10 Best Mac Cleaning Apps Of 2023 | A Guide!

Our ultimate guide on 10 Best Mac Cleaning Apps is going to be extremely helpful to you if you have a lot of files that are cluttering your Mac.

There might be old photos and videos that you never deleted or apps you used once and then forgot about. 

All of this clutter can slow down your machine and make it more difficult to find things when you need them.

Fortunately, there are many useful options for cleaning up the mess on your Mac. 

Let us see our list of the 10 best mac cleaner apps to help get rid of all those files! 


How Does A Mac Cleaning App Work?

10-best-mac-cleaning-apps

A Mac cleaning app is a software program that helps you clean up the files on your computer. 

You can use these apps to delete old photos and videos, get rid of unused apps, and clear out other clutter that can slow down your machine. 

There are many different Mac cleaning apps available, and each one offers its own features and benefits.

Mac cleaning apps work by scanning your computer for files that can be deleted. The app will then show you a list of all the junk files that can be removed. 

You can then choose which files you want to delete, and the app will take care of the rest. 

Some apps also offer features that allow you to clear out your clipboard, delete browser histories, or clean up your trash. 

The best cleaning apps also give you the option to permanently erase files so that they cannot be recovered.

Speaking of that, here are the top 10 best Mac cleaning apps Of 2023:

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Best Mac Cleaning Apps

Here are our 10 best options based on:


1. CleanMyMac X — Best Overall

CleanMyMac X
CleanMyMac X

CleanMyMac X by MacPaw is one of the most popular Mac cleaners. 

This feature-rich tool has a sleek user interface and a slew of essential cleaning features, allowing you to clean up all aspects of your Mac with a click of the mouse.

Thanks to the regularly updated Safety Database, CleanMyMac X can distinguish between useful files and those that may be safely deleted. 

Because the cleaner has been in development for more than a decade, you can be certain that the database includes all junk usually found on current Macs, such as old and large files, iTunes Junk, Trash Bins, and email attachments.

CleanMyMac X can also eliminate malware threats, adjust different system settings, remove or reset software, and safely delete sensitive files in addition to comprehensive system cleaning. 

Users can test out all the services for free before paying $39.95 per year to get unlimited junk removal.

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Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Clean interface
  • Numerous handy tools
  • One-click cleaning and optimizing
  • Safe and reliable

Cons

  • Expensive

2. MacKeeper — Best Budget Mac Cleaning App

MacKeeper
MacKeeper

MacKeeper has been upgraded to include improved functionality, a new design, and an easy-to-use interface. 

Whether you’re a Mac novice or a seasoned expert, MacKeeper will quickly become second nature to you.

MacKeeper is an all-in-one software with a slew of built-in cleaning features that can free up space on your Mac by removing junk and unnecessary files. 

It’s also a comprehensive security and optimization tool, with real-time antivirus, a duplicate detector, an ad blocker, and several other privacy-protecting features.

MacKeeper also includes an Update Tracker that scans your Mac for outdated software and updates them as needed. 

You can also uninstall software and delete their remaining files using MacKeeper’s Smart Uninstaller utility.

On top of that, MacKeeper includes a VPN service as part of the subscription price. 

This grants you remote access to servers worldwide, allowing you to conceal your identity and location.

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Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Good antivirus protection
  • Built-in VPN
  • 24/7 tech support with the premium version
  • All-in-one protection and optimization

Cons

  • Expensive subscription for the premium version
  • No protection from ransomware

3. CCleaner — Best User-Friendly Mac Cleaning App

CCleaner
CCleaner

You may be aware that CCleaner has long been the industry standard in terms of PC cleaning software. 

However, Mac users can also use the PiriformCCleaner developers’ services. It is professional yet user-friendly, and it can not only speed up but also secure your Mac. 

CCleaner has a free version, but it only provides two primary features, including “privacy protection” and “aster computers.” 

Advanced features like real-time monitoring, automated browser cleaning, and automatic upgrades are available in the premium version.

The built-in Duplicate Finder can also help you save up space on your Mac by deleting duplicate files from similar or different locations.

CCleaner is free to use, but a professional version is available for $29.95. The free edition includes all of the necessary tools for cleaning up your Mac’s storage. 

However, you’ll need to subscribe to the professional version if you want more advanced features like automated cleaning of your browser history, real-time monitoring of unwanted files, and automatic upgrades.

