Everyone wants their computer to be in prime operating condition. Any device that isn’t working at full capacity can slow down and limit many of the everyday functions that we expect out of our modern tech.
While your Mac is a high-end computer that typically doesn’t need much attention to keep it functioning properly, it is still a good idea to clean it up from time to time to ensure that you are getting the most out of your machine.
In this roundup review, we’ll look at the best Mac cleaner apps so you can use the one that fits and make sure your Mac is always functioning at the high level you expect.
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Do You Need to Clean up Your Mac?
There are two different lines of thought when it comes to cleaning up your Mac. Some people like to keep their computers very clean and want to make sure it will always be in perfect operating condition and have a decent amount of free storage. Others will not even think about cleaning up their Macs until they run into some sort of issue.
If you want to be able to stay in control of your Mac and never worry about running out of disk space or other performance issues, it’s good to have the option to use Mac cleaning software whenever you want or need it.
Over time, your Mac is going to start to fill up with data, software, and other files. Some of these may be unnecessary or take up needed space and cleaning software can easily help you uncover these files.
If your Mac machine is fairly new and you are not experiencing any issues with it, you probably don’t need to spend the time to clean it up. You should still have plenty of free disk space if you recently purchased your Mac and it should be operating properly and efficiently.
When you think you actually need to clean up your Mac or increase its performance, you can always come back and get one of the best Mac cleaning software on this list.
Why Use Mac Cleaner Software?
When your Mac isn’t functioning as well as it should be or runs out of disk space, it can be really frustrating. Rather than dealing with common issues such as freezes and slow operations that can occur on your Mac, you can easily fix most of these problems by using Mac cleaning software.
The software listed here can help with many common Mac problems caused by your system being cluttered with unneeded and unwanted files. System junk, duplicate files, and browsing caches can take up a lot of free disk space and you might not even know that these files exist without the help of software designed to locate and remove them.
A cluttered macOS system can eventually lead to frustrating problems. Many Mac owners blame this on having an old computer, but in reality, all you need to do is clean it up to get your system up to speed again. The cost of these software programs is much cheaper than buying a new computer so it’s always a good idea to try to clean up your Mac before giving up in you are experiencing any problems.
Our Top Picks of The Best Mac Cleaner Apps
There are many different options available when it comes to Mac cleaning software and apps. I have spent the time to test a lot of these apps and those that have made the list are the best that I have found. To compile this list I weighed certain factors such as user experience, pricing, and the number of features they offer.
While any app that helps you clean up your Mac is going to be beneficial, the following are some of the best and come recommended.
Note: you don’t need to use multiple apps, just select the one that best fits your need.
1. CleanMyMac X
CleanMyMac X is our top recommendation. This app is a one-stop shop for all of your cleaning needs and can quickly and effectively remove hidden and junk files to get your computer up to full speed again. This is a popular app for good reason – it can easily find and remove hidden files, large and duplicate files, and other apps and files that might be occupying free disk space.
CleanMyMac also has a really easy-to-use interface that will allow you to start cleaning your Mac within just a few clicks. The app can run a scan to look for any of these unnecessary files while also looking through your system for other sources of clutter such as your photos and music.
Packed full of features in addition to its cleaning capabilities such as a malware remover and performance monitor, CleanMyMac X has everything you need for a clean Mac.
What I like:
- Easy-to-use interface
- Full of features with the Performance Monitor being a favorite
- A complete and complex search of system files
What I don’t like:
- One of the most expensive options
- The free version only allows for 500MB of file removal
>> Get CleanMyMac X ($34.95/Mac/year) <<
2. EaseUS CleanGenius for Mac
CleanGenius is another great choice for Mac cleaning. This app has a very intuitive interface that shows you the system status of your Mac and lets your start searching, cleaning, and removing any files to improve performance and speed.
Clean Genius is capable of locating and removing cookies, caches, plugins, and extensions that can take up disk space on your Mac due to your internet browsing. The app can also help you free up RAM which might also be contributing to slowdowns and freezes.
It also features startup optimization to allow you better control over your startup items and apps. This is a great all-around Mac cleaning program.
What I like:
- Intuitive interface
- Great startup optimization feature
- Effective cleaning software
What I don’t like:
- Solid overall but not as many functions as other options
- The free version is especially limited
>> Get CleanGenius ($29.95/Mac/Year) <<
3. CCleaner for Mac
An affordable option that does a great job at cleaning up your Mac is CCleaner. The app offers a simple interface that makes it really easy to navigate.
I like the part that CCleaner will let you analyze your system before you actually run the cleaning function. This feature gives you a little insight into the status of your disk space and RAM before you clean it up.
