DiskHalo
vs CleanMyMac
CleanMyMac suits Mac users who want an all-in-one maintenance suite with malware removal, an app updater and a menu-bar monitor. DiskHalo suits developers and power users on Mac and Windows who want in-depth visual analysis, developer and AI cache cleanup with each item explained, and a local-first app with a one-time licence.
All comparisonsKey differences.
Mac and Windows.
DiskHalo runs on both, for up to 3 personal devices. CleanMyMac is a Mac app.
Developer caches beyond Xcode.
DiskHalo covers Docker, Node.js, Rust, Python and project build output, plus 12 AI model stores including Hugging Face. CleanMyMac covers Xcode data and local Ollama and LM Studio models.
Analysis in depth.
Storage Orbit, Sunburst, Treemap, Pie and Bars, saved scans you can compare, and exports to Excel, CSV, HTML and PDF. CleanMyMac maps space with its Space Lens bubble view.
No account, no analytics.
Sign in with your purchase email and a 6-digit code. DiskHalo has no analytics in the app.
Side by side.
Every CleanMyMac fact comes from the vendor’s own pages and official listings, checked on 14 November 2026. Prices as listed on 14 November 2026.
| Feature | DiskHalo | CleanMyMac |
|---|---|---|
| Mac app | Yes: Apple silicon and Intel | Yes: macOS 11 or later |
| Windows app | Yes: 64-bit Windows | No: Mac only |
| How you pay | One-time licence for Mac and Windows | MacPaw Store, for 1 Mac: £30.95 a year, £8.95 a month, or £101.95 one-time. Also sold on the Mac App Store and Setapp. |
| Devices per licence | Up to 3 personal Mac or Windows devices | Plans for 1, 2 or 5 Macs |
| Free edition | No: No free edition. Every purchase has a 30-day money-back guarantee. | 7-day trial with every feature. A free tier is not listed. |
| Feature | DiskHalo | CleanMyMac |
|---|---|---|
| Visual maps | Yes: Storage Orbit, Sunburst, Treemap, Pie and Bars, plus breakdowns by file type, age and owner. Save scans and compare them over time. | Yes: Space Lens bubble map beside a sorted list |
| Network drives and NAS | Yes: Mapped drives and network shares, and NAS folders over WebDAV | Not listed by the vendor |
| Cloud and remote sources | Yes: Amazon S3, Azure Blob Storage, Google Drive, SharePoint, Outlook mailboxes, WebDAV and SSH/SFTP. Read-only, names and sizes only, up to eight locations at once. | Yes: Cloud Cleanup for iCloud Drive, Google Drive, OneDrive and Dropbox |
| Phones and disk images | Partly: On Windows: phones and cameras over MTP, and VHD/VHDX images attached read-only | Not listed by the vendor |
| Large-file finder | Yes: Large File Cleanup, filtered by size and category | Yes: Large & Old Files, from 50 MB |
| Duplicate detection | Yes: Exact content, confirmed with a full-file hash. Finds identical folders too. | Yes: Duplicates module. The matching method is not documented. |
| Feature | DiskHalo | CleanMyMac |
|---|---|---|
| Cache and junk cleanup | Yes: 158 cleanup rules for system, browser and app caches (119 on Mac, 87 on Windows), each explained before you decide | Yes: System Junk covers caches, logs and more. The App Store edition covers fewer items. |
| Developer tool caches | Yes: Xcode on Mac, plus Docker, Node.js, Rust, Python, Gradle and more, and project build output | Yes: Xcode Junk: derived data, archives, simulators and more |
| AI model caches | Yes: 12 AI model stores, including Hugging Face, Ollama and LM Studio | Yes: AI Clutter: local Ollama and LM Studio models, plus caches from AI apps |
| App uninstaller with leftovers | Partly: On Mac, removes an app with its caches and leftovers. On Windows, runs each app’s own uninstaller, several at a time. | Yes: Removes apps with their leftovers |
| Startup items | Yes: Mac and Windows: review what starts with your computer and turn supported items off | Yes: Login and background items |
| How deletion works | Cleanup tools show each item for review and ask you to confirm, then delete permanently rather than to the Recycle Bin or Trash. File tools in Disk Space Analysis can also move items to the Recycle Bin or Trash. | Review before removal. Large & Old Files and Duplicates delete permanently, bypassing the Trash. |
| Record of what was removed | Yes: Operation History keeps a local record of each cleanup: what was planned and what was removed | Yes: In-app cleanup log |
| Feature | DiskHalo | CleanMyMac |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled jobs | Partly: On Windows: scheduled scans, exports and reports, with a record of every run | Scheduled cleaning not listed. A menu-bar monitor sends alerts, such as low free space. |
| Command line | No: Not included | Not listed by the vendor |
| Exports | Yes: Excel, CSV, HTML, XML, SQLite and PDF. Email a report through your own mail server. | Not listed by the vendor |
| Feature | DiskHalo | CleanMyMac |
|---|---|---|
| Where scanning happens | On your computer. Your files and scan results never leave it. | On your Mac. Cloud Cleanup connects to your cloud accounts. |
| Account needed | No account. Sign in with your purchase email and a 6-digit code. | A MacPaw Account activates MacPaw Store copies. App Store and Setapp copies use those stores’ accounts. |
| In-app usage analytics | None in the app. Licence sign-in and update checks send only the few details listed in the privacy notice. | In-app analytics events are consent-based. The privacy policy lists cleanup logs with file paths and sizes among the log data it collects to fix defects. |
| Feature | DiskHalo | CleanMyMac |
|---|---|---|
| Interface languages | English, Japanese, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese | 12 languages |
See it before you remove it. Nothing is deleted without your confirmation. Cleanup deletions are permanent.
