CleanMyMac review: Veteran Mac cleaner updated for 2025

Macworld

At a glanceExpert's Rating

Pros

Improved interface and ease of use

Wide range of cleaning tools

Subscription or one-time purchase available

Cons

More expensive than some rivals

Limited malware features

Some technical knowledge still needed

Our Verdict
CleanMacMac is a good multi-purpose utility for the macOS operating system, and its bright, friendly user interface lends easy access to several handy utilities to clear up disk space, protect user privacy, optimize performance, update applications, uninstall software, and help prevent malware and adware.

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There are lots of cleanup apps available that claim to speed up your Mac by getting rid of old files that might be clogging up your Mac’s drive, deleting duplicate photos, or uninstalling apps and software completely so that they don’t leave behind any old files that are no longer needed. However, few of those cleanup apps are as comprehensive as CleanMyMac from MacPaw, which was updated to version 5.0 (and dropped the ‘X’ from its name, as version 4 was called CleanMyMac X) back in 2024.

In this review we’ll run through what you can do with CleanMyMac, what we link about it, and what we aren’t so keen on, and we’ll explain what’s in the latest update. See how CleanMyMac compares to other Mac Cleaners in our Best Mac Cleaner software round-up.

What CleanMyMac can do

It’s not the cheapest cleanup app available for the Mac, but CleanMyMac provides dozens of different tools for deleting old files and data. It groups all those tools into five main categories that focus on different tasks – Cleanup, Protection, Performance, Applications and My Clutter. It’s worth exploring each set of tools to see how the program works but, for convenience, there’s also a Smart Care feature that gives your Mac drive a quick check-up and summarises the result of its scans for all five categories.

The Cleanup tools focus on deleting junk: old files and documents that are taking up valuable space, or old system files that are no longer needed.




Foundry

The Protection tools dig a bit deeper and can scan for malware that might cause a threat to your Mac. While the app works well with macOS’ Gatekeeper function in working to prevent malware installation on your Mac, it’s still possible to install a good amount of questionable software. Yes, the Malware Removal module was able to detect and quarantine several threats (such as OSX.EvilEgg, DazzleSpy, and parts of the AdWind malware), but it left segments of AdWind installed in tests, as well as missed the questionable WaveBrowser, a mock version of Adobe Flash Player Install Manager, Adobe album and the infamous MacSecurity app, which had to be removed with another application.

This was disappointing considering MacPaw’s well-marketed and hyped use of the Moonlock Engine for this purpose. CleanMyMac isn’t a dedicated anti-virus program so it doesn’t provide the same level of protection as the programs featured in our Best Antivirus for Mac round-up. Also read: CleanMyMac offers virus removal, but is it any good?

The Performance tools help with routine maintenance, clearing out the DNS cache that is used for web browsing, re-indexing Spotlight and Mail to speed up search results, and keeping track of your Login and Background items (which you can also do using System Settings on your Mac).

A common task that many people ask about is how to completely delete applications from their Mac, as many applications leave behind old files and bits of data even after you delete the application itself. The Applications tools in CleanMyMac can help with that task, deleting app leftovers and installation files, and also reminding you of any old applications that you may not have used recently.

Finally, there’s My Clutter, which can scan either individual folders or your entire Mac drive to locate old files that you haven’t used for a long time, or particularly large files that take up a lot of space. This latest version gains some new features here, including the ability to identify duplicate files, or photos that look very similar so that you can delete them if you want to. There are also some diagnostic tools, including the ability to identify apps that are using a lot of battery power on your laptop.




Foundry

Using CleanMyMac

The most important change that arrived with version 5.0 was the redesigned interface. Previous versions of CleanMyMac could use each set of tools to scan your Mac automatically, but would then throw long lists of files and data onto the screen and leave you to decide which files you wanted to keep or delete – which could be confusing for many users who don’t have the necessary level of technical knowledge.

CleanMyMac 5.0 simplified things by displaying the results of its scans as a series of tiles that give you a quick summary of each scan. So the Application tools will display tiles that break the results down into app leftovers that are left behind when you delete applications, or installation files that are used when you first install a new app.

