At a look
Knowledgeable’s Ranking
Professionals
- Improved interface and ease of use
- Wide selection of cleansing instruments
- Subscription or one-time buy out there
Cons
- Dearer than some rivals
- Restricted malware options
- Some technical data nonetheless wanted
Our Verdict
CleanMacMac is an efficient multi-purpose utility for the macOS working system, and its shiny, pleasant consumer interface lends quick access to a number of useful utilities to clear up disk area, shield consumer privateness, optimize efficiency, replace functions, uninstall software program, and assist forestall malware and adware.
Worth When Reviewed
This worth will present the geolocated pricing textual content for product undefined
Greatest Pricing At this time
MacPaw (first yr, 1 system)
$47.40
Greatest Costs At this time: CleanMyMac
MacPaw (first yr, 1 system)
$47.40
There are many cleanup apps out there that declare to hurry up your Mac by eliminating previous recordsdata that may be clogging up your Mac’s drive, deleting duplicate images, or uninstalling apps and software program fully in order that they don’t go away behind any previous recordsdata which can be not wanted. Nonetheless, few of these cleanup apps are as complete as CleanMyMac from MacPaw, which was up to date to model 5.0 (and dropped the ‘X’ from its identify, as model 4 was known as CleanMyMac X) again in 2024.
On this evaluation we’ll run by means of what you are able to do with CleanMyMac, what we hyperlink about it, and what we aren’t so eager on, and we’ll clarify what’s within the newest replace. See how CleanMyMac compares to different Mac Cleaners in our Greatest Mac Cleaner software program round-up.
What CleanMyMac can do
It’s not the most affordable cleanup app out there for the Mac, however CleanMyMac offers dozens of various instruments for deleting previous recordsdata and knowledge. It teams all these instruments into 5 fundamental classes that target completely different duties – Cleanup, Safety, Efficiency, Purposes and My Litter. It’s value exploring every set of instruments to see how this system works however, for comfort, there’s additionally a Sensible Care function that offers your Mac drive a fast check-up and summarises the results of its scans for all 5 classes.
The Cleanup instruments give attention to deleting junk: previous recordsdata and paperwork which can be taking on precious area, or previous system recordsdata which can be not wanted.
Foundry
The Safety instruments dig a bit deeper and may scan for malware that may trigger a risk to your Mac. Whereas the app works properly with macOS’ Gatekeeper operate in working to stop malware set up in your Mac, it’s nonetheless doable to put in a great quantity of questionable software program. Sure, the Malware Elimination module was in a position to detect and quarantine a number of threats (resembling OSX.EvilEgg, DazzleSpy, and components of the AdWind malware), nevertheless it left segments of AdWind put in in checks, in addition to missed the questionable WaveBrowser, a mock model of Adobe Flash Participant Set up Supervisor, Adobe album and the notorious MacSecurity app, which needed to be eliminated with one other utility.
This was disappointing contemplating MacPaw’s well-marketed and hyped use of the Moonlock Engine for this function. CleanMyMac isn’t a devoted anti-virus program so it doesn’t present the identical stage of safety because the applications featured in our Greatest Antivirus for Mac round-up. Additionally learn: CleanMyMac presents virus removing, however is it any good?
The Efficiency instruments assist with routine upkeep, clearing out the DNS cache that’s used for net searching, re-indexing Highlight and Mail to hurry up search outcomes, and protecting monitor of your Login and Background gadgets (which you too can do utilizing System Settings in your Mac).
A standard process that many individuals ask about is fully delete functions from their Mac, as many functions go away behind previous recordsdata and bits of information even after you delete the appliance itself. The Purposes instruments in CleanMyMac can assist with that process, deleting app leftovers and set up recordsdata, and in addition reminding you of any previous functions that you could be not have used not too long ago.
Lastly, there’s My Litter, which may scan both particular person folders or your whole Mac drive to find previous recordsdata that you just haven’t used for a very long time, or notably giant recordsdata that take up loads of area. This newest model features some new options right here, together with the flexibility to determine duplicate recordsdata, or images that look very comparable so to delete them if you wish to. There are additionally some diagnostic instruments, together with the flexibility to determine apps which can be utilizing loads of battery energy in your laptop computer.
Foundry
Utilizing CleanMyMac
A very powerful change that arrived with model 5.0 was the redesigned interface. Earlier variations of CleanMyMac may use every set of instruments to scan your Mac routinely, however would then throw lengthy lists of recordsdata and knowledge onto the display and go away you to determine which recordsdata you wished to maintain or delete – which may very well be complicated for a lot of customers who don’t have the required stage of technical data.
CleanMyMac 5.0 simplified issues by displaying the outcomes of its scans as a sequence of tiles that offer you a fast abstract of every scan. So the Utility instruments will show tiles that break the outcomes down into app leftovers which can be left behind while you delete functions, or set up recordsdata which can be used while you first set up a brand new app.
