What is CleanMyMac?
CleanMyMac bundles several maintenance tools into one app: a junk scanner, a full uninstaller that removes application leftovers, a duplicate and similar-photo finder, a malware scanner, and a menu-bar monitor for memory and CPU load. It is a subscription product starting at $3.33 per month, with a free trial. MacPaw publishes it two ways — a direct download and a Mac App Store listing — and the two builds are not always the same version. It suits people who want a single maintenance app rather than several narrow utilities.
Verified product facts
- Type
- system maintenance utilityEditorially reviewed
- Platform
- macOS
- Pricing
- SubscriptionDeveloper-stated
- Developer
- MacPaw Way LtdDeveloper-stated
- Relationship to Nuanyue
- Third-party product — not published by NuanyueEditorially reviewed
- Current version
- 5.6.0Developer-stated
- Official website
- macpaw.com/cleanmymac
Last updated . Facts marked developer-stated come from the developer and are not independently confirmed; editorially reviewed marks a Nuanyue judgement.
Key features
What CleanMyMac does at a glance.
Junk file scanning and removal
Full application uninstaller
Clears leftover files
Duplicate and similar-photo detection
Malware scanner
Menu bar monitor
For memory and CPU load
Cloud storage cleanup
What you can use CleanMyMac for
- Clearing junk files to reclaim disk space
- Uninstalling an application together with its leftover files
- Finding duplicate files and similar photos
- Scanning the Mac for malware
- Watching memory and CPU load from the menu bar
Who is CleanMyMac for?
- People who want a single maintenance app rather than several narrow utilities
- Users on macOS 11 or newer who want to try the app on a free trial before subscribing
Who is CleanMyMac not for?
- Windows or Linux users — CleanMyMac is macOS only
- Users who need the Mac App Store build and the direct download to match — the two are not always the same version
Limitations
- The Mac App Store build and the macpaw.com download are not on the same version and differ in size, about 145 MB against 320 MB
- macOS 11 or newer and a display of at least 1200x800 are required
- Apple Silicon support is not stated in the sources Nuanyue tracks
Strengths and trade-offs
What CleanMyMac does well, and what to weigh before choosing it. Points marked developer-stated come from the developer’s own material and have not been independently confirmed.
Strengths
- Combines junk cleanup, app uninstallation, duplicate detection and malware scanning in one app.Developer-stated
- Runs on macOS 11 and newer, with a 320 MB download and a 1200x800 minimum display.Developer-stated
- A free trial is available before subscribing.Developer-stated
Trade-offs
- It is a subscription rather than a one-time purchase, starting at $3.33 per month.
- The Mac App Store build and the direct download are not on the same version: the store listed 5.6.0 on 21 August 2026 while macpaw.com listed 5.5.7 on 22 July 2026.
- The download is roughly 145 MB from the Mac App Store and 320 MB from macpaw.com, so the two distributions are not the same package.
First-use experience
What the app asks of you when you set it up. Only established facts appear here; anything we could not confirm is left out rather than guessed at.
- Installation
- Available as a direct download from macpaw.com or from the Mac App Store; both require macOS 11 or newer.
- First launch Developer-stated
- Opens on a Smart Care summary that runs an initial scan before showing the individual modules.
- System integration Developer-stated
- Offers an optional menu-bar monitor for memory and CPU load, and a menu-bar CleanMyMac assistant.
What it does
CleanMyMac collects several maintenance jobs into one app: junk cleanup, a full uninstaller that removes application leftovers, duplicate and similar-photo detection, a malware scanner, and a menu-bar monitor for memory and CPU load. MacPaw positions it as an all-in-one replacement for a set of narrower utilities.
Two builds, two versions
CleanMyMac ships through two channels that are not the same package:
| Channel | Version on 2026-10-04 | Size | Listed price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mac App Store | 5.6.0 (21 August 2026) | ~145 MB | Free, unlocks via in-app purchase |
| macpaw.com direct download | 5.5.7 (22 July 2026) | 320 MB | — |
The store build was both newer and less than half the size at the time of review. That is unusual enough to be worth stating plainly rather than averaging into a single “latest version” number, and it means the answer to “which version is current” depends on where you downloaded it.
Requirements and pricing
CleanMyMac requires macOS 11 or newer and a display of at least 1200x800 pixels. Pricing starts at $3.33 per month; there is a free trial.
Apple Silicon
Apple Silicon support is recorded as unknown rather than assumed. Neither the product page nor the store metadata Nuanyue checked states the build’s architecture, and the absence of a source is not evidence that support is missing.
Release history
Dated releases recorded for CleanMyMac, newest first, each with the source it was read from.
5.6.0
Current Mac App Store build.
Source: Mac App Store
Questions about CleanMyMac
Is CleanMyMac a subscription?
Yes. Pricing starts at $3.33 per month. The Mac App Store listing itself is free to download and unlocks through in-app purchase, and a free trial is available.
Which macOS version does CleanMyMac require?
macOS 11 or newer, with a minimum display size of 1200x800.Developer-stated
Should I download CleanMyMac from the Mac App Store or from macpaw.com?
They are different builds and not always on the same version — on 4 October 2026 the store listed 5.6.0 while macpaw.com listed 5.5.7. The store build is also much smaller, about 145 MB against 320 MB.
What is the latest CleanMyMac version?
5.6.0 on the Mac App Store, released 21 August 2026. macpaw.com listed 5.5.7 as its latest direct download as of 4 October 2026.
Alternatives to CleanMyMac
Apps that could replace this one — the same job, a different trade-off.
Neatwise
Analyze storage, clean unnecessary files and keep your Mac organized.
Both scan a Mac for junk and large files; Neatwise is Mac-only and freemium where CleanMyMac is a broader subscription suite.
Compared with
Head-to-head comparisons Nuanyue has published.
DaisyDisk
Visual disk usage analyser with a one-time licence.
Both help reclaim disk space, but DaisyDisk visualises usage and leaves deletion to you, while CleanMyMac automates cleanup.
Similar apps
Related in purpose, but not a straight swap.
AppCleaner
Thoroughly uninstall apps.
Both remove applications along with their leftover files, but AppCleaner is a free single-purpose utility rather than a suite.
OnyX
System maintenance utility for cleanup, verification, and hidden settings.
Both perform Mac maintenance tasks, but Onyx is a free maintenance tool that exposes system settings rather than an automated cleanup suite.
Links
Sources
Facts on this page are checked against the sources below. Last updated .
