Best Apps to Check Mac Hard Drive Health

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Best Apps to Check Mac Hard Drive Health

Evaluation criteria	Software
Best overall	DriveDx
Best for S.M.A.R.T. monitoring	Disk Drill
Best for repairing disks	Disk Utility
Best for speed testing	Blackmagic Disk Speed Test
Best additional features	Disk Drill
Best disk statistics	iStat Menu
Best for freeing disk space	CleanMyDrive 2

Why You Should Test Your Mac’s Disks

A healthy hard disk drive (HDD) or solid-state drive (SSD) is essential for your Mac’s performance and reliability. A failing disk can slow down your system, cause errors, or—at worst—lead to complete drive failure and data loss.

Regular disk checks can alert you to performance issues or potential corruption before they become serious problems. Testing is especially important if you notice symptoms like missing files, slow read/write speeds, or unusual system behavior. Ignoring these signs could result in data loss that might have been preventable with timely intervention.

How to Check Hard Drive Health on a Mac

There are several ways to monitor your Mac’s hard drive health. One of the simplest methods is using Disk Utility, the built-in macOS tool, to scan for errors or bad sectors. Disk Utility allows you to verify and repair disks through a straightforward procedure, giving you an immediate look at your drive’s condition.

Additional third-party tools can provide more detailed diagnostics, including S.M.A.R.T. status, temperature monitoring, and advanced error reporting, which can help catch early signs of drive failure.

Follow next steps for Checking Hard Drive Health on Mac:

1. Open Disk Utility, found within the /Applications/Utilities folder.

2. Select the disk from the available devices.

3. Click on First Aid to check your drive for errors.

   

4. Click on “Run” in the lower right corner.

   

5. Disk Utility will report on the status of the drive and attempt to fix errors.

You can also use monitoring software that provides real-time information about your disks and alerts you to potential issues. Some tools automatically generate warnings, while others present detailed reports that require manual review to assess drive health. Both approaches are effective, and the best choice depends on your workflow and preferences.

Features to Look for in Apps to Check Mac Hard Drive Health

When selecting an app to monitor your Mac’s hard drive health, look for these key features to ensure functionality, reliability, and ease of use:

1. S.M.A.R.T. monitoring: Choose apps that incorporate Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology (S.M.A.R.T.). This feature provides preemptive warnings about potential drive failures, helping you address problems before they escalate.

2. Disk repair tools: These tools should allow you to correct errors and repair file systems, enabling proactive maintenance and issue resolution directly through the app.

3. User-friendly interface: The application should be straightforward and easy to navigate, enabling users of all technical levels to effectively utilize its features.

4. Detailed diagnostics: Look for apps that offer comprehensive reports and diagnostics. These insights help you manage your hard drive’s health more proactively and make timely upgrades.

5. Data recovery solutions: Seek features that support file recovery and disk cloning, which are invaluable for retrieving important data after accidental deletions or severe disk damage.

6. Consistent updates and support: Make sure the app receives regular updates to support the latest macOS versions and hardware changes. Reliable customer support is crucial for resolving any issues you encounter.

7. Minimal performance impact: Find apps that operate efficiently in the background, minimizing resource consumption and avoiding any slowdowns in system performance during their operation.

Apps to Check Mac Hard Drive Health Testing Statistics:

Number of Software tested on Mac:	8
How long we test tools:	1 month
OS version:	macOS Sequoia
S.M.A.R.T. Technology:	Yes/No

8 Apps That Perform a Mac Hard Drive Test

Here’s an overview of eight apps that you can use to check hard drive health on a Mac. They don’t all have the same level of functionality and some are more useful for specific issues you may be experiencing with your Mac’s disks.

1. Disk Utility​

S.M.A.R.T. Technology: Yes (internal drives) | Speed: Good | System requirements: Installed as part of macOS from Mac OS X 10.0 | Main Function: disk repair and verification

Overview:

Disk Utility is a built-in macOS app that can be used to perform a variety of tasks on your Mac’s disks. The First Aid function in Disk Utility checks for errors and makes repairs under certain circumstances. Disk Utility cannot fix all disk problems and may deliver a report that indicates your disk will soon fail. If that is the case, backup your data as soon as possible and consider replacing the drive.

Key Features:

• Disk formatting and partitioning;

• Erase disks;

• Displaying disk information such as capacity and S.M.A.R.T. status.

Pros:

• Free with macOS

• Supported by Apple

Cons:

• Limited monitoring capability

• S.M.A.R.T. by default works only for internal drives

Pricing plans:

• Free tool included as part of your macOS installation

User Guide

2. Disk Drill Disk Health Tool​

S.M.A.R.T. Technology: Yes | Speed: Excellent | System requirements: Runs on Mac OS X 10.5 and later | Main Function: S.M.A.R.T. monitoring and data recovery

Overview:

Disk Drill is data recovery software that can also check SSD and HDD health on your Mac. You can choose to have Disk Drill monitor the state of your SSD drive and display warning messages if it detects problems. You can activate continuous disk monitoring, which will be displayed in the menu bar and notify you when the disk is overheating or critically full, etc.

