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Mac cleaner software streamlines your computer’s storage by efficiently organizing and optimizing disk space usage. This becomes particularly crucial when your MacBook Pro starts lagging after an update to the latest macOS Monterey. The culprits could be anything from duplicate files congesting your hard drive, an overloaded startup disk, to excessive bloat slowing your system down. Mac cleaner apps serve as a solution to ensure your Mac maintains sufficient storage for optimal performance.
With an overwhelming array of Mac cleaner options available, it’s important to choose wisely, as not all offer the same level of safety or reliability. After thorough research, we’ve identified the top ten best Mac cleaning software available this year, guaranteeing your Mac operates smoothly and efficiently.
Quick Summary
- For a user-friendly, efficient, and thorough Mac cleaning solution, CleanMyMac X is the top choice. Our numerous experiences with it have consistently exceeded expectations, never leaving us disappointed with the outcomes.
- If you’re budget-conscious and prefer to evaluate options before spending, consider starting with CCleaner’s free lite version. Should you find it suits your Mac’s needs, upgrading to the Pro version is always an option..
- Advanced Mac users should explore MacBooster, which offers superior cleaning capabilities for eliminating hard-to-find junk files that standard cleaning applications often overlook.
The 10 Leading Mac Cleaning Applications for 2024
Below is a list of our recommended Mac cleaner apps that support macOS Monterey. Read the quick review of each of them to get an idea about which one fits you the best.
1. CleanMyMac X (Best Overall)
Main dashboard of CleanMyMac X, running on macOS Monterey
A key attribute users seek in superior cleaning software is ease of use. After all, if navigating the software is a challenge, its utility is undermined. CleanMyMac X excels not only in its user-friendly interface but also in offering a comprehensive suite of tools. This all-in-one package includes a cleaning utility, malware removal, performance monitoring, and more, all organized in a sleek and efficient layout.
With CleanMyMac X, you gain the ability to eliminate temporary files, streamline oversized applications, and clear remnants of software left behind after uninstallation. Additionally, it enables you to efficiently organize and clean up your Mail, Music, and Photos, removing files that may be hindering your machine’s performance. Overall, CleanMyMac X offers a comprehensive solution to maintain your system’s efficiency.
Price: starting at $34.95 per Mac per year for subscription or $89.95 one-time purchase per Mac.
2. CCleaner (Best Free Option)
The main interface of CCleaner for Mac, on macOS Monterey
CCleaner stands out as a premier free cleaning tool for Mac, offering not only a no-cost solution (with an optional Pro version for those seeking advanced features) but also an efficient way to declutter your system. It excels at clearing out the recycle bin, temporary files, folders, and correcting broken permissions.
Beyond mere cleanup, CCleaner enhances your online security by wiping your search history and cookies, ensuring your personal information and identity remain private.
It puts you in complete control over the cleaning process. You have the freedom to specify which files, folders, or cookies to exclude, allowing you to tailor exactly what is removed from your computer, aligning with your privacy and cleaning preferences.
Here’s the difference between the Free version and the Pro version.
Price: Free version is free, Pro version $29.95 per Mac per year.
3. MacBooster (for Power Users)
MacBooster 8 main interface, running on macOS Monterey
MacBooster stands out as a robust application for those already familiar with cleaner software. It offers essential clean-up functionalities, such as eliminating duplicate files, optimizing backup memory, and identifying large files for removal. Additionally, it enhances your device’s security by scanning for malware and viruses, safeguarding your system against malicious threats.
However, its interface is not the most user-friendly, making it less suitable for beginners. If you’re not accustomed to navigating sophisticated software solutions, MacBooster might not be the ideal starting point.
Price: starting $39.95 per Mac (one-time purchase)
4. DaisyDisk
For those who are visually inclined and comprehend better with images, DaisyDisk stands out as an ideal choice. This application visually represents your drive’s data in an interactive, color-coded graph, ensuring clarity and ease of interpretation. Each segment of the graph indicates the storage space used by different components of your drive.
To delve into details, simply click on a segment to unveil a detailed graph of its contents. For convenience, unwanted items can be effortlessly dragged and dropped into the trash, streamlining the process of freeing up space.
Price: $9.99
5. Nektony MacCleaner Pro
MacCleaner Pro boasts an elegant simplicity, equipped with a powerful optimization tool. This tool not only reindexes mail and Spotlight but also deactivates startup apps that consume significant power, all while freeing up RAM. Additionally, it efficiently clears caches, installation files, unused language packs, and old downloads, enhancing your system’s performance. The Pro version further enriches your experience with three additional tools.
