9 Mac Optimizer Software to Tune Up Your Mac

11Oct

Macs are great out of the box — but you can squeeze even more smoothness and utility with the right tools. Here are 9 Mac apps I use (or test) to boost speed, manage clutter, and customize your workflow.

TL;DR: My Top 9 Mac Optimization Software

MacKeeper: The all-round optimizer & security tool
CleanMyMac: The Mac storage clean-up utility
MacBooster: The Mac maintenance tool
AVG TuneUp: The easy optimizer tool
Sensei: The Mac performance monitor
Bartender: The menu bar organizer
Alfred: The better Spotlight
Magnet: The windows manager to organize your workspace
OnyX: The classic free utility with deep system tools

1. MacKeeper: The All-Round Optimizer & Security Tool

I’m moving MacKeeper to #1 because, for me, it offers the most balanced combo: cleanup + security + extras. The app comes with a lot of amazing features and helps you protect your privacy and security online or offline.

I love the Antivirus, Adware, Malware, and VPN tools. They help you clean any viruses or malware on your Mac and clean any adware files that may annoy you while using apps or services. You also get an ID Theft Guard that works with the VPN to keep all your online browsing private and secure.

However, it can take a little time to get used to as it has many features that you can use. But, the thing that I hate the most about the app is the “Premium Services” support page that can get really annoying easily.

Pros

Value for money
Amazing tools to keep yourself secured
Built-in VPN and Malware cleaning tool

Cons

The support page is right on the tool panel, which can be annoying at times

Pricing

MacKeeper is compatible with devices running macOS 10.11 or later. So, any Mac running macOS 10.10 or older would not be supported. It comes with three different pricing plans to choose from:

12-month plan for 3 Macs – $11.58 per month
12-month plan for 1 Mac – $9.95 per month
1-month plan for 1 Mac – $16.95 per month

You can also get it for free by using the 30-day trial app. However, it is hugely limited and will only clean your Mac once.

Also: Read our full MacKeeper review here.

2. CleanMyMac: The Mac Storage Clean-up Utility

CleanMyMac is very similar to MacKeeper in features, but one thing it does better than any other app on the list is the Cleanup utility it comes with. I had the most success cleaning junk and large files with it.

The app helps manage your Mac and improve the overall experience by clearing background apps, trash files, and even extensions. So, I was really impressed with it. It also has a tool known as “Space Lens”, and it is really useful in analyzing your disk space and all the files that occupy the space.

There are not a lot of cons about it. The UI is simple, and I love the overall design. However, I would really love them to improve on the malware detection module, it’s not entirely adequate. We’d love to see some improvements in this area.

Pros

Easy-to-use Interface
Versatile cleaning options
Presents a great space lens for analyzing your storage space
Large toolset

Cons

Security module needs work

Pricing

CleanMyMac works on macOS 10.11 and later, including macOS Tahoe, and it also offers native support for Macs running the latest Apple M4 chips. You can get it with two different pricing options:

$2.95 for a 1 month and 1 device subscription with basic function
$4.95 for a 1 year and 2 devices subscription with platinum features

Also: Read our full CleanMyMac review here.

3. MacBooster: The Mac Maintenance Tool

Are you getting random errors, bugs, or performance drops that annoy the hell out of you? Well, if that is what you’re experiencing, then MacBooster is the tool for you. It helps you maintain your Mac with a lot of features that would straight up boost your Mac.

The “Turbo Boost” tool is the best I’ve used. It cleaned all the background apps in one go, and I noticed an immediate boost in performance. I do a lot of video renders, and if you, too, face huge performance drops while rendering, then this tool will help you get a lot of performance in just a single click.

However, not all the features were a big hit for me. I was not too fond of the long scan times it took to scan my Mac, and just like the TuneUp app, it didn’t help me clean any photos or duplicate files. Other than that, the app is awesome, and it will help you maintain your Mac better.

Pros

Awesome “Turbo Boost” tool
Protects your PC from viruses and malware
Optimizes apps for startup

Cons

Offers very limited buyer support

Pricing

You can try it for free with a 14-day trial period, and after that, it will require $2.49/month for the premium subscription. It works on all macOS devices running on version 10.9 or higher. Monterey is also supported, and it runs smoothly on the latest M1 chips

4. AVG TuneUp for Mac: The Easy Optimizer Tool

AVG TuneUP is probably the most useful optimizers tool out there. It easily help you uninstall apps with a single click, find duplicate copies of files, remove bad or similar photos, and clean trash files from your Mac.

That’s a whole lot of features that can help you get more space and optimize your Mac for the best performance. I loved the “Clean Clutter” and “Uninstall Apps” tools as they helped me remove all the unnecessary apps and trash files that were on my Mac.

However, the “Find Duplicates” and “Find Photos” tools were a big no-no for me. It didn’t help me clean any files, or maybe I just have a clutter-free Mac. Well, it depends from person to person, and maybe you’ll have great value with it.

Pros

Awesome cleaning tools
Minimal UI
Has a fast scan process

Cons

The premium subscription costs a lot
Find Photos tool may not work as it is intended

Pricing

You can get AVG TuneUp for Macs running macOS 10.11 (El Capitan) or above. It comes in the following pricing options:

$29.99 for 1 device
$34.99 for 10 devices

5. Sensei: The Mac Performance Monitor

Sensei is a monitoring and performance optimization tool that is designed to help you track everything on your Mac. You can see the amount of battery left, total RAM consumption, graphics usage, storage consumption, and a lot more.

