A free, open-source CleanMyMac alternative for Mac storage cleanup

Searches like "free CleanMyMac alternative" usually mean one of two things: you want your disk back without another subscription, or you want to see the code before anything deletes files on your Mac. Both are reasonable. CleanMyMac is a long-running, polished maintenance suite from MacPaw. Purge is a free, open-source cleaner focused on storage: caches, developer junk, large files, and app leftovers.

This page compares them plainly. Purge is made by the same people who publish this site, so read the table and the limits section with that in mind. Where CleanMyMac does more, we say so. Where Purge is narrower but auditable, we say that too.

Two different scopes

MacPaw describes CleanMyMac as an "all-in-one Mac cleaner and maintenance app" that handles junk, duplicates, malware, and performance issues. Its Smart Care routine runs several tasks in one pass: deep cleaning, threat scanning, performance tuning, software updates, and storage decluttering. That is a broader job than "empty some caches."

Purge stays in the storage lane. It scans allowlisted cache and junk paths, labels each row Safe to Clean or Check First, and moves confirmed deletions to the Trash. It also finds large personal files, duplicate copies you review yourself, app uninstall leftovers, older local Time Machine snapshots (with confirmation), and developer artifacts such as Xcode DerivedData, Homebrew caches, and stale project folders. It does not scan for malware, throttle background apps, or manage cloud storage the way CleanMyMac advertises.

Who should pick which

Consider CleanMyMac: if you want one paid app that bundles junk removal with malware scanning, performance tools, and other maintenance routines, and you are fine with closed-source software on a subscription. MacPaw's store lists annual plans starting at about $3.33 per month (billed $39.95 per year for one Mac) as of this writing.

Consider Purge: if your main problem is disk space from caches and dev junk, you want trash-first deletes and an allowlist you can read on GitHub, and you do not need the extra maintenance features. Purge is free (MIT license), requires macOS 13 or later, and installs with Homebrew or a signed download from GitHub releases.

Consider both manual steps and a tool: when System Data is huge for reasons no cleaner understands out of the box. Local Time Machine snapshots, a bloated Docker.raw, or misread sparse files need diagnosis first. Our system data guide walks through that order. Purge can help with snapshots and known junk once you know what you are clearing; it will not replace that detective work.

Side-by-side comparison

Topic
CleanMyMac (MacPaw)
Purge
Price
CleanMyMac (MacPaw)
Paid subscription. MacPaw's store lists annual plans from about $3.33/month (billed $39.95/year for one Mac).
Purge
Free. No license, trial, or paid tier.
Open source
CleanMyMac (MacPaw)
No (proprietary app)
Purge
Yes. MIT-licensed source on GitHub.
What it cleans
CleanMyMac (MacPaw)
MacPaw markets system junk removal, duplicate and similar photo cleanup, large files, app uninstall with leftovers, malware removal, performance tuning, software updates, and cloud storage cleanup in one suite.
Purge
App and system caches, dev tool caches (Xcode, Homebrew, npm, Docker Desktop folder as Check First, and more), large personal files and duplicates you confirm, app uninstall leftovers, optional older local Time Machine snapshots. No malware or cloud-storage modules.
Safety approach
CleanMyMac (MacPaw)
One-click Smart Care and module-based cleaning in a closed app. Review MacPaw's docs for how it handles deletions.
Purge
Allowlist-only cleanup, per-row explanations, Safe vs Check First labels, and Trash-by-default (except confirmed snapshot deletes via tmutil). Unrecognized paths never appear in the list.
Data collection
CleanMyMac (MacPaw)
Proprietary app; see MacPaw's privacy policy for what it may collect.
Purge
No analytics, telemetry, or crash reporting in the app. The only network use is an optional update check (Sparkle), which you can disable in Settings.
macOS requirement
CleanMyMac (MacPaw)
macOS 11 or later (per MacPaw product page)
Purge
macOS 13.0 or later

What Purge deliberately does not do

Saying "alternative" is not claiming feature parity. Purge does not include:

If those matter to you, CleanMyMac or other MacPaw tools may be the better fit. If you mainly need space back from caches and dev machines, Purge is built for that narrower job.

How to switch (or try Purge alongside)

  1. Finish anything in progress: Quit heavy apps and let backups finish before deleting caches.
  2. Leave or remove CleanMyMac: If you are done with the subscription, uninstall it the way MacPaw recommends and check for leftover support files in Library if you care about every megabyte. If you keep it, turn off automatic cleaning so two apps are not fighting over the same folders.
  3. Install Purge: Download the notarized build from GitHub releases, or install with Homebrew:
brew install --cask jithin-sabu/tap/purge
  1. Grant Full Disk Access when asked: App Caches and Dev Tools scan without it. Large Files, app leftovers, and some snapshot work need FDA in System Settings.
  2. Scan, filter, review: Start on Overview or scan one category. Use Safe to Clean for a conservative first pass. Empty the Trash when you are satisfied; Purge shows what is still in the Trash so free space is not a surprise.
  3. Keep manual tools for special cases: Docker images still belong to docker system prune, not a generic cache wipe. Huge System Data still deserves the diagnostic order in our other guides.

FAQ

Is Purge a free CleanMyMac alternative?

For disk cleanup, yes. Purge is free with no subscription, MIT-licensed, and open source. It focuses on caches, developer junk, large files, app leftovers, and optional Time Machine snapshot cleanup. It is not a drop-in replacement for CleanMyMac's malware scanning, performance tuning, or other maintenance tools MacPaw bundles into Smart Care.

Does Purge remove malware like CleanMyMac?

No. Purge does not scan for or remove malware. MacPaw markets malware removal as part of CleanMyMac. If that is what you need, keep a dedicated security tool or the suite you already trust. Purge is built for reclaiming storage from known-safe cache and junk paths.

Can I use Purge alongside CleanMyMac?

You can, but running two cleaners on the same caches usually adds little and can mean paying for overlap. Many people switch when they mainly want free, auditable cache cleanup and do not need the extra maintenance features. If you try Purge, uninstall or disable automatic cleaning in the other app so you are not clearing the same folders twice.

Is Purge really open source?

Yes. The app source and deletion allowlist live in the purge-app repository on GitHub under the MIT License. You can read the code, build from source, or verify what paths Purge is allowed to touch.

What macOS version does Purge require?

macOS 13.0 (Ventura) or later. CleanMyMac's current product page lists macOS 11 or later, so Purge asks for a newer macOS if you are on an older release.

Try Purge

Purge is free and open source. If this comparison matches what you need, download it, run a scan, and read the safety labels before you clean anything.

Download PurgeView on GitHub

Sources