List of best Mac cleaner software that will help you boost your Mac speed. Select the top Mac cleaner tool from the list.
Mac OS X 10.8.5+ CleverFiles: 6 April 2021, 4.3.314: DaisyDisk: Some functionality is locked $9.99: macOS 10.10 and higher Software Ambience Corp. 24 November 2020, 4.12.1: CCleaner: No real-time monitoring $19.95: Mac OS X 10.8 to macOS 10.14 Mojave: Piriform: 25 March 2021, 5.78: Cleaner One Lite: Some features are missing $9.99: macOS 10.12. Top 5 Best Free Video Editing Software for Mac Beginners 1. IMovie comes with every new Mac (OS X), and you don't need to pay extra money for it. The latest iMovie 11 is a great and free video editor for Mac with many great features such as movie trailer, one step effect, audio editing, etc.
Apple has some of the best state-of-the-art features. One of them is a solid-state drive which allows you to access your files faster, but the only dropback is not much storage space.
Most SSD has storage of 128GB or 256GB and most of the time you might get the error to clean storage. For that, you need the best Mac cleaner software.
In this article, we are going to talk about some of the best free Mac cleaner software and also some paid Mac cleaners with advanced features.
Recommended: Best PC Cleaner Software
Best Mac Cleaner Software [Free or Paid]
Contents
- 1 Best Mac Cleaner Software [Free or Paid]
Apple’s Macintosh came with pretty much every single tool you need. The operating system is very advanced and everything is automated, so the user doesn’t need to do anything.
However, they lack a good cleaner, a Mac cleaner which can remove the system junk, old redundant files, olds OS backup and more.
We have compiled a list of best Mac cleaner which has good reviews, easy system interface and all in one cleaning capability.
#1. MacBooster Mac Cleaner Software
This Mac cleaner is a utility tool that can clean up 20 types of junk files from your Mac. It also helps you improve the performance of your Mac and keep the malware and viruses away. It can boost your Mac by optimizing the hard disk.
It has the ability to search deep into your Mac SSD and clean out the system junk file, large files, and duplicate files as well. It has a turbo boost, memory clean and startup optimization tool to speed up the Mac. Also, it can protect your Mac from viruses, Malware and help you protect your privacy.
#2. CleanMyMac X Mac Cleaner Software
Website: https://cleanmymac.com/
One of the most reputable Mac cleaner which helps you manages your space. It has a one-click optimization program that helps you clean up your Mac in just one click. This tool is simple and sophisticated and doesn’t require many directions to run the advanced Mac cleaner.
This tool is also an advanced Mac cleaner virus as well. Mac doesn’t have much of a virus problem but they can too infect with malware and ransomware. This tool can take care of this problem. This best Mac cleaner also clears the ram, uninstall apps and more. It will improve your Mac performance.
#3. Gemini 2 Mac Cleaner Software
Website: https://macpaw.com/gemini
Gemini 2 is basically the duplicate finder allowing you to free up GB of storage as well s organize your files. It effectively and rapidly scans all corners of your Mac. Subsequently, it removes the unnecessary copies. Whether the file type is doc, image, music, etc., it can work on all.
After the scan completes, you can easily discard the duplicates through a single click. Moreover, you can go through the results to ascertain that nothing significant gets removed.
In case you deleted something accidentally, it is easy to recover with one click. To make sure such cases do not happen again, you can remove specific folders and files from the scan.
#4. Disk Drill Mac Cleaner Software
Website: https://www.cleverfiles.com/
Disk Drill is essentially a data recovery software and also works as a Mac file cleaner tool. The dual functionalities and high efficiency make it popular in the market. It includes an unlimited free cleanup module letting you effortlessly recognize and visualize those files that occupy excess space.
Instantly, you can get rid of unnecessary files. If you are concerned that some important files can come between the junk files, it is possible to filter the scan results. You can filter based on file type, file size, keywords, and different other criteria. Moreover, you can manually validate that the files you decide to delete are actually useless.
It comes with infinite Mac clean-up tools. For ease of use, the user interface is made intuitive. The software is frequently updated.
#5. iMobie MacClean Software
Website: https://www.imobie.com/macclean/
MacClean is a reliable and efficient tool when it comes to restoring your Mac Pc. As an alternative to clearing out all junk files at once, MacClean provides 5 different cleanup options. The names of these options are System Junk, Malicious Cookies, Internet Junk, Privacy Issues, and Security Issues.
