (about once a month), and handles all the essential tasks without limitations. Many Mac users rely on it daily, and if you like it, you can even support the developer with a donation.
Key features:
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System integrity verification – OnyX intelligently verifies system files to make sure they haven’t been damaged by a system update or malware.
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macOS configuration – You can use OnyX to easily access hidden configuration parameters for Finder, Dock, Safari, and some Apple applications.
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Maintenance scripts – Automates routine maintenance scripts to improve system performance.
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Secure erase – Safely removes files and folders without leaving recoverable residue.
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Automation – Offers customizable automation of cleaning and maintenance tasks.
Pros:
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Very powerful
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Completely free
Cons:
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Each version of OnyX works only on a specific version of macOS
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The sheer number of options can be confusing
Pricing plans:
- OnyX is completely free and can be used without any limitations
Disk Drill Clean Up
System Junk Cleaning: Yes | System Optimizer: No | Malware Remover: No | System Requirements: Mac OS X 10.11.6+ (Use Disk Drill 1/2.x/3.x for OS X 10.5+)
Overview:
Disk Drill is best known as a powerful, easy-to-use data recovery tool, but it also functions as a feature-packed Mac cleaner. Its developers recognize that data management and data loss prevention go hand in hand, so Disk Drill includes several cleanup features: Clean Up, Find Duplicates, Data Shredder, and Erase Free Space.
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Clean Up efficiently locates large, unnecessary files and removes them from your Mac.
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Find Duplicates identifies duplicate files so you can delete extras.
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Data Shredder permanently erases sensitive files, making them unrecoverable—even by Disk Drill itself.
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Erase Free Space wipes the free space on your drive, ensuring deleted files remain unrecoverable for added privacy.
These Mac cleanup tools come free with Disk Drill and have no limitations. They’re just as user-friendly as the data recovery features, making Disk Drill a versatile all-in-one solution for Mac maintenance.
Key features:
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Completely free Mac cleaner – All cleaning tools included without any limitations, and they work just as well as those provided my many dedicated Mac cleaner software tools
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Data recovery capabilities – Disk Drill stands out from other free Mac cleaners featured in this article because it can recover permanently deleted files that are no longer present in the Trash folder.
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Backup features – You can use Disk Drill to protect important files or create byte-to-byte disk backups that make it possible to recover even from the most serious data loss situations.
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Cross-platform – Disk Drill runs on both macOS and Windows, and a single license lets you activate it on up to 3 different devices.
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User-friendly interface – Each and every Disk Drill feature is designed with ease of use and efficiency in mind, so it always takes the least amount of time possible to accomplish a task—be it Mac cleaning or data recovery.
Pros:
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All Mac cleaning features are free
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Many useful cleanup features available
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Data recovery capabilities
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Intuitive user interface
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Fully compatible with the latest version of macOS Sequoia
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Great performance
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Regular updates
Cons:
- Doesn’t detect and remove malware
Pricing plans:
- Clean Up, Find Duplicates, Shredder features are completely free
CCleaner
System Junk Cleaning: Yes | System Optimizer: No | Malware Remover: No | System Requirements: Mac running 64-bit macOS 10.10 and above
Overview:
CCleaner is a popular storage cleaner that quickly removes internet cache, browsing history, cookies, the Trash folder, recent document lists, and leftover files from various third-party apps.
Although CCleaner hasn’t seen recent updates and doesn’t officially support the latest macOS versions, it still works well and performs its core tasks effectively—and it’s completely free. There’s also a paid version available, which adds features like real-time monitoring, automatic updates, and premium support.
Key features:
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Customizable – Ccleaner allows you to specify which junk files you want to clean up and which you want to leave behind.
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Browsing cleanup – You can use CCleaner to reliably erase your browsing history and all kinds of files left on your Mac by websites.
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Real-time monitoring – Monitors system for unnecessary files in real time.
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Startup optimization – Manages startup programs to speed up Mac’s boot time.
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File finder – Helps locate and manage duplicate files to free up disk space.
Pros:
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Unlimited cleanup
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Effective cleanup
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Easy to use
Cons:
- Some features are available only in CCleaner Professional
Pricing plans:
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CCleaner – completely free
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CCleaner Professional – $19.95
Clean Me
System Junk Cleaning: Yes| System Optimizer: No | Malware Remover: No | System Requirements: All recent versions of macOS
Overview:
Clean Me is an excellent open-source disk cleaner that combines simplicity with effectiveness. The app presents a list of toggles, each targeting a specific folder—such as the Trash, User Cache, or User Logs. You select the folders you want to clean, click Analyze to see how much space can be freed, and then click Clean to delete everything at once.
