MacWashing vs MacKeeper
Checked both apps on the same Mac
Both apps checked the same Mac with the same files. Five tests: a Mac with a classic web developer stack, an iPhone developer’s Mac, a video editor’s Mac, a photographer’s Mac and an everyday user’s Mac. Below is how much junk each one found.
In short
| App | Web developer | iPhone developer | Video editor | Photographer | Everyday user |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MacWashing | 25.34 GB | 37.77 GB | 25.76 GB | 23.35 GB | 22.75 GB |
| MacKeeper | 6.95 GB | 23.38 GB | 3.79 GB | 3.71 GB | 8.95 GB |
How much junk each app found: the user’s large files and the space macOS frees by itself are not counted. Green is the best result in a column.
The apps in this comparison
MacWashing
MacWashing- Free up to 25 GB
- Subscription or lifetime
Checks every removal against its rules database: what it doesn’t know, it leaves alone. Apps and large files go to the Trash by default, so they can be put back.
MacKeeper
Clario Tech- Subscription
- Has a trial
A toolkit by Clario Tech: cleanup, antivirus, VPN, ad blocker, memory cleaner. Sold by subscription.
Developer’s site ↗A Mac with a classic web developer stack
Test 1 of 5- 10 projects: Node.js, PHP, Python
- 8 of them untouched for over 90 days
- VS Code, iTerm2, Chrome, Postman, Docker Desktop
MacWashing after the scan1 of 2
MacKeeper after the scan2 of 2
How much each app found
MacWashingMacKeeperjunk: caches, logs, leftovers of appsdependencies of old projects (found, not ticked)not junk: languages and parts of apps, mail attachments, backups
Versions: MacWashing 2.3.4 · MacKeeper 6.11
An iPhone developer’s Mac
Test 2 of 5- Xcode, CocoaPods, Proxyman, Xcodes
- Slack, Discord, Chrome, Safari
MacWashing after the scan1 of 2
MacKeeper after the scan2 of 2
How much each app found
MacWashingMacKeeperjunk: caches, logs, leftovers of appsnot junk: languages and parts of apps, mail attachments, backups
Versions: MacWashing 2.3.4 · MacKeeper 6.11
A video editor’s Mac
Test 3 of 5- Premiere Rush, iMovie, CapCut
- HandBrake, LosslessCut, Kap, VLC
- The user’s projects and original footage
MacWashing after the scan1 of 2
MacKeeper after the scan2 of 2
How much each app found
MacWashingMacKeeperjunk: caches, logs, leftovers of appsnot junk: languages and parts of apps, mail attachments, backups
Versions: MacWashing 2.3.4 · MacKeeper 6.11
A photographer’s Mac
Test 4 of 5- Lightroom Classic, GIMP, ImageOptim
- The user’s RAW photos and exports
- Chrome, Telegram, Spotify
MacWashing after the scan1 of 2
MacKeeper after the scan2 of 2
How much each app found
MacWashingMacKeeperjunk: caches, logs, leftovers of appsnot junk: languages and parts of apps, mail attachments, backups
Versions: MacWashing 2.3.4 · MacKeeper 6.11
An everyday user’s Mac
Test 5 of 5- Chrome, Safari, Brave
- Telegram, WhatsApp, Zoom, Discord, Slack, Teams
- Spotify, VLC, Steam, OBS Studio
MacWashing after the scan1 of 2
MacKeeper after the scan2 of 2
How much each app found
MacWashingMacKeeperjunk: caches, logs, leftovers of appsnot junk: languages and parts of apps, mail attachments, backups
Versions: MacWashing 2.3.4 · MacKeeper 6.11
Is MacKeeper safe?
In our tests MacKeeper offered to remove one thing that could break something — marked ⚠ in the charts above.
- Languages — in every test, 139 MB – 302 MBTranslations inside the installed apps' own bundles. Removing them changes signed apps (signature checks can fail, languages are gone until an update); it is not junk.
MacWashing removes only what its rules database knows, and leaves alone what it can’t explain. Apps and large files go to the Trash by default, so they can be put back.
What to choose
MacWashingFound the most in the “Web developer” test: 25.34 GB. Dependencies of old projects (node_modules, vendor, .venv) are shown apart and not ticked.
MacWashingFound the most in the “iPhone developer” test: 37.77 GB.
MacWashingFound the most in the “Video editor” test: 25.76 GB.
MacWashingFound the most in the “Photographer” test: 23.35 GB.
MacWashingFound the most in the “Everyday user” test: 22.75 GB.
MacWashingRemoves only what its rules database knows. Apps and large files go to the Trash first. One app offered something risky — the ⚠ sign in the charts.