CleanMyMac vs AppCleaner: Which Is Better for Deleting Apps?

As you use your Mac, you often download and install many applications—some you use for a while and never again, and others you don’t end up using at all. These unused apps take up valuable storage space, and some even run automatically at startup, using up system memory unnecessarily. That’s why cleaning up your Mac’s storage is important.

Manually deleting apps on a Mac often leaves behind leftover data like caches and user files. App cleaners for Mac can help remove applications more thoroughly and efficiently. Among them, AppCleaner and CleanMyMac are two popular options. This post compares their similarities and differences when it comes to removing unwanted applications on Mac.

Main Differences Between AppCleaner and CleanMyMac

AppCleaner and CleanMyMac X are quite different, as they are designed for different purposes. Choosing between them should be easy once you consider your specific needs.

AppCleaner vs CleanMyMac: a simple utility vs a complete package

AppCleaner, as its name suggests, focuses solely on thoroughly removing applications from your Mac. If all you need is a simple app removal utility, AppCleaner is a great choice.

If you need other tools in addition to app removal, CleanMyMac may be worth the investment. CleanMyMac X offers a full set of features for cleaning, performance optimization, and system protection.

A list of CleanMyMac's main features:

• Clean system junk data
• Delete mail attachments
• Clean up the downloads folder
• Uninstall applications
• Find and delete duplicates
• Merge multiple folders
• Manage startup items
• Optimize RAM
• Detect and remove malware and viruses
• Block unnecessary background processes

AppCleaner vs CleanMyMac: Free vs Premium

AppCleaner is a no-cost solution to uninstall applications on Mac with no hidden costs or limitations. You can simply download the app as a ZIP file, extract it, and start using it right away. No registration, sign-up, or activation required. AppCleaner offers unlimited use without any trials, subscriptions, or feature restrictions.

CleanMyMac offers a 7-day free trial, which you can unlock by entering your payment details. During the trial, you get full access to all features, including unlimited app removal. Just keep in mind that if you don’t cancel before the trial ends, your subscription will automatically start, and you’ll be charged accordingly.

CleanMyMac vs AppCleaner: Uninstalling Apps on Mac

If your main goal is to remove unused apps and their support files from your Mac, both AppCleaner and CleanMyMac are solid choices. Each can help you uninstall unwanted software and free up valuable storage space on your Mac.

What CleanMyMac and AppCleaner have in common

Both CleanMyMac and AppCleaner can uninstall applications that aren’t essential to macOS, including those installed from the App Store and third-party sources.

Each tool ensures a clean uninstall by removing not just the app itself, but also related files like caches, user data, and other leftovers.

Both AppCleaner and CleanMymac display a complete list of installed apps on your Mac, not just those in the Applications folder, making it easier to spot and remove apps that you no longer need.

How AppCleaner and CleanMyMac Can Differ

CleanMyMac lets you sort your apps in various ways, but AppCleaner doesn't offer any sorting options. For example, with CleanMyMac, you can sort by size to identify large apps you no longer need, making it easier to free up significant storage space. It also allows you to filter out unused or outdated software that no longer works with newer versions of macOS, or view apps by specific developers for more targeted cleanup.

CleanMyMac offers a more automated process for permanently deleting apps. Once you choose to remove an application and confirm the action, CleanMyMac deletes it instantly and completely. However, AppCleaner requires you to drag and drop the app into its window and then display the associated files. After you click remove, both the app and its related files are moved to the Trash. To fully remove them, you still need to manually empty the Trash.

An Affordable and Feature-Rich Alternative After CleanMyMac vs AppCleaner

After comparing CleanMyMac and AppCleaner, it’s clear that each has its significant limitation: AppCleaner is too basic, and CleanMyMac can be too expensive. Fortunately, there’s a well-balanced alternative that combines rich features with affordability - BuhoCleaner.

BuhoCleaner is a powerful Mac cleaning app designed with user-friendliness and efficiency in mind. It includes all the essential tools you need to free up space and improve your Mac’s performance. For app uninstallation, it works as effectively as CleanMyMac but without the extra bulk. Compared to AppCleaner, BuhoCleaner offers a wider range of useful features you likely need.

Key highlights of BuhoCleaner:

• Completely uninstall unwanted applications
• Sort apps by size, installation date, source, or developer for easier cleanup
• Detect and remove leftover files from previously deleted apps
• Remove system junk files to free up storage
• Detect and delete large files over 50MB
• Find and remove duplicate photos, videos, documents, and more
• Manage startup items to speed up boot time
• Reindex Spotlight to improve search performance
• Additional tools for disk space visualization, file shredder, and RAM optimizer

Bottom Line

With this AppCleaner vs CleanMyMac comparison, you can tell they differ significantly in features, interface, and pricing. If you are simply looking for a quick, no-fuss way to uninstall apps without leaving behind leftover files, AppCleaner is a solid free option. However, it lacks sorting features, making it harder to locate older apps or those from specific developers. In that case, CleanMyMac is a better fit.

A major drawback of CleanMyMac is that its free trial requires payment details upfront. Alternatively, you can try BuhoCleaner for free and see how quickly and thoroughly it removes applications and other files that take up valuable space on your Mac.