The best free Mac cleaners of 2024
If you ever wondered what a Mac cleaner is and how to choose the best one, this article will come in handy — I’ve already done in-depth and time-consuming research on this topic to save you some time. Introducing my top ten Mac cleaners on the market in 2024. So, sit back and get ready to be bombarded with lots of helpful information!
What is a MacBook cleaner?
Mac storage cleaners are third-party tools that help safely clear the clutter on your device — forgotten folders, temporary or broken files, cache, or system junk. Over time, these items build up, causing Mac overload and speed issues.
Listen, Mac cleaner tools can seriously free up that valuable storage you’re constantly lacking and improve your Mac’s overall performance. The main benefit of using a dedicated tool is removing the hard-to-reach digital clutter, like app leftovers, broken files, and logs that manual maintenance just can’t do.
If your Mac needs to be decluttered, these are the signs to look for:
- Frequent stalling or freezing
- Mac is too slow
- RAM is too low
If these symptoms sound familiar, keep reading.
What to look for in a Mac cleaner?
When it comes to choosing the right Mac cleaning tool, it can feel overwhelming with so many options out there. So here are some critical questions to ask yourself:
- Is it a trusted and reputable tool?
- Is it safe to download?
- What cleaning features are included?
- Does it offer a free trial?
- One-off payment or subscription?
- Are there additional bonus features?
To make your life easier, I’ve taken the time to review ten trusted Mac disk cleaners for you. Let’s get started, shall we?
Top 10 free Mac cleaners
1. CleanMyMac
When it comes to the best free Mac cleaner, at the top of my list is undoubtedly CleanMyMac.
This tool is intuitive and straightforward to use, with a beautiful interface. CleanMyMac offers an array of powerful features to optimize and boost your Mac performance. Its Cleanup and My Clutter tools are all you need to clean up your macOS once and for all. Let’s take a closer look at the functionality of these features.
Cleanup:
In-depth system scan that resolves multiple errors while safely clearing up unneeded system log files, system cache, user logs, and language files.
My Clutter:
This tool also scans your Mac, allowing you to quickly sort through items by file type, size, or last opened and safely remove them within moments. It finds large and old files and app downloads as well as duplicates and similar photos.
What I really like about this app is that you can upgrade it for a reasonable price, getting an impressive array of other optimization features, such as:
- Real-time malware protection
- CPU load and Memory pressure monitor
- Applications tool for uninstalling and updating apps with a click
- Privacy feature for your online and offline data protection
Pricing plans start from $39.95 a year, but you can try the free version first to understand if this option will work for you. The company also offers great discounts for multiple-device coverage.
Tip: Looking for more ways to optimize and clean your Mac? Make sure it's malware-free, and the best way to do it is to invest in an antimalware app. Check out this article to learn more about the best malware cleaners on the market.
2. Avast Cleanup Premium
Avast Cleanup Premium is a smart app uninstaller and junk files cleaner. It helps get rid of different categories of unneeded files and data: duplicate files, browser data, and system files that can be safely removed. At the same time, it has a tool for removing apps.
You can download it from the official website. The app comes with a 30-day free trial version. Afterward, you can purchase a subscription, which will cost you $65.99 per year.
3. DaisyDisk
DaisyDisk is solely dedicated to cleaning up Macs. It does feel sparse compared to some of the previously mentioned tools, but don’t underestimate its cleaning power. If you’re only interested in Mac cleanup and nothing more, then this option is for you.
DaisyDisk is available to purchase from the App Store for $11.99 and has excellent reviews. You can download a free trial via the website, but the downside is you need to register your email address to use it.
For me personally, the visual graphics make this tool worth the money. It’s a great way to visualize your data and external drives. Simply scan the drive you want to clean up, preview the content, and remove what is no longer required. That’s it! No extra features, no fuss, no add-ons.
4. OnyX
Another free Mac cleaner app is OnyX. It allows you to create a set of rules that will clean up your Mac without the need to use Terminal or dig deep into the system.
It is absolutely free to download and use. So, you can go directly to the developer's website and download the version of the app designed for your macOS.
The only downside is that you will need to have some tech expertise in order to create appropriate rules, so if you're looking for a one-click decision, keep on reading because OnyX is not such an app.
5. Parallels Toolbox
Another one on my list of the best Mac cleaning software is Parallels Toolbox for Mac. It comes with a whopping 30 different types of useful tools, including some great cleaning solutions like the Clean Drive, Memory Clean, Find Duplicates, and Uninstall Apps features. I’ve chosen Parallels because all of these tools are available on the 7-day free trial, but you need to use personal details to register. 
This tool earned its spot on the best Mac cleaners list because it’s more than a cleaner. In fact, it’s a bit of a one-stop shop with an array of features, including Unarchive, Transform text tool, Presentation mode, and so much more. Parallels’ goal is to help users get the most out of their devices for $24.99 per year. This is one of the most affordable options on the market.
Tip: Wondering if there is anything you can do to free up disk space on Mac while you haven't found a Mac cleaner app that best suits your needs? Check out this handy guide with quick cleaning tips.
6. MacCleaner Pro
MacCleaner Pro is a tool from the Nektony creators. This one also offers a free Mac cleaning software trial that allows you to speed up, clean up, and manage your disk space using three straightforward tools. You can later upgrade to the powered-up paid version, which offers additional features like disk space analyzer, duplicate file removal, and application uninstaller. 
