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10 Best Mac Cleaner Apps in 2026: Top-Rated & Free Options Tested
If your MacBook Pro or MacBook Air feels slower than it used to, you’re not alone. As macOS updates, apps, caches, and background services pile up, even powerful Macs can suffer from storage bloat and performance drops. That’s why finding the best Mac cleaner app in 2026 matters more than ever.
In this guide, we tested and compared the top Mac cleaner apps, both paid and free, to help you safely clean, optimize, and speed up your Mac.
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Part 1. Comparable Table: How We Tested a Mac Cleaner & Which Is the Best
Before recommending any Mac cleaner, we tested each tool under real-world conditions on MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models running recent macOS versions.
Testing Criteria
We evaluated each Mac cleaning software based on the following factors:
- Cleaning speed: How fast it scans and removes junk files
- Safety: Whether it avoids deleting critical system files
- Ease of use: Beginner-friendly interface and workflow
- Cleaning depth: Ability to remove duplicate files, caches, logs, and leftovers
- Price & value: Free version limits vs. paid features
- Compatibility: Support for modern macOS versions and Apple silicon
Overall Comparison Snapshot
Here is a quick overall comparison of the best Mac cleaning software options you will find in this post.
Please swipe to view
Tool
Cleaning Speed
Safety
Ease of Use
Price
Compatibility
Tenorshare Cleamio
5/5
5/5
5/5
15 free offers
Excellent
CleanMyMac X
4/5
4/5
5/5
Paid
Excellent
DaisyDisk
3/5
5/5
4/5
Paid
Excellent
MacKeeper
4/5
3/5
4/5
Paid
Good
Cleaner One Pro
4/5
4/5
4/5
Paid
Good
OnyX
3/5
4/5
2/5
Free
Good
CCleaner
3/5
3/5
3/5
Free
Good
AppCleaner
3/5
5/5
4/5
Free
Excellent
OmniDiskSweeper
3/5
5/5
3/5
Free
Excellent
Pearcleaner
3/5
4/5
3/5
Free
Good
If you want a balance of speed, safety, and deep cleaning, professional Mac cleaning software offers a clear advantage over manual cleanup.
Part 2. Best 5 Top-Rated Mac Cleaner Apps (Professional, Fast, Safe)
Let's begin with the paid Mac cleaning software first, and here are our top 5 picks.
1. Tenorshare Cleamio - Best Overall Mac Cleaner & Optimizer (Apple-Notorized)
Tenorshare Cleamio stands out as the most balanced and reliable Mac cleaner app in 2025. Apple-notarized security combines junk cleaning, app uninstallation, system monitoring, and performance optimization into one lightweight tool.
Unlike many competitors, Cleamio clearly labels which files are safe to delete, reducing the risk of accidental system damage.
Key Features:
- Deep system & app junk cleanup
- Smart Cleanup with safety reminders
- App uninstaller with leftover removal
- Mac Status Center (CPU, RAM, disk usage)
- Apple-notarized for macOS security
- Real-time monitoring for Mac performance and release sources
- Batch rename multiple files at once
Overall Score: 4.8/5
Best for: Users who want a fast, safe, all-in-one Mac cleaner
Pros
- All-in-one Mac cleaner and optimizer with many additional features
- Precise detection results
- One-click safe cleanup
- Excellent performance boost
- Beginner-friendly UI
Cons
- · Free version comes with limited features
2. CleanMyMac X - Most Popular Mac Cleaning Software
CleanMyMac X is one of the most recognizable names in Mac file cleaner software. It offers a polished interface and multiple modules for cleaning, malware detection, and performance optimization. While powerful, some users find it aggressive in alerts and more expensive compared to alternatives.
Key Features:
- System junk and cache cleaning
- Malware and privacy protection
- Real-time performance monitoring
Overall Score: 4.5/5
Best for: Users who want an all-in-one premium cleaner
Pros
- Intuitive design
- Strong cleaning performance
- Automated cleanups
Cons
- · Higher subscription cost
3. DaisyDisk - Best Visual Storage Analyzer
DaisyDisk focuses less on automated cleaning and more on visualizing disk usage. This cleaning software for Mac uses an interactive map to show what’s taking up space, helping users manually delete large files safely.
Key Features:
- Visual disk usage analysis
- Fast scanning
- Read-only safety mode
Overall Score: 4.4/5
Best for: Users who prefer manual control
Pros
- Excellent visualization
- Very safe
- Minimal learning curve
Cons
- · No automatic junk removal
4. MacKeeper - Best Mac Cleaner with Security Suite
MacKeeper bundles cleaning tools with antivirus and VPN features. While comprehensive, this Mac disk cleaner may feel heavy for users who only want storage cleanups.
Key Features:
- Junk cleaning
- Antivirus & identity protection
- Performance monitoring
Overall Score: 4.2/5
Best for: Users want security and cleaning
Pros
- Multiple tools in one package
- Storage and threat tracking dashboard
- /7 support for troubleshooting.
Cons
- · Can feel resource-intensive
5. Cleaner One Pro - - Best Mac App Store Cleaner
Cleaner One Pro is a Mac App Store-friendly option offering basic junk cleaning and disk analysis. This Mac storage cleaner is suitable for light maintenance but lacks deep system cleanup.
