What is the best Mac cleaner: 10 Tools listed & tested in 2026

About 77% of people say digital clutter gets them frustrated – slow devices, crashes, storage space disappearing out of nowhere. When that happens to the Mac, the obvious thing is to search for a Mac cleaner. Because with the right Mac cleaner, you can:

• reclaim storage taken by clearing caches, system data, and purgeable space,
• free up disk space by finding and removing large files, duplicates, and leftovers,
• boost performance by optimizing RAM, managing heavy apps and startup items.

To figure out what the best Mac cleaner is, we took 10 apps for an overview and tried them in real scenarios. By the end of this list, you’ll know what Mac cleaners can and can’t do, which app fits your needs, and which cleaner will be in the interests of your Mac.

Criteria for listing and testing the best Mac cleaners

To find the best Mac cleaner out of available options, we tested each tool using MacBook Pro M1 and MacBook Pro M3, both upgraded to macOS Tahoe 26.1, which, after years of usage, are full of system junk and clutter. Here’s what we looked at:

• Download source: Whether the app is available via the Mac App Store or the developer’s official website.
• Pricing model: Free versions, trials, one-time purchases, or subscriptions, and overall value for money.
• Interface & usability: How intuitive the design is, how easy it is to navigate, and how quickly a new user can get things done.
• Cleaning results: How well the app detects core cleanup categories – junk files, other files (installers, screenshots), purgeable space, and Trash.
• Extra features: Whether there is a disk analyzer, malware/adware protection, duplicate finder, helper, or any other add-on.
• Speed & performance: How fast scans run and how much RAM/CPU the app uses while working.
• Limitations & issues: Whether there are any blockers or practical drawbacks when working with the tool.
• Customer support: Whether there is tech support, a knowledge base, and the responsiveness of the support team.
• Update frequency: Recent updates and overall developer activity.
• Safety: Protection against accidental removal of critical system files.
• Localization: Number and quality of supported languages.
• Ratings: Independent reviews (Trustpilot, G2, MacUpdate, App Store), mixed with my own feelings.

Comparison table: Best Mac cleaning software

MacCleaner Pro: Structured cleanup with advanced control

	Cost: $39.95/year or $85.95 one-time
	Trial: 2 days
	Compatibility: macOS 11.0+
	Rating: 4.8/5 ★ by TrustPilot

MacCleaner Pro is a suite-based cleaner that combines several tools without packing everything into one overloaded app. It covers essential cleanup tasks like:

• clearing junk files, caches, and purgeable space
• deleting large files, duplicates, and applications
• optimizing RAM
• analyzing disk space
• revealing hidden files

The suite means that although you can enjoy all the features inside, you can open the main functions in their own tool.

The interface follows macOS design patterns closely, so actions feel predictable and easy to follow. Scan results are detailed, and quantitative data make it easy to see what’s being removed.

CCleaner: Very basic cleanup tasks

	Cost: $44.95/year
	Trial: Free version with limited features
	Compatibility: macOS 10.12+
	Rating: 4.8/5 ★ by TrustPilot

CCleaner is about simple cleanup scenarios that cover caches, logs, browser data, basic duplicate detection and app removal. The only convenient part here is that you can set caches, browser history, and Trash to be cleared automatically.

The interface is minimal, but navigation can feel inconsistent when moving between sections. The feature set feels trimmed down, with no purgeable space cleanup or RAM optimization. Scan results don’t always persist between tabs, which can slow your flow.

It fits users who want minimal configuration and familiar naming. Pricing is subscription-only, which may feel limiting given the feature set.

OnyX: Advanced system control

	Cost: Free
	Compatibility: macOS 10.2+ (version must match macOS)
	Rating: 4.4/5 ★ by MacUpdate

OnyX is a technical utility that exposes many hidden macOS maintenance and configuration functions usually handled via Terminal, wrapped in a GUI. It gives you access to:

• system maintenance scripts
• Spotlight reindexing
• cache cleaning
• APFS snapshot management
• deep Finder and Dock tweaks

Cleanup and maintenance actions are manual, and there’s no automatic junk detection.

The interface is functional but not beginner-friendly, and occasional launch or update issues may require system restarts.

Because deletions are permanent, it requires careful use. There’s no safety net like previews or size estimates, which makes it easy to remove something unintentionally.

Sensei: Mac monitoring and SSD maintenance

	Cost: $29/year or $59 one-time
	Trial: 14 days
	Compatibility: macOS 14.0+
	Rating: 3.5/5 ★ by Macworld

Sensei positions itself closer to detailed hardware and system monitoring than a full cleanup solution. It shows detailed data about:

• storage
• graphics
• cooling
• battery health
• SSD TRIM behavior

Cleanup tools exist but are limited to large files, caches, installation files, and basic app removal. The app feels more like a diagnostic dashboard than a cleaner.

