Is Mac Cleaner Necessary



We clean our rooms and clothes so why not our Macs? But who can waste the entire day digging through folders and files? There are so many places like music, videos, apps and email downloads, and countless more locations on your Mac where junk and clutter accumulates. In 2021 cleaning your Mac is easier than ever. Which is why millions of people download free and low-cost Mac cleaning software.

Clean your Mac of old clutter. Clear up your recycle bin, temporary files and folders, broken permissions and more. Remove installed programs with the click of a button. You don't need any apps for 'cleaning' your Mac. Mac OS X manages itself quite well with no need for user involvement. While you can use an app such as Onyx, it's absolutely not necessary for your.

  • CleanMyMac X takes the first place with good reason — this cleaner combines.
  • Why do you need to clean up your Mac? We get it, your mac isn’t the top performer it once was. That is a solid reason for getting a mac cleaner to restore past performance. Another thing is to consider is privacy and protection. Do you have viruses or injections on your laptop? Yup, a legit mac cleaner will help this, too. Getting a Legit Mac Cleaner.
  • Still, as the CCleaner for Mac covers slightly different functionality and deals with the entirely different operating system, it’s wise to doubt its safety. Although the questions about CCleaner safety are common among users, there is no reason to think that the software will do any harm to your Mac.

To start off, we've made a quick comparison chart about best Mac cleaners for Mac.

RatingNameFeaturesInfo
1CleanMyMac X Best cleaning and antimalware functionality in one toolLink
2Disk DoctorQuick scan and deep cleaning of all kinds of junkLink
3Gemini 2Finds duplicate and similar files everywhere on your Mac, including Photos, iTunes, and external drives.Link

A handy cleaner may prove that your Mac is still alive and can actually perform at its best. In this article we’ve brought together some of the best Mac cleaning solutions around to clean, optimize, and maintain Macs that are available in 2020.

Top 10 best cleaners for Mac: Free and premium versions

1. CleanMyMac X

CleanMyMac X takes the first place with good reason — this cleaner combines features of both cleaning software and antimalware tool. Its Smart Scan promises a “nice and thorough scan of your Mac.” It does what it says, detecting junk like user cache files and system logs, checking your Mac for malicious software, and speeding up your MacBook. Looks like, there is a threat in my system, that I need to get rid of:

Frankly speaking, CleanMyMac X is Tesla Roadster among other Mac cleaners. And it does a great job revealing your junk and other clutter, uninstalling unneeded apps and their leftovers, and keeping your Mac’s system clean and optimized. Another pro is that CleanMyMac X is Apple-notarized, which means it’s safe for your Mac. You can download its free version right here.

Price: $39.95
Free version: Available here

2. Disk Doctor

Disk Doctor is developed in the UK and was awarded the 'Mac Gem’ award by MacWorld in 2013. CNET and other tech journalists also praise functionality. As of 2020, it still looks like a useful tool for Mac cleaning that removes junk slowing down and reducing the computing power of your Mac.

Price: $2.99
Free version
: N/A

3. Gemini 2

Gemini 2 is the duplicate finder that allows you to free up gigabytes of storage and organize your files. In just a few minutes.

Mac

It quickly scans every corner of your Mac and weeds out useless copies. No matter what type of file it is: a photo, music track, or a doc… Gemini will definitely find it. And once the scan is done, you can remove the duplicates in a click. Or review results to make sure nothing important gets deleted.

If you remove something by accident, it takes just a click to put it back. And to make sure things like that never happen again, you can exclude specific files and folders from scan. Try out the free version right here.


Price
: $19.96
Free version
: Available here

4. Onyx

OnyX is a french Mac cleaning solution developed by Titanium software. It weighs only 5 MB but that doesn’t mean its capabilities are limited. OnyX is a tool that programmers will have a lot of fun with. With it, you can peek under the hood of your macOS and automate a whole list of jobs, like disk cleanup and cache removal. You can even tweak the color of folders on your Mac, and even make them invisible. Deservedly, it's among the best free Mac cleaners.

OnyX is one of the best Mac cleaners because it cleans many specific under-the-surface files, like inner databases and logs. If you know what is XPC cache is, you’ll probably like this app. But for us, ordinary Mac users who came here for the design and glossy buttons, OnyX will require some learning time.
Those who use OnyX say it is stable and reliable. There is no dedicated customer service (because OnyX is free software), but you shouldn’t be worried. The only likely damage is you accidentally deleting files by yourself.
Price
: Free cleaner

5. DaisyDisk

DaisyDisk gives you a visual representation of your Mac folders, making it easy to see what is taking up space and delete the folders you don't need. All you need to do is select a drive, DaisyDisk will scan it, then you can delete everything that is wasting valuable space. It comes with a free and premium version.

