CleanMyMac Review 2025: Is It Worth It, Safe, and Necessary?

I have been using my Mac for a few years now, and it has always been a solid, beautiful machine. But over time, it started to get cluttered with files I didn't need anymore, and the storage space was running low. With thousands of files scattered across folders and tons of apps installed, I honestly had no idea where to even begin cleaning things up.

That's when I decided to try a Mac cleanup tool. I went with the popular choice—CleanMyMac by MacPaw. After using it for a couple of months, I wanted to share my honest CleanMyMac review, especially around the questions I had before trying it out. Hopefully, this helps you decide whether it's worth giving a shot or sticking with it if you are already using it.

Is CleanMyMac Worth it?

I hate it when I download a program only to find out it’s junk for doing more harm to my system than good. That means not only is my money wasted, but so is my time. Luckily, from my own experience, I can confidently say CleanMyMac X is actually worth trying.

Is CleanMyMac Worth the Time?

First of all, CleanMyMac X is super easy to download, install, and start using. I am pretty familiar with Mac software, so I have no trouble navigating all its tools and features, and it takes me no time to get going. But even if I am not tech-savvy, I believe I will pick it up quickly. The interface is modern, user-friendly, and well-organized, with clear buttons, categories, and instructions to guide me. Everything runs fast and efficiently, so I don't waste hours learning how to use it.

CleanMyMac X actually works. Its cleanup tools and system monitoring features are genuinely useful and make my life a lot easier. In many ways, it adds features that macOS itself is missing, like a proper disk space visualizer. On a Mac, I only get a rough breakdown of storage into categories like Apps, System, and Documents, which isn’t enough when I need specifics. CleanMyMac gives me a detailed, easy-to-read view of my storage, showing the exact size of each folder. That way, I can quickly spot which folders are taking up the most space and decide what to downsize.

Another feature I use all the time is the app uninstaller. For testing purposes, I download a lot of apps and software on my Mac, and manually deleting them always leaves behind leftover files and supporting data. I don't like that. CleanMyMac’s uninstaller quickly and thoroughly removes any app I no longer want with just a few clicks. Honestly, if you are someone who installs a lot of apps on your Mac, having a powerful uninstaller is a game-changer.

However, I'm not a big fan of CleanMyMac's security and system performance features. Like many other users, I find things like the antivirus and "speed up RAM" tools to be more of a placebo than a real benefit. Macs already have strong built-in antivirus protection like Gatekeeper, and if you want to free up RAM, a simple restart usually does the trick. I never expect one program to do everything, so it's not a deal-breaker for me. But if you are counting on CleanMyMac for these specific tasks, you might want to look elsewhere or skip them entirely.

Is CleanMyMac Worth the Money?

Good question. CleanMyMac doesn't offer a standalone free trial anymore. Instead, I had to enter my payment details upfront to use it, and I got a seven-day window to change my mind. I'm sure MacPaw does this because they are hoping some people will simply forget to cancel.  Personally, I would much rather have a truly free trial so I can test the interface and features before making any commitment.

CleanMyMac offers plenty of subscription options, so that is a plus. I started with the yearly plan at $47.40 for my main Mac, and for the cleaning work it has done so far, I'd say it's been worth the money. That said, whether it’s worth it for you really depends on how often you use it. If you only run it once a month, or even less often, then paying for a monthly or yearly subscription probably isn't worth it.

Is CleanMyMac Safe?

MacPaw has been a reputable software developer for decades, and CleanMyMac is safe to use. It’s available through verified sources like the Mac App Store, the official MacPaw Store, and Setapp, and it’s legitimate software that contains no viruses. In fact, Mac security tools have never flagged CleanMyMac as a potential threat on my Mac.

As far as I know, while it can scan my system and files, it doesn’t store any of my data on its servers. I have never come across any reports of CleanMyMac being involved in data breaches or collecting/selling user files.

On top of that, I receive regular updates to keep CleanMyMac compatible and well-maintained. During the past several months, it has never crashed, caused issues, or negatively affected my system in any way.

Is CleanMyMac Necessary?

While I have enjoyed using CleanMyMac to tidy up my system and remove duplicate files, I can’t fully recommend it because of the price and the overload of features. I feel like I’m paying extra for a bunch of small tools I rarely use, like antivirus, privacy protection, and DNS flush. Personally, I’d prefer a dedicated cleanup tool without all the extras.

Another drawback is the constant alerts. As soon as I open CleanMyMac, it runs a self-scan and pops up notifications for things like app updates, downloaded Safari files, and performance tasks. Instead of being helpful, these alerts quickly become more annoying than useful. I often feel overwhelmed by the list of "recommended" actions, many of which aren’t even necessary on a daily basis.

Is There a Cheaper and Simpler Alternative to CleanMyMac?

I have found plenty of CleanMyMac alternatives there. Some try to do everything CleanMyMac does, while others focus on just one or two things, like clearing junk files, finding duplicates, or uninstalling apps. I have tried out a bunch of the most popular ones, and each has its own pros, cons, and price tag.

All my side-by-side comparisons are put together in the articles below, and I hope my honest thoughts help you decide which one is the right fit for you.

• BuhoCleaner vs CleanMyMac

• DaisyDisk vs CleaMyMac

• AppCleaner vs CleanMyMac

• MacBooster vs CleanMyMac

• Sensei vs CleanMyMac

If you are looking for a free alternative to CleanMyMac and mainly want an app uninstaller, I recommend AppCleaner. It’s a simple tool that focuses entirely on removing unwanted third-party apps from your Mac without leaving behind leftover files or support data. The downside is that it’s pretty bare-bones - you don’t get features like sorting apps by size or developer, which can make it harder to quickly identify the biggest space-hogs to uninstall. Still, if you just want a no-cost, no-frills way to completely remove apps, it does the job well.

If you want something more complete, I’d go with BuhoCleaner. It offers all the essential tools CleanMyMac has, including junk file cleanup, large file finder, and a reliable app uninstaller, without loading you up with features you will probably never use. Because of that, it costs about one-third of what CleanMyMac does, making it a solid balance between functionality and value.

Verdict

Just like the reviews you will find online, I have mixed feelings about CleanMyMac. On the positive side, it does exactly what it promises. Every feature I have tried works as described, and overall, it’s a well-built piece of software from a reputable company. I don’t agree with people who call it a scam or claim it’s completely unnecessary, because from my experience, it genuinely delivers on its core functions.

But it’s not my top choice. The price is on the higher side, and it’s packed with extra features I barely touch. If all you really want is to clean up your Mac, there are cheaper, simpler tools out there that can do the exact same job without the extra fluff. So, yeah, CleanMyMac is good, but it’s not the only good option, and for me, it’s not the best bang for my buck. When my subscription to CleanMyMac is up, I will likely stick with just BuhoCleaner on my Mac.