Some interface bugs and aggressive purchase prompts impact usability, especially during longer sessions. It’s useful if you care about what’s happening under the hood rather than reclaiming space fast.

CleanMyMac: All-in-one maintenance

	Cost: $40.20/year or $119.95 one-time
	Trial: 7 days (email & card required)
	Compatibility: macOS 10.13+
	Rating: 4.7/5 ★ by TrustPilot

CleanMyMac bundles cleanup, optimization, and security features into a single app. It’s applicable in most common scenarios: junk removal, duplicate files, app uninstallation, startup management, and cloud storage cleanup.

The UI welcomes with its beautiful colors and design, which lowers the entry barrier. At the same time, scans – especially Smart Care – can take significantly longer than others. System load during heavy scans is also higher. Most features are available in a paid plan, and helper notifications can feel excessive.

Avast Cleanup: Familiar cleanup with minimal setup

	Cost: $65.99/year
	Trial: 30 days
	Compatibility: macOS 10.13+
	Rating: 4.4/5 ★ by TrustPilot

Avast Cleanup will be a recognizable layout for users familiar with Avast products. It handles cache cleanup, duplicates, browser data, and app removal through simple scan and clean flows.

The interface is simple and user-friendly. However, scan results reset when switching sections, and advanced Mac-specific features are missing. There’s no RAM optimization or purgeable space cleanup, and security features are not included despite the brand.

MacKeeper: Security, cleaning, performance & privacy

	Cost: $71.40/year
	Trial: 7 days
	Compatibility: macOS 10.15+
	Rating: 4.3/5 ★ by TrustPilot

MacKeeper mixes cleaning features with antivirus, VPN, and identity protection. Here, you can do junk files, duplicates, memory cleaning, app updates, and protect your privacy with an adblocker and ID theft guard.

The interface is structured and functional around guided actions. But notifications and purchase pop-ups are frequent, especially early on. System load during scans is noticeable, and scans can take about a minute. Customization is limited in the trial.

The app is the most expensive per year, which may be a limiting factor for some users.

AVG TuneUp: Automated cleanup & duplicates

	Cost: $65.99/year
	Trial: No formal free trial (30-day money-back guarantee from vendor)
	Compatibility: macOS 10.12+
	Rating: 4.5/5 ★ by Trustpilot

AVG TuneUp feels like a maintenance assistant and leans more toward automation rather than deep, manual control, aiming to keep storage tidy in the background with minimal user input. Its core features include:

• automatic junk file cleanup (caches, logs, temporary files)
• duplicate file and questionable photo detection
• browser cleanup
• startup item management to reduce boot time

The interface is approachable. Its strongest point is customization. You can whitelist filters before cleanup, which reduces the risk of deleting important data. But app uninstallation may be tricky. There’s no RAM optimization, purgeable space cleanup, or recovery history. Subscription-only pricing and the absence of a trial can be frustrating.

Cleaner One Pro: Visual file cleanup

	Cost: $24.99/year
	Trial: Free version with limits
	Compatibility: macOS 10.15+
	Rating: 3.5/5 ★ by MacUpdate

Cleaner One Pro presents cleanup in a visually clear way, focusing on junk files, large files, duplicates, and disk mapping. It’s also equipped with App and Photo Managers. The layout is easy to understand and works well for storage overview tasks, though some scans may freeze or require restarting.

Customization options are available, but advanced macOS maintenance options are missing. It works well for basic cleanup, but most features are locked behind a subscription.

BuhoCleaner: Lightweight cleaning

	Cost: $39.99/year or $96.99 one-time
	Trial: Free cleanup up to 3 GB
	Compatibility: macOS 10.13+
	Rating: 4.7/5 ★ by TrustPilot

BuhoCleaner keeps things minimal: fast scans, basic cleanup categories, and a small toolkit for optimization tasks like flushing DNS or reindexing Spotlight.

It detects junk files, large files, duplicates, startup items, and purgeable space while keeping RAM usage low. You can also uninstall apps and their leftovers with it.

The design is simple and predictable. Security features and recovery tools are not included, and the free version is limited by cleanup size.

Final list: Mac cleaners by user profile

You’ve seen the full range of cleaners built with a different mindset: control, automation, or simplicity. None of these tools is universally ‘best’; they’re best for various types of Mac users. The trick is choosing what matches your habits, not chasing the longest feature list.