Mostly, you will use the first option since it discards system and user junk. It also discards needles development files. To get rid of the duplicate files, you can choose among Cleanup Tools under utilities. Besides, this software includes a duplicate finder. There are multiple methods to discard junk files from your Mac PC.
#6. Dr. Cleaner Mac Cleaner Software
Website: https://dr-cleaner.en.softonic.com/mac
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 left behind after uninstalling an app.
One of the most positive reviews of freeware Mac cleaner has also other tools too. one of them is Mac Memory Optimizer and this tool will help you clean all the unwanted processes and make you available the free memory. It can speed up your process and your Mac would run smoother.
#7. CCleaner Mac Cleaner Software
Website: https://www.ccleaner.com/ccleaner-mac
No matter the OS, CCleaner is best everywhere when it came to cleaning. This is a free Mac cleaner tool that helps you clean out all the unnecessary files in your SSD. CC Cleaner for Mac is useful when you want to delete the web browsing history and catches it with just one click.
This tool also has many other features like uninstall the app and remove it from the startup. You can also wipe out the whole drive as well. This is one of the best free Mac cleaners so far which is useful in many ways.
#8. Drive Genius Mac Cleaner Software
Website: https://www.prosofteng.com/drive-genius-mac-protection-software/
This is more than just Mac cleaner but it goes way beyond that. It has all the features of cleaning your Mac and gets rid of those unwanted files in your system. It can also repartition your hard drive to make it more efficient. Drive Genius also finds duplicate files, clone files, large files and much more.
It has also a built-in security feature that can take care of all the antivirus systems. It has malware check tools; Bootwell tools which help you with booting of your system, check, repair and rebuild facility is also available in this tool. Also, it will help you with speeding up the system by defragmenting and system performance checks.
#9. DaisyDisk
Website: https://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/30689/daisydisk
Who could have thought that Mac cleaner could be this much beautiful? One of the best looking cleaning apps for Mac also has one of the best interfaces which even a new user understands and operates. It can help you determine the whole space optimization of your drive and let you delete anything.
It has many other features as well and also many positive reviews too. Once you click the scan, it will show you the color full graph of your hard disk and all the large files are in different colors as well. It can also give you real-time information about mounted disks on your Mac. You can preview your file before deleting it and all of this is happening at lightning speed.
#10. OnyX Mac Cleaner Software
Website: https://www.titanium-software.fr/en/onyx.html
This is one of the best free Mac cleaner software out there. First, it’s a free tool and it has lots of positive reviews as well. This Free Mac cleaner is a multifunction utility tool that can help you clean up the browsing catch, system junk and optimize the speed of your Mac.
It is also known as one of the best Mac cleaning tools for professionals as it has a little difficult UI than others. Also, you need to download this tool specific to your OS, otherwise, it won’t work. This Best Mac Cleaner tool has lots of functions to read the guidance before using it.
#11. Trend Micro Cleaner One Pro
Website: https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/forHome/products/cleaner-one-mac.html
If you are looking for Mac cleaner software that can free up your disk space and do some other advanced tasks, then cleaner one pro by TrendMicro is the name you can check.
This tool can visualize, manage and free up your disk space in one click. It takes few seconds to remove all unnecessary files from your Mac. In addition, it can manage all the apps on your Mac and keep your device up to date all the time.
If you are not sure what’s causing high disk space usage, you can find it using this software. Also, it recommends what to do next if you are completely blank about what to do next. The toolbar will monitor your Network Usage, CPU Usage, and Memory Usage while scanning and deleting Junk Files. It means you have complete control of your Mac with one click.
It can clean junk files, including temporary files and hidden leftover files. Cleaner one pro, delete all the big files that consume your disk space, and free the storage space. It also removes duplicate files and similar photos. The disk map feature analyzes your storage usage and gives you a visual and interactive map of usage.
The file shredder feature gives you 100% privacy protection. It erases all the hidden leftover files from trash and deleted apps. In short, it will make them unrecoverable by applying the Secure Erase Setting.
I also like its application manager function. The software manages startup apps and services and speeds up the boot time. As a result, it will enhance the performance of your system.