Key Features:

• Recover lost and deleted data;

• Works with internal and external drives;

• Free data protection tools;

• Find duplicate files;

• Shred data;

• Create byte-level backups for drive protection.

Pros:

• Extensive data recovery and protection tools

Cons:

• Limited disk monitoring capability

Pricing plans:

• Free tool included as part of Disk Drill’s trial download. A full license for the Pro version of Disk Drill for data recovery is $89

Free Download

3. CleanMyMac​

S.M.A.R.T. Technology: No | Speed: Good | System requirements: macOS 11 and higher | Main Function: verify the startup disk and free disk space

Overview:

CleanMyMac is designed to remove temporary and junk files from your Mac’s hard drive to give you more space and increase your computer’s response speed. The tool will inform you when there are files that can be removed and let you know how much space you can save by performing a disk cleaning.

Key Features:

• Removes browsing history to protect privacy;

• Find and remove malware.

Pros:

• Find and remove duplicates and similar photos

• App uninstaller feature

• Includes Mac’s memory control and CPU load

Cons:

• Requires a subscription or an expensive one-time purchase

Pricing plans:

• Free trial available

• A yearly subscription for one Mac is $47.40

• The one-time purchase costs $119.95

Free Download

4. Mac Cleaner​

S.M.A.R.T. Technology: No | Speed: Good | System requirements: macOS 10.13+ | Main Function: freeing disk space

Overview:

Mac Cleaner is a multi-purpose tool that can help free up valuable disk space for more effective use of your storage devices. It can also monitor various aspects of your Mac such as memory and CPU utilization. In addition to the cleaning functions, it also has the ability to securely delete files so that they are unrecoverable in any way.

Key Features:

• Optimize Mac for мaximum device performance;

• Completely shred unnecessary apps;

• Find duplicates and similar images.

Pros:

• Can free up RAM

• Clear system, apps, and iTunes caches

• Uninstalls applications with one click

• Finds duplicate files

Pricing plans:

• Free trial available

• $9.95/month

• $24.95/year

• $59.95 for a lifetime license

Free Download

5. Blackmagic Disk Speed Test​

S.M.A.R.T. Technology: No | Speed: Excellent | System requirements: macOS 10.13.0 or later | Main Function: testing disk read/write speed

Overview:

If you work with large video files, the read and write speed of your hard disk can be vitally important. This tool is a single function application that tests the speed at which your disk is operating. You can continuously monitor if you desire to see if performance is impacted over time.

Pros:

• Strictly a disk read/write speed monitoring tool

Pricing plans:

• Free from the Mac App Store

Free Download

6. DriveDx​

S.M.A.R.T. Technology: Yes | Speed: Good | System requirements: Mac OS X 10.9 or later | Main Function: disk diagnostics and monitoring

Overview:

DriveDx offers real-time disk monitoring that is designed to alert you before your HDD or SSD fails. The tool provides key metrics regarding the health and performance of your drives to let you know when problems occur. It uses different algorithms to perform a more complete assessment of the state of HDD or SSD drives.

Key Features:

• Includes self-tests for HDD or SSD;

• You can enable the drive free space monitoring feature.

Pros:

• Automated email reports

• Modern and intuitive user-interface

• Early warning system for drive problems

Pricing plans:

• Free trial, $19.99 for a personal license

Free Download

7. iStat Menus​

S.M.A.R.T. Technology: Yes | Speed: Good | System requirements: macOS 11 or later | Main Function: detailed disk monitoring

Overview:

iStat Menu is a full-featured monitoring application that can check the disk on a Mac as well as perform many other diagnostic activities. It displays free and used disk space, S.M.A.R.T. status, and provides statistics on disk I/O. The tool gives you an impressive array of information regarding the health of your Mac’s disk and about the system in general.

Key Features:

• Monitor CPU and GPU usage;

• Memory and network statistics;

• Customizable notifications for many aspects of your Mac.

Pros:

• Provides extensive system information

Cons:

• It may be too complex for novice users

Pricing plans:

• 14-day trial version available

• $9.99/month subscription

Buy Now

8. CleanMyDrive 2​

S.M.A.R.T. Technology: No | Speed: Good | System requirements: macOS 10.13 or later | Main Function: freeing up disk space

Overview:

This tool does exactly what its name implies. It keeps your drive free of junk and unnecessary files that reduce your storage capacity and slow down your computer. You can use this app to clean your Mac’s internal or external drives. Handcrafted icons for each drive make it easier to view and determine which one is having issues. Unfortunately, the developer has stopped further development of the application, but you can still download it freely.

Key Features:

• Copy files to any drive by dragging them into the app;

• Clean up drives from junk manually or automatically;

• Eject multiple drives with a single click.

Pros:

• Powerful freeware tool

• Monitor free space on your Mac

Cons:

• No disk health monitoring

Pricing plans:

• Free app

Summary

The tools and applications we’ve covered address a wide range of potential issues your Mac’s hard drive might face. Whether you need to test read/write speeds, monitor S.M.A.R.T. status, scan for and repair errors, or remove unnecessary junk files, there’s an app suited to your needs. Most of these apps are free or offer a free trial, making it easy to start monitoring your drives today. Taking care of your Mac’s disks ensures your system remains fast, reliable, and healthy over the long term.