CCleaner has many different cleanup options that may get your Mac running back at high speeds again. The app allows you to clean up caches, cookies downloads, unneeded apps, logs, and recently used programs and files.
You can then select which files you want to clean up with a few simple clicks. The low cost, easy-to-use interface, and solid cleaning ability make this program stand out.
What I like:
- Affordable
- Effective
- Analyze function gives a good glimpse into your system
What I don’t like:
- The company has had security issues in the past
- The free version has limited support
>> Get CCleaner for Mac ($19.95/MAC/Year) <<
4. MacBooster
Another affordable and effective Mac cleaning software is IObit MacBooster. The program has a great visual interface which makes it easy to navigate and get started on your cleaning.
It offers a deep system cleanup that can search your computer for system junk, large and old files, and any other files that may be taking lots of disk space or slowing down your system. It also allows you to easily remove these files after they have been located.
MacBooster also gives you the ability to run a search for any viruses or malware that may be on your system. The startup optimization feature can speed up your computer and all of these features combine to make it a great option. The security features alone would make it worth purchasing and combined with its cleaning abilities, MacBooster is a solid option for any Mac owner.
What I like:
- Affordable
- Great visual interface
- Excellent security features
What I don’t like:
- Some features are similar to functions built into macOS
- Lots of tools built into the program but could be better explained within the app
>> Get MacBooster ($3.33/Mac/Month) <<
5. Parallels Toolbox
Parallels Toolbox is another nice software that can help you effectively clean up your Mac and get it running faster and smoother again.
This program is not exclusively for cleaning your Mac and offers a bunch of other tools that could come in useful (as the toolbox in the name suggests). The features directly related to cleaning your Mac include a drive cleaner, duplicate file search, and memory cleaner.
Even though this isn’t a program designed exclusively for Mac cleaning, it does an effective job, and the other tools it provides make it a good choice for those who want more than just a Mac cleaner app.
It can be a little overwhelming to figure out at first with so many options, but the user interface is actually pretty easy to navigate with clearly marked icons and one-click solutions to your cleaning needs and many other functions.
What I like:
- More functions than just cleaning
- Cleaning functions are effective
- The interface is full of options but easy to navigate
What I don’t like:
- Not as in-depth of a cleaning program as other options
- Sometimes it feels a bit overwhelming with the number of functions
>> Get Parallels ToolBox (7-day free trial, $19.99/Mac/Year) <<
6. OnyX
OnyX is yet another fully functional Mac cleaning software that is an excellent choice for all of your clean-up needs.
The best thing about this option is that it is totally free to use and you don’t need to sign up for any subscription or trial period to use all of its features. It can be used to delete caches, remove duplicate and large files, and other tasks that will clear up vital disk space.
But due to its in-depth and powerful abilities, OnyX is not as suited to those who are inexperienced with the functions on their computer. It’s not as simple to use as other programs and a few wrong choices can lead to users creating more problems than solutions.
If you are a computer person who’s capable and comfortable with navigating most systems on your Mac, OnyX is a great option.
What I like:
- It’s free
- Very powerful cleaning program
- Can set up automated scripts to aid in maintenance
What I don’t like:
- The interface is harder to use
- Not well suited for inexperience Mac users
>> Get OnyX (Free) <<
7. Drive Genius
Drive Genious is like an all-in-one Mac cleaning and protection suite that does more than just clean and speed up your computer.
The app offers an interface that looks similar to macOS so it has a really intuitive and functional feel to make navigation a breeze. It also offers three different main settings – Protect, Speed Up, and Clean Up. These options give you the power to clean up disk space and clutter caused by any hidden or unnecessary files.
Drive Genious offers 8 different tools in Clean Up mode that are all designed to help you get your Mac fully functioning at high speed again. It utilizes a scan for files that are taking up disk space and will allow you to easily remove them.
Speed up mode gives you the option to reach optimal drive performance as well as defragment your hard disk – both measures enable better overall performance and speed.
What I like:
- Very intuitive interface
- 3 modes offer plenty of cleaning power and other options
- Also offers good security protection for your Mac
What I don’t like:
- Expensive
- Too many options for inexperienced users
>> Get Drive Genius ($79/Mac) <<
8. AppCleaner
AppCleaner is a free Mac cleaner that every Mac owner should consider. This app doesn’t come with as many features as other cleaning software but that doesn’t mean it lacks the ability to help clean up your computer. AppCleaner works by removing any unwanted files associated with uninstalled apps on your Mac.
Sometimes when you move an app to the Trash, not all of the files associated with that app are removed from your Mac computer. AppCleaner helps to locate these files and makes them easy to remove.
