CleanMyMac X Versus CCleaner for Mac – Review
Last updated on August 6th, 2025 at 3:12 am
Both CleanMyMac X and CCleaner are offered by renowned publishers and are well known for their advanced features and Mac optimization capabilities. Yet they differ from one another where CCleaner works on (Windows, Mac, Android) CleanMyMac X is built for macOS only.
Alongside the trial version of CleanMyMac X only cleans up to 500 MB of the junk while the free version of CCleaner offers unlimited cleaning. After reading this you might think CCleaner is better as you can use its trial version without any restriction. But trust us a Mac optimization tool is more than a free version. What makes it best is its features, the way it optimizes your Mac and notarization from Apple.
But which of the tools offers all this?
To know more about both the tools and what makes CleanMyMac X different from CCleaner here we will do a quick comprehensive comparison of both tools.
CleanMyMac X versus CCleaner for Mac
CCleaner’s compatibility with Android, Windows, and Mac while CleanMyMac’s X compatibility with the only macOS makes your fall for CCleaner. But CleanMyMac’s notarization by Apple makes it more trustworthy. Besides this, there are several other features that make CleanMyMac X better than CCleaner free unlimited trial version compatible with various platforms.
Feature Wise Comparison CleanMyMac X vs CCleaner for Mac
| Key features | CleanMyMac X | CCleaner |
| Overwriting of unused space | No | Yes |
| Login items removal | Yes | Yes |
| Malware Removal | Yes | No |
| Custom folders cleanup | No | Yes |
| Hung applications | Yes | No |
| Time machine thinning | Yes | No |
| Space visualization | Yes | No |
| Browser cleanup | Yes | Yes |
| Uninstaller | Yes | Yes |
| Personalized cleanup tips | Yes | No |
| Large & Old files cleaner | Yes | No |
| Updater | Yes | No |
| Application reset | Yes | No |
| Notarization Apple Notarization process confirms that an app is free from malicious files and is therefore safe to use. | Notarized by Apple | N/A |
| Reasons to choose | Helps recover enough storage space by cleaning junk files, offers Mac speedup tools. Besides, it offers malware removal and cleaning tools | Offers trial version using which you can delete browser junk and displays detailed folder wise information |
After looking at the above table you must have understood some of the features offered by both Mac optimization tools are similar. Yet there’s a difference and CleanMyMac focuses on every nook and corner of Mac. This means the tool is designed to thoroughly optimize Mac. Certainly, CCleaner has earned a name but for Windows, it does not specialize in Mac cleaning. To understand it better let’s look at a detailed comparison below:
CleanMyMac X VS CCleaner for Mac
CleanMyMac X:
System Requirements: macOS 10.10 and higher, 145 MB
Overall rating: 4.9/5
Starting Price: $34.95
Latest version: 4.6.2
Last update date: April 2020
CCleaner for Mac:
System Requirements: OS X 10.8 to 10.14 Mojave
Overall rating: 4.5/5
Starting Price: $19.95
Latest version: v1.17.603
Last updated date: Aug 2019
Optimization Features: CleanMyMac X VS CCleaner
Safety & Security
The free version of CleanMyMac X does not offer privacy protection but this does not mean it cannot optimize Mac. Using its trial version, you can scan your system for junk files and know how much space they occupy and you can reclaim after cleaning those junk files while the free version of CCleaner is unable to scan every corner of Mac for junk files. Although it comes with privacy protection that helps clean sensitive and confidential information stored in cookies.
Multi-functional
CleanMyMac X offers a full range of optimization features while CCleaner focuses more on privacy protection. Using CleanMyMac X you can optimize RAM, clean junk files perform customize scan, uninstall applications without removing any traces, shred files, manage browser privacy, and do a lot more.
CCleaner lets you purge leftovers of deleted files, manage startup, clean cache, log files, and speed up Mac.
Ease of Use
Though CleanMyMac offers extensive optimization features its interface is complex due to which most of the time useful features are overlooked. While CCleaner offers a neat interface, which is best for beginners.
Pros and Cons of CleanMyMac X VS CCleaner
Advantages of CleanMyMac X Over CCleaner
| Pros – CleanMyMac X | Cons – CCleaner |
| Offers Optimization module under Speed to deal with startup items and Smart Scan to clean and optimize complete Mac | Although it works on Mac, but is not as efficient as Windows version and it offers lesser optimization options |
| Allows managing installed and uninstalled applications via Uninstaller and Updater | Less configuration options |
| Using Shredder, you can delete files permanently without leaving a trace | |
| Junk file cleaner helps reclaim valuable storage and speed up Mac’ |
Advantages of CCleaner Over CleanMyMac X
| Pros – CCleaner | Cons – CleanMyMac X |
| Cleans unused, unnecessary files thereby speeding up Mac | 500 MB Limitations for the trial version. |
| Available on multiple platforms – Android, Mac, Windows | |
| Offers free version to delete browser junk and cache | |
| Helps clean system and monitor browser activities |
Benefits of CleanMyMac X
- Helps clean malware
- Removes privacy exposing traces
- One button Smart scan
- Swiftly deletes system junk
- Sorts out unused, hidden large files take unnecessary space
- Shreds sensitive data
- Manages startup items
- Reclaims gigabytes of disk space
Benefits of CCleaner
- Manages startup items
- Easy uninstallation of unwanted programs
- Cleans up old macOS update files
- Cleans cookies, Javascript that are a threat to data privacy
FAQs: CleanMyMac X VS CCleaner
Is CCleaner for Mac safe to use?
Unfortunately, CCleaner for Windows became a victim of cyberattack due to which people have doubts about CCleaner for Mac. But trust us this state-of-art solution is trusted by millions and is designed to keep your system sage and optimized. It is one of the best cleaning tools.
Is CleanMyMac X safe?
As this tool is notarized by Apple, we can surely say it is safe to use. Rest after using the free version of CleanMyMac X you can see it yourself. Further, it removes malware and helps recover gigabytes of space on Mac.
Does CleanMyMac X clean duplicates?
No, it does not offer a module to clean duplicate files however, using the Photo Junk module you can discover the amount of space Photo app is taking. Once you remove them you can recover valuable disk space.
Which Mac cleaner is best?
Both CleanMyMac X and CCleaner are excellent Mac cleaner tools and they work exactly in the same manner as they claim. Based on your requirement you can pick any of the tools. However, if you ask us to suggest one then CleanMyMac X is our choice.
Verdict
Deciding which tool is best to keep your Mac optimized is difficult where one works as a maid for your Mac (CleanMyMac X) the other (CCleaner) works as a speed booster.
CleanMyMac X removes junk, unwanted files, and malware. CCleaner only focuses on privacy and junk file cleaning, it does not shield your Mac from malware threat. Not only this, CCleaner is not notarized by Apple. Now, it’s up to you which tool you pick. Do let us know which tool you choose to use and why.
Author Bio:
Dinesh Lakhwani 
Dinesh Lakhwani, the entrepreneurial brain behind “TechCommuters,” achieved big things in the tech world. He started the company to make smart and user-friendly tech solutions. Thanks to his sharp thinking, focus on quality and the motto of never giving up, TechCommuters became a top player in the industry. His commitment to excellence has propelled the company to a leading position in the industry.
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