Key Features:
- Junk file cleanup
- Disk usage analysis
- Built-in app uninstaller
Best for: Casual Mac users
Overall Score: 4.1/5
Pros
- Mac App Store availability
- Simple workflow for non-technical users
- Frequent updates
Cons
- · Limited advanced features
Part 3. Best 5 Recommended Free Mac Cleaners
Now that you have checked our paid picks, let's discuss some of the best free Mac system cleaner software:
1. OnyX Mac Cleaner - Best Free Mac Cleaner Software Overall
OnyX is a powerful free Mac maintenance and cleaning utility designed for advanced users. This free Mac cleaning program goes beyond basic junk removal by offering system verification, cache cleaning, and hidden macOS maintenance tools.
Key Features:
- System cache and log cleanup
- Disk and file system verification
- Advanced macOS maintenance and optimization tools
Overall Score: 4.5/5
Best for: Advanced users and professionals
Pros
- Completely free with no ads or subscriptions
- Deep system maintenance features
- Supports multiple macOS versions
Cons
- The interface may feel complex for beginners
- No visual storage analysis
2. CCleaner for Mac - Best Simple Junk File Remover
CCleaner for Mac is a lightweight free cleaner focused on removing junk files and browser data. This free cleaner for Mac is ideal for users who want fast, no-frills cleanup without advanced system controls.
Key Features:
- System cache and temporary file cleanup
- Browser cache, cookies, and history removal
- Application cache and crash log cleaning
Overall Score: 4.0/5
Best for: Users needing a quick, basic Mac cleanup
Pros
- Fast scanning with minimal system impact
- Very easy to use for beginners
- Effective at freeing space from browser and app caches
Cons
- Limited deep system cleanup capabilities
- Advanced features require a paid upgrade
3. AppCleaner - Best Free Simple Uninstaller
AppCleaner is a lightweight, free Mac disk cleaner focused exclusively on uninstalling apps. This app uninstaller for Mac removes leftover files that Finder usually leaves behind, helping users free up hidden storage safely.
Key Features:
- Drag-and-drop app uninstallation
- Removal of associated leftover files
- Support for plugins, widgets, and preference panes
Overall Score: 4.6/5
Best for: Users who want to completely uninstall apps on Mac
Pros
- Free and extremely easy to use
- Removes app leftovers more thoroughly than Finder
- Lightweight with no background processes
Cons
- No junk file or system cache cleaning
- Lacks automation and scheduling features
4. OmniDiskSweeper - Best Free Storage Analyzer
OmniDiskSweeper is a free app for cleaning a Mac that helps users identify large files and folders consuming disk space. Instead of automatic cleaning, it gives users full control to manually delete storage hogs.
Key Features:
- Hierarchical disk scanning
- Large file and folder identification
- Manual file deletion interface
Overall Score: 4.2/5
Best for: Users who want full control over storage cleanup
Pros
- Completely free with no restrictions
- Excellent for finding hidden large files
- Simple and transparent storage analysis
Cons
- No automatic junk or cache cleaning
- Manual deletion may be risky for inexperienced users
5. Pearcleaner - Best Free Open-Source App Uninstaller
PearCleaner is an open-source Mac storage cleaner designed to remove apps and their leftover files. This free app deleter for Mac appeals to privacy-focused users who prefer transparent, community-driven software.
Key Features:
- Open-source app uninstallation engine
- Leftover file detection and removal
- Lightweight and privacy-focused design
Overall Score: 4.3/5
Best for: Open-source enthusiasts and privacy-conscious users
Pros
- Fully open-source and transparent
- No ads, tracking, or bundled software
- Effective at removing app leftovers
Cons
- Limited to app uninstallation only
- Smaller development team and fewer updates
Part 4. How to Clean MacBook Pro/Air for Better Performance
Using Tenorshare Cleamio is one of the easiest ways to clean your Mac safely with the following steps:
-
Install Tenorshare Cleamio after downloading it on your MacBook and launch it. When it opens, click “Junk Files” and then click “Scan.
-
Within a few seconds, Cleamio will scan your Mac and give you a list of files that are detected as junk. You just need to choose the files that you want to delete and click “Smart Cleanup.
-
Wait as Cleamio deletes your junk files for you, and once the process is complete, click "OK" to finish.
This process helps remove caches, logs, and unnecessary system data without harming macOS.
Part 5. Why You Need a Mac Cleaner (Not Just Storage Management)
The right Mac cleaning software will do more than just storage management, and here is why you need a dedicated Mac storage cleaner software:
1. Common Mac Performance Issues
- Slow startup
- App freezing
- High system data usage
- Low disk space warnings
2. Built-in Mac Tools vs. Professional Cleaners
Let's compare Mac cleaning software vs manual cleaning to help you decide which one works best for you:
Please swipe to view
Feature
macOS Built-in
Professional Cleaner
Cache Cleaning
No
Yes
Duplicate Finder
No
Yes
App Uninstaller
No
Yes
Privacy Cleanup
No
Yes
Manual cleaning is possible, but it’s time-consuming and risky compared to modern Mac cleaner apps.
Conclusion
Finding the best Mac cleaner app in 2025 depends on safety, performance, and ease of use. While free tools are helpful for basic tasks, they lack deep optimization. For users who want reliable results on MacBook Pro or Air, Tenorshare Cleamio stands out as the most balanced solution, fast, safe, Apple-notarized, and beginner-friendly.
It’s a smart choice for keeping your Mac clean, fast, and healthy long-term.
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By Jenefey Aaron
2026-01-08 / Mac Cleanup