The OnyX Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about OnyX 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.
OnyX
The Insider’s Guide
Free maintenance, cleaning and tweaking utility for macOS
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among desktop utilities, read from OnyX’s own pages.
Made by Titanium Software · checked Oct 9, 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 OnyX’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on OnyX’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 9, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.8
GPA, above 57 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade
OnyX is a free multifunction utility for macOS from Titanium Software. It verifies the startup disk and the structure of its system files, runs cleaning and maintenance tasks, deletes caches, rebuilds databases and indexes, uninstalls applications, and changes hidden settings of the Finder, Dock, Safari and other Apple apps. A separate build is published for each major macOS version, and the developer asks only for optional donations.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about OnyX, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No store rating on record, but there's nothing to set up: it swaps Terminal commands for buttons, which is the whole point.
- 1
Best for free Mac maintenance without Terminal commands
It's freeware, not open source, and Mac only.
- 2
It is free
OnyX has no paid plan at all. The vendor says all its applications are free and fully usable for as long as you want, with no registration. It calls them donationware; a PayPal donation is optional.
- 3
It runs on macOS
macOS.
- 4
System file verification
Checks the startup disk and the structure of its system files, a job that otherwise means typing commands in Terminal.
- 5
Maintenance tasks
Runs miscellaneous maintenance jobs and rebuilds various databases and indexes. The vendor's separate Maintenance app is a subset of this part of OnyX.
- 6
Cache and file cleaning
Deletes application, font and system caches and removes certain folders and files that are known to cause problems.
- 7
A 2.8 GPA, above 57 of 94
That is against the other desktop utilities we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
OnyX is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
OnyX at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS
- Made by
- Titanium Software, since 2003
- Category
- Desktop Utilities
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for free Mac maintenance without Terminal commands
OnyX is a free Mac maintenance tool from Titanium Software that checks the startup disk, clears caches, rebuilds indexes and changes hidden Finder and Dock settings without Terminal. Each macOS version needs its own build, older builds are discontinued, the current one needs Apple silicon on macOS 27, and Intel Macs stop at version 5.0.6. It's freeware, not open source, and Mac only.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | It's free, and a download anyone can run. Titanium Software says all its applications are free and fully usable for as long as you want, calls them donationware, and the PayPal donation is optional. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The complete utility is free, with no registration and no licence key. There's no paid edition, so there's no limit to hit. |
| Features | C | Mac housekeeping is its one job: disk and system file checks, maintenance tasks, cache cleaning, hidden Finder, Dock and Safari settings, and an app uninstaller, taking in what the vendor sells separately as Maintenance and Deeper. One job, covered, and nothing beyond it. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record, but there's nothing to set up: it swaps Terminal commands for buttons, which is the whole point. Just mind that each major macOS version needs its own build, and the vendor warns against running one made for an earlier system. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | Mac only, with no integrations listed. Version 5.1.0 needs Apple silicon on macOS 27, and Intel Macs stop at OnyX 5.0.6 for macOS Tahoe 26. Older builds go back as far as Mac OS X 10.2. |
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 OnyX is for
- Fits if you want caches cleared and indexes rebuilt without opening Terminal
- Works for switching on hidden Finder, Dock or Safari settings
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you're on Windows or Linux, as it's macOS only
- Not for you if you want open source, because it's freeware you can share but not modify for distribution
- Tight if you're on an older macOS, since those builds are discontinued and won't be updated
- Watch out: the current 5.1.0 needs Apple silicon on macOS 27, and Intel Macs stop at 5.0.6 for macOS Tahoe 26
- Watch out: you must pick the build for your exact macOS version, as the vendor warns against running one made for an earlier system
Good to know
Good for
- Mac users who want maintenance and cache cleaning without Terminal commands
- People who want to change hidden Finder, Dock and Safari settings
- Owners of older Macs, since builds exist for many past macOS versions
Worth knowing
- macOS only. Each major macOS version needs its own OnyX build, and the vendor warns against running a build made for an earlier system.
- The current version, 5.1.0, requires a Mac with Apple silicon on macOS Golden Gate 27; Intel Macs stop at OnyX 5.0.6 for macOS Tahoe 26.
- Builds for earlier macOS versions are discontinued and will not be updated, although they can still be downloaded.