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Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Free version comes with essential tools
  • Safe browsing
  • Real-time scanning for junk files

Cons

  • Lacks malware scanning feature
  • Dated interface

4. DaisyDisk — Most Beautiful Mac Cleaner

DaisyDisk
DaisyDisk

DaisyDisk is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful Mac cleaning apps. 

Its purpose is to address a common problem that most Mac users face at some point: a lack of disc space. 

When you first start the app, it shows a list of all storage devices connected to your Mac, including network storage. 

To review the usage of any storage device, just click the Scan icon next to it.

All files and folders are shown as an interactive visual map, making the location of the largest files clearly evident. 

DaisyDisk’s visual interface makes it exceedingly simple to free up storage space and avoid a costly storage device purchase.

Remember that the manual cleanup process can take a long time, so don’t expect immediate results. 

If you want an app that can automatically clear Mac storage, consider another best software to clean Mac listed in this article.

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Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Beautiful interface
  • Affordable price
  • Find large files easily
  • Scans modern discs in seconds

Cons

  • Lacks features
  • Users will have to clean up manually; no automated cleanup features

5. MacCleaner Pro — Best All-in-One Cleaning App

MacCleaner Pro
MacCleaner Pro

MacCleaner Pro is a full-featured file manager with additional disc cleaning and system optimization features.

On the app’s dashboard, you’ll see a color-coded overview of your Mac’s storage, with duplicate files, system files, applications, movies, documents, and other file kinds and categories color-coded. After that, you can click on any of these categories to learn more about them.

In addition to eliminating junk files, there are more tools to assist you in resolving issues impacting the efficiency of your Mac. 

For example, the Speedup Tool will clean up your Spotlight index, disable starting apps, and free up RAM.

The built-in App Cleaner can also fix broken apps, manage browser extensions, eliminate unwanted/unused apps, and clean up their leftover files.

5

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Free junk cleaner
  • User-friendly interface
  • Complete suite of cleanup tools
  • Easily analyze disc space

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Mediocre security tools

6. Gemini 2 — Best To Get Rid Of Duplicate Files

Gemini 2
Gemini 2

Gemini 2 is a duplication finder that can clear up gigabytes of storage space and arrange your files in a matter of minutes.

It instantly scans your whole Mac for duplicates and removes them. Gemini will find any type of file, whether it’s a picture, a music track, or a document. 

Once the scan is complete, you can delete the duplicates with a single click or analyze the results to ensure that nothing important has been lost.

If you accidentally delete something, you can restore it with a single click. You can also exclude particular files and folders from the scan to ensure that this never happens again.

Of 2022, the app received a big upgrade that featured a real-time duplication monitor. This new tool alerts you to duplicates as soon as they appear on your Mac.

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Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Precise detection of duplicate files
  • User-friendly
  • Allows users to restore accidentally deleted files
  • Instant notification if duplicates are found

Cons

  • Slightly expensive
  • Unattractive interface

7. Cleaner One Lite — Best Free Mac Cleaning Tool

Cleaner One Lite
Cleaner One Lite

Previously known as Dr. Cleaner, this highly rated Mac cleaner was designed by Trend Micro, a multinational American-Japanese cybersecurity software firm known for its cybersecurity products. 

Cleaner One Lite, as its name implies, is a free version of Cleaner One Pro; therefore, it lacks several features that some users may find useful.

More specifically, Cleaner One Lite lacks system status monitoring, duplicate file scanner, similar picture finder, app manager, start-up managers, file shredder, and security centres. 

If these features are vital to you, we suggest using one of the other free Mac cleaning software options on our list.

However, if you’re looking for a simple Mac disc cleaner that can remove unnecessary data from your Mac device, Cleaner One Lite is an excellent solution, as its Mac App Store reviews attest.

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Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Free
  • User-friendly interface
  • Creates an interactive visual map of junk files for users to review
  • No data cleaning restriction

Cons

  • Lacks a lot of essential features

8. Avast Cleanup — Best Premium App For Mac Cleaning

Avast Cleanup
Avast Cleanup

Avast is most renowned for its antivirus software, but it also offers this useful Mac cleaning app. 

It works by deleting unwanted files, duplicate documents, and applications, much like other cleaning software.

Avast Cleanup not only finds duplicates but also scans your photo gallery for low-quality images that you can remove using its unique image-detection algorithm. 

It searches for under-exposure, over-exposure, and blurring, among other things. This isn’t generally a function found in cleaning tools like this, so it’s a welcome addition.

You’ll find everything you need to simplify your Mac on the app’s dashboard. There are no menus or tools that are hidden. 

