The CleanMyMac Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about CleanMyMac in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
CleanMyMac
The Insider’s Guide
Mac cleanup, malware removal and maintenance in one app
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among desktop utilities, read from CleanMyMac’s own pages.
Made by MacPaw Way Ltd. · checked Oct 5, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from CleanMyMac’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on CleanMyMac’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 5, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
1.8
GPA, above 0 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade
CleanMyMac is a Mac maintenance app from MacPaw that combines junk-file cleanup, malware scanning, performance maintenance, app uninstalling and updating, and tools for finding duplicates and large files. It is sold as a subscription or a one-time purchase through the MacPaw Store and the Mac App Store, and it is also included in Setapp. The App Store edition leaves out some system-level features.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about CleanMyMac, taken from its own pages and our grades.
That App Store edition leaves out some system tools, and a one-time purchase only covers the current major version.
- 1
Best for all-in-one clean-up and malware checks on a Mac
CleanMyMac is a Mac maintenance app from MacPaw with junk cleanup, malware scans, an uninstaller, a duplicate finder and a menu bar monitor.
- 2
Paid plans start at $3.33 a month when paid by the year
As its pricing page puts it: $39.99 / year on the US Mac App Store (MacPaw's site: from $3.33 / month).
- 3
You can try it first
7-day free trial with full functionality
- 4
It runs on macOS
macOS.
- 5
Smart Care
One scan that runs five routines together: junk cleanup, a check for threats, performance tasks, software updates and a storage declutter.
- 6
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.
- 7
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.
- 8
A 1.8 GPA, above 0 of 94
That is against the other desktop utilities we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
Nothing CleanMyMac does is plain enough to make in a weekend. The 6 things listed below take a company.
CleanMyMac at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $39.99 / year on the US Mac App Store (MacPaw's site: from $3.33 / month)
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- 7-day free trial with full functionality
- Runs on
- macOS
- Made by
- MacPaw Way Ltd., since 2008
- Category
- Desktop Utilities
- Our grade
- 1.8 GPA, weak
The report card
Best for all-in-one clean-up and malware checks on a Mac
CleanMyMac is a Mac maintenance app from MacPaw with junk cleanup, malware scans, an uninstaller, a duplicate finder and a menu bar monitor. There's no free plan: the 7-day trial charges you when it ends, and Basic is $39.99 a year or $9.99 a month on the App Store. That App Store edition leaves out some system tools, and a one-time purchase only covers the current major version.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | Basic is $39.99 a year on the US Mac App Store, about $3.33 a month, which is above this category's middle of $2.99 and a subscription besides. Pay monthly and it's $9.99, right at the dear end of the whole category. Plus is $65.99 a year. |
| Free plan and trial | D | There's no free plan. The 7-day trial has full functionality, but it runs through the App Store with your payment details on file and charges you for the plan when it ends. A week isn't long to judge a cleaner you'd only run now and then. |
| Features | C | On paper it's the lot: Smart Care's five routines in one scan, Space Lens, malware scanning, an uninstaller, a duplicate finder and clean-up inside iCloud Drive, Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox and Gmail. But the listing says the App Store edition, the one priced here, drops several system junk and maintenance tools. |
| Ease of use | B | No rating is on record, but there's nothing to set up: one Smart Care scan does five jobs, so you never need to know what a cache file is. The menu bar monitors sit there on their own too. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | Mac only, on macOS 11 or later, so one operating system. It reaches into iCloud Drive, Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox and Gmail to tidy those, and it's included in Setapp. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who CleanMyMac is for
- Fits if you want clean-up, malware scanning and app removal in one Mac app
- Works for Setapp subscribers, since CleanMyMac is included there
Who it is not for
- 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
Good to know
Good for
- 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
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$3.33
A month to start, paid by the year
CleanMyMac is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $39.99 / year on the US Mac App Store (MacPaw's site: from $3.33 / month).
A week isn't long to judge a cleaner you'd only run now and then.
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.
Trying it first
7-day free trial with full functionality
Read from apps.apple.com on Oct 5, 2026.
Ways to pay less
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.
Stated on apps.apple.comEducation
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.
Stated on macpaw.comLifetime 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.
Stated on macpaw.comOther 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.
Stated on macpaw.comOther 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.
Stated on macpaw.comOther 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.
Stated on macpaw.com
What the app costs elsewhere
Each country’s App Store price for “CleanMyMac Yearly Access”, against $39.99 in the United States, in dollars at the day’s rate. The four cheapest and the four dearest of 11.
| Country | Price there | In dollars | Against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey | ₺234,99 | $4.78 | 88% less |
| Brazil | R$ 124,90 | $24.96 | 38% less |
| Indonesia | Rp 499ribu | $27.91 | 30% less |
| Philippines | ₱ 1,850.00 | $29.45 | 26% less |
| United Kingdom | £30.95 | $40.92 | about the same |
| Australia | $59.99 | $41.88 | about the same |
| South Africa | R699.99 | $42.34 | 6% more |
| Germany | 39,99 € | $44.81 | 12% more |
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: macOS
Mac cleanup, malware removal and maintenance in one app. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: one-time purchase, menu bar app, system monitor, disk cleanup.
But the listing says the App Store edition, the one priced here, drops several system junk and maintenance tools.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
What it works with
- iCloud Drive
- Google Drive
- Microsoft OneDrive
- Dropbox
- Gmail
- Setapp
CleanMyMac is made by MacPaw Way Ltd., and has been around since 2008.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
0/94
Other desktop utilities it is graded above
CleanMyMac's GPA of 1.8 is higher than 0 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade.