- It is freeware, not open source: the license allows copying and sharing it but not modifying it for distribution.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
OnyX is free to use.
It's free, and a download anyone can run.
OnyX
$0
The complete utility, including the functions of the vendor's Maintenance, Deeper, CalHash and Schedulizer apps. No registration or license key.
The free plan
The vendor says all its applications are free and fully usable for as long as you want, with no registration. It calls them donationware; a PayPal donation is optional.
Read from titanium-software.fr on Oct 9, 2026.
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
Free maintenance, cleaning and tweaking utility for macOS. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: works offline, disk cleanup.
One job, covered, and nothing beyond it.
- System file verification
- Checks the startup disk and the structure of its system files, a job that otherwise means typing commands in Terminal.
- Maintenance tasks
- Runs miscellaneous maintenance jobs and rebuilds various databases and indexes. The vendor's separate Maintenance app is a subset of this part of OnyX.
- Cache and file cleaning
- Deletes application, font and system caches and removes certain folders and files that are known to cause problems.
- Hidden settings
- Turns hidden options on or off in the Finder, Dock, Safari and other Apple applications, the same controls the vendor ships separately as Deeper.
- Application uninstaller
- Removes an application together with its related files and folders. The 5.1.1 release in progress lists an improved uninstaller.
- A build for each macOS version
- Version 5.1.0, released on September 15, 2026, targets macOS Golden Gate 27, and older builds stay downloadable for systems back to Mac OS X 10.2.
Where it runs
- macOS
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
OnyX is made by Titanium Software, and has been around since 2003.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
57/94
Other desktop utilities it is graded above
OnyX's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 57 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 26.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 49 of 94) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
OnyX has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 95 desktop utilities we grade, cut by the letter each got. OnyX’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 24 of 94
- AFree plan and trialAbove 49 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. OnyX 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
OnyX is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
What you could not
- Deleting system files without breaking anything.
- A real app for macOS. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. OnyX’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
CleanMyMac, AppCleaner, Pearcleaner, DaisyDisk and CCleaner
The 5 tools OnyX is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 1.8GPA
CleanMyMac
Free trial · from $39.99/yr
Mac cleanup, malware removal and maintenance in one app.
- 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.
- 2.8GPA
AppCleaner
Free
Small Mac utility that uninstalls apps and their leftover files.
- 2.8GPA
Pearcleaner
Free
- 2.4GPA
DaisyDisk
Free trial · from $9.99 one-time
Visual disk space analyzer and cleanup tool for Mac.
- OnyX has a free plan. DaisyDisk does not, though it has a free trial.
- DaisyDisk can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.8GPA
CCleaner
Free plan · from $44.95/yr
Junk cleaner and PC optimizer for Windows, Mac and mobile.
- Only CCleaner lists Windows, Android and iOS apps.
- CCleaner also covers system monitor.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
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 OnyX free?
Yes. OnyX is free to use.
How much does OnyX cost?
OnyX lists one plan. OnyX: $0.
What platforms does OnyX work on?
OnyX is available on macOS.
Does OnyX have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. OnyX is listed for macOS.
Does OnyX have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. OnyX is listed for macOS.
Is OnyX open source?
OnyX is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 9, 2026.
Does OnyX work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
Who makes OnyX?
OnyX is made by Titanium Software. It dates from 2003.
What are the alternatives to OnyX?
The closest alternatives to OnyX in our directory are CleanMyMac, AppCleaner, Pearcleaner, DaisyDisk and CCleaner.
How does OnyX compare with other desktop utilities?
OnyX's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 57 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 26.
Is OnyX good value for money?
ToolGPA grades OnyX A for value for money. OnyX has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of OnyX?
OnyX is free, so making your own would save you nothing. What you could not make: Deleting system files without breaking anything.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from OnyX’s own pages on Oct 9, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Titanium Software's own pages on 9 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-05-11.
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 Titanium Software. Prices change, so check titanium-software.fr before you buy.
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
- OnyX, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/onyx
- 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, "OnyX: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/onyx
Know someone choosing between desktop utilities?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/onyx/guide
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See our other guides
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- 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 OnyX’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. OnyX is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Titanium Software. Prices and plans change: check titanium-software.fr before you buy.