Our review today is of CleanMyMac or Clean My Mac is basically ONYX for mac, but you have to pay $29.95 for it. (Short summery: We highly recommend the free, ONYX for Leopard or Snow Leopard, its the one we all use)
Claiming to be a clever piece of software designed to be an “all-in-one-suite utility that helps keep your Mac clean and healthy”. We’re going to give it a review today, starting first with a test. Its going to be tasked to clean my iMac.
Now, I’m not really a messy person, but my iMac’s file structure could be more organized. It doesn’t run slow (2.4Ghz with 4GB RAM) or anything, so we’ll see what it’s like after a quick wash with clean my mac.
Download & Install
First off, the download is quick. The app’s footprint is around 15MB. Even the most “spatially challenged” hard drive can squeeze this app on. Install is as usual with any mac app, just drag it over to your applications folder and ping, its done. I boot up the app.
Here’s what my machine looks like before Scanning:
I hit scan. It takes around 3 minutes.
The app managed to find 11GB extra space. Where it found it I have no idea. Well, actually I do. The interface tells me it found 7.5GB from caches, and 3.9GB from Universal Binaries. I do the scan again just to double check.
It comes out the same again. That’s amazing. This mac is only around a year old, it gets used everyday as my work machine, so its had a lot of use, but still that’s a lot to find. The app would no doubt have saved me more, as I deleted the surplus language files last year and saved a few GB’s from the unneeded files.
Here we are mid clean.
I can only imagine the amount it would save on a mac that’s a few years old, it would be a size able chunk to say the least.
Now I’ve scanned for the extra files, I can hit remove in the lower right corner, and everything’s removed. Before the install of CleanMyMac I had 117GB free, now I have 128.60GB. That’s really cool. It’s spurred me on to do a bit of spring cleaning around my computer in general.
After I cleaned my mac though, my mac was having some serious problems, programs did not launch, and lots of other problems.
Overall then, I am a bit hesitant to buy this Software, as you have to re-buy it after only 6 months. I would recommend looking at the original, and well used/tested ONYX for mac.
Download the original free (and the software everyone here at Apple Reviews uses) ONYX for Leopard or Snow Leopard
Keep your eyes out for our upcoming review of ONYX for Snow Leopard! If you have any questions please feel free to email us.
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Neil November 19, 2009
Thing is though, you CANT purchase the software … just a yearly license!
Sorry, but I dont want to pay a yearly subscription for a piece of software, especially not this type of app!
Justin November 19, 2009
Hi Neil, Totally agree with you. Onyx is a much better and secure option.
cantubury December 31, 2009
will the company be in business “forever”. hi tech companies come and go and we have no guarantee that they will be around. I cant pay the price, not because I dont trust this particular company, but no one can guarantee business immortality.
Gatsu January 4, 2010
What scares me is that it touches universal binaries and development junks, and I’ve read on the web that some softwares, like some Adobe’s ones, check their own binaries to see if they are missing something.
So, once CMM has modified those files, the softwares will not be working properly anymore! You’ll need to install them again or go back with Time Machine, because on CMM you can’t reverse the action.
Ben Gribbin January 6, 2010
I run Master Suite CS4 and have never experienced any problems with CMM altering registries e.t.c
rh205 January 13, 2010
Ben–
I ran CMM about a week ago as part of my regular system maintenance and now am unable to update Acrobat from 9.2 to 9.3. (App still works fine, BTW.) Not sure if there’s a definite correlation, but IIRC mucking around with language localizations in Adobe apps renders them unable to update. (I had assumed that CMM had a built-in whitelist of apps not to touch, but I may be wrong.)
Ben Gribbin January 14, 2010
Hi Ralph, your probably best contacting CMM direct about this one!
toyn July 5, 2010
i love clean my mac.
just recently that happened to me, i was not able to update adobe reader, that is the only thing, so i just uninstalled and reinstalled.
Franz February 21, 2010
“3.9GB from Universal Binaries”
That’s more a one-time thing. Just like for example Xslimmer, you can size down apps from unused code.
I would be way more interested in how it compares to Onyx. CleanMyMac is a payed app and Onyx is totally free. From what I see the only advantage of CleanMyMac is that it removes unused binaries and comes with a nicer interface. Otherwise Onyx does actually have a larger number of options and configurations.
I’m very hesitant to buy the software. If the developer offers another discount I’d love to get a licensee for 2 or more family Macs to make it easier for them to maintain the machine.