Once you download this free app, you can run a search for files associated with the app, or delete any third-party app from your computer altogether. That will help free up a good amount of storage.
What I like:
- It’s free
- Easy to use
- Helps remove leftover files from deleted apps
What I don’t like:
- Doesn’t come with other cleaning features
- Limited ability to speed up performance on Mac
>> Get AppCleaner (Free) <<
9. AVG Cleaner for Mac
AVG Cleaner is another good option for any Mac user to use for clean-up and performance needs. This is another free piece of software from a company that is well-known for its anti-virus products.
The app is fairly easy to use but doesn’t have as in-depth of features as others on this list. It can locate and remove junk and hidden files from your Mac and can also clean up duplicate photos, videos, and music.
AVG Cleaner has a very easy-to-use interface that enables you to clean up your system quickly and effectively. By simply clicking on the “Scan Mac” button from the main screen, you can start the process.
The app can also learn your usage habits over time making it more effective in its ability to quickly clean and speed up your Mac. This is a well-designed and free app that makes it another excellent choice.
What I like:
- Free
- Simple but effective interface
- Program learns usage habits over time making it more effective the more it’s used
What I don’t like:
- Removes programs permanently so be careful when cleaning
- Not as many features as paid software
>> Get AVG Cleaner (Free) <<
10. DaisyDisk
DaisyDisk is an excellent program for cleaning up cluttered and clogged disk space on your Mac.
If you start to experience any issues with performance or speed when using your computer, there is a good chance that your disk space is getting filled up by files you may or may not know about. This app makes it easy to search your disk space and see what applications and files are taking up the most space.
DaisyDisk is very easy to use. Once you have the program installed on your Mac, simply run a scan of your hard drive (or any disk connected to your computer such as an external hard drive, etc.) and you can identify any unneeded or unused files.
After you locate the files, you can easily drag and drop them to delete and free up disk space and improve performance.
What I like:
- Easy to use
- Locates unneeded and unused files
What I don’t like:
- Limited functions compared to other software
- Frees up disk space but no other options to boost performance
>> Get DaisyDisk (7-day free trial, $9.99/Mac) <<
11. iMobie MacClean
Rounding out the list of the best Mac cleaning software is MacClean. This application is quick and effective at locating system junk, duplicate and large files, caches, and other files that may be slowing down your computer. The cleanup tools on MacClean are impressive and the program offers an app uninstaller in addition to the features described above.
MacClean doesn’t look flashy but it doesn’t need to be. With a straightforward look that is effective, you can easily get your system organized and cleaned up within minutes. Once you run a deep scan, you can clean up and delete any files that are taking up valuable disk space and have them gone forever.
What I like:
- Effective cleaning tools
- Simple but easy-to-use interface
- Quick scan and removal of unwanted files
What I don’t like:
- The app doesn’t find as many old files as other programs
- Scan is quick but doesn’t seem as thorough as other programs
>> Get iMobie MacClean ($19.99/Mac/Year) <<
Other Tips to Keep Your Mac Clean
While it is always a good idea to use Mac cleaning software if and when you need it, there are other things you can do to keep your computer clean and operating as best as possible. If you learn some good habits, you can easily reduce the need for cleaning as often.
While it’s nearly impossible to always keep unwanted and junk files off of your system, by following some of the tips below, you can do your best to keep your Mac as functional as possible.
1. Get used to organizing your files often and in a manner that makes them easy to manage, you will be able to reduce the chance of duplicate files.
Duplicate files will result in double the disk space being used for the same file and are easy to eliminate if you keep your system organized.
2. Third-party apps are another source of speed and performance issues. If you have a lot of applications installed on your computer, your free space can disappear quickly.
Many Mac users have apps on their computers that they only used once or no longer use at all. If you spend the time to get rid of these apps that you don’t really use, it can also free up disk space and help your system remain fast.
3. Similar to apps, removing any unwanted or unneeded files from your system can also free up space and keep your computer operating at a high level.
You can always back up files that you might want on an external hard drive. This way you will still have access to the files but they will not be taking up space on your Mac.
Final Words
If you have ever experienced issues with your Mac, you know how frustrating it can be. Luckily, there are some easy fixes to increase the performance through the use of Mac cleaner software listed here.
All of the apps listed here come highly recommended and will help you effectively clean up your Mac and have it operating at its best.
Remember that most of these software either come with a free trial or are completely free to use so you can experiment and see which one works the best for your needs. Also by following a few of the tips mentioned above, you can limit your need for cleaning in the first place.
Have you ever used Mac cleaning software before? Do you have a favorite app not listed in this review? Let us know in the comments below!