We clean our rooms and clothes so why not our Macs? But who can waste the entire day digging through folders and files? There are so many places like music, videos, apps and email downloads, and countless more locations on your Mac where junk and clutter accumulates. In 2020 cleaning your Mac is easier than ever. Which is why millions of people download free and low-cost Mac cleaning software.
To start off, we've made a quick comparison chart about best Mac cleaners for Mac.
| Rating | Name | Features | Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CleanMyMac X | Best cleaning and antimalware functionality in one tool | Link |
| 2 | Disk Doctor | Quick scan and deep cleaning of all kinds of junk | Link |
| 3 | Gemini 2 | Finds duplicate and similar files everywhere on your Mac, including Photos, iTunes, and external drives. | Link |
A handy cleaner may prove that your Mac is still alive and can actually perform at its best. In this article we’ve brought together some of the best Mac cleaning solutions around to clean, optimize, and maintain Macs that are available in 2020.
Optimize and clean my PC. Keep your computer clean and fast with Total PC Cleaner. It lets you clean your PC's cache and big files. It has everything you need for a free computer cleaner. User comments 'This is the best pc cleaner in Microsoft store'. It scans your whole computer to clean up junk files, speed up your PC, and boost its performance.
- CNET Download provides free downloads for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android devices across all categories of software and apps, including security, utilities, games, video and browsers.
- Cleaner – best Mac cleaner software. One of the best Mac cleaner software is also free on iTunes as well. This all in one tool can help you clean up all the junk in your Mac and speed up the performance too. It can clean all the catch files, clean browser catch, clean the trash and remove anything that left behind after uninstalling an app.
- No.5 Free Mac cleaner: Dr. Cleaner – Free memory, disk, system cleaner. Cleaner is one free Mac cleaning app to offer Memory Optimization, Disk Cleaning and System Monitoring to keep your Mac optimized for the best performance. Smart and accurate selection for duplicates scan and remove on Mac with OS X 10.6.6 or later.
- Download CCleaner for free. Clean your PC of temporary files, tracking cookies and browser junk! Get the latest version here.
- How to Choose the Best Mac Cleaner Apps in 2020. Before we review this year’s best Mac cleaners, let’s briefly discuss the crucial factors we need to consider when choosing the best app for cleaning your Mac. Core functions: The basic goal of using Mac clean up tools is to free up storage space. That’s why you need to choose a one-stop.
Top 10 best cleaners for Mac: Free and premium versions
1. CleanMyMac X
CleanMyMac X takes the first place with good reason — this cleaner combines features of both cleaning software and antimalware tool. Its Smart Scan promises a “nice and thorough scan of your Mac.” It does what it says, detecting junk like user cache files and system logs, checking your Mac for malicious software, and speeding up your MacBook. Looks like, there is a threat in my system, that I need to get rid of:
Frankly speaking, CleanMyMac X is Tesla Roadster among other Mac cleaners. And it does a great job revealing your junk and other clutter, uninstalling unneeded apps and their leftovers, and keeping your Mac’s system clean and optimized. Another pro is that CleanMyMac X is Apple-notarized, which means it’s safe for your Mac. You can download its free version right here.
Price: $39.95
Free version: Available here
2. Disk Doctor
Disk Doctor is developed in the UK and was awarded the 'Mac Gem’ award by MacWorld in 2013. CNET and other tech journalists also praise functionality. As of 2020, it still looks like a useful tool for Mac cleaning that removes junk slowing down and reducing the computing power of your Mac.
Price: $2.99
Free version: N/A
3. Gemini 2
Gemini 2 is the duplicate finder that allows you to free up gigabytes of storage and organize your files. In just a few minutes.
It quickly scans every corner of your Mac and weeds out useless copies. No matter what type of file it is: a photo, music track, or a doc… Gemini will definitely find it. And once the scan is done, you can remove the duplicates in a click. Or review results to make sure nothing important gets deleted.
If you remove something by accident, it takes just a click to put it back. And to make sure things like that never happen again, you can exclude specific files and folders from scan. Try out the free version right here.
