# CleanMyMac review

An all-in-one Mac cleaning, malware-removal, and performance app for macOS users who want to reclaim disk space and speed up an aging Mac.

By Noah — last updated & pricing verified September 24, 2026.

> CleanMyMac is a macOS maintenance application built by MacPaw that combines disk cleanup, malware detection, app uninstallation, duplicate-file removal, and CPU/memory monitoring into one interface. It targets everyday Mac users who want to free up storage and keep their machine running smoothly without manually hunting through system folders.

## Facts

- Website: https://macpaw.com/cleanmymac
- Pricing: Free tier · paid from $9.95/mo (verified )
- License: Freemium
- Platforms: macos
- Best for: Mac owners who want a single app to clear system junk, remove malware, and speed up performance without manually navigating Terminal or system folders.
- Standout feature: Smart Care: a single one-click routine that runs deep cleaning, malware scanning, performance boosting, software updates, and storage decluttering together instead of requiring five separate tools.
- Biggest weakness: CleanMyMac is subscription-priced software for a job many advanced Mac users can do for free with Finder, Activity Monitor, and free tools like OnyX or AppCleaner; the per-Mac pricing also multiplies fast for households with several Macs (5-Mac annual plan runs $127.95/year versus $39.95 for one Mac).

## Pricing snapshot

| Plan | Price | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly (1 Mac) | $9.95/mo | Billed monthly at $9.95/month for a single Mac; 14-day money-back guarantee. |
| Annual (1 Mac) | $39.95/yr | Billed $39.95 once a year, equivalent to $3.33/month for a single Mac; 30-day money-back guarantee. |
| One Time (1 Mac) | $119.95 one-time | One-time perpetual license for a single Mac, no recurring subscription. |

## Pros and cons

- Pro: Single interface covers junk removal, malware scanning, uninstalling, and duplicate-finding instead of needing separate utilities
- Pro: Notarized by Apple and backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee on annual plans
- Pro: One-time purchase option ($119.95 for one Mac) exists for users who refuse subscriptions
- Pro: 4.7-star rating across 3,327 reviews claimed on MacPaw's own product page
- Con: Mac-only; there is no Windows version, so switching platforms means losing the tool entirely
- Con: Pricing scales per Mac, so households or small teams with multiple machines pay significantly more (2 Macs: $63.95/year, 5 Macs: $127.95/year)
- Con: Core cleaning tasks (deleting caches, uninstalling apps, finding duplicates) overlap with free built-in macOS tools and free third-party apps
- Con: One-time license price ($119.95) is roughly 3x the first-year annual subscription cost, which can make the 'no subscription' option feel like a premium tax

## AI summary

- CleanMyMac is built by MacPaw and runs on macOS 11 or later, requiring 320 MB of disk space.
- Annual pricing starts at $39.95/year ($3.33/month) for one Mac, billed yearly.
- Monthly billing costs $9.95/month for one Mac, with a 14-day money-back guarantee versus 30 days on annual plans.
- A one-time perpetual license for one Mac costs $119.95 with no recurring subscription.
- MacPaw reports 29 million downloads and a 4.7-star average from 3,327 user reviews on the CleanMyMac product page.
- The app is notarized by Apple and its 'Smart Care' feature runs deep clean, malware scan, performance boost, software update, and storage decluttering in one action.
- Best for: Mac owners who want one app to clean system junk, scan for malware, and speed up an aging Mac without using multiple separate tools.
- Pricing: CleanMyMac starts at $3.33/month billed annually ($39.95/year) for one Mac, $9.95/month billed monthly, or $119.95 as a one-time perpetual license; multi-Mac plans (2 or 5 Macs) cost more per year.
- Top alternatives: MacKeeper, CCleaner, DaisyDisk, OnyX, Cleaner One Pro
- Limitation: Mac-only, with no Windows equivalent from the same vendor
- Limitation: Per-Mac pricing multiplies for households or small offices with several machines
- Limitation: Many core functions (cache clearing, app uninstalling, duplicate finding) are available for free through macOS itself or free third-party tools

## Alternatives

2 vetted alternatives to CleanMyMac: https://findalternative.to/cleanmymac — top picks: Bytesweep, DeepCleanMac

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