It can view and manage app and remove them if it finds apps unwanted. There is an option of batch removal of multiple apps as well. Cleaner One Pro charges $14.99/device with a 1-year subscription plan. If you are looking for up to 5 devices, the charges are $29.99 with a 1-year subscription plan.
Conclusion
We hope that after reading this article on the best Mac cleaner software, you might find the solution to your problems. There are many tools in this list that are free to use and can be upgraded for better performance and others are freeware. If you need any more help regarding Mac cleaner, you can ask us in the comment section.
Related Post:
Which Mac operating system is the best is a topic of numerous debates among Apple fans.
Since the mission of this blog is to refute myths and legends around Macs, it’s time for me to provide my 2 cents about the issue on hand. While everything below is just my opinion, as a long-time Mac user and veteran software engineer, I hope my opinion worth something.
The best Mac OS version is the one that your Mac is eligible to upgrade to. In 2021 it is macOS Big Sur. However, for users that need to run 32-bit apps on Mac, the best macOS is Mojave. Also, older Macs would benefit if upgraded at least to macOS Sierra for which Apple still releases security patches.
How to Tell Which macOS You Are Running
To find out which macOS is currently running on your Mac, follow these steps:
- Click on Apple logo in the top left corner of the menubar
- In the dropdown click on the first item: About This Mac
- The first line in the Overview tab is the name of the current OS.
What Version of OS Can My Mac Run?
Not all Macs can be upgraded to the latest OS version. For instance, old Macs powered by PowerPC CPUs cannot run OS intended for Intel-based computers. Also, some versions have hardware limitations.
For instance, Mojave cannot be installed on MacBook Pro earlier than Mid 2012 model.
Best Free Mac Os X Software Free
Check below to know exactly what version of OS your Mac can run.
Which OS is Best for my Mac
Anytime someone asks me which OS is best for them I always suggested going with the latest. Things have changed recently, however.
Should I Upgrade to macOS Catalina or Big Sur?
While personally I like macOS Big Sur and have it installed on my MacBook Pro, it comes with serious breaking changes.
The first issue is compatibility.
Big Sur is a transition OS which is designed to help Apple to move from Intel processors to their own chips on ARM.
After I installed Big Sur on my MacBook Pro mid 2020 (pre-Silicon), most of my apps, including Microsoft Office, were working as expected.
However, my VMWare Fusion 11 does not start anymore, so I have to purchase a new license if I want to keep using it (or roll back to Catalina). Luckily, I took a full backup before the upgrade.
The second breaking issue is the lack of 32-bit app support.
macOS Catalina and Big Sur can only run 64-bit apps.
If you wondering whether you should upgrade to macOS Catalina or Big Sur, first verify that you don’t have any 32-bit apps. But first, take a back up, so you can go back in case something breaks after the upgrade.
For instance, I had to remove uTorrent after upgrade. And I didn’t know that uTorrent is 32-bit!
How to Know If App is 32-bit or 64-bit
To find out whether the app on your Mac is 32-bit or 64-bit follow these steps:
- Click on Apple logo in the top left corner of the Mac screen
- Click on About This Mac option
- Click on System Report button in Overview tab (first one)
- Scroll down to Software -> Applications
- Find the app and check Kind
Which macOS Should I Use
If you have an older Mac which is not eligible to upgrade with some latest software or hardware, I’d suggest upgrading at least to Sierra (or better High Sierra) for the following reasons:
- Sierra is still supported by Apple, and it gets security updates
- APFS file system is available
- It supports Siri
- Significant security improvements
The most important point when choosing the best OS is the ability to get security updates. While Apple generally does not announce the OS end of life dates, it is possible to know when they stop releasing security updates from this page.
For instance, according to the page, the last security update for OS X Yosemite was released on September 12, 2017. The last update for OS X El Capitan was in July 2018, and Carnegie Mellon University confirmed that El Capitan’s end of life date was August 2018.
Snow Leopard Myth
I know that some users on forums believe that the best OS version for Macs was Snow Leopard. But that is a myth. And I know how such myths get created.
Once I worked in the company, which was selling a 20-year old product. And customers were still using and didn’t want to switch to new versions, because the old one was rock solid.
I then talked to the engineer who worked on the project, and he revealed that the product was a total disaster when it was first deployed. Engineers had to work on-site for almost a year in order to fix all bugs.