Price: $19.96
Free version: Available here
4. Onyx
OnyX is a french Mac cleaning solution developed by Titanium software. It weighs only 5 MB but that doesn’t mean its capabilities are limited. OnyX is a tool that programmers will have a lot of fun with. With it, you can peek under the hood of your macOS and automate a whole list of jobs, like disk cleanup and cache removal. You can even tweak the color of folders on your Mac, and even make them invisible. Deservedly, it's among the best free Mac cleaners.
OnyX is one of the best Mac cleaners because it cleans many specific under-the-surface files, like inner databases and logs. If you know what is XPC cache is, you’ll probably like this app. But for us, ordinary Mac users who came here for the design and glossy buttons, OnyX will require some learning time.
Those who use OnyX say it is stable and reliable. There is no dedicated customer service (because OnyX is free software), but you shouldn’t be worried. The only likely damage is you accidentally deleting files by yourself.
Price: Free cleaner
5. DaisyDisk
DaisyDisk gives you a visual representation of your Mac folders, making it easy to see what is taking up space and delete the folders you don't need. All you need to do is select a drive, DaisyDisk will scan it, then you can delete everything that is wasting valuable space. It comes with a free and premium version.
Price:$9.99
Free version: Trial version available
6. AppCleaner & Uninstaller
If you only need to uninstall apps on Mac, AppCleaner is a good pick. AppCleaner only removes applications, plugins, and widgets, which are again, small apps. AppCleaner works in a familiar drag & drop mode. Its interface is also clean and easy to understand for a newbie.
After feeding the apps to AppCleaner, you should visit the Leftovers section of the app to erase their remains. Why we place AppCleaner & Uninstaller among free Mac cleaner tools? Because it is 100% free. Whether you will fully clean your Mac using it, is a different question.
AppCleaner & Uninstaller is created by FreeMacSoft, also the makers of LiteIcon, an icon customizer for Mac.
Price: Voluntary donation
7. Smart Mac Care
If you launch Smart Mac Care, it will look hauntingly familiar to other free Mac cleaner apps. Not only features will be called the same, everything up to the fonts, will be identical to some other app you’ve just used. That’s not a minus, though. You can still free up a lot of space with Smart Mac Care.
Smart Mac Care operates by a logic of “scans.” There is a Junk Scan, Malware Scan, Privacy Scan, etc. Just like Mac Booster, Smart Mac Care removes duplicates scattered in various locations on your Mac. There’s also a Memory Optimizer feature that promises to free up RAM on your Mac. In a word, Smart Mac Care resembles every other generic product whose only difference is in packaging. This is supported by the fact that we couldn’t find any credible third-party reviews for this app.
On another skeptical note: to uninstall Smart Mac Care you have to enter your admin password. This is not the case with other Mac cleaners we’ve used.
Price: $56.62 per year
Free version: Demo available
8. Drive Genius
Drive Genius is labeled a “Mac monitoring software.” It’s a whole suite of tools that provide powerful disk diagnostics. It’s hard to list a thing that this software doesn’t do. You can scan for malware, secure-erase files, customize icons — it’s dozens of apps in one body. What makes Drive Genius unique is, probably, its search for corrupted files and inconsistencies on your drive. If your Mac is an old one, keeping it in good health will be easier with Drive Genius.
In a free version, you can use just a fraction of tools, notably a DiskPulse utility. This is an automatic Mac health checker that notifies you before your hard drive fails. Unlike Mac cleaners that merely scan, it is able to repair damage on your disks, which makes it a real deal. Be prepared that hard drive scan may take some time, but the results are worth it. Also note that Drive Genius is not available for macOS Catalina (as of the beginning of 2020).
Price: $299 for Professional edition
Free version: Limited Lite edition is available
9. CCleaner
Originally created in 2004 by Piriform, CCleaner comes with a free and professional version, focusing on businesses and business customers. CCleaner is a cross-platform tool, for PCs, Macs, Android, and it has a Cloud, Network and Technician tool, depending on what you need and the platform/software you use.
The premium version comes with a lot more features, including real-time alerts, free updates, and dedicated support. Although created for PCs in the early days, CCleaner does well to identify unwanted files on a Mac, so that users can select and delete the files and folders they don't need to free up space. As a cleaner for Mac, customers are pretty happy with the results of CCleaner.
