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CleanMyMac vs Pearcleaner

Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.

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CleanMyMac
CleanMyMacA Mac cleaner and optimizer that removes junk, malware, and clutter.
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Pearcleaner
PearcleanerOpen source Mac app uninstaller that finds every leftover file
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Overview
Description

CleanMyMac, made by MacPaw, is a Mac maintenance utility that scans for junk files, unused apps, and duplicates to free up storage and improve system performance. It also includes anti-malware scanning, background app management, and hard drive visualization to help users see exactly what's taking up space. Beyond cleanup, CleanMyMac handles complete app uninstalls (removing leftover files most uninstalls miss), cloud storage cleanup, and duplicate file detection. It's Apple-notarized software with over 29 million downloads and 18 years of Mac-focused development since 2008.

Pearcleaner is a free, open-source macOS app uninstaller that goes beyond dragging an app to the Trash. It scans Library folders for the caches, logs, preferences, containers, and launch agents an app leaves behind, and can also find orphaned files from apps that were already removed without a proper uninstall.

Pricing
Freemium
Free
Category
System Cleaners
System Cleaners
Best for
Mac users seeking system maintenance and storage optimization
Mac users, especially Homebrew and developer-tool users, who want a free, thorough app uninstaller w
Specifications
deployment
Desktop App
Desktop App
open source
No
Yes
api available
No
No
support options
Email
GitHub issues, community
key integrations
iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive (cloud storage cleanup)
Homebrew
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Apple-notarized with a long track record since 2008
  • Combines cleanup, malware scanning, and uninstalling in one app
  • Simple interface suited to non-technical users
  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • Completely free, open source, with no account or subscription required
  • Deletions go to Trash first, so removals are reversible
  • Actively used by a large community with over 11,000 GitHub stars
  • Goes beyond basic uninstalling with Homebrew, architecture, and language cleanup tools
Cons
  • Mac-only, no Windows or Linux support
  • Ongoing subscription required for full functionality
  • Some features overlap with macOS's own built-in storage tools
  • Update cadence has slowed since the developer took on a full-time job
  • macOS only, no Windows equivalent
  • Requires macOS 13 Ventura or newer, so older Macs are unsupported
Community & Metrics
Upvotes
0
0
User rating
Not enough data
Not enough data

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MacKeeper
MacKeeper

All-in-one Mac cleaning, malware removal, and privacy toolkit from Clario Tech.

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CCleaner
CCleaner

Clean and optimize your computer system

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Pearcleaner
Pearcleaner

Open source Mac app uninstaller that finds every leftover file

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Alternatives to Pearcleaner

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CleanMyMac
CleanMyMac

A Mac cleaner and optimizer that removes junk, malware, and clutter.

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The Verdict

AI-generated from listing data

CleanMyMac offers a polished, all‑in‑one paid solution with built‑in malware scanning, while Pearcleaner is a free, open‑source uninstaller focused on leftover files and Homebrew cleanup.

Key differences

  • •CleanMyMac includes malware detection (99% coverage) and a visual disk‑usage map; Pearcleaner does not.
  • •Pearcleaner is completely free and open source; CleanMyMac requires a subscription for full features.
  • •Pearcleaner adds Homebrew package cleanup and architecture stripping; CleanMyMac integrates with iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive for cloud cleanup.
  • •CleanMyMac provides email support and a 30‑day money‑back guarantee; Pearcleaner relies on GitHub community support only.
  • •CleanMyMac targets non‑technical users with a simple UI; Pearcleaner expects more technical comfort and macOS 13+.
DimensionWinner

Pricing & value

Pearcleaner is free and open source; CleanMyMac is freemium with subscription needed for full functionality.

Pearcleaner

Ease of use / learning curve

CleanMyMac’s simple interface is aimed at non‑technical users; Pearcleaner requires more technical knowledge.

CleanMyMac

Features & depth

CleanMyMac combines cleanup, malware scanning, uninstalling, and disk visualization; Pearcleaner focuses on uninstalling and Homebrew.

CleanMyMac

Integrations & ecosystem

CleanMyMac integrates with iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive; Pearcleaner only integrates with Homebrew.

CleanMyMac

Support

CleanMyMac offers email support and a 30‑day money‑back guarantee; Pearcleaner relies on GitHub issues.

CleanMyMac

Security & privacy

CleanMyMac is Apple‑notarized and includes malware protection; Pearcleaner has no stated security certifications.

CleanMyMac

Choose CleanMyMac if…

Mac users who want a turnkey, user‑friendly tool with malware protection and cloud‑storage cleanup, and are willing to pay.

Choose Pearcleaner if…

Tech‑savvy Mac users needing a free, open‑source uninstaller with Homebrew support and reversible deletions.

Common questions

Does either tool detect malware?

CleanMyMac includes malware scanning (claims 99% coverage); Pearcleaner does not mention malware detection.

Can I use these apps on Windows or Linux?

Both are macOS‑only; no Windows or Linux support is specified for either.

What support is available if I run into issues?

CleanMyMac offers email support and a 30‑day money‑back guarantee; Pearcleaner provides community support via GitHub issues only.