Compare Mac storage tools

Product information checked October 3, 2026. Features and prices can change; check each developer’s current information before buying.

What SpaceWise is for: SpaceWise scans local storage, explains items matched by its rules, and shows what needs review before you choose a cleanup action. It does not identify every file, and the amount of space recovered can differ from the file sizes shown.

What each option does

SpaceWise

Planned free personal use

SpaceWise explains recognized caches, logs, developer files, and local model data. Unrecognized items stay marked for review. Scanning and cleanup happen on your Mac; license checks contact Lemon Squeezy only when a license key is entered or saved.

Downloads are temporarily paused while an Apple-signed and notarized release is prepared. Read the release status before installing.

DaisyDisk

Paid app · check current pricing

DaisyDisk uses an interactive disk map to help you find large files and folders. Its separate documentation explains its hidden-space scan and its APFS clone accounting on macOS 14 or later.

See DaisyDisk’s features · APFS clone details

CleanMyMac

Paid plans · check current options

CleanMyMac combines storage cleanup with other maintenance tools, including malware checks, duplicate finding, app uninstalling, and cloud cleanup. Its available features and billing depend on the edition and marketplace.

Compare CleanMyMac editions

macOS Storage settings

Included with macOS

System Settings shows storage categories and recommendations. macOS can also optimize certain content and clear some caches and logs it considers safe to remove.

Read Apple’s storage guide

At a glance

Primary focus and current SpaceWise pricing
Tool	Main focus	Extra maintenance tools	Price information
SpaceWise	Explains recognized storage and cleanup risks; unfamiliar items need review.	No malware scanner, app uninstaller, or duplicate finder.	Planned free personal use. Downloads are paused, and checkout is not available.
DaisyDisk	Visual map for exploring storage use, including supported hidden-space and APFS-clone features.	Focused on disk-space visualization.	See the developer’s current store price.
CleanMyMac	Mac cleanup and broader maintenance suite.	Includes malware checks, app uninstalling, duplicate finding, and cloud cleanup; features differ by edition.	One-time and subscription options are listed across its marketplaces; see current plans.
macOS Storage settings	Built-in storage overview and recommendations.	Includes macOS-managed storage optimization and cleanup.	Included with macOS.

Where SpaceWise has limits

Downloads are paused while an Apple-verified release is prepared. Please do not install the previous beta or bypass macOS security warnings. Follow the release status
Its rules do not cover every app or file. Results depend on scan access and the installed rule set. Unrecognized items stay unidentified instead of being guessed at.
It is focused on storage review. It does not replace an antivirus tool, app uninstaller, or duplicate finder.
Planned free personal use does not mean every checkout is available. Optional support and business checkout links remain in test mode, so live payments are not available yet.

Which one should you choose?

Choose DaisyDisk if exploring a visual disk map is your priority.
Choose CleanMyMac if you want a broader maintenance suite and have checked the edition and price that fit your needs.
Start with macOS Storage settings if you want a built-in overview and its recommendations.
Try SpaceWise if you want explanations for recognized items before deciding what to clean, and you should check the current release status before planning to use it.

Ask for a release update

SpaceWise is for macOS 14 or later · release status