Price: $19.95
Free version: Available
10. Sensei
The Sensei app is a relatively new app on the market, but it can be another useful tool for your Mac. The Sensei software developers call the app “Pro Mac Cleaner” on their website. I would call it a performance controlling tool.
Sensei presents a detailed picture of how your Mac performs. In the Dashboard, you can find out information about your MacBook, check your CPU’s current temperature, and see how much of your RAM is used. Cooling gives you exact information on your Mac’s fans' speed.
Its Clean option helps to get rid of user cache, logs, large files, etc. The Uninstaller feature allows you to delete apps from your Mac and remove their traces. It doesn’t list pre-installed apps from Apple, such as Safari or Calendar, but it shows every app you have installed on your Mac.
Surely, you can clean up your Mac manually, but using dedicated software will save you tons of time.
Price: $29 per year
Free version: Available
Frequently Asked Questions
Can’t my Mac clean itself?
Your macOS also has a built-in Mac cleaner, which Apple called Optimized Storage. Though its capabilities are limited, it gives you basic directions on where to start the cleanup. But for a thorough system cleanup and removing malware, you’ll need a dedicated Mac cleaner app.
Can Mac cleaner apps delete my important files?
Typically, best Mac cleaner apps have a protection built-in. They will usually select only those files that are safe for deletion.
Will Mac cleaners slow down my Mac?
Some cleaners try to get into your Login items, thus creating an extra burden on processor. On a flip side, the reliable Mac cleaner apps might even speed up your Mac. They remove all the outdated junk files giving your Mac an extra boost.
Mac cleaning apps you should avoid
Above we've touched the trusted Mac cleanup solutions but there are many that work on the dark side. Malwarebytes lists Advanced Mac Cleaner Pro and similar tools as unwanted applications. Here are some signs that should warn you against using scam Mac cleaners.
Signs of Mac cleaner scam:
- 'Your Mac is infected' intrusive message
- An app is installed as part of different app
- An app finds 2323 (the number is an example) threats on your Mac
- Mac cleaner redirects your search page
Be safe and happy cleaning.
These might also interest you:
Removing apps from mac is not as easy as it sounds. It may look like a simple drag and drop task, however uninstalling an application may leave several supplementary files on your device.
Manually finding out these files and deleting them can be a frustrating and time-consuming task, also they do not guarantee desired results. The use of the best uninstaller for mac is what will help you in such scenarios.
Over time these residual and cache files build up and add up gigabytes of junk which eat away a lot of system space
An uninstaller application is designed to delete the required applications and neatly clean all the leftover files associated with it. Doing this will not only reduce system load, boost its performance but also optimize your mac.
To make your task easy and help you pick the best uninstaller for mac, we have prepared a well-researched list of the most efficient tools. Let’s have a look at these dedicated tools to remove apps from mac.
9 Best Mac Uninstaller Apps to Remove Apps From Mac in 2020:
1. Easy Mac Care
Are you looking for the best uninstaller app for mac, which can enhance its speed and give you a smoother experience, then there is no better application than Easy Mac Care.
Powered with efficient features it is known for its cleaning and optimizing abilities. Use it to uninstall various apps and remove the leftover files to boost the overall efficiency and performance of your device.
Recover additional storage space by deleting system junk, duplicate files, browsing history and other unwanted files.
More than being a simple uninstaller app it also works well as a PC tune up, cache manager and startup optimization tool.
Apart from this it also works well as a system protection tool and guards your devices against harmful viruses and digital threats.
Read More: Best Free Mac optimizer and cleaner tools
2. Cleanmymac X
Cleanmymac X earns the second place on our list of mac cleaners for fairly good reasons. It is a powerful tool and comes with several utility functions including speed optimization, malware protection, and comprehensive file management capabilities.
It makes the task of uninstalling apps highly easy and can effortlessly scan and sort all your downloaded applications. It can sort them based on their category, last use, vendors, etc.
Use it to perform a system scan and check the health of your device. After a successful scan cleanmymac X will display a detailed list of all your applications along with the details of data cache, app leftovers and supporting files of each application.
Cleanmymac X is an ultimate deep cleaner utility tool. Use it to locate the unwanted apps and delete them permanently with their supporting files to reduce the system, retrieve space on your mac and boost overall system performance.
3. App Zapper
App Zapper is known for its simple working and in-depth system cleanup. With this compact uninstaller tool for mac you can simply drag and drop applications into its interface and look out for supporting files.
