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Prune vs CleanMyMac: which one for a developer Mac?
CleanMyMac is a broad Mac maintenance suite. Prune is a narrower disk cleaner that knows developer and AI folders by name. Here is where each one wins.
| Topic | Prune | CleanMyMac |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | macOS 12+ and Windows 10/11 | Mac only |
| Price | $15/year or $29 lifetime ($19 until 20 December 2026) with 3 years of updates. One licence covers up to 3 machines. | Basic $39.95/year list (reviewers quote $47.40), or $119.95 one-time. Per Mac. |
| Free tier | Free scan lists every file name, path and size in 19 categories. Cleaning is Pro. | 7-day trial, cleaning limited to 500 MB. |
| AI and developer caches | Ollama, Hugging Face, LM Studio, Claude Code and Codex sessions, Docker, Xcode, npm, pip, conda, Gradle, Cargo, IDE caches, idle node_modules | General system junk and app caches. No named handling of AI models or coding-agent sessions. |
| Safety model | Review every path first. Caches are deleted outright; your own files go to the Trash. | Smart Scan then clean. Notarized. Reviewers note it occasionally flags needed files. |
| Extras | None of malware scanning, RAM tools, app updating or a visual map. It has a folder-size explorer. | Malware removal, RAM and maintenance, app uninstaller and updater, Space Lens map, cloud cleanup. |
| Best for | Developers and local-AI users who want to know exactly what each gigabyte is. | People who want one Mac suite for junk, apps, malware and upkeep. |
Prices checked October 2026. Vendors change them, so confirm on their sites before you buy.
What CleanMyMac does that Prune does not
- Malware removal and RAM or maintenance tasks. Prune does neither.
- An app uninstaller and updater in one place.
- Space Lens, a visual map of what uses your disk.
- Cloud cleanup, and a polished Smart Scan that runs everything in one pass.
Where Prune is different
Prune is built around the folders that quietly eat a developer Mac: Ollama and Hugging Face model stores, duplicate model weights, Docker build cache and untagged images, Xcode DerivedData and simulators, package caches, and old Claude Code and Codex session history. It names each one and shows its size before you decide.
It also runs on Windows, with the same scan. One licence covers up to 3 machines across both systems, so a Mac and a Windows PC do not need two subscriptions.
Safety and review
Both tools ask you to confirm before anything goes. Prune lists every path, deletes true caches outright because they rebuild, and sends your own files, such as large or old files, duplicates, agent sessions and device backups, to the Trash so a wrong pick comes back.
When to choose which
- Choose Prune if your disk is full of models, containers, build output and agent history, or if you work across Mac and Windows.
- Choose CleanMyMac if you want malware checks, an updater and general upkeep from one app, and you are on a Mac only.
- Related reading: our guides, Prune pricing, and the CacheCleaner comparison.
FAQ
Is CleanMyMac better than Prune?
It depends on the job. CleanMyMac is a broad Mac maintenance suite with malware removal, an app updater and a visual space map. Prune does less, but it knows developer and AI folders by name, such as Ollama models, Docker build cache, Xcode DerivedData and Claude Code sessions. It also runs on Windows.
Does Prune remove malware or free up RAM?
No. Prune does not scan for malware, optimise RAM, update your apps or run maintenance scripts. It finds disk space and tells you exactly what each item is. If you want those extras, CleanMyMac offers them.
Which is cheaper for one Mac?
Prune Pro is $15 a year or $29 for a lifetime licence with 3 years of updates ($19 until 20 December 2026). CleanMyMac Basic lists at $39.95 a year, or $119.95 one-time, per Mac. One Prune licence also covers up to 3 machines across Mac and Windows. Prices checked October 2026.
Can I see what Prune would clean before paying?
Yes. The free scan shows every file name, path and size in 19 categories. Cleaning is the Pro feature, and there is a 30-day money-back guarantee.