- Mac cleaners at a glance
- Eleven Mac cleaners to look at
- Where to start for your situation
- Start with the storage tools in macOS
- Disk analysers versus all-in-one cleaners
- Questions to ask before you install a Mac cleaner
- Signs your Mac needs a clear-out
- My plain advice on choosing a Mac cleaner
- Frequently asked questions
The best Mac cleaners help you find what's filling your storage, remove apps along with their leftover files and clear out clutter you no longer need. Some are small free utilities that do one job, while others are all-in-one maintenance apps. Eleven options follow in no particular order.
The warning pops up at the worst moment: your disk is almost full. Usually it's not one huge file but years of downloads, old app files, duplicate photos and caches that nobody ever looks at.
The eleven Mac cleaners below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and every description comes from the app's own website, read this week. If you're setting up a Mac for work from scratch, my guide to setting up your Mac for digital marketing covers the apps worth installing first.
Mac cleaners at a glance
I checked the free plan column on each tool's own website, as of Oct 2026. Yes means the site names a free plan, a free version, a free allowance or an open source version. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the pages I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to start for free, so check the vendor's page before you sign up.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| AppCleaner | App uninstaller that finds leftover files | Removing apps and their leftovers | Not stated |
| BuhoCleaner | Mac cleaner app | Quick one-tap clean-ups | Not stated |
| CCleaner for Mac | Cleaner app from the CCleaner makers | A familiar cleaner name on Mac | Yes |
| CleanMyMac | All-in-one Mac cleaner from MacPaw | Cleaning, uninstalling and malware checks | Trial only |
| DaisyDisk | Visual disk space analyser | Seeing what fills your disk | Not stated |
| MacCleaner Pro | Clean-up and speed-up toolkit from Nektony | A bundle of clean-up tools | Trial only |
| MacKeeper | All-in-one Mac maintenance app | Maintenance and security in one | Not stated |
| OmniDiskSweeper | Disk sweeper from The Omni Group | Finding large unwanted files | Not stated |
| OnyX | Maintenance and settings utility for macOS | Deep maintenance tasks and settings | Not stated |
| Pearcleaner | App cleaner from an independent developer | A light, independent app remover | Not stated |
| Sensei | Mac system performance monitor | Watching performance from the menu bar | Not stated |
Eleven Mac cleaners to look at
AppCleaner
Best for: Mac users who want to drag an app into one window and remove it along with the related files it leaves behind.
BuhoCleaner
Best for: Busy owners who want a quick clean of junk files and a simple view of what's eating up their storage.
CCleaner for Mac
Best for: Former Windows users who know the CCleaner name and want a Mac version for junk files, duplicates and startup items.
CleanMyMac
Best for: Home and office users who want one app for junk clean-up, uninstalling, malware protection and speed tweaks, with a free trial first.
DaisyDisk
Best for: Visual thinkers who want a clear map of their disk so they can see exactly which folders are taking up space.
MacCleaner Pro
Best for: Tidy-minded users who want several clean-up tools together, including duplicate finding and disk space analysis.
MacKeeper
Best for: Non-technical owners who want cleaning, security checks and maintenance tools bundled into one app with live support.
OmniDiskSweeper
Best for: Practical users who want a plain list of the biggest files on their Mac so they can sweep them into the bin.
OnyX
Best for: Confident Mac users who want to run maintenance tasks, clear caches and adjust hidden settings in one utility.
Pearcleaner
Best for: Tinkerers who like independent Mac apps and want a light tool for removing apps and their leftover files.
Sensei
Best for: Performance watchers who want to keep an eye on performance, temperatures and storage from a dashboard in their menu bar.
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Where to start for your situation
- Seeing what fills your disk: DaisyDisk or OmniDiskSweeper.
- Removing apps and their leftovers: AppCleaner or Pearcleaner.
- Deep maintenance and hidden settings: OnyX.
- Watching performance from the menu bar: Sensei.
- A familiar cleaner name from Windows: CCleaner for Mac.
Start with the storage tools in macOS
Apple Support says your Mac can optimise storage by using iCloud to make more space available when needed, and that it includes built-in utilities to help you find files that are taking up space and delete the ones you no longer need.
Open the Storage section of System Settings before you buy anything. If the built-in recommendations clear enough room, you may not need another app at all, and you'll understand where your space went.
Disk analysers versus all-in-one cleaners
Disk analysers show you exactly what's taking up room, usually as a map or a list of the biggest folders. They don't delete anything without you deciding, which makes them a safe first step.
All-in-one cleaners scan for junk, caches, leftover app files and more, then offer to remove it in one go. They're convenient, but read what each scan wants to delete before you click the button.
Questions to ask before you install a Mac cleaner
- Does it work with my version of macOS?
- Will it show me what it plans to delete first?
- Does it ask for full disk access, and why?
- Can I remove apps and their leftover files?
- Does it find duplicate photos and files?
- Can I undo a clean-up if I change my mind?
Signs your Mac needs a clear-out
- You get low storage warnings. Check the biggest files first.
- Updates won't install. Free up space, then try again.
- Your Downloads folder is enormous. Sort it once a month.
- Old apps you never open are still there. Remove them fully.
Do you make a Mac cleaner or utility app? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing a Mac cleaner
Back up your Mac before you run any cleaner for the first time. Most clean-ups are harmless, but a backup means a mistake takes ten minutes to fix rather than losing a folder of client work you can't get back.
Then start with your Downloads folder and the biggest files, because that's usually where the space is hiding. And if you're weighing up one of the all-in-one apps, my article asking whether the best-known all-in-one Mac cleaner is safe covers permissions and privacy.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Mac cleaner?
A Mac cleaner is an app that helps you free up storage by finding junk files, large files, duplicates and leftovers from apps you've removed.
Does a Mac need a cleaner app?
Not always. macOS has built-in storage tools, and many people find enough space there. A cleaner adds more detail and convenience.
Are Mac cleaners free?
Some are free and others offer trials or free versions. The free plan column above shows what each app's own site says.
Is it safe to use a Mac cleaner?
Most are safe if you check what they plan to delete. Back up first and avoid deleting files you don't recognise.
Why is System Data taking up so much space on my Mac?
Apple describes it as a general category for files that don't belong to a more specific category. Caches and temporary files are often part of it.
How do I remove an app completely from a Mac?
Dragging an app to the Bin can leave related files behind. An uninstaller app finds those leftovers so you can remove them too.