You can also refer to its Hit List which gives details of the apps consuming maximum space on your system. To delete apps from your Mac, simply select them along with the associated files and remove them. Apart from this, it’s Undo feature also gives you an option to recover accidentally deleted apps. Use this simple yet efficient tool to get rid of junk files, plugins, widgets and many more.
4. App Cleaner and Uninstaller
Another incredible uninstaller for mac that effortlessly deletes apps from your Mac is “App Cleaner and Uninstaller”. Use it to recover space on your mac, remove supporting files along with system junk, residual files, cache and much more.
To remove a particular application, simply select it from the application list and uninstall it. The best part about this tool is that, even if you are deleting the application manually, it will automatically remove all the supporting files. However, during this process, it ensures that no important system app is deleted.
Use it to get rid of browser extensions, plugins, unneeded installation files, prefpanes and other junk and unwanted files on your Mac.
If you want to fully optimize your mac, pick App cleaner and uninstaller for class apart results.
Read More: 7 Best Disk Cloning Apps For Mac in 2020
5. App Delete
If you are still searching for an app cleaner for mac, you can pick App delete. With this power-packed tool you can not only remove supporting and leftover files of the uninstalled app but also get rid of various screensavers, widgets, plugins, preference panes.
Mac Cleanup Software Free
This helps in recovering precious system space and makes your Mac perform faster. It comes with a simple yet effective working and can effortlessly find unwanted files. Apart from the basic functionalities App Delete also comes with advanced features like Clear Logs, AppReset and Library folder.
This uninstaller for mac application comes with a Trash monitoring feature, which automatically starts deleting supporting files as soon as you uninstall an application from your device.
6. Trash Me
Next on our list of best app removers for mac is Trash Me. If you want to remove and uninstall apps from your mac it can be a great pick. Use this intelligent tool to get rid of supporting files, system cache.
The app comes with a Smart Detection Feature which when enabled will automatically start the file cleaning process as soon as you delete an app from your device. Apart from this it’s alert button also keeps sending notification messages whenever the trash bin is full.
Use the best uninstaller apps for your Mac to revoke system space by removing cache files, system junk and other unwanted files.
7. Hazel
If you are still searching for an efficient app cleaner tool for mac than Hazel. This handy uninstaller for mac earns it a place on our list because of fairly good reasons.
Best Free Mac Cleaner App Store
It comes with a condition-based rule which starts functioning as soon as you perform certain tasks. This feature is particularly beneficial for file organizing, archiving, photo naming, for keeping your desktop clean and most importantly for deleting apps.
Apart from this it also comes with special rules and app configuration features which allows you to set limits and automatically delete files from the trash.
The Best Free Mac Cleaner
Powered with a simple and user-friendly interface, Hazel is a good pick if you want to keep your mac optimized.
8. CleanGeeker
Next on our list is this best free app uninstaller for mac. With this powerful tool, you can effortlessly remove apps from Mac along with their supporting files. Apart from this it also comes from a one-click feature that allows you to remove unwanted files and system junk.
Use it to optimize your Mac by deleting old downloads, duplicate files, login items, and large files. If you are struggling with the slow speed of your device, CleanGeeker will not only help you to recover disk space but will also boost its overall performance. Besides the free trial version, you can also buy its advanced version at a premium price.
Read More: 10 Best Photo Organizer For Mac
9. Osx Uninstaller
If the above-mentioned applications have not been of great help to you, try Osx Uninstaller to remove apps from your Mac. It comes with a clean and convenient interface with simple working. The Application intelligently displays an elaborated list of all the installed apps.
Simply select the app you wish to remove from your device, then click on the Run analysis button and press the Complete Universal button. Doing this will not only remove the app but also remove all supporting and leftover files associated with it. Keeps Your Mac protected with Osx Uninstaller.
The only drawback of this multi-functional tool is that it comes at an unreasonably high cost.
Wrapping Up
So this is it Mac users. We hope that our list of uninstallers for mac has answered all your related questions. Refer to our list and pick the best-suited app remover for mac.
All the apps mentioned above are loaded with advanced functionalities and features. Use them to delete app and system junk, recover memory space and optimize your Mac.