After five or so years of polishing the product, it becomes virtually bug-free, and nobody now remembers how bad it was when it was first rolled out. A similar thing happened Snow Leopard, and it was recognized as best mac os version after some time.
How to Update to the Latest Version
There are two ways to update to the latest OS version on Mac:
- From the Software Update section in System Preferences
- Use a download link
Using Software Update
This is by far the best option, but it only available if you have Yosemite, or later OS installed already. If you enabled automatic updates, then Mac will inform you that the next macOS is available.
Just open System Preferences, go to Software Update and click on the Upgrade Now button.
This method is also best if wondering how to check if you have the latest version of OS installed on your Mac. Only the version compatible with your hardware will appear here.
For instance, my the latest version for Mac Mini 2012 is Mojave, I can’t install anything newer than that.
If you are having problems with updates or having issues post-upgrade check my post about troubleshooting macOS.
Using download links
For older systems or in case you need to downgrade, you have to download a standalone installer in DMG format. DMG stands for disk image, similar to ISO, just different formats.
After downloading the installer, just double click on it and follow instructions. Again, do not forget to take a backup before the upgrade.
Mac OS Comparisons: Requirements, Features, Compatibility, Download Links
Following is a high-level description of all Mac operating systems as early as Mountain Lion.
You can refer to those descriptions when deciding which operating system is best for your iMac, Mac Pro, Mac mini, or MacBook.
With each OS description, I included a list of Macs supported. However, you can use Mac OS compatibility checker for more detailed information.
macOS 11 Big Sur
macOS v11 (codename Big Sur) is the latest version of the operating system for Apple computers.
Release date: October 13, 2020
Hardware Requirements: RAM requirement 4GB. Big Sur is the first OS to support new Macs using ARM technology (in the future).
Features
- The biggest design refresh since macOS X.
- Support for new ARM processors.
- Safar improved performance and power consumption.
- Time Machine supports backup to APFS volumes.
- One-click translation for 7 languages.
- Redesigned maps
Software Compatibility Issues
Only 64-bit apps are allowed to run on Big Sur.
How to install
There are two ways to install Big Sur: enable automatic updates in System Preferences or download by using the following link.
Or check my post with tips on installing macOS on unsupported devices.
List of Apple computers compatible with macOS Big Sur
- MacBook (2015 and later)
- MacBook Air (2013 and later)
- MacBook Pro (2013 and later)
- Mac mini (2014 and later)
- iMac models (2014 and later)
- iMac Pro (2017 and later)
- Mac Pro (2013 and later)
macOS 10.15 Catalina
Release date: October 7, 2019
Hardware Requirements: RAM requirement increased from 2GB to 4GB.
Features
- Introduced Sidecar, which allows for Macs to use an iPad as an external display.
- iTunes was replaced by separate apps: Music, Podcasts, and TV.
- Find My Mac and Find My Friends have merged into one app.
Software Compatibility Issues
macOS Catalina is the first Mac operating system that does not support 32-bit applications. Only 64-bit apps are allowed to run on Catalina.
How to install
There are two ways to install Catalina: enable automatic updates in System Preferences or download by using the following link.
List of Apple computers compatible with macOS Catalina
- MacBook (Early 2015 or later)
- MacBook Air (Mid 2012 or later)
- MacBook Pro (Mid 2012 or later)
- Mac mini (Late 2012 or later)
- iMac models (Late 2012 or later)
- iMac Pro (All models)
- Mac Pro (Late 2013)
macOS 10.14 Mojave
Release date: September 24, 2018
Hardware Requirements: 2GB RAM and 18.5GB free space on disk
Features
- The main feature of Mojave is “Dark Mode”
- FaceTime adds group feature which allows chatting with up to 32 people
- News, Stocks, Voice Memos, and Home apps were ported from iOS to Mac.
How to install
If your Mac is eligible to update to Mojave, then the easiest way to install it is by enabling automatic updates. Downloading a standalone Mojave installer could be a little tricky.