The main drawback is that Clean Me isn’t available on the Mac App Store. You’ll need to install it via Homebrew (an open-source package manager for macOS) or compile it yourself, which requires some time and technical know-how.
Key features:
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Secure – Clean Me doesn’t store your admin password in any way, and it also doesn’t request an internet connection.
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Open-source – Benefits from open-source community contributions and support.
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Selective cleaning – Lets users choose exactly what to clean for targeted freeing of space.
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Analytical tools – Analyzes disk space to pinpoint areas of waste.
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Community support – Benefits from open-source community contributions and support.
Pros:
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Straightforward user interface
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Two-step cleanup
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Open-source
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Completely free
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Lightweight and fast
Cons:
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Doesn’t offer all that many cleanup options
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The developer doesn’t provide user support
Pricing plans:
- Clean Me is completely free and open-source
Best Freemium Mac Cleaning Software
Not surprisingly, most apps on the market fall into the freemium category in one way or another. Some offer a limited trial for a week or two, others provide a free version with basic functionality and the option to upgrade to the full paid version. It’s a great setup: you get a taste of what the app can do, then decide if the upgrade is worth it for those extra perks. If you look to go beyond the basic Mac cleanup, these freemium tools offer the perfect mix.
CleanMyMac X by MacPaw
System Junk Cleaning: Yes | System Optimizer: Yes | Malware Remover: Yes | System Requirements: macOS 10.10 and higher
Overview:
CleanMyMac X by MacPaw is an award-winning Mac cleaner with such a well-designed user interface that you’ll look forward to using it. With a single click, the app can find all unwanted and unnecessary files scattered across your system drive, detect potential malware threats, free up RAM, run maintenance scripts, and more.
Regardless of whether you use CleanMyMac X as a simple storage cleaner or need some of its more advanced features, you can always rest assured, that the app will never accidentally delete important files or make your Mac unbootable because it’s been designed from the ground up for maximum safety and reliability. Best of all, CleanMyMac X gives you a 7-day free trial to decide if it’s the right fit.
Key features:
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One button cleanup – Thanks to its Smart Cleanup feature, CleanMyMac X can automatically run all cleanup processes in the optimal order, requiring you to make only a single click.
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Malware removal – Besides junk files occupying precious storage space, CleanMyMac X can also detect and remove dangerous files and apps.
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Privacy protection – Apps like Safari leave behind lots of sensitive data that could be used for malicious purposes if not regularly removed using CleanMyMac X’s privacy protection feature.
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Space lens – Visualizes storage space to identify large files and folders.
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Speed optimization – Offers tools to improve system response and speed.
Pros:
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Beautiful user interface
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Real-time monitoring
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Fast cleanup speed
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24/7 technical support
Cons:
- Can’t find duplicate files
Pricing plans:
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Free trial – lets you remove up to 500 MB of junk data
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One-year subscription – $39.95
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One-time purchase – $119.95
DaisyDisk
System Junk Cleaning: Partial | System Optimizer: No | Malware Remover: No | System Requirements: Mac OS X 10.6 or newer
Overview:
Next on our list is DaisyDisk—a straightforward disk cleaner that turns your files and folders into an interactive map, which allows you to quickly locate all space-wasters. You can even preview files directly from the app and delete them with a simple click—no need to switch to Finder.
Unlike many other Mac cleaning software solutions listed in this article, DaisyDisk is a one-trick pony that does one thing and one thing only. While definitely a downside if your goal is to perform in-depth Mac cleaning to achieve the best performance possible, the lack of features and options does make DaisyDisk very easy to use.
Key features:
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Fast scans – If you have a modern SSD, then you can expect DaisyDisk to scan it in just a few seconds.
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Usage visualization – DaisyDisk creates visually stunning interactive maps, which clearly show how your storage device is utilized.
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Quick preview – Allows you to preview files directly from the application before deletion.
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Support for multiple disks – Efficiently analyze and clean multiple storage devices including external drives.
Pros:
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Visually appealing
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Fast scan process
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Low price
Cons:
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Doesn’t support automatic cleanup
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Does just one thing
Pricing plans:
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Free trial – some functionality is locked
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Full version – $9.99
Cleaner One Lite
System Junk Cleaning: Yes | System Optimizer: Yes | Malware Remover: No | System Requirements: MacOS 10.12 (Sierra) and higher
Overview:
Cleaner One Lite is a well-rated Mac cleaner that you can use for free without any limitations. Well, we should say almost any limitations because some features, such as real-time monitoring, are available only in Cleaner One Pro, which costs $29.99 (50% off) per year.
