The best AppCleaner alternative for Mac: 8 tools compared

Chances are, you’ve downloaded AppCleaner for Mac, but you wanted features that the free uninstaller lacks. Or, you found that it couldn’t remove certain apps, particularly system-protected ones. The good news is that you’ll find several AppCleaner alternatives worth checking out in this guide.

What is AppCleaner? 

AppCleaner is a free tool that lets you uninstall unwanted on your Mac. It’s simple, fast, and lets you remove almost all types of apps from your Mac. Just drag an app to the AppCleaner dialog or browse from the list of installed apps. But that’s not all. What caught my attention was the SmartDelete feature. Basically, it lets me remove all leftover files associated with a specific app. 

Is there an AppCleaner for Mac?

Yes. AppCleaner is designed for Mac. If you want to give it a shot, you can download AppCleaner from its official website. Bear in mind, though, that if you’re using an earlier macOS, you need to download an older version of AppCleaner. Sounds cumbersome? Try these AppCleaner macOS alternatives instead: 

AppCleaner alternative	What stands out?
CleanMyMac	Removes junk files, unwanted apps, malware, and more in a few clicks.
Disk Drill	Recover lost files. Plus, cleanup tools to speed up Mac.
OnyX	Comprehensive cleanup scheduler for disk management experts.
CCleaner	Affordable cleaning app that removes unwanted files, including browsing history.
Hazel	Offers a rule-based approach to move and manage files automatically.
DaisyDisk	Visualizes files in local, external, and network drives with colorful charts.
OmniDiskSweeper	Deep dive into directories to inspect and remove files.
MacKeeper	Protect, clean, and optimize Mac’s performance.

If you're packing your Mac with essential tools, check out this review of the top macOS utilities your device should have.

Best AppCleaner alternatives for Mac 

Here's my personal take on which tool you can use if AppCleaner isn’t a good fit. 

CleanMyMac: All-in-one Mac cleaner

CleanMyMac is more than an AppCleaner equivalent for Mac. Like AppCleaner, it lets you remove apps, but with lesser effort. With CleanMyMac, you can automatically scan your Mac for unused apps and leftovers that you’ve previously removed. Then, a few clicks are all it takes to delete them for good.

In addition, the tool also declutters your Mac of junk files, detects malware, and improves the machine’s performance as a whole. In simple words, it’s a super app that has kept my Mac running in tip-top condition ever since I downloaded it. 

Things I like:

• Easy-to-use automated file installer
• Provides advanced disk management features
• Application management feature to monitor, update or remove apps with leftovers.

Could be better:

• Runs several background processes, which can use more system resources

Verdict: Use CleanMyMac if you want a comprehensive Mac decluttering tool.

Disk Drill: App cleanup and recovery tool

Disk Drill deserves a mention, even though it isn’t strictly an app uninstaller like AppCleaner. Being a first-and-foremost file recovery tool, DiskDrill is equipped with more than a handful of features that help boost Mac’s performance. Amongst them is a disk cleanup tool, which lets you scan your Mac for apps and files. Then, you can browse and drag the app you want to remove onto a special panel. 

Another cool feature that lets you free up space quickly is the Heavy Files tab. Instead of listing all files, it shows you those taking up the most space on your Mac. 

Things I like:

• Detailed analysis of files and apps on Mac that you can remove
• Supports multiple file formats and storage devices, including external drives
• Can recover lost data from corrupted disks or partitions

Could be better:

• Main focus on recovery, so no automated app uninstaller available

Verdict: Choose Disk Drill if you want to recover accidentally deleted files while cleaning your Mac. 

OnyX: For scheduled decluttering

OnyX could very well be the AppCleaner alternative forthe Mac you're seeking, but only if you’re comfortable with navigating lots of checkboxes and controls. Simply put, Onyx is designed for those who know their way with the macOS. It lets you configure and schedule maintenance tasks for Mac, including cleaning apps. 

Things I like:

• Customize and create a detailed Mac maintenance schedule
• Effective decluttering tools that speed up Mac

Could be better:

• Advanced controls might overwhelm non-technical users 

Verdict: OnyX is a powerful disk management tool that boosts Mac’s performance, but it’s not the most user-friendly option. 