It can also integrate into your menu bar to display all the important data right at your fingertips. You can also optimize your Mac’s performance by cleaning background apps or trash files. But, it shines at system monitoring, and I would recommend using it for that.

Pros

Awesome for monitoring your Mac’s performance
Can kill background apps to save RAM
You can also integrate it into the menu bar

Cons

The lifetime version is a little expensive

Pricing

Sensei works on all Macs running macOS 10.15 Catalina and later. You can also try it for free with the trial version or upgrade to a premium subscription for:

1-year subscription for $29
Lifetime license for $59.

Note: The status bar feature only works on macOS 11.3 or later.

Also: Read our full Sensei review here.

6. Bartender: The Menu Bar Organizer

Bartender and Sensei go super well together, and it’s just for a sole reason. The menu bar integration and you can customize your menu bar to include everything or nothing at all. If you love customizing your Mac, then you’ll love using Bartender.

I used it to include the weather icon, the date and time, and network indicators making it an actual minimal setup. So, if you too want to do that, setting up your new menu bar would be really simple and would just take you minutes.

Pros

Great menu bar integration
Easy to use UI
4-week trial version

Cons

Only compatible with Big Sur and Monterey

Pricing

The latest Bartender 6 is only compatible with Tahoe and above. So, if you are running an older version of macOS, you would need to download the older Bartender 5. You can try it for free with a 4-week trial version or upgrade for $20 for a single license.

Also: Read our full Bartender review here.

7. Alfred: The Better Spotlight

Is Spotlight not working for you? Well, if you want to improve your Mac’s search function, then Alfred is for you. Unfortunately, it’s not the same Alfred from Batman that all of us want, but it still is impressive.

The app is a glorified search tool that can look for files, apps, and everything else on your Mac. All you need to do is install it and run the app. Finally, search for the thing you want to use, and it’ll work like a charm saving you a lot of time from the get-go.

Pros

Fast search and lookup times
It is installed in seconds and is very lightweight
Has a clean and minimal UI

Cons

It is really expensive

Pricing

Alfred works on Macs running macOS 10.11 or higher. You can use it for free or get the Powerpack for:

$32.51 for a single license
$54.93 for the mega supporter bundle with lifetime upgrades

8. Magnet: The Windows Manager To Organize Your Workspace

Switching from a Windows PC to a Mac? Do you miss the instant window snapping that Windows comes with? Well, now you can have that on your Mac with the help of Magnet.

It can also be integrated into your menu bar so you can snap apps quickly and effectively. Oh, and it has keyboard shortcuts that are perfect for multi-tasking with ease.

Magnet can work with a total of six external displays and can snap windows to any corner of the screen. So, it’s awesome if you really want to dive into the world of multiple displays and boost your productivity to the max.

Pros

Window snapping in just a single click
Keyboard shortcuts for instant screen swaps
Menu bar integration for easy access to apps

Cons

Pricing

Magnet is available to download on the Mac app store, and you can get it for $7.99. It supports on macOS Monterey and runs on all devices running macOS 10.13 or later.

9. OnyX: The Free System Utility

Okay, let’s just say that you need all the optimization tools from apps such as AVG TuneUp, Sensei, or MacKeeper but for free. Well, you can either use the trial apps, or you can safely use OnyX like a smart person.

OnyX comes with a lot of utility tools that can clean trash and junk files, maintain scripts, clean background apps, and a whole lot more.

However, it doesn’t come with a clean UI like the other apps, so you would need to get through many toggles and settings to set everything up. But that’s not a high price to pay for a free Mac utility app.

Pros

It comes with many utility tools
It is totally free to use
The app is lightweight and doesn’t consume many resources

Cons

Setting everything up takes a decent amount of time

Pricing

OnyX is the only free app on this list and can be downloaded for free. However, there are specific app versions of OnyX for each major version of macOS.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right Mac optimization software depends on your needs, experience level, and budget. Personally, I recommend:

For beginners and general cleanup, CleanMyMac offers a user-friendly, all-in-one solution to keep your Mac clean and smooth.
If you want a powerful free tool and are comfortable with technical options, OnyX is unmatched, though less intuitive.
For those prioritizing privacy and security, MacKeeper combines cleanup with antivirus and VPN features, but be mindful of subscription upsells.
Need deep system insights? Sensei provides detailed monitoring and performance analytics beyond basic cleaning.
To boost productivity without system tweaks, apps like Bartender and Alfred streamline your workflow elegantly.

Whatever you choose, always back up your Mac before running any cleanup utilities to prevent data loss.

Remember, macOS includes built-in optimization features like Optimize Storage, so third-party apps work best as complementary tools.

By matching your choice to your priorities, these apps will help keep your Mac running smoothly in 2025 and beyond.

For a deep dive into individual apps or additional Mac tips, explore our other articles linked below.

* Readers like you help support TheSweetBits. When you buy something through the links in this article, we may get a small commission at no extra charge to you.

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9 Mac Optimizer Software to Tune Up Your Mac

TL;DR: My Top 9 Mac Optimization Software

1. MacKeeper: The All-Round Optimizer & Security Tool