JOHN May 3, 2010
i downloaded the trial version and it slowed my mac up. some preferred opinion crap/app that takes you to a survey website. i don’t trust the clean my mac app. if you have to pay for it i don’t want any sneaky apps to come with it.
Greka May 31, 2010
Hello John!
I actually represent MacPaw Customer Support, I won’t be hiding that and I would like to let you know that our business is as clear as it could possibly be at all.
Our app is free to download and test and it just has a button that can take you to our site. That is absolutely fine when you can go to a developer website from the app.
If you do not like it – you can easily uninstall it using CleanMyMac itself and it never leaves any traces.
Speaking about your particular problem – if you do not have a CleanMyMac license – it could not actually remove all the found items from your Mac. However, if you’ve read our User Guide, it actually recommends to restart your Mac after the very first total cleanup – this will make it faster, because all the cache will be refreshed.
If you have used a cracked copy, however – we can’t comment on any drawbacks it could possibly have.
CleanMyMac speaks for itself by holding the leading position as the Most Popular Utility according to Apple Downloads and that says everything.
Laird January 3, 2011
Please tell me how to uninstall your program. Deleted and trial version keeps running and causes crashes. Please respond, others have this problem. Fail to respond and I will hurt you by posting this problem everywhere I can think on a daily basis for the next year.
Jake September 9, 2010
I downloaded it, tried it, restarted my MacBook and absolutely nothing went wrong. I have more space as well. But I made sure to “uncheck” the apps that I use most frequently (email, iTunes, Firefox, etc.) just in case I screwed something up. However, this has been a great app so far and I just purchased it since I have more than one user on this laptop, and my girlfriend just loves to download useless crap. Anyways that’s my $ .02
Frank September 22, 2010
I downloaded CMM and my Macbook runs noticeably faster.
The company’s website was easy to find from the download and was very open.
Will I regret ordering via paypal for a product made by a company in Kiev? Time will tell. The website seemed very transparent.
I notice on of the people on the website posted above.
Seems like they believe in their product and stand behind it.
If I am disappointed I will return and post update.
So far it has been just as advertised.
Frank
Name: (required) October 1, 2010
Bought a CMM license on the basis of the trial version and remain very pleased with it.
It is understandable that one might be wary of cleaning binaries and such – anyone sensible would be. The thing is, you have to opt in to scan system files, and CMM requires admin authorisation to then clean them.
Originally I thought I had to just trust the scans, but since discovered that it is easy to ensure that nothing important is cleaned. Hit scan, then click on one of the categories on the left so it turns blue. The scan results for that category can then be viewed in the big box on the right as a list of files. To keep a file uncheck the box beside it. Some files will be unchecked already, but if you know it is safe you can include these in a clean. If removing an unchecked file could make things behave oddly, the box will have a red border and if you try to tick it CMM will warn you. If you STILL wish to scrap that file you have to verify that you wish to proceed and also click the box.
Now I am able to see what a scan has identified for removal, I am happy that CMM errs on the side of caution if anything. I guess they’d go out of business horribly fast otherwise.
My favourite thing about CMM is the way it can clean up traces of uninstalled applications. Of particular note, the uninstall instructions on Akamai (a download manager app) had several steps, and the README suggested that uninstalling could still be risky. Google results suggested the .app was horrible to get rid of. I whacked it through CMM and was amazed to see what a nice clean it did.
However, for all that I am happy with CMM I can’t imagine I’ll renew if I find that ONYX really is comparable and safe.
Laura Davis October 9, 2010
my mac will not clean with this because I lost my password.
Laura
Dianna October 10, 2010
I tried downloading this app. The file showed up on my desktop but when I opened it and tried to drag it to my applications folder I received the following message. The item “CleanMyMac” could not be moved because “Applications” cannot be modified. I then tried hitting the “Authenticate” button. I was then asked for my password, which I typed in and same things happened. The file showed and and yada yada. Any suggestions?
Thanks
Romano Van Willing October 13, 2010
I downloaded the trial and then paid for a six month license, worked as advertised but now i have to reinstall my MS Office for MAC as it refuses to update any components, even critical ones. Lots of hidden snags here.
Jim October 14, 2010
I just bought CMM and installed on my two MacBooks, both running Intel with OS 10.5.8. Scanned and cleaned EVERYTHING on both hard drives. All programs on both machines are running fine with not a single glitch to show for it on either machine.
Programs I run are Firefox, Safari, Garageband, iTunes, Mail, iPhoto, iCal, MS Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Google Earth, and a few other minor apps.