Other tiles will tell you about apps that are waiting for updates, or old apps that haven’t been used for a long time. If you want more information then each tile has a Review button that can display the entire list of relevant files, or you can simply hit the Remove button and allow CleanMyMac to automatically delete everything for you.

CleanMyMac Updates

There have been a number of updates to CleanMyMac since our review of version 5.0 in 2024, some of which were simply maintenance updates that dealt with bugs and other problems. However, there have also been what MacPaw refers to as ‘major updates’ that introduced new features.

Version 5.0.5 updated the app’s Performance module, with a new option Purgeable Space, which scans your entire hard drive for old files, cache files, or temporary files and downloads that you can delete to save space.

Some new accessibility features arrived with version 5.0.7, with the ability to use the VoiceOver feature in the macOS to read out information within the app for people who have visual impairments. There’s also an option called Reduce Motion that does exactly what it says, reducing the animation and other visual effects during scans to reduce discomfort or distraction.

An older feature got an update in version 5.1, when the Space Lens was revamped to provide a visual guide to the use of storage on your Mac. This feature (which is only available in the Plus version of the app) displays all the folders on your Mac as a series of ‘bubbles’ of different sizes, indicating the amount of storage space taken up by each folder. You can then click on each bubble to explore the various files and sub-folders that it contains and decide which ones you may want to delete in order to save space.




Foundry

CleanMyMac extended its space-saving features onto the cloud with a new Cloud Cleanup feature in version 5.2.1 (only available with the Plus version). This allows you to use CleanMyMac to scan your cloud storage on iCloud Drive, Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive. The app can scan these online drives just as it can scan your Mac’s local drive and allows you to quickly delete files that you don’t need, or perhaps delete files from your Mac and just leave a backup on your cloud drive instead.




Foundry

Some people may not feel comfortable giving a third-party app access to their private cloud accounts, though, in which case you can save some money by opting for the Basic version of CleanMyMac that doesn’t include this particular feature.

How to buy CleanMyMac

Perhaps the most significant change is the new pricing structure that was introduced in July of 2025 that includes separate ‘Basic’ and ‘Plus’ versions of the app. The Basic version offers a limited set of features for less technically inclined users, while the Plus version offers the full range of features, including some of the latest feature updates from 2025 (you can compare the two versions here).

The Basic version of CleanMyMac costs $9.95/£8.95 per month, which, to be honest, seems a little steep for an app that you may only use every few weeks. However, there’s also an annual subscription available that seems a lot more reasonable, costing $47.50/£27.00 per year. And, if you don’t like paying subscriptions for software, then you can also buy the Basic version for a single ‘One Time’ fee of $119.95/£101.95.

As you’d expect, the Plus version of the app is more expensive, costing $15.95/£14.95 per month, or $71.40/£45.00 annually, while the One Time purchase option costs $195.95/£165.95. There’s some small print to look out for though, as those prices only allow you to run CleanMyMac on a single Mac. There are additional pricing plans for two or five Macs also available, as well as a Business edition that offers discounts for volume licensing (with full details available on MacPaw’s website).

It’s also worth noting that the One Time purchase option allows you to use the app for as long as you want – with no recurring subscription fees – but that price may not include additional ‘major updates’ and features that are introduced in the future, so you may still have to pay extra to keep up to date with all the latest features. And, as we’ve mention in the past, there’s a version of CleanMyMac also available on the Mac App Store, although Apple’s technical restrictions mean that it may not have the full range of features that are available when you buy CleanMy Mac directly from MacPaw.

You can buy CleanMyMac either from MacPaw’s own website, or from the Mac App Store, although the version sold on the Mac App Store omits a few features (due to technical restrictions imposed by Apple). But, as always, there’s still a seven day free trial available so that you can try the app out before paying for the full version.

Should You Buy CleanMyMac?

Some people argue that utilities such as this are completely unnecessary, and it is certainly possible to perform most of these Mac maintenance tasks yourself – as long as you have a reasonable amount of technical knowledge. But, if you don’t know your DNS cache from your universal binaries, then a well-designed app such as CleanMacMac can simplify these tasks for you, and help to keep your Mac fighting fit.