At a look
Knowledgeable’s Ranking
Execs
- Improved interface and ease of use
- Wide selection of cleansing instruments
- Subscription or one-time buy out there
Cons
- Dearer than some rivals
- Restricted malware options
- Some technical information nonetheless wanted
Our Verdict
CleanMacMac is an effective multi-purpose utility for the macOS working system, and its brilliant, pleasant person interface lends quick access to a number of useful utilities to clear up disk house, defend person privateness, optimize efficiency, replace functions, uninstall software program, and assist forestall malware and adware.
Value When Reviewed
This worth will present the geolocated pricing textual content for product undefined
Finest Pricing At the moment
MacPaw (first 12 months, 1 machine)
$47.40
MacPaw (one time buy)
$117.95
Value When Reviewed
$47.40/a 12 months for 1 Mac, $119.95 for 1 Mac (one time buy)
Finest Costs At the moment:
MacPaw (first 12 months, 1 machine)
$47.40
MacPaw (one time buy)
$117.95
There are many cleanup apps out there that declare to hurry up your Mac by eliminating outdated recordsdata that is perhaps clogging up your Mac’s drive, deleting duplicate pictures, or uninstalling apps and software program utterly in order that they don’t depart behind any outdated recordsdata which can be not wanted. Nonetheless, few of these cleanup apps are as complete as CleanMyMac from MacPaw, which was up to date to model 5.0 (and dropped the ‘X’ from its identify, as model 4 was referred to as CleanMyMac X) again in 2024.
On this assessment we’ll run via what you are able to do with CleanMyMac, what we hyperlink about it, and what we aren’t so eager on, and we’ll clarify what’s within the newest replace. See how CleanMyMac compares to different Mac Cleaners in our Finest Mac Cleaner software program round-up.
What CleanMyMac can do
It’s not the most cost effective cleanup app out there for the Mac, however CleanMyMac offers dozens of various instruments for deleting outdated recordsdata and information. It teams all these instruments into 5 fundamental classes that concentrate on totally different duties – Cleanup, Safety, Efficiency, Functions and My Muddle. It’s price exploring every set of instruments to see how this system works however, for comfort, there’s additionally a Sensible Care characteristic that provides your Mac drive a fast check-up and summarises the results of its scans for all 5 classes.
The Cleanup instruments deal with deleting junk: outdated recordsdata and paperwork which can be taking over invaluable house, or outdated system recordsdata which can be not wanted.
Foundry
The Safety instruments dig a bit deeper and might scan for malware which may trigger a menace to your Mac. Whereas the app works effectively with macOS’ Gatekeeper perform in working to stop malware set up in your Mac, it’s nonetheless doable to put in a great quantity of questionable software program. Sure, the Malware Elimination module was capable of detect and quarantine a number of threats (equivalent to OSX.EvilEgg, DazzleSpy, and elements of the AdWind malware), however it left segments of AdWind put in in checks, in addition to missed the questionable WaveBrowser, a mock model of Adobe Flash Participant Set up Supervisor, Adobe album and the notorious MacSecurity app, which needed to be eliminated with one other utility.
This was disappointing contemplating MacPaw’s well-marketed and hyped use of the Moonlock Engine for this goal. CleanMyMac isn’t a devoted anti-virus program so it doesn’t present the identical degree of safety because the packages featured in our Finest Antivirus for Mac round-up. Additionally learn: CleanMyMac provides virus removing, however is it any good?
The Efficiency instruments assist with routine upkeep, clearing out the DNS cache that’s used for internet searching, re-indexing Highlight and Mail to hurry up search outcomes, and retaining observe of your Login and Background gadgets (which you may also do utilizing System Settings in your Mac).
A typical activity that many individuals ask about is how one can utterly delete functions from their Mac, as many functions depart behind outdated recordsdata and bits of knowledge even after you delete the applying itself. The Functions instruments in CleanMyMac can assist with that activity, deleting app leftovers and set up recordsdata, and likewise reminding you of any outdated functions that you could be not have used not too long ago.
Lastly, there’s My Muddle, which might scan both particular person folders or your total Mac drive to find outdated recordsdata that you simply haven’t used for a very long time, or notably giant recordsdata that take up lots of house. This newest model features some new options right here, together with the flexibility to establish duplicate recordsdata, or pictures that look very comparable so to delete them if you wish to. There are additionally some diagnostic instruments, together with the flexibility to establish apps which can be utilizing lots of battery energy in your laptop computer.
Foundry
Utilizing CleanMyMac
An important change that arrived with model 5.0 was the redesigned interface. Earlier variations of CleanMyMac may use every set of instruments to scan your Mac mechanically, however would then throw lengthy lists of recordsdata and information onto the display screen and depart you to determine which recordsdata you needed to maintain or delete – which could possibly be complicated for a lot of customers who don’t have the required degree of technical information.