Of course, I don’t know if I’ll cough up another $50 to renew. Might just try ONYX first.
Jim October 14, 2010
HA! I just rechecked MacPaw’s website and realized that the $50 I paid to run CMM on two machines is good for life. Not so bad after all.
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marcel cowan October 27, 2010
wicked , thanks for the onyx direction ……great help
agi November 3, 2010
After using this app my IMac doubled in size of memory used!?!? Before I still had 167GB – where all that went? TimeMachine backups stopped and I cannot access it . I’m on IMac 2nd day trying to clean this mess and recover some files from my laptop.
Mykell November 10, 2010
Hi… Everybody…
Is there a person that run CMM with Logic Pro 9 installed ???
I’m using Logic, all Native Instrument, Ivory… and Spectrasonic product.
So…
Any comment ??????
Thank’s
Angie November 14, 2010
I downloaded Clean My Mac yesterday. I installed it, payed the $29.95, and let it clean my computer. Soon after, my computer would not reboot. I had to take it to the Apple store today and was told that even though they have Clean My Mac listed on their web site it is a third party program that they do not recommend. They also said that my hard drive may need to be replaced because of the damage the software caused and to NEVER use that program again.
brenda peone December 27, 2010
did the apple store say if they recommend the use of any cleaning app? i wonder if that onyx is ok???
Andrew C January 7, 2011
I had to create an account just to respond. Whoever says a piece of software ruins a hard drive is a complete MORON. Which apple store was this so I can at least never go there to get something. That is just ridiculous.
Macaroon April 6, 2011
Angie, are you sure you went to an Apple™ Store, not a fruit seller or a backstreet Troll shop?
The scenario you report is so extraordinarily unlikely, I can only assume the person you spoke to was either on medication or not actually a trained Apple employee…
It is almost impossible that CMM damaged your physical hard drive and it would be 100% impossible for a storefront employee to blame drive failure on any individual piece of software. Even in the worst case scenario, a system reinstall would be enough – unless your Hard Drive really has failed, in which case it was just Bad Timing and not CMM.
What’s really going on here?
As for me, I haven’t even tried CMM because I don’t like the pricing model and I already use Onyx, but I know FUD when I see it.
ZebazHackz November 25, 2010
watch this video to download it for free without torrent: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xmhLFf7XpQ
Tanner November 30, 2010
I just made a YouTube video about this. Feel free to check it out! Might be useful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osaafqwjiPc&feature=youtube_gdata_player
JHutchinson December 7, 2010
I want this thing off my computer! I have tried to uninstall it, but it just tells me I need to update it, and it locks up and won’t let me do anything. I followed the instructions off their website, and it didn’t work.
grrr
I have had numerous problems with programs crashing ever since I used it.
Laird January 3, 2011
Myself as well (see below) no response from company. It’s from the Ukraine. Numerouse finder/timemachine/cleanmymac crashes since. No uninstall available. If you find a way out, let me know ldm.web@gmail.com
robert maxwell December 20, 2010
i can not down the progam, i need help.
Laird January 3, 2011
The demo version cannot be uninstalled and continues to run in the background according to my console log . no response from the company (in the Ukraine) Don’t know what to do. clean install?
Raxonon February 1, 2011
Its a wonderful tool for Mac. A third party tool I have used for the same purpose is Stellar speed up Mac.
Its applicable at both bootable and non-bootable volumes.
Tyrell Fragnoli February 9, 2011
A original web page , it has long sought a paper com this
DiBacco Films April 18, 2011
I use Disk Warrior, Onxy, Speed Tools. NOTHING cleans out the crap in your system like this….Do yourself a favor spend the $30 and get a clean machine……..
Jouni June 10, 2011
I’ve been using CMM on my IMAC with Snow Leopard for over six months, had no problems. If you like to tinker and do your own stuff, go for ONYX or whatever free utility you like… however I have better things to do with my time…. so CMM works for me.
Cheers
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John December 9, 2011
Looks stunning beautiful. But it comes with the high cost… I will still stick to my freeware Maccleaning to do this clean job.
skyrim December 22, 2011
MacCleaning is good. I have tried it and cleaned my Mac. It is free and effective.
Howard January 3, 2012
Onyx speeded up my 2-yr old iMac 10.6.8, and is nice to use, but two days later, Gmail died and won’t rebuild because of a stuck incorrect message that the Mac is blocking cookies. Probably co-incidence.