AppCleaner vs AppZapper (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, AppCleaner grades higher than AppZapper: 2.8 against 2.4 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 6, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
AppCleaner grades higher on the free plan. AppZapper grades higher on platforms. They get the same grade on value for money, features and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
AppCleaner
Small Mac utility that uninstalls apps and their leftover files
Free
AppZapper
Mac uninstaller that finds an app's leftover files and deletes them
Free trial · from $18 one-time
Which one is for you
Pick AppCleaner if
- Fits if you want an app's leftover files removed along with the app
- Works for older Macs too, since builds are kept for systems back to macOS 10.10
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you're not on a Mac, as it's macOS only
- Too light for a full clean-up, because it only uninstalls apps and their related files
- Not for you if you like release notes and a manual, since the site shows no documentation or changelog
- Watch out: version 3.7 needs macOS 15 or later, so on older systems you have to find the matching older build
Pick AppZapper if
- Fits if you want to remove Mac apps and their leftover files in one drag
- Works for people who want a one-time price
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if your Mac runs older than macOS 15.6, as the page lists no earlier builds
- Too light for you if you want disk cleanup beyond uninstalling
- Tight if you want to try it properly, since the trial is 3 zaps
- Watch out: it is Mac only, so Windows or Linux needs another tool
How we grade them
| 2.8GPAAppCleanerGood | 2.4GPAAppZapperFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | ANo price is listed anywhere. You download it straight from the vendor's page with no purchase step, and the only payment link is an optional PayPal donation. Free, and a real program rather than something you have to host. | A$18 one-time for one Mac, with $29 for 5 Macs, under a year of this category's typical subscription. |
| Free plan and trial | AThe full uninstaller is the free download. There's no paid version and no trial on it, so nothing gets switched off later. | DThe trial is 3 zaps and then a licence key is required, which runs out quickly. |
| Features | CUninstalling is a small job, and AppCleaner does that bit fully: it finds the files an app scattered around the system, shows them for a look, and SmartDelete catches apps you drag to the Trash. The vendor's page describes no other clean-up or maintenance work, and no documentation or changelog either. | CDrag-and-drop uninstalling and a Zap All button. It does that job fully, but it is a smaller one: no other cleanup features are described. |
| Ease of use | BNo rating is on record, but there's nothing to set up: drop an app onto the window, see what it found, click delete. Just pick the right build, as version 3.7 is for macOS 15 and later. | BDrag an app in and click. Nothing to set up. No store rating is on record. |
| Platforms and integrations | DMac only, which is one operating system. Version 3.7 is for macOS 15 and later, with older builds kept for systems back to macOS 10.10. No integrations are listed. | CMac only, and the home page lists macOS 15.6 or later. |
| Best for | uninstalling Mac apps along with their leftovers | dragging a Mac app away with its leftovers |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: AppCleaner and AppZapper. How we grade
Where they differ
- AppZapper can be bought with a one-time purchase.
In commonmacOSDisk cleanup
At a glance
| AppCleaner | AppZapper | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free trial |
| Starts at | Free | $18 one-time, for 1 Mac |
| Free plan | The vendor's page offers the app as a direct download with no price or purchase step. The only payment link is an optional PayPal donation. | None |
| Free trial | None listed | 3 free zaps before a license is needed |
| macOS | ||
| Made by | FreeMacSoft | AppZapper |
| Price read from | freemacsoft.net | appzapper.com |
| Checked | Oct 6, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
AppCleaner
- macOS only. The current version, 3.7, is for macOS 15 and later; earlier systems need one of the older builds.
- It uninstalls apps and their related files; the vendor's page describes no other cleanup or maintenance functions.
- The vendor's site is a short description with downloads. It shows no documentation, changelog or price list.
AppZapper
- The trial allows 3 zaps, after which a license key is required.
- Requires macOS 15.6 or later; the home page lists no builds for older systems.
- It is an uninstaller only; the vendor's pages describe no other cleanup features.
Key features
AppCleaner
- Drag-and-drop uninstalling
- Drop an application onto the AppCleaner window and it searches for the files that belong to that app.
- Related-file search
- Looks for the small files an installation distributes throughout the system, which otherwise keep using disk space after the app is gone.
- Review before deleting
- Found files are shown before anything is removed. A 2015 Macworld walkthrough describes checkmarks beside each file and says removed items go to the Trash.
- SmartDelete
- According to the same Macworld walkthrough, switching on SmartDelete in Preferences makes AppCleaner look for related files whenever an app is dragged to the Trash.
- Builds for older macOS versions
- The vendor lists version 3.7 for macOS 15 and later, 3.6.8 for macOS 10.14 up to 15.6, 3.6 for macOS 10.13 and 3.4 for macOS 10.10 up to 10.12.
AppZapper
- Drag-and-drop uninstalling
- Drag any app into the window and it finds the extra files the app installed, including caches, preferences and support files.
- Zap All
- Delete everything found for an app in one action, or pick files one at a time with the on-screen zapper.
- Themes
- The classic look is kept, and the vendor says new blaster themes can be applied in its place.
- Apple Silicon and Intel
- The vendor's help page says it runs on macOS 15 or later on both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.
Plans
AppCleaner
AppCleaner$0
The full uninstaller, downloaded directly from the vendor's page. No price is listed, and donations are optional.
AppZapper
Single User$18
one-time, for 1 Mac
One license for one Mac.
Family Pack$29
one-time, for up to 5 Macs
One license covering up to 5 Macs.
Enterprise$99
one-time, for up to 25 Macs
One license covering up to 25 Macs.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, AppCleaner or AppZapper?
As of Nov 13, 2026, AppCleaner is free, and AppZapper starts at $18 one-time, for 1 Mac.
Which has a free plan, AppCleaner or AppZapper?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only AppCleaner has a free plan. AppZapper does not, though it has a free trial.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.