MacDiskCleaner vs CleanMyMac
Two popular Mac cleaners with very different price models — a yearly subscription versus a one-time $12.99 — plus the free OnyX for reference. Here is an honest side-by-side so you can pick the right one.
| MacDiskCleaner | CleanMyMac | OnyX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free tier + $12.99 one-time Pro | Subscription (from about $39.95/yr) or a pricier one-time licence | Free |
| Free option | Free forever: full scan + 2 GB cleanup | 7-day trial, then a paid plan | Completely free |
| Junk & cache cleanup | |||
| Duplicate file finder | |||
| Large & old file finder | |||
| App uninstaller (removes leftovers) | Pro | ||
| Developer cleanup (Xcode, node_modules…) | Partly | ||
| Malware scanning | |||
| Advanced system maintenance scripts | Some | ||
| Guided, beginner-friendly interface | |||
| Moves files to Trash first | Depends on the task |
Competitor prices are approximate list prices and vary by region and promotion. Check each vendor’s site for current pricing.
The key differences
Price model
CleanMyMac is mainly sold as a yearly subscription; its one-time licence covers only the current major version. OnyX is free. MacDiskCleaner has a free tier that never expires and a single $12.99 Pro upgrade with lifetime updates.
Scope
CleanMyMac is the broadest suite — cleanup plus malware scanning, performance tools and an app updater. MacDiskCleaner focuses on storage: junk, duplicates, large and old files, developer caches, uninstalling and privacy. OnyX is a maintenance toolbox for experienced users.
Ease of use
CleanMyMac and MacDiskCleaner guide you and show what each item is before removing it. OnyX exposes powerful system tasks with little explanation, so it suits people who already know what they do.
Which one should you choose?
MacDiskCleaner
Best if you want a focused storage cleaner without a subscription: a free tier you can actually use, then $12.99 once.
CleanMyMac
Best if you want the widest all-in-one feature set, including malware scanning, and don’t mind a yearly fee.
OnyX
Best for technically confident users who want free, manual maintenance tools and don’t need a duplicate or large-file finder.
Frequently asked questions
Is CleanMyMac better than OnyX?
They do different jobs. CleanMyMac is a guided, paid all-in-one cleaner with malware scanning; OnyX is a free maintenance utility for advanced users. If you mainly need disk space back, a focused cleaner like MacDiskCleaner covers that for a one-time $12.99.
Is there a free alternative to CleanMyMac?
Yes. OnyX is completely free but technical. MacDiskCleaner has a free tier with no time limit: scan everything and clean up to 2 GB, then upgrade once for $12.99 if you need more.
Is CleanMyMac a subscription?
Mostly. MacPaw sells CleanMyMac as a yearly subscription and also offers a one-time licence that includes updates only for the current major version.
Can I use MacDiskCleaner and OnyX together?
Yes. Many people use OnyX for occasional maintenance scripts and MacDiskCleaner to find and safely remove the files actually taking up space.
Try MacDiskCleaner before you decide
Free download, no account. See exactly what it finds on your Mac.
Version 1.1.2 · 4.8 MB · macOS 14 or later · Apple Silicon & Intel