Different tiles will let you know about apps which can be ready for updates, or previous apps that haven’t been used for a very long time. If you would like extra data then every tile has a Overview button that may show the whole checklist of related recordsdata, or you’ll be able to merely hit the Take away button and permit CleanMyMac to routinely delete every little thing for you.
CleanMyMac Updates
There have been various updates to CleanMyMac since our evaluation of model 5.0 in 2024, a few of which have been merely upkeep updates that handled bugs and different issues. Nonetheless, there have additionally been what MacPaw refers to as ‘main updates’ that launched new options.
Model 5.0.5 up to date the app’s Efficiency module, with a brand new possibility Purgeable Area, which scans your whole laborious drive for previous recordsdata, cache recordsdata, or non permanent recordsdata and downloads that you would be able to delete to save lots of area.
Some new accessibility options arrived with model 5.0.7, with the flexibility to make use of the VoiceOver function within the macOS to learn out data inside the app for individuals who have visible impairments. There’s additionally an possibility known as Scale back Movement that does precisely what it says, decreasing the animation and different visible results throughout scans to cut back discomfort or distraction.
An older function received an replace in model 5.1, when the Area Lens was revamped to offer a visible information to the usage of storage in your Mac. This function (which is barely out there within the Plus model of the app) shows all of the folders in your Mac as a sequence of ‘bubbles’ of various sizes, indicating the quantity of cupboard space taken up by every folder. You may then click on on every bubble to discover the varied recordsdata and sub-folders that it incorporates and determine which of them it’s possible you’ll wish to delete in an effort to save area.
Foundry
CleanMyMac prolonged its space-saving options onto the cloud with a brand new Cloud Cleanup function in model 5.2.1 (solely out there with the Plus model). This lets you use CleanMyMac to scan your cloud storage on iCloud Drive, Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive. The app can scan these on-line drives simply as it may well scan your Mac’s native drive and lets you rapidly delete recordsdata that you just don’t want, or maybe delete recordsdata out of your Mac and simply go away a backup in your cloud drive as a substitute.
Foundry
Some folks might not really feel comfy giving a third-party app entry to their non-public cloud accounts, although, wherein case it can save you some cash by choosing the Fundamental model of CleanMyMac that doesn’t embrace this specific function.
How one can purchase CleanMyMac
Maybe probably the most vital change is the brand new pricing construction that was launched in July of 2025 that features separate ‘Fundamental’ and ‘Plus’ variations of the app. The Fundamental model presents a restricted set of options for much less technically inclined customers, whereas the Plus model presents the complete vary of options, together with a number of the newest function updates from 2025 (you’ll be able to evaluate the 2 variations right here).
The Fundamental model of CleanMyMac prices $9.95/£8.95 monthly, which, to be trustworthy, appears a bit of steep for an app that you could be solely use each few weeks. Nonetheless, there’s additionally an annual subscription out there that appears much more cheap, costing $47.50/£27.00 per yr. And, in case you don’t like paying subscriptions for software program, then you too can purchase the Fundamental model for a single ‘One Time’ payment of $119.95/£101.95.
As you’d count on, the Plus model of the app is dearer, costing $15.95/£14.95 monthly, or $71.40/£45.00 yearly, whereas the One Time buy possibility prices $195.95/£165.95. There’s some small print to look out for although, as these costs solely mean you can run CleanMyMac on a single Mac. There are extra pricing plans for 2 or 5 Macs additionally out there, in addition to a Enterprise version that gives reductions for quantity licensing (with full particulars out there on MacPaw’s web site).
It’s additionally value noting that the One Time buy possibility lets you use the app for so long as you need – with no recurring subscription charges – however that worth might not embrace extra ‘main updates’ and options which can be launched sooner or later, so you should still must pay additional to maintain updated with all the newest options. And, as we’ve point out up to now, there’s a model of CleanMyMac additionally out there on the Mac App Retailer, though Apple’s technical restrictions imply that it might not have the complete vary of options which can be out there while you purchase CleanMy Mac straight from MacPaw.
You should purchase CleanMyMac both from MacPaw’s personal web site, or from the Mac App Retailer, though the model offered on the Mac App Retailer omits a number of options (because of technical restrictions imposed by Apple). However, as at all times, there’s nonetheless a seven day free trial out there so to strive the app out earlier than paying for the complete model.
Ought to You Purchase CleanMyMac?
Some folks argue that utilities resembling this are fully pointless, and it’s definitely doable to carry out most of those Mac upkeep duties your self – so long as you might have an inexpensive quantity of technical data. However, in case you don’t know your DNS cache out of your common binaries, then a well-designed app resembling CleanMacMac can simplify these duties for you, and assist to maintain your Mac combating match.