It stands best on ease of use (B, above 33 of 94) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $3.33 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $2.50 for the category: 11 of the 17 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. 12 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 95 desktop utilities we grade, cut by the letter each got. CleanMyMac’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 2 of 94
- DFree plan and trialAbove 2 of 94
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 94
- BEase of useAbove 33 of 94
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 94
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 55 desktop utilities. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. CleanMyMac is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
Nothing CleanMyMac does is plain enough to make in a weekend. The 6 things listed below take a company.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 94 of the 94 other desktop utilities grade higher. It costs $39.99 a year.
What you could not
- Deleting system files without breaking anything.
- Readings from inside the operating system.
- A native app living in the menu bar.
- A real app for macOS. Something home-made would be a web page.
- It plugs into other products, iCloud Drive, Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive among them.
- What a company asks for before it lets staff use something: roles and permissions.
What this rests on. CleanMyMac’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
CCleaner, OnyX, DaisyDisk, AppCleaner and Pearcleaner
The 5 tools CleanMyMac is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
CCleaner
Free plan · from $44.95/yr
Junk cleaner and PC optimizer for Windows, Mac and mobile.
- CCleaner has a free plan. CleanMyMac does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only CCleaner lists Windows, Android and iOS apps.
- CleanMyMac can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.8GPA
OnyX
Free
Free maintenance, cleaning and tweaking utility for macOS.
- OnyX has a free plan. CleanMyMac does not, though it has a free trial.
- CleanMyMac can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- CleanMyMac also covers menu bar app and system monitor.
- 2.4GPA
DaisyDisk
Free trial · from $9.99 one-time
Visual disk space analyzer and cleanup tool for Mac.
- CleanMyMac also covers menu bar app and system monitor.
- 2.8GPA
AppCleaner
Free
Small Mac utility that uninstalls apps and their leftover files.
- AppCleaner has a free plan. CleanMyMac does not, though it has a free trial.
- CleanMyMac can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- CleanMyMac also covers menu bar app and system monitor.
- 2.8GPA
Pearcleaner
Free
Free, source-available app uninstaller and cleaner for Mac.
- Pearcleaner has a free plan. CleanMyMac does not, though it has a free trial.
- CleanMyMac can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- CleanMyMac also covers menu bar app and system monitor.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
14
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is CleanMyMac free?
No, CleanMyMac is a paid product, but you can try it first. 7-day free trial with full functionality.
How much does CleanMyMac cost?
CleanMyMac lists 4 plans. Basic (yearly): $39.99 per year (US Mac App Store price).
What platforms does CleanMyMac work on?
CleanMyMac is available on macOS.
Does CleanMyMac offer any discounts?
CleanMyMac publicly lists the following: Yearly billing costs about a third of monthly; 30% off for students and teachers; One-time purchase with no expiration date; 30% loyalty discount for MacPaw customers; 40% off a one-year plan for switchers; Up to 50% off upgrades from older versions.
Does CleanMyMac have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. CleanMyMac is listed for macOS.
Does CleanMyMac have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. CleanMyMac is listed for macOS.
Is CleanMyMac open source?
CleanMyMac is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
What does CleanMyMac integrate with?
CleanMyMac's listing names iCloud Drive, Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, Dropbox, Gmail and Setapp.
Does CleanMyMac have a student discount?
30% off for students and teachers. MacPaw gives teachers and students a 30% discount on CleanMyMac.
Who makes CleanMyMac?
CleanMyMac is made by MacPaw Way Ltd. It dates from 2008.
What are the alternatives to CleanMyMac?
The closest alternatives to CleanMyMac in our directory are CCleaner, OnyX, DaisyDisk, AppCleaner and Pearcleaner.
How does CleanMyMac compare with other desktop utilities?
CleanMyMac's GPA of 1.8 is higher than 0 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade.
Is CleanMyMac good value for money?
ToolGPA grades CleanMyMac C for value for money. Its paid plans start at $3.33 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $2.50 for the category: 11 of the 17 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of CleanMyMac?
Nothing CleanMyMac does is plain enough to make in a weekend. The 6 things listed below take a company.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from CleanMyMac’s own pages on Oct 5, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from MacPaw's own pages on 5 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-02-12.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by MacPaw Way Ltd. Prices change, so check macpaw.com before you buy.
- macpaw.com/cleanmymac
- cleanmymac.com/
- apps.apple.com/us/app/cleanmymac/id1339170533
- macpaw.com/support/cleanmymac/knowledgebase/editions
- macpaw.com/support/cleanmymac/knowledgebase/purchase-options
- macpaw.com/support/cleanmymac/knowledgebase/missing-features
- macpaw.com/support/cleanmymac/knowledgebase/discounts
- macpaw.com/support/cleanmymac/knowledgebase/upgrade
- macpaw.com/support/cleanmymac/knowledgebase/multi-user-license
- macpaw.com/support/cleanmymac/knowledgebase/cleanmymac-menu
- macpaw.com/support/cleanmymac/knowledgebase/concepts-and-usage
- macpaw.com/cleanmymac/whats-new
- macpaw.com/macpaw-student-discount
- macpaw.com/about
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- CleanMyMac, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/cleanmymac
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "CleanMyMac: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 5, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/cleanmymac
Know someone choosing between desktop utilities?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/cleanmymac/guide
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See our other guides
The best-graded desktop utilities after CleanMyMac, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Desktop Utilities Insider's GuideEvery one of the 95 desktop utilities we grade, compared
- LocalSend Insider's GuideOpen-source file sharing between nearby devices, no cloud3.2 GPA
- Ninite Insider's GuideInstalls and updates many Windows apps at once3.2 GPA
- 7-Zip Insider's GuideFree, open-source file archiver with the 7z format3.0 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what CleanMyMac’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. CleanMyMac is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by MacPaw Way Ltd. Prices and plans change: check macpaw.com before you buy.