Users praise this free Mac cleaner for its ability to quickly and reliably detect and get rid of all kinds of junk files and large files that take up too much storage space. Some users, though, have reported occasional issues with crashes or the app becoming unresponsive.
Key features:
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Big file scanner – Cleaner One Lite can help you find very large files that take up valuable storage space.
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Disk map – You can use this MacBook cleaner to visualize your storage as an interactive map.
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Junk files cleaner – Get rid of junk files with a single click, including logs, mail caches, iTunes, Photos, iOS, and so on.
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Toolbar cleaner – Removes unused and unwanted toolbars to enhance browser performance.
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Photo sweeper – Identifies and removes duplicate and similar photos to reclaim space.
Pros:
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Simple user interface
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Versatile
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Reputable developer
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Can identify and remove similar-looking images
Cons:
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Not all features are included
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Occasionally crashes
Pricing plans:
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Cleaner One Lite – free but certain features are not present
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Cleaner One Pro – $29.99 per year
MacClean
System Junk Cleaning: Yes | System Optimizer: Yes | Malware Remover: Yes | System Requirements: macOS Big Sur to Mac OS X 10.9
Overview:
MacClean is one of the fastest Mac cleaning software on our list. It is easy-to-use app that includes all basic cleanup features plus a malware scanner that can remove malicious software from your Mac. All features are accessible with a simple click and require just one additional action to run.
The internet cleanup module stands out with its ability to protect your privacy by intelligently erasing cookies, cashes, sessions, history, saved passwords, and other website data across all major web browsers. Other useful utilities that ship with MacClean include an app uninstaller, duplicate finder, file eraser, and language file cleaner, among others.
Key features:
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One-click cleanup – With a single click, you can restore your Mac to a state closely resembling a brand-new computer.
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Malware scanner – While MacClean’s malware scanner doesn’t offer real-time scanning, it can reliably detect all major threats and get rid of them before they cause any harm.
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Internet security – Cleans up your browsing history and cookies.
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Large & old files cleaner – Identifies and helps remove large files and old documents that are no longer needed.
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App uninstaller – Removes unwanted apps completely without leaving residual files.
Pros:
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Scans don’t take much time to complete
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Built-in virus scanner
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Targeted cookie cleanup
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60-day money-back guarantee
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24/7 tech support
Cons:
- No real-time monitoring
Pricing plans:
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Free trial – evaluation only
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Personal license – $19.99 per year or $29.99 for a lifetime
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Family license – $39.99 for lifetime
Omni Remover 3
System Junk Cleaning: Yes | System Optimizer: Yes | Malware Remover: No | System Requirements: macOS 10.12 or later
Overview:
Omni Remover 3 is one of the best Mac uninstallers we’ve ever seen. It can reliably uninstall even stubborn and malicious apps without leaving behind junk files. All you need to do is select the app you want to uninstall, click the Scan button, and wait a short while for the app to find all files associated with the app. From there, you can click delete and wave them goodbye.
In addition to uninstalling unwanted apps, Omni Remover 3 can help you control your Mac extensions and free up storage space; it can delete accumulated cache junk, redundant language files, broken logins, and internet browsing junk.
Key features:
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Sketch Cache Cleaner – can clear revision history for all Sketch documents.
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Xcode Clean – lets you remove Xcode cache files to fix issues with crashing.
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App Reset – Resets applications to their initial state.
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File shredder – Securely deletes sensitive information beyond recovery.
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Cleanup Tools for developers – Specialized tools for cleaning up after software development.
Pros:
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Removes apps without leaving behind junk
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Lets you control extensions from one place
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Cache cleaner for specific apps
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Many extra cleanup tools
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Reset feature for apps
Cons:
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Often crashes
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Expensive for what it is
Pricing plans:
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Free trial – only lets you evaluate its features
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Yearly Single license – $15.99
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Lifetime Single license – $19.99
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Family license – $29.99
Sensei
System Junk Cleaning: Yes | System Optimizer: Yes | Malware Remover: No | System Requirements: macOS 10.15 Catalina or later
Overview:
When we first launched Sensei, it immediately felt like the next-generation Mac cleanup tool it claims to be. It greets you with a beautiful performance dashboard, which shows you everything from your CPU and RAM utilization to remaining battery life, and how much free storage space you have left on your hard drive.
