AppZapper vs CleanMyMac (2026): which should you pick?

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

Pick CleanMyMac if

• Fits if you want clean-up, malware scanning and app removal in one Mac app
• Works for Setapp subscribers, since CleanMyMac is included there

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you want a free cleaner, as there's no free plan after the 7-day trial
• Pricey if you pay by the month, at $9.99 against $39.99 for a year, and Plus is $15.99 a month
• Not for you if you want every tool, since the App Store edition leaves out some system junk and maintenance tasks
• Watch out: the trial runs through the App Store with payment details on file and charges you when it ends
• Watch out: a one-time purchase covers the current major version only, and it's Mac only, on macOS 11 or later

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.

CleanMyMac

• macOS 11 or later only. The App Store edition omits some tools found in the MacPaw Store and Setapp editions, such as several system junk and maintenance tasks.
• There is no free plan: after the 7-day trial a subscription or a one-time purchase is required.
• A one-time purchase covers only the current major version; moving to a later major version is a paid upgrade.
• Plan prices here are from the US Mac App Store. MacPaw Store plans cover 1, 2 or 5 Macs, and its price list was not readable when checked.

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.

CleanMyMac

Smart Care

One scan that runs five routines together: junk cleanup, a check for threats, performance tasks, software updates and a storage declutter.

Cleanup and Space Lens

Removes system junk such as cache and log files, mail attachments and trash. Space Lens maps the drive as an interactive view of folders sorted by size.

Malware protection

Malware scans run on MacPaw's Moonlock Engine, with real-time monitoring and background scanning. Privacy tools clear browsing traces and review app permissions.

App uninstaller and updater

Uninstalls apps completely, clearing their leftover data and old installers, and updates installed software from inside CleanMyMac.

Clutter, cloud and email cleanup

Finds duplicates, similar images and large or old files, reviews files in iCloud Drive, Google Drive, OneDrive and Dropbox, and from version 5.7 scans a Gmail inbox for mail to remove.

Menu bar monitors

The CleanMyMac Menu stays in the menu bar with monitors for Mac health, protection status, storage, memory, battery, CPU, network and connected devices.

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.

CleanMyMac

• Basic (yearly)$39.99

  per year (US Mac App Store price)

  Yearly subscription to the Basic plan in the App Store edition, charged after a 7-day free trial.

• Monthly$9.99

  per month (US Mac App Store price)

  Month-to-month subscription, listed as CleanMyMac Monthly with a 7-day free trial. The listing does not name its feature plan.

• Plus (yearly)$65.99

  per year (US Mac App Store price)

  Yearly subscription to the Plus plan in the App Store edition, charged after a 7-day free trial.

• Plus (monthly)$15.99

  per month (US Mac App Store price)

  The Plus plan paid month to month in the App Store edition.

AppZapper

No public discounts listed.

CleanMyMac

• Annual discount

  Yearly billing costs about a third of monthly

  On the US Mac App Store, Plus is $65.99 a year or $15.99 a month, so twelve monthly payments ($191.88) cost almost three times the yearly price.

• Education

  30% off for students and teachers

  MacPaw gives teachers and students a 30% discount on CleanMyMac. Submitting a .edu email address returns a discount code.

• Lifetime license

  One-time purchase with no expiration date

  Sold at the MacPaw Store and the App Store. It includes updates and fixes for the current major version only; later major versions are offered at a special price.

• Other savings

  30% loyalty discount for MacPaw customers

  Anyone who has bought any MacPaw product gets 30% off purchases at the MacPaw Store. It does not apply to App Store or Setapp purchases.

• Other savings

  40% off a one-year plan for switchers

  Users of another Mac cleaning or protection app can request 40% off a one-year CleanMyMac subscription by submitting proof of purchase.

• Other savings

  Up to 50% off upgrades from older versions

  Owners of a paid earlier version, such as CleanMyMac X, can move to the current version at up to 50% off through the MacPaw Store.