CleanMyMac is a popular all-in-one Mac cleaner and optimization tool that helps you free up disk space, remove junk files, monitor system health, and speed up your device. However, CleanMyMac is not free, and many users are now looking for cost-effective or completely free alternatives that offer similar performance-boosting features without the price tag.

In 2025, several tools offer great cleaning capabilities for disk space recovery, memory management, and malware scanning—at no cost.

Here are the 10 best free CleanMyMac alternatives you can use to clean and optimize your Mac right now.

1. OnyX – The Most Powerful Free System Maintenance Tool

OnyX is a completely free utility that provides deep system cleaning, maintenance scripts, log deletion, cache clearing, and disk structure verification.

It’s developed by Titanium Software and supports every version of macOS with a tailored version.

Best for: Advanced users wanting full control over system maintenance.
Why it’s great: No ads, no bloat—just powerful tools trusted by pros.

2. AppCleaner – Free and Effective App Uninstaller

AppCleaner is a tiny yet powerful tool that completely removes applications along with their hidden support files, caches, and logs.

It’s ideal for reclaiming space and keeping your Mac free from leftover app clutter.

Best for: Safe, thorough app removal.
Key benefit: Drag-and-drop interface + automatic file detection.

3. CCleaner for Mac – Lightweight System Cleaner

CCleaner is a well-known utility on Windows, and its Mac version offers similar functionality: removing junk files, browser cache, and duplicate files.

It’s simple to use and includes basic privacy tools, too.

Best for: Users who want a clean, no-frills cleanup tool.
Highlight: Fast scanning + customizable cleaning preferences.

4. DaisyDisk (Free Version) – Beautiful Disk Space Visualization

While the full version of DaisyDisk is paid, the free trial still gives you access to its amazing disk space analyzer. It visualizes what’s taking up storage so you can manually delete large, unwanted files.

Best for: Users who want visual disk cleanup.
Why it stands out: Beautiful, interactive storage maps.

5. Disk Drill (Free Tier) – Recover Files + Analyze Disk Space

Disk Drill is known for data recovery, but its free tier includes disk cleanup tools. It can scan your Mac for large and old files, allowing you to safely free up space.

Best for: Recovering lost files and cleaning simultaneously.
Bonus: Combines data recovery and cleanup in one tool.

6. Malwarebytes for Mac – Free Malware & Adware Scanner

While CleanMyMac includes malware protection, Malwarebytes is one of the best free antivirus scanners for macOS. It’s fast, lightweight, and removes adware, unwanted apps, and system threats.

Best for: Keeping your Mac secure and adware-free.
Why use it: Industry-leading threat detection and free basic scans.

7. Sensei (Free Trial) – Monitor, Clean, and Optimize Mac

Sensei offers a free trial with a modern interface and tools like CPU monitoring, temperature tracking, SSD health checks, and cleanup tools.

It’s great for users who want insight into their Mac’s hardware performance and basic optimization.

Best for: Visual performance monitoring + SSD optimization.
Highlight: One of the most polished Mac utilities on the market.

8. MacCleaner Pro (Lite Version) – Basic Disk Cleanup

The lite version of MacCleaner Pro offers a basic set of tools: clearing junk files, logs, and app leftovers, along with memory usage monitoring.

It’s lightweight and beginner-friendly—good for casual Mac users.

Best for: Light, everyday system maintenance.
Bonus: Upgrade path if you need more later.

9. GrandPerspective – Simple Storage Space Viewer

GrandPerspective is a free, open-source app that visualizes your file system using colorful blocks. It doesn’t clean automatically, but it shows where your largest files are hiding.

Best for: Identifying space hogs with a visual interface.
Why it’s good: Lightweight and totally free.

10. MacKeeper (Free Plan) – Controversial but Functional

MacKeeper has improved its reputation over time. Its free version includes malware scanning, junk file cleanup, and memory usage optimization.

While some users still avoid it due to past aggressive marketing, it now offers real features with improved transparency.

Best for: Users needing an all-in-one freemium tool.
Caution: Stick with the free version unless you really need upgrades.

🧹 Conclusion:

In 2025, you don’t need to pay premium prices to maintain your Mac. These free alternatives cover everything from disk cleanup and malware protection to deep system optimization:

• Use OnyX, CCleaner, or AppCleaner for thorough system cleaning.

• Try Malwarebytes for free malware protection.

• Explore DaisyDisk or GrandPerspective for visual storage analysis.