Beyond its sleek design, Sensei is genuinely enjoyable to use, packing powerful features to keep your Mac running smoothly. It quickly finds and removes junk files that take up storage, boosts performance with Trim functionality, and uninstalls unwanted apps without leaving any leftover files behind.
Key features:
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Performance dashboard – Sensei’s performance dashboard provides a window into your Mac’s resource utilization, which allows you to see all important information at a glance.
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S.M.A.R.T. reporter – access the monitoring system included in computer hard disk drives (HDDs), solid-state drives (SSDs), and eMMC drives.
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Thermal dashboard – Monitors and reports on system temperatures.
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SSD TRIM enabler – Improves SSD performance and lifespan through TRIM.
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File fusion – Finds and fuses duplicate files to save space.
Pros:
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Gorgeous design
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Useful dashboard
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Real-time hardware monitoring
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Full uninstaller
Cons:
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Doesn’t support Macs running macOS Mojave and older
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Resource intensive
Pricing plans:
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Free trial – free for 14 days
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Subscription (up to 3 Macs) – $29 per year
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Full License (up to 3 Macs) – $59 (one-time purchase)
Drive Genius
System Junk Cleaning: No | System Optimizer: Yes | Malware Remover: Yes | System Requirements: Requires macOS 10.12 and later
Overview:
Drive Genius is a feature-packed Mac cleaner app that’s aimed at advanced users who want total control over their computer. You can use it to check for possible file and folder corruption, repair most kinds of logical file and folder errors, search through files and downloads for known malware, locate duplicate files and replace those duplicates with an alias, or overwrite all data using one of five secure patterns, just to give you some examples of what it can do.
Because Drive Genius targets more experienced users and professionals, it doesn’t prioritize usability nearly as much as some of the other Mac cleaning software solutions we listed in this article. That doesn’t mean it’s difficult to use, but the sheer number of available features can be confusing.
Key features:
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BootWell – Creates a special secondary startup drive that can be used to maintain your startup drive.
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Secure Erase – Overwrites all data using one of five secure patterns to prevent the overwritten data from being recovered.
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Partition editor – Manage and edit your disk partitions directly within the tool.
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Consistency check – Keeps your files and file structures correctly organized and functioning.
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Automated malware scan – Continuously checks and removes malware in the background.
Pros:
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Offers 18 drive management features
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Built-in malware scanner
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Perfect for Mac power-users who want total control
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Automatic malware detection
Cons:
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Expensive
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Some users may find it unintuitive
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Resource intensive
Pricing plans:
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Demo – provides limited access to basic features
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Standard License – $79 per 3 computers per year
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Perpetual License – $99 per computer per use
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Professional License – $299 per 10 computers per year
Noteworthy Mac System Cleaners
We’ve already covered many top-notch Mac cleaners, and we could have stopped there, but a few more apps deserve a shoutout. These might not be our top picks, but each one has something interesting that’s hard to ignore. Whether it’s a unique feature or a standout tool, skipping these would be a shame. Here’s a look at some noteworthy Mac cleaners that add a little extra to the mix.
Stellar SpeedUp Mac
System Junk Cleaning: Yes | System Optimizer: Yes | Malware Remover: No | System Requirements: compatible with Mac OS 10.9 to macOS Sonoma
Overview:
Stellar SpeedUp Mac can remove all kinds of junk (log files, system junk, trash, leftovers, duplicate files, and more) from your Mac to free up storage space and improve its performance. It can also uninstall unwanted apps, optimize memory usage, and disable login items to enhance system booting performance.
The free trial version of Stellar SpeedUp Mac can be used for up to 30 days, which should be more than enough to decide if you want to purchase the full version for $89.99. Just keep in mind that the latest version of this MacBook cleaner isn’t officially compatible with macOS Sequoia, so you might experience issues if you’ve already updated your Mac.
Key features:
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Cleanup filters – Stellar SpeedUp Mac lets you search for specific junk files or data using filters.
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Memory optimization – You can use this Mac cleaner to refresh and clean up system memory for optimal performance.
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App manager – Uninstalls applications and cleans up related files effectively.
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Login optimization – Manages login items to enhance startup speed.
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Smart cleaner – Intelligently identifies rarely used files for deletion.