CCleaner: Easy-to-use cleaner

If you don’t fancy using AppCleaner on Mac, CCleaner is another great alternative. It’s a cleaning software that many Windows users are familiar with, and it has a Mac version. More importantly, CCleaner is easy to use. You can uninstall apps you barely use, delete duplicated photos, and remove junk files to speed up your Mac’s performance. All of these without needing to know how MacOS works.

Things I like:

• Plenty of performance-boosting features
• Cleanup schedules available

Could be better:

• Removes apps, but doesn’t specialize in app uninstallation and leftovers

Verdict: CCleaner is an all-rounded, affordable cleaning tool that Windows-turned-Mac users might find familiar with.

Hazel: Automated file cleaning for your Mac

Hazel is a rule-based file-cleaning tool that can help you remove leftover files when you delete an app. Let’s say you deleted an app by dragging it into the Trash. When configured, Hazel’s App Sweep feature will monitor the app you discarded and delete associated files.

Things I like:

• Automatically sort, move, rename, and delete files based on rules you create
• Ability to set up automated workflows for repetitive tasks

Could be better:

• Can uninstall apps, but AppCleaner is more specialized in removing apps and their leftovers

Verdict: Hazel is a reliable companion for automating file movement on Mac. 

DaisyDisk: Storage visualization tool

DaisyDisk makes file management more colorful — literally. It scans your Mac and maps out the entire disk in visually pleasing charts. From there, you can navigate to find unwanted files that are hogging up space and delete them in a few clicks. 

Things I like:

• Can scan local, external, and network drives.
• Powerful visual representation of your storage

Could be better:

• Does not specialize in app uninstallation and cleanup — you can only visualize your storage

Verdict: DaisyDisk lets you visualize what's taking up spaces on your Mac with elegant, colorfully rendered charts. 

OmniDiskSweeper: Complete control over file removal

OmniDiskSweeper doesn’t exactly work like AppCleaner for macOS, but you can still use it to remove unwanted apps. Designed to show a list of folders in columns, OmniDiskSweeper lets you browse applications, including files in their resource folders. The only concern is that you have to manually delete all files related to an app. 

Things I like: 

• Helps you quickly identify large files and folders on your Mac
• Scans your whole system, so you can see where your space is getting used up

Could be better:

• Only supports manual file removal

Verdict: User OmniDiskSweeper if you want complete control when removing apps. 

MacKeeper: Multiple features to manage your storage

Another AppCleaner alternative worth mentioning is MacKeeper. Like AppCleaner, it lets you safely remove unwanted apps and leftover files. But what intrigues me is that MacKeeper also offers tools to boost Mac performance, security, and privacy. 

Things I like:

• Range of features beyond app removal, such as junk file cleanup, performance optimization, and privacy protection.
• Built-in VPN included

Could be better:

• Can feel overwhelmed with features for those who are looking for simple tools

Verdict: MacKeeper has everything you need to speed up your Mac but be prepared to pay for the expensive fee. 

How to choose the best AppCleaner equivalent?

I know that trying to find an uninstaller app to replace AppCleaner can be tough. But, if you consider these factors, you will have an easier time deciding on one.

• Features: Do you need other tools, such as file recovery, backup, and malware scan? 
• Ease of use: Does it take hours to figure out simple tasks? 
• Price: How much is too much for you? 
• macOS support: Some apps are great, but do they run on Mac? 

Run through the questions, and you’ll have a better idea of which app uninstaller to buy. Or better still, find one that offers a free trial. 

AppCleaner alternative for Mac: Final words

By now, I hope you’ve found an installer that works as well, if not better, than AppCleaner. And if you’re still in doubt, I recommend giving some of the apps I mentioned a try;

• CleanMyMac declutters your Mac and protects it from malware. 
• DiskDrill lets you delete unwanted files and recover those you accidentally removed.

You can get them on Setapp, along with 250+ apps that boost productivity on Mac. Setapp is a cool platform with over 250 macOS and iOS apps that you can try 7 days for free now.