CleanMyMac test: an essential on Mac in 2024?

CleanMyMac is Mac software signed by the companyMacPaw. This has other macOS software in the catalog, including Gemini dedicated to finding duplicates on Mac. But unlike the latter with its very specific use, CleanMyMac presents itself as a much more complete tool, and this since its very first version. Originally seen as cleaning software, it has gained different features over its different iterations.

Essayer CleanMyMac

Precisely, given that I have personally been a user of the software in question for many years already, we decided to introduce it to you, as part of a complete test of CleanMyMac.

CleanMyMac, what is it for?

Since version X, CleanMyMac is no longer just a cleaning software, it is also amalware protection, but also a very practical tool inorganization and maintenanceof his files on his Apple computer.

Here is an overview of its main features. Hang in there, there are a lot of them.

Smart maintenance

This function allows you to perform a thorough cleaning of the system. In fact, with a single click it launches different analysis procedures, procedures detailed below and which can also be launched separately.

Five tools are therefore used for this intelligent analysis: “Cleaning”, to delete unnecessary content, “Protection”, to identify files at risk for the security of your machine, “Performance”, to try to optimize the operation of your machine , “Applications”, to ensure you have your applications up to date and “My unnecessary files”, which searches for any files that could potentially be deleted, such as duplicates.

This is the first action I performed in my CleanMyMac test.

This intelligent analysis should be done regularly, 2 to 4 times a month I would say, and should be favored by anyone who doesn't like to get their hands too dirty. For others, with the other CleanMyMac functions detailed below, you really get to the heart of the matter.

Cleaning and storage

The “Cleaning” part of the application focuses on optimizing the storage of your machine. It is intended to be useful in trying to recover gigabytes from your hard drive by getting rid of unnecessary files.

Several cleaners are present for this purpose, “System”, “Attachments”, “iTunes”, “Binaies” and “Trash”. They are therefore used to carry out the following operations:

• System :removal of unnecessary files generated by macOS and applications, such as history logs, translation files or cache files

Please note, I do not recommend deleting application “cache” files too often. Very often, these are used to make applications faster, especially for their launch

• Attachments:delete attachments received in the Mail app and saved locally. Attachments remain accessible in your Mail accounts, however, online
• Emptying the bins:recover disk space by forcing the complete emptying of the trash of each disk and each mailbox
• Universal binaries:Some applications are present in two versions on your system, one for Mac Intel, the other for Mac Apple silicon. You don't need to keep both, CleanMyMac saves disk space by removing unnecessary versions of apps
• iTunes :managing iOS updates and removing incomplete iTunes downloads. Can be useful for deleting old backups from iPhones, which often take up a lot of space

Protection

These tools focus on the security of your Mac:

• Malicious files: to remove malware
• Confidentiality :to find and manage confidential items, such as deleting cookies, browser browsing history, download history, passwords saved in browsers, etc.
• App permissions:allows you to see which applications have access to which macOS features. The tool also allows us to revoke certain privileges

Performance optimizations

Here is the part dedicated to hunting down the processes responsible for the famous surge in MacBook fans and the more than undesirable slowdowns:

• Interview :tasks to free up RAM, delete purgeable space, reindex Spotlight search, repair hard drives, run maintenance scripts, etc.
• Time Machine :to optimize the disk space taken by your Time Machine backups
  
• Background elements:management of processes running in the background
• Opening elements:monitoring of agents launched upon opening, i.e. these firmware which start automatically as soon as the Mac starts up

Application management

Among my favorite features, here are those that allow you to manage the applications installed on your Mac:

• macOS updates:stay up to date with the latest updates available for your Mac operating system
• Application update:to easily see which apps can be updated
• Useless apps:CleanMyMac offers you a list of applications to delete that you haven't used in 6 months
• Residues:as the name suggests, this tool allows you to get rid of residual files from uninstalled applications
• Installation files:find here the list of .dmg files, application installers, which are present on your hard drive and which you can delete without hesitation, especially since they are often rather large
• Uninstaller:accessible by clicking on “Manage my applications”, it is very practical for correctly uninstalling applications and their associated files

File management

Finally, the last part, called “My unnecessary files”, will be your ideal ally for identifying all those files that you leave lying around on your Mac and which sometimes, like your house, deserve a good spring cleaning:

• Large files:allows you to highlight the heaviest files on your Mac, thanks to different filters
• Duplicates:reveals duplicates, as the name suggests
• Similar images:shows you images that look similar
• Downloads:find there the files downloaded from applications like Slack, Safari or Google Chrome, very often temporary

Tester CleanMyMac

Assistant

In 2024, a major new feature appeared in CleanMyMac. Assistant, that's its name, wants to allow you, in the blink of an eye, to check the “shape” of your Mac. The panel therefore gives you the current health score of your machine: critical, attention required, suitable, satisfactory, or excellent. Depending on this state, the app recommends different actions to perform, such as updating its applications, activating malware monitoring, or even activating the monitoring menu detailed below, for example.

