AppCleaner vs Revo Uninstaller (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, AppCleaner grades higher than Revo Uninstaller: 2.8 against 2.6 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 6, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
AppCleaner grades higher on the free plan. Revo Uninstaller grades higher on features. They get the same grade on value for money, ease of use and platforms.
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
Revo Uninstaller
Windows uninstaller that scans for leftover files and registry entries
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 Revo Uninstaller if
- Fits if you want uninstalls to include registry and file leftovers
- Works for technicians who need a portable uninstaller on a USB stick
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you are on Mac or Linux, as it is Windows only
- Watch out: Pro updates last 1 or 2 years depending on the option bought, though the licence itself is lifetime
- Watch out: registry cleaning is a separate product, Revo Registry Cleaner
- Pricey if you need 2 or 3 PCs, since prices rise per computer
How we grade them
| 2.8GPAAppCleanerGood | 2.6GPARevo UninstallerGood | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | APro is $24.95 once for one PC, under a year of what this category's middle subscription costs. Updates last 1 year, or 2 for $39.95. |
| 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. | CA free edition and a portable version exist, plus a 30-day Pro trial. The page doesn't itemise how the free edition differs from Pro. |
| 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. | BLeftover scans, forced uninstall, batch uninstall, browser extensions, backups and Hunter Mode. Registry cleaning is a separate paid product. |
| 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. | BNo rating on record. You pick a program and uninstall it, with nothing to set up. |
| 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. | DWindows only on the desktop, and the Android products are separate. No listed integrations. |
| Best for | uninstalling Mac apps along with their leftovers | removing Windows programs and their 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 Revo Uninstaller. How we grade
Where they differ
- Revo Uninstaller can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Revo Uninstaller also covers file management.
At a glance
| AppCleaner | Revo Uninstaller | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free plan |
| Starts at | Free | $24.95 for a lifetime license with 1 year of updates |
| 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. | Revo Uninstaller Free, with a free portable version; the vendor's page does not itemize how its feature list differs from Pro. |
| Free trial | None listed | 30-day free trial of Pro |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Made by | FreeMacSoft | VS REVO GROUP |
| Price read from | freemacsoft.net | revouninstaller.com |
| Checked | Oct 6, 2026 | Nov 12, 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.
Revo Uninstaller
- Windows only on the desktop; the vendor's Android products are separate.
- Pro's license to use is lifetime, but updates last 1 or 2 years depending on the option bought.
- Registry cleaning is sold separately as Revo Registry Cleaner, with its own free and Pro editions.
- The vendor offers a 60-day money-back guarantee.
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.
Revo Uninstaller
- Leftover scanning
- After the standard uninstall runs, scans for remaining files and registry entries, with three scan depths.
- Forced uninstall
- Removes remnants of programs that were already uninstalled or are only partly installed.
- Quick and batch uninstall
- Uninstalls several programs in one pass.
- Windows apps and browser extensions
- Handles Windows Store apps and browser extensions as well as desktop programs.
- Real-time monitoring and logs database
- Watches system changes during an install and draws on a collection of trace logs for many programs.
- Backups and Hunter Mode
- Multi-level backups and an uninstall history allow a removal to be reversed, and Hunter Mode picks a program by pointing at its window.
Plans
AppCleaner
AppCleaner$0
The full uninstaller, downloaded directly from the vendor's page. No price is listed, and donations are optional.
Revo Uninstaller
Free$0
Free edition for Windows, with a free portable version for use on unlimited computers.
Pro, 1 year of updates$24.95
one-time for 1 PC, lifetime license with 1 year of updates
Leftover scanning in three modes, forced uninstall, batch uninstall, Hunter Mode and a logs database. Prices rise for 2 or 3 PCs.
Pro, 2 years of updates$39.95
one-time for 1 PC, lifetime license with 2 years of updates
The same Pro features with a second year of updates included.
Pro Portable$29.95
one-time, 1 year of updates
Pro features for a USB stick; licensed per user, not per computer. A 2-year option is $44.95.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, AppCleaner or Revo Uninstaller?
As of Nov 12, 2026, AppCleaner is free, and Revo Uninstaller starts at $24.95 for a lifetime license with 1 year of updates.
Which has a free plan, AppCleaner or Revo Uninstaller?
As of Nov 12, 2026, both AppCleaner and Revo Uninstaller have a free plan.
Which platforms do AppCleaner and Revo Uninstaller run on?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only AppCleaner lists a macOS app and only Revo Uninstaller lists a Windows app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
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.