5 Best Mac Cleaner Apps to Remove Junk Files

Apple Macs are fast, portable, and easy to use. But, using a Mac over time can lead to lots of temporary and junk files, which, not deleted from time to time, can slow down your system’s performance. If you’re looking for software that can remove junk and clutter from your Mac, then read along to learn about the top five Mac cleaner apps you should use.

Every Mac owner aims for a consistently stable performance. But, for that, you’ve to keep temporary and junk files to the minimum. And even though macOS has a built-in ‘Optimize Storage’ option, it doesn’t work very well. Using the apps listed below, you can gain GBs of lost data by removing cache, unnecessary languages, and other junk files from your Mac.

While we’re on the topic of cleaning, keep your desk setup neat and tidy by using these desk cleaning tools.

1. MacCleaner

MacCleaner Pro tops our list of the best Mac cleaner apps. It’s efficient and user can control things to delete or retain.

It automatically starts scanning your hard drive once you launch it. After a minute or two, it presents a bar representing what’s taking your space. After the app completes its analysis, you’ll receive ‘feedback’ on how you can optimize your space.

Its cleaning tool can clear cache, logs, downloads, unnecessary language files, email attachments, and other junk files. Moreover, the app even lets you check for duplicated files on your Mac. It also allows you to remove duplicate documents, videos, and even photos.

MacCleaner Pro costs $34.95 as a one-time purchase. You don’t need to subscribe to periodically paid subscriptions to use the app. There’s also a free version of the app available that you can try out before purchasing.

Download MacCleaner

2. CleanMyMac X

CleanMyMac X is probably the most popular Mac cleaner app out there. Its beautiful and easy-to-use interface blends nicely with macOS’ design language. Plus, it boasts a lot of features.

CleanMyMac lets you get rid of unwanted files or apps through a click of a button. And among the things that MacCleaner does, CleanMyMac protects your Mac against malware too. There’s also an uninstaller built-in right into the app, in case you’ve trouble managing apps on your Mac.

And if you don’t have much time to dedicate to a Mac cleaning app, CleanMyMac’s ‘Smart Scan’ feature lets you quickly scan the junk files on your Mac and get rid of them.


On top of all, CleanMyMac has a minimal dashboard always running in your Mac’s menu bar. This is one feature we love about CleanMyMac. Using this dashboard, you can quickly free up your Mac’s RAM, empty your trash, or even run a speed test.

Quality comes at a cost. CleanMyMac costs $89.95 for one Mac and $134.95 for two. You can subscribe to the app for a yearly payment of $34.95, too. If you’re not sure about making the purchase, CleanMyMac offers a free trial version of the app as well.

Download CleanMyMac X

3. CCleaner for Mac

After years of dominating the cleaning apps category on Windows, CCleaner has made its way to the Mac. Like all the Mac cleaners on the list, CCleaner helps you get rid of unwanted files on your Mac.

It scans everything possible and then lets you select what to delete. There’s also a duplicate finder feature that enables you to scan duplicate items—though it does not scan duplicate photos. However, it enables you to delete ‘startup items’ that pop up and slow down your Mac as soon you boot it up.

CCleaner is available as a subscription that’ll cost you $19.95 per year. The free version lets you delete junk files and cookies. However, it doesn’t support real-time monitoring.

Download CCleaner

4. Disk Doctor

Disk Doctor is one of the cheapest ways to clean your Mac. For the value of $2.99, you’re getting capable cleaning software for your Mac.

Disk Doctor does exactly what it sounds like. It’s a doctor for your Mac’s hard disk. It scans everything you can think of — from mail attachments to iOS updates to uncompleted downloads; it scans everything. Once the scan is done, it lets you choose what to delete.

Disk Doctor, as mentioned above, is available for $2.99. It is downloadable directly from the App Store, ensuring that the app will always be up to date. There’s also a free version available that you can download. It lets you see the junk files but not delete them.

Download Disk Doctor

5. MacKeeper 5

MacKeeper is another popular Mac cleaning apps out there. MacKeeper does everything you can think of—from deleting unwanted files to uninstalling app to even ad blocking, MacKeeper does it all.

MacKeeper has made it easier to keep your Mac’s storage in check with a simple ‘Find and Fix’ button. Along with a dedicated ‘Smart Uninstaller’ section, MacKeeper makes it easier to update your apps using a unique ‘Update Tracker’ tool.

We love MacKeeper’s Auto-scan feature. Auto-scan runs in the background and automatically pops up as soon as it notices a virus-affected file downloaded from the internet. It also scans your Mac for junk files from time to time.

For added privacy, MacKeeper also has a VPN built-in. Moreover, if you run into issues with MacKeeper, you can talk to an Apple certified support professional directly through the app.

MacKeeper is available for $4.15 per month when billed annually. Keeping in mind its hefty price, the developers have come up with an attractive plan of $1 through which you can try the service for a week and then get an additional $15 off its $49.80 pricing—bringing down its price to $35 for the first year.

Download MacKeeper

CLean Up Your Mac

Macs can generate a lot of junk files over time that can slow down your system performance. Moreover, Macs generally come with fast but less storage. That’s why it’s necessary to keep disk space organized and speed it up for maximum performance. Keep your Mac’s storage optimized using the apps mentioned above. Which one did you try? Sound off in the comments section below.

Next up: Looking to stay organized on the Mac? Read the post below to learn about the top seven Mac apps to stay organized.