Price:$9.99
Free version
: Trial version available

6. AppCleaner & Uninstaller

If you only need to uninstall apps on Mac, AppCleaner is a good pick. AppCleaner only removes applications, plugins, and widgets, which are again, small apps. AppCleaner works in a familiar drag & drop mode. Its interface is also clean and easy to understand for a newbie.

After feeding the apps to AppCleaner, you should visit the Leftovers section of the app to erase their remains. Why we place AppCleaner & Uninstaller among free Mac cleaner tools? Because it is 100% free. Whether you will fully clean your Mac using it, is a different question.
AppCleaner & Uninstaller is created by FreeMacSoft, also the makers of LiteIcon, an icon customizer for Mac.
Price
: Voluntary donation

7. Smart Mac Care

If you launch Smart Mac Care, it will look hauntingly familiar to other free Mac cleaner apps. Not only features will be called the same, everything up to the fonts, will be identical to some other app you’ve just used. That’s not a minus, though. You can still free up a lot of space with Smart Mac Care.

Is Mac Cleaner Necessary

Smart Mac Care operates by a logic of “scans.” There is a Junk Scan, Malware Scan, Privacy Scan, etc. Just like Mac Booster, Smart Mac Care removes duplicates scattered in various locations on your Mac. There’s also a Memory Optimizer feature that promises to free up RAM on your Mac. In a word, Smart Mac Care resembles every other generic product whose only difference is in packaging. This is supported by the fact that we couldn’t find any credible third-party reviews for this app.

On another skeptical note: to uninstall Smart Mac Care you have to enter your admin password. This is not the case with other Mac cleaners we’ve used.
Price
: $56.62 per year
Free version
: Demo available

8. Drive Genius

Drive Genius is labeled a “Mac monitoring software.” It’s a whole suite of tools that provide powerful disk diagnostics. It’s hard to list a thing that this software doesn’t do. You can scan for malware, secure-erase files, customize icons — it’s dozens of apps in one body. What makes Drive Genius unique is, probably, its search for corrupted files and inconsistencies on your drive. If your Mac is an old one, keeping it in good health will be easier with Drive Genius.

In a free version, you can use just a fraction of tools, notably a DiskPulse utility. This is an automatic Mac health checker that notifies you before your hard drive fails. Unlike Mac cleaners that merely scan, it is able to repair damage on your disks, which makes it a real deal. Be prepared that hard drive scan may take some time, but the results are worth it. Also note that Drive Genius is not available for macOS Catalina (as of the beginning of 2020).

Price: $299 for Professional edition
Free version
: Limited Lite edition is available

9. CCleaner

Originally created in 2004 by Piriform, CCleaner comes with a free and professional version, focusing on businesses and business customers. CCleaner is a cross-platform tool, for PCs, Macs, Android, and it has a Cloud, Network and Technician tool, depending on what you need and the platform/software you use.

The premium version comes with a lot more features, including real-time alerts, free updates, and dedicated support. Although created for PCs in the early days, CCleaner does well to identify unwanted files on a Mac, so that users can select and delete the files and folders they don't need to free up space. As a cleaner for Mac, customers are pretty happy with the results of CCleaner.
Price: $19.95
Free version
: Available

10. Sensei

The Sensei app is a relatively new app on the market, but it can be another useful tool for your Mac. The Sensei software developers call the app “Pro Mac Cleaner” on their website. I would call it a performance controlling tool.

Sensei presents a detailed picture of how your Mac performs. In the Dashboard, you can find out information about your MacBook, check your CPU’s current temperature, and see how much of your RAM is used. Cooling gives you exact information on your Mac’s fans' speed.

Its Clean option helps to get rid of user cache, logs, large files, etc. The Uninstaller feature allows you to delete apps from your Mac and remove their traces. It doesn’t list pre-installed apps from Apple, such as Safari or Calendar, but it shows every app you have installed on your Mac.

Surely, you can clean up your Mac manually, but using dedicated software will save you tons of time.

Free

Price: $29 per year
Free version
: Available

Frequently Asked Questions

Can’t my Mac clean itself?

Your macOS also has a built-in Mac cleaner, which Apple called Optimized Storage. Though its capabilities are limited, it gives you basic directions on where to start the cleanup. But for a thorough system cleanup and removing malware, you’ll need a dedicated Mac cleaner app.

Can Mac cleaner apps delete my important files?

Typically, best Mac cleaner apps have a protection built-in. They will usually select only those files that are safe for deletion.

Will Mac cleaners slow down my Mac?

Some cleaners try to get into your Login items, thus creating an extra burden on processor. On a flip side, the reliable Mac cleaner apps might even speed up your Mac. They remove all the outdated junk files giving your Mac an extra boost.