Where CleanMyMac is a good choice.
An all-in-one Mac suite.
Cleanup, malware removal, an uninstaller, an app updater and a menu-bar monitor sit in one polished app. Its App Store listing cites Red Dot and iF Design awards for 2026.
Reach beyond the local disk.
Cloud Cleanup covers iCloud Drive, Google Drive, OneDrive and Dropbox, and AI Clutter clears local Ollama and LM Studio models.
Mature safety tooling.
A safety database of rules and exceptions, ignore lists and protected system items help keep cleanup on track.
Why choose DiskHalo.
Mac and Windows, one licence.
A one-time licence covers up to 3 personal devices, Mac or Windows, so the same tool follows you between machines.
It speaks your tools’ language.
Review caches and build output from Xcode, Docker, Node.js, Rust and Python, plus 12 AI model stores such as Hugging Face, Ollama and LM Studio. Each item is explained before you decide.
Every angle on your storage.
Storage Orbit, Sunburst, Treemap, Pie and Bars, with breakdowns by file type, age and owner. Save a scan and compare it later to see what grew.
Cloud and server storage too.
Analyse Amazon S3, Azure Blob Storage, Google Drive, SharePoint, Outlook mailboxes, WebDAV and SSH/SFTP alongside your drives, up to eight locations at once. DiskHalo reads names, sizes and dates only.
Your files stay yours.
Scans, cleanup and history run on your computer. No analytics in the app, and no account to create.
A few good questions.
Does DiskHalo run on Windows?
Yes. One DiskHalo licence covers up to 3 personal Mac or Windows devices. CleanMyMac is a Mac app.
Which developer caches does DiskHalo cover?
Caches and build output from Xcode, Docker, Node.js, Rust, Python, Gradle and more, plus 12 AI model stores including Hugging Face, Ollama and LM Studio.
Is DiskHalo a subscription?
No. DiskHalo is a one-time licence for the major version you buy, including its updates. CleanMyMac is sold yearly, monthly or one-time.
Does DiskHalo need an account?
No. After you buy, you sign in with your purchase email and a 6-digit code. DiskHalo has no analytics in the app.
Sources.
Read on 14 November 2026. Features and prices can change, so check the vendor’s page before you decide. “Not listed by the vendor” means we found no mention, not that the feature is missing. DiskHalo details describe the app as it stands on the same date.
- CleanMyMac store (UK prices)
- CleanMyMac on the Mac App Store (UK)
- CleanMyMac help: editions
- CleanMyMac help: features by plan
- CleanMyMac help: Space Lens
- CleanMyMac help: the Menu
- CleanMyMac help: Large & Old Files
- CleanMyMac help: Cloud Cleanup
- CleanMyMac help: duplicate files
- CleanMyMac help: System Junk list
- CleanMyMac help: AI Clutter
- CleanMyMac help: App Store edition features
- CleanMyMac help: Uninstaller
- CleanMyMac help: Smart Care
- CleanMyMac help: concepts and usage
- CleanMyMac help: installation and activation
- MacPaw privacy policy
CleanMyMac, and the other product names on this page, are trademarks of their respective owners. DiskHalo is not affiliated with, sponsored or endorsed by them.
See DiskHalo for yourself.
Walk through the views and tools, or read what each feature does.