We don't advise you to pay too much attention to this score, if you complete the time cleaning tasks your machine should stay in good shape despite what the software says here.

Monitoring

CleanMyMac benefits from a powerful monitoring engine, capable not only of warning you in the event of malware present on your machine, but also of showing you various technical data via a dedicated panel. The latter, accessible from the menu bar. It displays in particular:

• The status of hard drives and remaining storage
• Real-time CPU load with list of heaviest applications
• RAM load in real time with list of the most demanding applications
• Battery status, with number of charge cycles

Protection Moonlock Engine

The other big new feature in the 2024 version of CleanMyMac is Moonlock Engine monitoring. This is a homemade malware file search engine, which you can permanently recruit tokeep a machine free from any security threats. The service can be responsible for analyzing email attachments, external media, .dmg files or even any archive seen in your files.

An interesting feature for wary users, especially those who regularly download or receive files from questionable sources.

The benefits of CleanMyMac and our opinion

When I install a new Mac or reinstall my Mac, CleanMyMac is part ofthese applications that I turn to as a priority. I've been using it for several years now, mainly for two purposes: uninstalling applications and deleting unnecessary files. Because even if on macOS, it is not necessary to make too much effort to uninstall an application, the procedure has become more complex with time and the evolution of the OS.

You may initially believe that applications can simply be dragged to the Trash to be deleted from the machine. But in reality, this procedure is not enough. The app in question may leave some files on the system, which, when added together, can have harmful effects on the functioning of the OS.

A powerful uninstaller

So the uninstall feature is one of my favorite features of CleanMyMac. It looks for files associated with apps and attempts to delete them cleanly. For this tool alone, MacPaw's software is worth the detour in my opinion.

CleanMyMac, the cleaner

Otherwise, the other great advantage of CleanMyMac in my opinion is the cleaning of unnecessary files. As mentioned above, although I advise against venturing too much into deleting application caches, certain files associated with software can be shamelessly trashed.

This is particularly the case for translation files, which are used to translate the app into different languages ​​(often several dozen), but also history files and duplicates. Coming back to cache files, it is still a good idea to clean up when they reach several gigabytes for one and the same software. And this becomes useful when disk space is running out. But this is a solution which, in my opinion, must remain a last resort.

If you are looking to delete the cache of software to recover disk space necessary for the proper functioning of macOS, the problem lies elsewhere. Maybe see if it's time to change your hard drive for one with more TB.

Much more than just a file cleaner

CleanMyMac has more than one trick up its sleeve. And apart from its cleaning functions, I greatly appreciate several of its tools, such as that of monitoring applications for updates, or the telescope, very practical, just like themanagement of opening agents. Thanks to them, CleanMyMac allows you to inspect the smallest nooks and crannies of your system, without too much risk of making harmful manipulations.

When it comes to improving performance, I have long remained a big fan of the free Onyx app. But like CleanMyMacdefends itself very well when it comes to RAM optimizationand hard drives, as for the rest, I abandoned Onyx to only use the solution from MacPaw. Plus, it's much easier to use than my old favorite Mac maintenance software.

Tester CleanMyMac

Conclusion: rating and review

A solution worth the detour

During my test of CleanMyMac,several points won me over. On the one hand, it's a set of essential tools in my opinion on Mac. On the other hand, its production is exemplary. The application presents clear menus, but also magnificent visuals, not to mention the beautiful colors used, in addition to the numerous explanatory annotations displayed. In short, the app interface is pleasing to the eye and above all very clear. CleanMyMac is therefore both powerful and easy to use, a duo that is unfortunately not always there for applications of this type.

Premium software, the price that goes with it

I actually only have one criticism of CleanMyMac. It concerns its price. In short, you can get CleanMyMac in two ways, either via subscription,one year for 39.95 eurosfor example (with possible reduction for more than one year of subscription), or as a permanent license. And that's where the problem lies.

The app in permanent license, intend to pay once for a definitive purchase, costs119,95 euros. It's expensive, very expensive even for many. Especially since this subscription system and this price close to 120 euros appeared recently for CleanMyMac version 2024.

So of course, owners of old licenses can benefit from a preferential rate as part of an update from version X to 2024. In addition, MacPaw offers a competitive license, with40% reductionif you have proof of purchasing cleaning software other than CleanMyMac. But still, the price remains a little too high for my taste.

Despite this high price,I can only advise you to get the CleanMyMac solution, as a definitive purchase if you can afford it. Because if you think about it, it will provide you with great service for several years, 3-4-5, and even more.

In the end, beyond my regular use of CleanMyMac, the review I made of it as part of this test confirms my opinion: this is aessential software on macOS, you can go there with your eyes closed!

Acheter CleanMyMac