With the Pro version, you gain access to a sophisticated duplicate finder that can even identify similar photos, optimizing your storage. It also includes an app cleaner and uninstaller feature, as well as a disk analyzer, which presents a graphical representation of your startup disk space usage akin to DaisyDisk. This feature not only removes unnecessary files, thereby freeing up space, but also identifies the largest files and folders on your system.
Price: $44.95
6. Parallels Toolbox
Parallels offers an ideal toolbox for Mac cleanup, encompassing essential tools such as Free Memory, Uninstall Apps, Find Duplicates, and the quintessential Clean Drive feature. The interface is notably straightforward, enabling users to scan their drive and select specific categories for deletion with ease.
While this model is rather basic, fulfilling its purpose without extra frills, it perfectly suits those seeking to efficiently free up space with minimal effort. For straightforward disk cleaning, Parallels Toolbox emerges as an excellent choice.
Price: 7-day Free Trial ($19.99 per year)
7. Gemini 2
Gemini 2 excels in detecting duplicate files, meticulously scanning your computer to identify any redundancies by file type. It offers you the choice to either review the scan results or effortlessly eliminate duplicates with its “Smart Cleanup” feature.
Concerns about mistakenly erasing crucial files are unfounded with Gemini 2. It includes a straightforward restoration capability for any files you might accidentally delete. For further peace of mind, Gemini 2 allows you to designate specific folders or files as exceptions, safeguarding them from unintended deletions in the future.
Price: $19.95 per Mac (Subscription) or $44.95 per Mac (One-time Purchase)
8. OnyX
OnyX serves as both a comprehensive cleaning application and a disk management tool. It’s robust and designed for heavy-duty tasks, yet it lacks automation, which might deter those seeking simplicity. Despite this, OnyX offers unparalleled control over disk management, allowing users to significantly free up storage space.
The application features four main tabs: Maintenance, Utilities, Files, and Parameters. Each one requires careful management, but the effort can yield substantial rewards.
For individuals who prioritize complete autonomy over their computer’s functionality, OnyX emerges as the ideal solution.
Price: free
9. Sensei
If you’re in search of deep insights into your Mac’s performance, Sensei might just be the perfect tool for you. Its dashboard offers a comprehensive look at your computer’s performance metrics, including the temperature of your Mac and the speed of its fan, alongside other crucial data such as RAM usage.
The cleaning feature performs as expected from top-tier cleaner software, efficiently eliminating logs, caches, and identifying large files that might be taking up unnecessary space. While it allows you to select which files to delete, it smartly excludes native apps that came with your Mac, like Safari, ensuring essential software remains untouched.
Price: $29 per year (Subscription) or $59 (one-time purchase)
10. Drive Genius
Drive Genius stands out as premier “Mac monitoring software,” offering an extensive array of disk diagnostic capabilities. This includes scanning for malware, identifying duplicate files, and pinpointing large files that take up unnecessary space. Additionally, it provides quality-of-life enhancements such as defragmentation options to boost system speed, ensuring your Mac remains in top condition. A distinctive feature of Drive Genius is its ability to repair hard drive damage. It meticulously searches for issues like driver inconsistencies and corrupted files, endeavoring to fix them and restore system integrity.
Price: starting at $79 per year (subscription)
Mac Cleaning App You Should Watch Out (Scams & Malware)
The Cleaning App marketplace is rife with unethical sellers and scams. Be vigilant for these common signs, as they frequently indicate deceptive marketing tactics employed by scammers:
- “Your computer is infected by malware!” popup message
- A random Mac clearer appears and redirects your web browser
- An App webpage showing you “233445 viruses found on your Mac”
Do not go along with those apps, use any one of the above apps we recommend, and run a scan and you may even find that those are malware in and of itself.
FAQs
Is Cleaning Software Necessary for Macs?
Typically, individuals seek out cleaning software only when they notice their MacBook is running slowly – likely the reason you’ve found yourself here. Not all cleaning applications are made the same; some outshine the rest. CleanMyMac X stands out as a top recommendation from us, designed to work flawlessly with macOS Monterey.
Does Apple Endorse CleanMyMac?
Apple doesn’t endorse specific cleaning software, and choosing incorrectly could interfere with your Mac’s built-in security features. We’ve consistently used CleanMyMac on all our MacBooks with excellent outcomes. It even once identified an enormous video file that had been mistakenly recorded throughout an entire day.