CleanMyMac alternative for Mac: free and one-time tools by job

What CleanMyMac actually does#

CleanMyMac from MacPaw is a bundle. Its page lists Smart Care (one scan that runs everything), junk cleanup, malware protection, performance tools for memory and CPU, an applications module that uninstalls and updates apps, a clutter module for large, forgotten and duplicate files, and a view of cloud storage. MacPaw's page lists plans starting at $3.33 a month, checked on October 13, 2026.

That is a lot for one price, and if you use most of it, CleanMyMac is a fair deal. Many people, though, open it for one job: the disk is full. For that, you can mix free and one-time tools, pay less and see exactly what gets removed. Here is a tool for each job.

A tool for each job#

See what fills the disk: System Settings, then DaisyDisk#

Start with what macOS already gives you. Open System Settings › General › Storage. The bar splits your disk into categories, and each one with an ⓘ button lists files you can review and delete. Apple's own guide walks through emptying the Trash, clearing Downloads and removing old iPhone backups.

When the bar shows a huge System Data block you cannot open, a disk map helps. DaisyDisk scans the disk and draws every folder by size, so a 40 GB folder of old simulator files jumps out. It costs $9.99 once, with no subscription, for up to five personal Macs, and it protects system files from deletion. For the free route, our guide to System Data that is too large does the same job with Finder and Terminal.

Uninstall apps: AppCleaner#

Dragging an app to the Trash leaves its settings and caches in your Library folder. AppCleaner from FreeMacSoft fixes that: drop an app on its window, it finds the related files, and you delete them together. Its page lists no price, only a link to donate, and version 3.7 supports macOS 15 and later. Older Macs need 3.6.8, which covers macOS 10.14 to 15.6.

Duplicates: Photos, then Sweepy#

For duplicate pictures, the Photos app has a free Duplicates album under Utilities that merges copies and keeps the rest in Recently Deleted for 30 days.

For everything else that piles up, disclosure first: we make Sweepy. It reads only the folders you pick, usually Downloads and Desktop, and sorts the mess into duplicates, old installers, files not opened in 90 days and files over 500 MB. Every file goes to the Trash and a cleanup can be undone. Sweepy is free for two folders and $9.99 once for more. It is not a system cleaner: it does not touch caches, apps or malware. For more duplicate tools, see best duplicate file finder for Mac.

Maintenance: OnyX#

OnyX from Titanium Software is a free utility, with optional donations, that runs maintenance tasks behind a simple window: it checks the system file structure, clears caches, rebuilds indexes and changes hidden Finder and Dock settings. Download the version made for your macOS release; for macOS 26 Tahoe that is OnyX 5.0.6. Clearing caches frees space for a while, but apps rebuild them, so read whether it is safe to delete Library caches first.

When CleanMyMac is still the better pick#

Keep CleanMyMac if you want one app that runs everything on a schedule, if you rely on its malware scanner, or if you manage Macs for family members who will not learn four tools. The bundle is the point, and none of the tools above replaces its Protection module.

If you only opened it because the disk was full, start with the free steps in Mac storage full. Most of the space usually comes back without any app at all.