CleanMyMac bundles several jobs. Replacing it means deciding which of those jobs you really use. For most people the answer is one or two, and a free or low-cost tool covers each.
Why people look elsewhere#
Common reasons are subscription cost, overlap with what macOS already does, or needing only part of a suite. The CleanMyMac profile lists subscription cost against free tools and feature overlap with built-in tools among its cons. Our CleanMyMac review goes through the product.
Split the suite into jobs#
One suite, several jobs, several replacements
- DaisyDisk
Find what is taking space
DaisyDisk maps your folders by size.
- AppCleaner
Remove apps and leftovers
AppCleaner finds an app's related files.
- OnyX
Run maintenance tasks
OnyX offers technical maintenance for advanced users.
- Free
Clear caches and temporary files
Doable by hand, safely, with our guide.
- Free
Manage login items
Built into System Settings.
Pick your replacement#
Which job matters to you?
1/3
What did you use CleanMyMac for?
Quick comparison#
| Software | Best for | Price | Rating | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CleanMyMacMacPaw | Mac cleanup and maintenance in one app | Price not yet verifiedCheck the vendor for current pricing | Not yet rated | Visit |
| DaisyDisk | Visualising what is using your disk space | Price not yet verifiedCheck the vendor for current pricing | Not yet rated | Visit |
| AppCleanerFreeMacSoft | Fully removing apps and their leftover files | Free | Not yet rated | Visit |
| OnyXTitanium Software | Maintenance tasks and hidden macOS settings | Free | Not yet rated | Visit |
These links go to the official sites; none are affiliate links yet. Ratings appear only after we have tested a product. See how we test.
The alternatives#
DaisyDisk#
- Best for
- Visualising what is using your disk space
- Price
- Price not yet verified · check the vendor for current pricing
- Our testing
- Not yet hands-on tested
Links to the official site. We earn nothing from this link.
Pros
- Fast, visual picture of space use
- Review before deleting
- Low one-time price, per its profile
Cons
- No automatic cleanup
- No uninstaller
AppCleaner#
- Best for
- Fully removing apps and their leftover files
- Developer
- FreeMacSoft
- Price
- Free
- Our testing
- Not yet hands-on tested
Links to the official site. We earn nothing from this link.
Pros
- Free
- Simple
- Finds related files
Cons
- Dated interface
- May miss some leftovers
OnyX#
- Best for
- Maintenance tasks and hidden macOS settings
- Developer
- Titanium Software
- Price
- Free
- Our testing
- Not yet hands-on tested
Links to the official site. We earn nothing from this link.
Pros
- Free
- Rebuilds caches and databases
Cons
- Technical
- Needs the version matching your macOS
Free options#
Everything below is free and already on your Mac or one download away:
- Storage settings with Apple's recommendations.
- Login Items in System Settings.
- Careful cache clearing from our cache guide.
- Duplicate checks with our Terminal method.
Feature comparison#
| CleanMyMac | DaisyDisk | AppCleaner | OnyX | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disk-space visualisation | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| App uninstaller | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Cleanup scans | Yes | No | No | Partly |
| Maintenance tasks | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Free | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Switching safely#
Back up before you delete anything with a new tool. See backup software for Mac. Remove CleanMyMac's own login items and menu-bar helper when you uninstall it, and check Login Items afterwards.
Frequently asked questions#
Do I need a CleanMyMac replacement at all?#
Often not. The manual steps in our guides free the same space.
What is the best free alternative?#
AppCleaner for uninstalling, OnyX for maintenance and macOS itself for storage.
Is DaisyDisk a full replacement?#
It replaces the space-analysis job only. See CleanMyMac vs DaisyDisk.
Will an alternative speed up my Mac?#
Only where the slowdown comes from a full disk or heavy login items. See why a MacBook runs slowly.
Written by
Guides are researched, written, and maintained by the Atypical Mac User editorial team. Every procedure is checked against the current version of macOS before it is marked as published.
Last updated . First published .
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