List of Apple computers compatible with macOS Mojave
- MacBook (Early 2015 or later)
- MacBook Air (Mid 2012 or later)
- MacBook Pro (Mid 2012 or later)
- Mac mini (Late 2012 or later)
- iMac (Late 2012 or later)
- iMac Pro (All models)
- Mac Pro (Late 2013 and 2010-2012 models with upgraded GPU)
macOS 10.13 High Sierra
Mac Operating System Download
Release date: September 25, 2017
Hardware Requirements: 2GB RAM and 14.3GB free space on disk
Features
- APFS (Apple File System) becomes the default file system in High Sierra. It’s a significant upgrade from the older HFS+ in terms of speed, size, and security
- iCloud support of Messages which allows sync messages of the account across multiple devices
- Mail app uses 35% less storage space due to optimizations
List of Apple computers compatible with macOS High Sierra
- MacBook (Late 2009 or newer)
- MacBook Pro (Mid 2010 or newer)
- MacBook Air (Late 2010 or newer)
- Mac mini (Mid 2010 or newer)
- iMac (Late 2009 or newer)
- Mac Pro (Mid 2010 or newer)
How to install
Here is a High Sierra download link.
macOS 10.12 Sierra
This is the first macOS version. Previous OS versions for Macs were called OS X (X stands for 10).
Release date: September 20, 2016
Hardware Requirements: 2GB RAM and 8GB free space on disk
Features
- Siri was introduced to Macs
- Optimized storage with iCloud sync
- Auto-lock feature allows unlocking MacBook with paired Apple Watch
- APFS preview available
- Disk Utility can manage RAID sets again
- Significant security improvements
How to install
Here is a Sierra download link.
List of Apple computers compatible with macOS Sierra
- MacBook (Late 2009 or newer)
- MacBook Pro (Mid 2010 or newer)
- MacBook Air (Late 2010 or newer)
- Mac mini (Mid 2010 or newer)
- iMac (Late 2009 or newer)
- Mac Pro (Mid 2010 or newer)
OS X 10.11 El Capitan
Last OS X version.
Release date: September 30, 2015
Hardware Requirements: 2GB RAM and 8GB free space on disk
Features
- System Integrity Protection – a security feature that protects even when the root user executes the process
- Performance improvements: open PDF files four times faster, Mail is twice faster, launching apps 40% faster
- Notes app similar to the app in iOS
Macs compatible with OS X El Capitan
same as OS Mountain Lion.
How to install
Here is El Capitan download link.
OS X 10.10 Yosemite
Release date: October 16, 2014
Hardware Requirements: 2GB RAM and 8GB free space on disk
Macs compatible with OS X Yosemite
Same as OS Mountain Lion.
Features
- Major user design overhaul
- Introduction of Handoff and Continuity features
- Photos app replaced iPhoto and Aperture
How to install
Here is Yosemite download link.
OS X 10.9 Mavericks
First free Mac OS. Previous OS versions vary from $19.99 to $129.
Release date: October 22, 2013
Hardware Requirements: 2GB RAM and 8GB free space on disk
Features
- Compressed Memory feature automatically compresses inactive apps when approaching maximum memory capacity
- Timer coalescing is a feature that reduces CPU usage by up to 72 percent
- App Nap puts apps that are not currently visible to sleep
Macs compatible with OS X Mavericks
Same as OS Mountain Lion.
How to install
OS X Mavericks installer is not available on Apple Site. Follow instructions here to install Mavericks.
OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion
Must be purchased. Fixed many bugs introduced in OS X Lion.
Release date: July 25, 2012
System Requirements: 2GB RAM and 8GB free space on disk
Features
- New apps: Notification Center, Notes, Messages, Game Center
- AirPlay mirroring allowed to mirror Mac screen to Apple TV
- Application updates automatically install from the App Store
List of Apple computers compatible with OS X Mountain Lion
- iMac (Mid-2007 or newer)
- MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, or Early 2009 or newer)
- MacBook Air (Late 2008 or newer)
- MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 or newer)
- Mac mini (Early 2009 or newer)
- Mac Pro (Early 2008 or newer)
- Xserve (Early 2009)
How to install
Mountain Lion installer is not available on Apple Site. Follow instructions here to install OS X Mountain Lion.
List of older Mac OS Versions
Following Mac OS versions are still running on older Macs, but Apple does not support them anymore, and there is no point to upgrade (or downgrade) to them:
- OS X 10.7 Lion
- OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard
- Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard
- Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger
- Mac OS X 10.3 Panther
- Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar
- Mac OS X 10.1 Puma
- Mac OS X 10.0 Cheetah
Comments are closed.