Nektony App Cleaner & Uninstaller review

On the hunt for a Mac uninstaller that properly removes everything? Well, here’s the Nektony app cleaner review you’ve been looking for.

Removing app icons just doesn’t cut it; you have to physically remove all the leftover app files too, and tools like Nektony's App Cleaner & Uninstaller promise just that.

I’ve done a bit of research into if the paid version is worth it over free alternatives like AppCleaner or PearCleaner, and tested Nektonys V9x on my MacBook, just Tahoe, and I’ve checked proper uninstall thoroughness and some of its newer features like Remaining Files, Updater, and notarization checks.

So, here’s what it does well, where it falls short, pricing, and some solid alternatives if you decide to look elsewhere.

Nektony App Cleaner & Uninstaller

No Nektony App Cleaner review would be complete without a little background.  The App Cleaner & Uninstaller tool is a Mac utility from a Ukrainian software company founded in 2011 (Nektony), and it’s got a solid 15+ years of macOS development behind it. You might know some of their other tools too, like MacCleaner Pro, Duplicate File Finder, and Disk Space Analyzer.

Nektony App Cleaner & Uninstaller is a proper dedicated uninstaller, so that means finding all the associated files, including caches, plus saved preferences, even Application Support folders, forgotten launch agents, and hard-to-remove login items.

But there’s more. Its Remaining Files feature can also scan for leftovers from apps you’ve previously deleted, and its Updater feature can check the App Store and non-App Store apps for updates.

I like its Startup Items feature because I always forget to review my login items and extensions. And I thought the notarization check was useful, too: it shows if your apps are Apple-notarized, and it now comes with AI-powered descriptions that explain what unfamiliar apps actually do.

You do need to be running macOS 10.13 High Sierra or later, and it is a Universal Binary, so it runs natively on Apple Silicon.

What does App Cleaner & Uninstaller do well?

In my testing, I was pretty pleased with how it consistently found files and associated application launch agents. I was actually quite surprised by all the caches certain apps left behind, nested in my Library subfolders and preference files. I think it did a better job than some of the free tools out there.

I really like the Remaining Files feature. This looks for leftovers from apps you removed in the past, which is exactly the problem most uninstallers skip. Earlier versions were more aggressive, but the newer version feels much more focused, more clearly on genuine orphaned files rather than system-critical items.

Its interface is clean and smart too, and overall, easy to understand. I like that the scanned results are grouped by app, and file sizes are shown clearly. Expert mode lets you inspect every file before deleting, which adds a useful safety net.

I also liked the Startup Items section. It gives you a quick view of all your login items, including background agents and extensions. And, the notarization check deserves a mention too; it's a small feature, but it helps you spot apps that have not been Apple-notarized.

Where it falls a little short

I think it is good at application removal, but it is not 100% perfect. I found the Updater module a bit inconsistent, and I did see that Macworld’s updated 2026 review said it can miss some major applications.

I also think the free trial is short. You only get 2 days, and that’s not a lot if you really want to test it thoroughly.

My biggest caution with the app is purgeable space. There are user reports, including on MacRumors and Trustpilot, of App Cleaner identifying third-party cloud storage files as safe-to-remove purgeable space. One user reported losing around 500GB of Proton Drive offline data this way. That is a serious UX issue if you use cloud drives with offline files. So, you need to make sure you fully review what the app is deleting before you click clean.

It’s not an all-in-one Mac maintenance tool, so don’t expect any malware scanning, broader system junk cleanup, or optimization.

At around $7.95/month, that’s quite a substantial cost for a tool that does one job well.

​Pricing, alternatives, and who should buy it

So, as I mentioned above, the pricing is around $7.95 for a monthly subscription or a one-time purchase (there are often offers on this). Or it comes included in the MacCleaner Pro bundle.

Free alternatives:

• AppCleaner (FreeMacSoft) is a drag-and-drop tool with SmartDelete, but no scan for remaining files.

• PearCleaner is an open-source option with Sentinel Monitor and Homebrew management. It’s got more features but is more complex.

I think everyone reading this Nektony app cleaner review wants to know who should buy it, and I think, honestly, anyone who specifically wants the Remaining Files retroactive scan,  startup item management, and update checking in one focused tool.

If you’re in need of something that has app removal and Mac care, like protections against malware, system junk cleanup, and some performance optimization, then I would suggest CleanMyMac. It covers all of that in a single dashboard.

I’d say its Applications feature matches Nektony's uninstall depth and also finds leftovers from long-removed apps, while its Smart Care tool handles everything from junk to security in one scan. You can test every feature for seven days — get your free trial here.