CleanMyMac vs OnyX: what each one does, and who it's for

CleanMyMac vs OnyX is a strange matchup at first. One is a polished, paid app from MacPaw that tries to do everything for you. The other is a free French utility that has been around since 2003 and hands you dozens of switches. Both clean caches and help with maintenance, so people end up comparing them anyway.

The short answer: they're built for different people. Here's what each one actually does, based on the developers' own pages checked on September 28, 2026, and how to choose.

What does CleanMyMac do?

CleanMyMac is MacPaw's all-in-one Mac cleaner and maintenance app. Its main feature, Smart Care, runs five routines in one click: a deep clean, a scan for threats, performance tasks, software updates and storage decluttering.

Beyond that, MacPaw lists:

• cleanup of system junk and outdated files;
• malware detection and removal;
• performance tools to keep an eye on memory and processor load;
• an uninstaller that removes leftover data, and an updater for your apps;
• duplicates, similar photos, and large or forgotten files;
• cleanup of your cloud storage.

It needs macOS 11 or later. The latest version on MacPaw's site is 5.5.7, dated July 22, 2026. MacPaw also says the app is notarized by Apple.

How much does CleanMyMac cost?

It's a paid app, with a 7-day trial on the Mac App Store and on Setapp. Prices depend on your country and where you buy:

• MacPaw's store advertises plans "starting at $3.33/month", billed yearly. When we checked it from Europe on September 28, 2026, it showed €39.95 a year for one Mac, €9.95 a month, or €119.95 as a one-time purchase.
• The US Mac App Store lists in-app purchases including $39.99 for yearly access and $9.99 for the monthly plan.
• Setapp lists CleanMyMac from $9.95 a month on its own, or from $14.99 a month as part of a Setapp membership with other apps.

If you already pay for it and want out, see how to cancel your CleanMyMac subscription.

What does OnyX do?

OnyX is a maintenance utility from Titanium Software, a French developer that has kept it going since 2003. According to its page, it can:

• verify the structure of the system files;
• run cleaning and maintenance tasks;
• uninstall applications;
• change settings in the Finder, the Dock, Safari and some Apple apps;
• delete caches and remove certain problematic files and folders;
• rebuild various databases and indexes.

OnyX is free, and the developer accepts donations. There's one version of OnyX per major macOS release, and the author is firm about it: use the right version, and never one made for an older system. On September 28, 2026, OnyX 5.1.0 (released September 15) supports macOS 27 on Apple silicon only, 5.0.6 covers macOS Tahoe 26, and 4.8.5 covers macOS Sequoia 15.

CleanMyMac vs OnyX: side-by-side comparison

Which one is safer?

Both are established tools, and neither is dangerous on its own. The risks are different.

With CleanMyMac, most of the work is guided, so the main thing is to look at what's selected before you click to clean, especially large files and duplicates. The other thing to watch is billing: if you only need it once, set a reminder before the renewal date.

With OnyX, the risk comes from its power. The author's own warning matters: use the version made for your macOS, never one meant for an earlier system. Some options change hidden system settings, so note what you change in case you want to undo it. And rebuilding indexes has side effects you should expect: Apple notes that Spotlight indexing, for example, makes the fans work harder while it runs.

A simple rule for both: don't run a big cleanup every day. Clean when you're short on space or something feels off.

CleanMyMac or OnyX: which should you pick?

Pick CleanMyMac if you want one app that handles cleaning, malware checks, app updates and duplicates for you, with a friendly interface, and you're fine paying for it. It does the most out of the box.

Pick OnyX if you're comfortable with technical options, you want access to maintenance tasks and hidden settings, and you'd rather not pay. It goes deeper into system settings, but it explains less.

You may not need either if your only goal is to free up space or remove one app. macOS's own Storage settings and a small uninstaller like AppCleaner often do the job.

A third option: CleanMochi

CleanMochi is the app we make, so we'll stick to facts. It's in open beta and you can download it from cleanmochi.com. You need a Mochi account to use it. It runs on macOS 13 or later, on Apple silicon and Intel Macs.

It sits somewhere between the two. Like CleanMyMac, it's guided. Unlike it, the focus is on explaining: after a scan, Mochi gives your Mac a health score and tells you in one sentence what's pulling it down and what to do.

Its screens cover Cleanup, Applications (uninstall with hidden files), Startup (login items and background programs, including the ones that keep crashing), Large files, Updates, Privacy, and Why it's slow (what's using your processor and memory right now). Nothing is removed until you click, and apps, leftovers and large files go to the Trash first, so the History screen can restore them.

What it doesn't do: no malware scan like CleanMyMac, and no hidden settings or system maintenance tasks like OnyX. It's also a beta, with rough edges. The CleanMochi home page shows the main screens.