CleanMyMac vs iStat Menus

CleanMyMac

• Mac owners who want cleanup, malware scanning and app removal in one app
• People running low on disk space who want guided cleanup
• Setapp subscribers, since CleanMyMac is included in that subscription

iStat Menus

• Mac users who want CPU, memory, network and temperature readings always visible
• People who want an alert when a system reading crosses a threshold
• Laptop owners keeping an eye on battery, sensors and fan speeds

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.

iStat Menus

• macOS only. The version on the vendor's site requires macOS 11 or later; the Mac App Store listing requires macOS 14.
• Weather data is included for 6 months, after which the direct version needs a paid data pack and the App Store edition a subscription.
• A license covers only the current major release; iStat Menus 6 owners pay an upgrade price for version 7.
• The pricing panel shows local-currency prices by visitor location, with local taxes on top.

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.

iStat Menus

CPU and GPU monitoring

Per-core usage, history graphs, load averages, uptime and the apps using the most CPU, plus GPU processor, memory, temperature and frequency on supported Macs.

Memory, disks and network

Memory pressure and swap, used and free disk space with S.M.A.R.T. status, and network bandwidth with a per-app breakdown, public and private IP addresses and a connectivity indicator.

Sensors and fan control

Lists temperatures, fans, voltages, current and power. Fan speeds can be controlled, or switched and ramped based on temperatures and battery state.

Rules and notifications

Notifies you about events such as CPU usage above 60% for more than 10 seconds, low disk space, a changed public IP address or a dropped internet connection.

Weather

Current conditions in the menu bar with an hourly forecast and weekly overview, for your location or elsewhere. Data comes from providers including Apple Weather and AccuWeather.

Combined mode and customization

Combined mode folds several items into a single menu bar item to save space. Colors, item order and what each menu shows can all be changed.

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.

iStat Menus

• Single License$11.99

  one-time purchase, plus local taxes

  iStat Menus 7 on up to 3 computers primarily used by the buyer, with 6 months of weather data included.

• Family License$14.99

  one-time purchase, plus local taxes

  For up to 5 family members, on up to 5 computers in one household, with 6 months of weather data included.

• Mac App Store edition$11.99

  one-time purchase (US Mac App Store price)

  Cannot control fan speeds and needs a helper app for some stats. Weather is an in-app subscription at $0.99 a month or $4.99 a year.

• Weather data packFrom $2.49

  one-off purchase for 12 months of weather data

  Optional add-on for the direct version once the included weather period ends. Data packs do not renew automatically.

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.

iStat Menus

• Other savings

  Upgrade pricing from iStat Menus 6

  Holders of an iStat Menus 6 license pay $9.99 for a single upgrade or $12.99 for a family upgrade. The discount is applied when upgrading from inside iStat Menus 7.

• Other savings

  Included with a Setapp subscription

  iStat Menus is also available through Setapp, which the vendor quotes at USD$9.99 a month for more than 250 Mac apps.