I like the fact that the system overview is straightforward to understand. It’s been visually modeled on Apple’s built-in storage management tab, so it instantly feels familiar. You get a clear breakdown of system clutter and other performance issues. In addition to clearing junk files, the Speedup tool can help optimize your Mac by rebuilding your Spotlight index, freeing up RAM, and disabling startup applications.
The paid version is a one-off payment of $119.95, and for that, you get the complete bundle of six PRO cleanup tools; this is a great tool, but it doesn’t provide any antivirus or other security features.
7. Intego Washing Machine
It is not a standalone app, but a part of the premium bundle of Intego apps. Washing Machine is designed to reclaim space, find and delete duplicate files, and help you organize your desktop and folders. These are three separate cycles of this Mac cleaner app that are named respectively: Reclaim, Duplicates, and Organize.
You can download it for a free 14-day trial, but if you want to use it after the end of this period, you'll have to buy the premium bundle. It is on the pricey side, though, since it will cost you $84.99/year.
8. Piriform Software CCleaner
CCleaner might not be as visually appealing as other tools mentioned in this review article, but don’t let that put you off. Its free version comes with three robust, reliable tools that quickly clear clutter and reclaim space. Let’s take a closer look.
- Clean unwanted clutter
This feature performs an in-depth scan, uncovers system junk, and makes it easy for you to select items for removal.
- Find duplicate files
Detects duplicate files on your hard drive, allowing you to review and select items for deletion.
- Uninstall redundant apps
This feature locates unused applications and uninstalls them safely.
The simplicity of this tool is what I like about it. Despite not being packed with millions of options and additional features, the app does what it claims. Its top menu bar icon allows you to run quick system scans easily.
You do, of course, have the option to upgrade to a paid version to have access to some extra features like a photo analyzer and automatic browsing history removal for just $29.95 a year.
9. App Cleaner & Uninstaller
Another tool from Nektony is App Cleaner & Uninstaller. It’s a lightweight application that comes with the exact features you need to clear up your Mac.
Unlike its sister application, MacCleaner Pro, you get just five simple cleaning tools. This set of tools helps remove apps and their traces, manage startup programs and browser extensions, clear up remaining digital debris, and manage default applications.
The downside to the free version is you only get 3 days to test it, which is a shame. I hope in the nearest future, they extend this to give users a chance to get to know the tool first.
However, if you decide to buy this option, pricing starts from $29.95 as it’s a one-time purchase. It’s not a bad option for a simple cleaning tool with no extra features.
10. Cleaner One Pro
The last on my list of free Mac cleaner apps is Cleaner One Pro by Trend Micro. It is another app that comes with a free trial. It is designed to find and remove app leftovers, old junk files, similar photos, duplicate files, and large files.
What I like about this app is its feature named Disk Map — it can visualize what takes up the most space and let you quickly delete it. The only downside of this tool is that it is less easy to use than I expected, given its sophisticated design.
Except for that, the design is clean and easy to understand. If you decide that you want to buy a full version, it will cost you $19.99/year.
How to clean your Mac manually?
If you’re still not entirely sure about having a Mac cleaner, here are a few things you can do to clean your Mac manually.
Clean up your Desktop
If you have Stacks enabled, you might not see all the useless clutter built up. Take a moment to disable Stacks and review what’s hanging around on your Desktop. Then, move any unwanted items to Trash. To enable back the Stacks, right-click anywhere on your Desktop and click Use Stacks.
Check your Downloads folder
The Downloads folder is another place forgotten files hide. Take time to run a deep checkup and remove anything you no longer need.
Uninstall unneeded Apps
If you haven’t used a specific app for a while, ask yourself, do I really need it? If the answer is no, then don’t think twice - remove it to save yourself valuable storage space.
- Open the Finder, then select Applications.
- Review your apps and drag any unrequired apps to the Trash.
- Empty your Trash.
Use Apple’s built-in storage optimization tool
Another way to help save space and tidy up clutter is by using Apple’s built-in storage optimization tool. Many people forget that this tool exists. But it’s a simple way to offload Mac to iCloud and automate your Trash removal. Here’s how to use it: 
- Select the main Apple Menu > About This Mac > More Info > Storage Settings.
- Check Recommendations under the Storage bar.
- Enable the three options by following the on-screen instructions.
Manual options will help, but as I mentioned previously, it’s impossible to get rid of all the debris this way, and that’s why cleaners have become so popular.
Hopefully, you found this review helpful. However, if you still decide to continue your own research for Mac cleaners, make sure to download from trustworthy sources. Too often, malware and other types of viruses can disguise themselves as cleaning tools.
Warning! Don’t be tempted to buy Dr. Cleanup. This application has been proven to gather and steal data from Macs. Happy cleaning!
Frequently asked questions
Do you really need a Mac cleaner to speed up your Mac?
The short answer is yes. You may have read on forums that Mac cleaner apps are a scam, and some of them really are. But if you choose an app from a reputable developer, you can be sure that your data is safe. More importantly, using a Mac cleaner app will prolong the life of your Mac since these apps are designed to find junk files that are hidden deep in your system, and getting rid of these files will significantly speed up your Mac.
Do you need to use a Mac cleaner app if you delete files regularly?
Yes, if you want to make sure that all unneeded files are safely removed. The thing is that even if you spend some time deleting unnecessary files, you cannot go as deep as the cleaner would go without the risk of deleting something vital for the operation of your macOS. Not to mention the fact that using a cleaner will save a lot of time.
Does using a cleaner app void your warranty?
No, it doesn't. These apps are designed in a way to safely optimize your system, and so the warranty is not affected.