Simply open the application, provide it access to your Mac’s hard drive, scan for unnecessary files, and then decide what to keep or delete.

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Pros and Cons

Pros

  • 30 days free trial available
  • Finds duplicate and low-quality images to delete
  • Easy-to-use interface
  • Strong security features

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Limited cleaning features

9. Omni Remover 3 — Best For Extensive Features

Omni Remover 3
Omni Remover 3

Omni Remover 3 is a feature-rich Mac cleaning software app that can delete over 20 types of macOS system junk files, including app remnants, iTunes data, unnecessary cache files, redundant language files, and corrupted preferences.

This free MacBook cleaner is designed for macOS Catalina, but it also works on previous versions of the operating system. 

It’s available for free on its website, and you can install it just like any other non-App Store app. 

You can scan your system for free, but you won’t be able to delete any junk data until you pay for a license.

Omni Remover 3 comes with a smart app uninstaller that can handle even the most stubborn apps with files distributed across several system folders.

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Free version available
  • Cleans junk files of more than 20 types
  • Comes with an app uninstaller to fully eliminate the files of a deleted app
  • Compatible with all recent macOS versions

Cons

  • Free version is incredibly limited

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10. Disk Drill — Best For Data Recovery

Disk Drill
Disk Drill

Disk Drill isn’t only a cleaner for Macs. Its major function is to recover data from Macs, as well as iOS and Android devices. Data from Time Machine backups may also be recovered.

There is no cleaning mechanism as such, but rather a disc analyzer similar to DaisyDisk. 

This is located in the Extra tools area with a data shredder, a duplicate finder, a backup tool, and a variety of other tools for preserving the health of your Mac’s drive. 

It’s not as attractive as the disc analyzer in some other tools here, but it gets the job done.

Disk Drill can also help create a bootable macOS USB stick and delete spare disc space to prevent the reading of old data.

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Pros and Cons

Pros

  • User-friendly interface
  • Powerful features for data recovery
  • Provides lifetime updates

Cons

  • Expensive

Comparison

PRODUCTBest ForPriceFree TrialRatingFeatures
CleanMyMac XOverall$39.95Available4.6/5One-click cleaning and optimizing, unlimited junk removal, etc.
MacKeeperBudget$5.97Available4.7/5Built-in VPN, ad blocker, real-time antivirus, etc.
CCleanerUser-Friendly$29.95Available4.3/5Real-time scanning for junk files, built-in duplicate finder, etc.
DaisyDiskBeautiful Cleaner$9.99Available3.7/5Scans modern discs in seconds
MacCleaner ProAll-In-One$19.99Available4.8/5Free junk cleaner

Final Thoughts

So, there you have it. Our top 10 best Mac cleaning apps of 2023. All of these apps are great for keeping your MacBook running smoothly and freeing up valuable disk space. 

If you’re looking for a comprehensive solution that can cover all your junk file cleanup needs, we recommend CleanMyMac X or MacCleaner Pro. 

But if you’re just looking for a quick and easy way to scan for and delete duplicate files, then Disk Drill or Cleaner One Lite will do the trick. 

Whichever app you choose, we hope you find it helpful in keeping your MacBook running like new!


FAQs

Are Mac cleaning apps worth it?

Mac cleaning apps are worth it. Not only do they help to free up valuable disk space, but they also keep your MacBook running smoothly and efficiently. 

We recommend using a Mac cleaning app at least once a month to keep your system in top condition. 10

Does Apple have a built-in Mac cleaner?

No, Apple does not have a built-in Mac cleaner. There’s no need for an app like this as macOS is designed not to accumulate a lot of junk files. 

However, even though macOS isn’t too prone to getting cluttered up with assorted system junk, it is always a good idea to use an app like this at least once per month or so. 

How often should I use a Mac cleaner app?

It’s advisable to run a Mac cleaner app every month or so. If you let your MacBook accumulate too much junk, it can start to run slowly and less smoothly. 

Using a Mac cleaner app will help to speed up your system and remove any redundant files that are slowing it down. 

NPC Overall Rating


ARTICLE SOURCES

The National Planning Cycles is committed to producing high-quality content that follows industry standards. We do this by using primary sources, such as white papers and government data alongside original reporting from reputable publishers that were appropriate for the accuracy of information while still being unbiased. We have an editorial policy that includes verifiable facts with due credit given where applicable.

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  8. https://onehourprofessor.com/avast-cleanup-review/[]
  9. https://www.pandorarecovery.com/disk-drill-review/[]
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