Mac cleaning apps you should avoid

Above we've touched the trusted Mac cleanup solutions but there are many that work on the dark side. Malwarebytes lists Advanced Mac Cleaner Pro and similar tools as unwanted applications. Here are some signs that should warn you against using scam Mac cleaners.
Signs of Mac cleaner scam:

  • 'Your Mac is infected' intrusive message
  • An app is installed as part of different app
  • An app finds 2323 (the number is an example) threats on your Mac
  • Mac cleaner redirects your search page

Be safe and happy cleaning.

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CCleaner has been on the cleaning tools market for a while. Still, many users hesitate whether it’s the right choice when it comes to decluttering their Macs. CCleaner does have a pretty decent feature set, which helps users solve many problems with their Macs. But the question whether CCleaner is safe is still open. So, we decided to install the CCleaner software and test it to provide you with detailed answers about its functionality and safety. Keep reading to find out whether CCleaner is the right tool for you!

What is CCleaner?

Best Mac System Cleaner

CCleaner is the cleaning software developed by Piriform, the company which is now acquired by Avast. Initially, the software was available for PCs removing the potentially unwanted data and invalid Windows Registry entries. But, in 2011, the creators decided to reach a wider audience and launch their product for Mac computers.

Getting started with CCleaner

To start using the tool, you need to install it on your Mac. The installation is so easy and only takes 2 minutes of your time. The app is ready to scan your Mac as soon as you launch it. It’s worth noting that the interface of CCleaner is self-explanatory and user-friendly. All the main features are located on the left of the main screen, and you will see the scan progress here too.

CCleaner features

If you decided to use CCleaner on your Mac, you probably have some issues with the performance of the macOS. We can assure you: CCleaner is able to deal with these issues and make your Mac run faster.

When you open the application, you will be able to analyze the unwanted files, including cache and system junk stored on your Mac, or run cleaner to let the CCleaner automatically remove some extra data that affect your Mac’s smooth performance.

If you do decide to run cleaner, CCleaner will start removing the junk files on your Mac. If you want to give a little check to know what files it deletes, better choose to analyze after the launch.

After CCleaner analyzes the files that clutter your Mac, it will show you the list of all checked items that are ready to be cleaned of your machine. If you want to keep some data, you need to uncheck the boxes next to the files that are necessary for you.

Best mac cleaner free

What can you do with Tools?


As for other CCleaner features, the next one on the list is Tools. The Tools feature has three options, which are: Uninstall, Startup, and Erase Free Space. The first option simply helps you manage the apps you have on your Mac by showing you the programs with their install date and uninstalling the ones you don’t use anymore. CleanMyMac X has a similar feature, which, though, categorizes your apps providing you a detailed list of programs you use. It also shows leftovers from the apps you deleted before. Read more about it here.

The next option - Startup - shows you the list of apps that automatically run when your Mac starts. Some users don’t like it when their Mac gets super busy after start and prefer to turn off the startup of the apps. CCleaner allows you to modify the list and remove apps that can launch at your Mac’s start. Using Tools, you can also wipe free space on your Mac. But, this process may take hours, so be prepared before you confirm erasing.

What about some Professional features?


It’s clear that the free version of CCleaner gives you a pretty basic set of features. But what about Professional ones? Upgrade to Professional (which will cost you $24.95 for a yearly use) will give you access to Privacy Protection, Automatic Updates, and Premium Support. You will also be able to use the Real-Time Monitoring feature, ensuring there is no harmful malware on your Mac.

As for the protection from malicious software, CleanMyMac X also has a safe module that scans your Mac for malware in real-time mode. Moreover, it notifies you when the threat is found. Learn more about it here.

Dr Cleaner For Mac

Why is CCleaner unique?

Since the internet has so many cleaning tools to choose from and many of them seem similar, the question why is CCleaner unique arises. Indeed, there are a variety of anti-malware tools, decluttering apps, and antiviruses for your Mac that get the job done. But, not many of them were awarded the US patent.

In 2013, CCleaner received the patent, that confirmed that its solution is unique and recognized by the US government. This patent was followed by the fact that CCleaner reached 1 billion downloads, which proved that the award was well-deserved.

Is CCleaner safe for your Mac?

Many Windows users have already confirmed the effectiveness of CCleaner over the years. The tool is indeed great for keeping your PC safe and sound. Still, as the CCleaner for Mac covers slightly different functionality and deals with the entirely different operating system, it’s wise to doubt its safety.

Is Mac Cleaner Necessary

Although the questions about CCleaner safety are common among users, there is no reason to think that the software will do any harm to your Mac. It doesn’t remove anything except you tell it to do so. Of course, when you run a scan, you may see that some files are checked automatically and ready to be removed. But, you can always exclude them from the list and keep the items for as long as you need them.

Best Mac Cleaner Free

Our Verdict

Free Cleaner For Mac

CCleaner is a minimal yet powerful cleaning software that does what it says. The price for CCleaner Professional is quite reasonable. Although the free version provides you with only essential basic features, it can be enough for you if your initial purpose is to clean your Mac from unnecessary files.





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