CleanMyMac 5.0 simplified issues by displaying the outcomes of its scans as a sequence of tiles that provide you with a fast abstract of every scan. So the Utility instruments will show tiles that break the outcomes down into app leftovers which can be left behind while you delete functions, or set up recordsdata which can be used while you first set up a brand new app.
Different tiles will let you know about apps which can be ready for updates, or outdated apps that haven’t been used for a very long time. If you would like extra info then every tile has a Overview button that may show all the checklist of related recordsdata, or you possibly can merely hit the Take away button and permit CleanMyMac to mechanically delete all the pieces for you.
CleanMyMac Updates
There have been a variety of updates to CleanMyMac since our assessment of model 5.0 in 2024, a few of which had been merely upkeep updates that handled bugs and different issues. Nonetheless, there have additionally been what MacPaw refers to as ‘main updates’ that launched new options.
Model 5.0.5 up to date the app’s Efficiency module, with a brand new possibility Purgeable House, which scans your total arduous drive for outdated recordsdata, cache recordsdata, or non permanent recordsdata and downloads you can delete to save lots of house.
Some new accessibility options arrived with model 5.0.7, with the flexibility to make use of the VoiceOver characteristic within the macOS to learn out info throughout the app for individuals who have visible impairments. There’s additionally an possibility referred to as Scale back Movement that does precisely what it says, lowering the animation and different visible results throughout scans to scale back discomfort or distraction.
An older characteristic obtained an replace in model 5.1, when the House Lens was revamped to offer a visible information to the usage of storage in your Mac. This characteristic (which is barely out there within the Plus model of the app) shows all of the folders in your Mac as a sequence of ‘bubbles’ of various sizes, indicating the quantity of cupboard space taken up by every folder. You may then click on on every bubble to discover the assorted recordsdata and sub-folders that it accommodates and determine which of them you might need to delete as a way to save house.
Foundry
CleanMyMac prolonged its space-saving options onto the cloud with a brand new Cloud Cleanup characteristic in model 5.2.1 (solely out there with the Plus model). This lets you use CleanMyMac to scan your cloud storage on iCloud Drive, Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive. The app can scan these on-line drives simply as it will possibly scan your Mac’s native drive and lets you shortly delete recordsdata that you simply don’t want, or maybe delete recordsdata out of your Mac and simply depart a backup in your cloud drive as an alternative.
Foundry
Some individuals could not really feel snug giving a third-party app entry to their non-public cloud accounts, although, by which case it can save you some cash by choosing the Fundamental model of CleanMyMac that doesn’t embody this specific characteristic.
How you can purchase CleanMyMac
Maybe probably the most vital change is the brand new pricing construction that was launched in July of 2025 that features separate ‘Fundamental’ and ‘Plus’ variations of the app. The Fundamental model provides a restricted set of options for much less technically inclined customers, whereas the Plus model provides the complete vary of options, together with a few of the newest characteristic updates from 2025 (you possibly can examine the 2 variations right here).
The Fundamental model of CleanMyMac prices $9.95/£8.95 per thirty days, which, to be sincere, appears a little bit steep for an app that you could be solely use each few weeks. Nonetheless, there’s additionally an annual subscription out there that appears much more affordable, costing $47.50/£27.00 per 12 months. And, in the event you don’t like paying subscriptions for software program, then you may also purchase the Fundamental model for a single ‘One Time’ price of $119.95/£101.95.
As you’d anticipate, the Plus model of the app is dearer, costing $15.95/£14.95 per thirty days, or $71.40/£45.00 yearly, whereas the One Time buy possibility prices $195.95/£165.95. There’s some small print to look out for although, as these costs solely help you run CleanMyMac on a single Mac. There are extra pricing plans for 2 or 5 Macs additionally out there, in addition to a Enterprise version that provides reductions for quantity licensing (with full particulars out there on MacPaw’s web site).
It’s additionally price noting that the One Time buy possibility lets you use the app for so long as you need – with no recurring subscription charges – however that value could not embody extra ‘main updates’ and options which can be launched sooner or later, so you should still must pay additional to maintain updated with all the newest options. And, as we’ve point out previously, there’s a model of CleanMyMac additionally out there on the Mac App Retailer, though Apple’s technical restrictions imply that it might not have the complete vary of options which can be out there while you purchase CleanMy Mac instantly from MacPaw.
You should purchase CleanMyMac both from MacPaw’s personal web site, or from the Mac App Retailer, though the model bought on the Mac App Retailer omits a couple of options (on account of technical restrictions imposed by Apple). However, as at all times, there’s nonetheless a seven day free trial out there so to strive the app out earlier than paying for the complete model.
Ought to You Purchase CleanMyMac?
Some individuals argue that utilities equivalent to this are utterly pointless, and it’s definitely doable to carry out most of those Mac upkeep duties your self – so long as you’ve gotten an inexpensive quantity of technical information. However, in the event you don’t know your DNS cache out of your common binaries, then a well-designed app equivalent to CleanMacMac can simplify these duties for you, and assist to maintain your Mac combating match.