Pros:
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Removes all kinds of junk files
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Can optimize memory performance
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Removes duplicate files
Cons:
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Isn’t officially compatible with macOS Sequoia
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Limited automation for optimization
Pricing plans:
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Free trial – free for 30 days
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Professional version – $89.99
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Premium version – $99.99 (includes all Professional features + Repair Photo & Videos)
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Technician version – $199 (includes all Premium features + Virtual Drive and Linux file systems support)
App Cleaner & Uninstaller
System Junk Cleaning: Partial | System Optimizer: No | Malware Remover: No | System Requirements: macOS 10.10 or later
Overview:
As the name suggests, App Cleaner & Uninstaller is designed to fully uninstall unwanted apps and extensions, with no junk behind. It claims to reliably remove over 1,000 apps along with all the associated caches, support files, and preferences. If certain apps bug you at startup, App Cleaner & Uninstaller also lets you easily disable their launch agents and system daemons.
App Cleaner & Uninstaller has been translated into multiple languages, including Spanish, German, French, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, and, of course, English. The free trial can be used without any major limitations for 7 days, and you can then purchase the full version for $11.95/month.
Key features:
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Reset apps – You can use App Cleaner & Uninstaller to selectively delete service files and launch any application like for the first time.
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Remove extensions and apps – Completely remove any extension or app without leaving behind any files.
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Disable startup programs – Manages items that run on startup, speeding up the boot process.
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Remove internet plugins – Clean up internet plugins that are no longer used.
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Widget manager – Provides an easy way to manage and delete widgets.
Pros:
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Supports multiple languages
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One-click cleanup
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Easy management of startup programs
Cons:
- Lacks system optimization features
Pricing plans:
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Free trial – free for 7 days
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Full version – $11.95/month or $24.95/year
MacBooster
System Junk Cleaning: Yes | System Optimizer: Yes | Malware Remover: Yes | System Requirements: Officially supports Mac OS X 10.9 through 10.15 Catalina
Overview:
MacBooster is an easy-to-use Mac utility designed to help you keep your computer secure and performing optimally. The tool provides a wide variety of functions that can help optimize your Mac and keep it secure. You can perform virus and malware scans, clean your Mac’s memory, remove junk files, and eliminate space-wasting, outdated cache files.
With MacBooster, you can find and remove large files to save space and fully uninstall unwanted apps. A defragment feature lets you optimize your disks and the duplicate finder locates and removes extra copies of files. The tool is available in multiple different configurations and price points.
Key features:
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Malware removal – MacBooster scans your Mac for viruses and malware and safely removes them from your system.
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Turbo Boost – This feature optimizes your Mac or MacBook; removes unnecessary cache files and fixes permissions modified by third-party apps.
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Startup optimization – The tool analyzes your operating system and optimizes startup items to speed up your Mac and make it run like new.
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Large file cleaner – Identifies and deletes large files that take up extensive space.
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Photo Sweeper – Detects and removes duplicate photos.
Pros:
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60-day money-back guarantee
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Malware removal
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Finds duplicate files
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Optimizes Mac startup for faster performance
Cons:
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Some reports of malware attached to downloads of the tool
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Standard and premium versions are sold with yearly licenses
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More expensive than alternative products;
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No free trial version
Pricing plans:
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Multiple subscription plans ranging from $2.49 per month.
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A lite version of the tool can be bought for a one-time price of $89.95
MacKeeper
System Junk Cleaning: Yes | System Optimizer: Yes | Malware Remover: Yes | System Requirements: Officially supports Mac OS X 10.9 or later
Overview:
We found MacKeeper packed with useful tools that enhance Mac performance. It frees up disk space, eliminates duplicate files, unwanted apps, and various junk. The built-in antivirus adds a solid layer of protection against malware and adware, a welcome addition for any user.
MacKeeper’s optimization tools create noticeable improvements in response time and startup speed, as well as reclaim RAM. We also appreciated the app update feature, which keeps software current. The security tools protect data from unauthorized access, and the ad-blocking feature delivers a smoother, uncluttered browsing experience.
Key features:
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Keeps apps updated – MacKeeper can scan and identify apps that need to be updated to keep them performing at top speed.
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VPN Private Connect and Anti-tracking – These tools enable you to make your location and browse the web free from ads and trackers.
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Thorough disk cleaning – The Safe Clean and Smart Uninstaller features returns disk space to your operating system so your Mac operates more efficiently.
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ID theft protection – Monitors and alerts you to potential identity theft.
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Memory сleaner – Optimizes your Mac’s memory usage for better performance.
Pros:
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24/7 technical support
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All-in-one dashboard
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Built-in VPN
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Antivirus and malware tools
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Limited trial version
Cons:
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Requires a monthly or yearly subscription license to run
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Resource-intensive
Pricing plans:
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A free version gives you one month of the tool.
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Multiple subscription plans are available starting at $5.95 per month with no lifetime purchase option.