MacKeeper: All-in-One Cleaner & Security Solution (2025 Review)

While it’s true that Apple prioritizes privacy and security, macOS is not completely immune to digital threats. Mac computers are vulnerable to malware, spyware, data breaches, and tracking. That’s why having a robust Mac cleaner with built-in security features is essential.

One such tool we came across – MacKeeper – a comprehensive app designed to keep your Mac both clean and secure. We’ve tested it extensively, and here’s what you need to know.

What is MacKeeper?

Developed by Clario Tech, MacKeeper is much more than just a Mac cleaning tool. It’s an all-in-one suite designed to improve your Mac’s performance while protecting your data and privacy. With its latest version, MacKeeper 7, it now boasts native support for Apple Silicon (M1+ chips) processors, ensuring optimized performance and energy efficiency for modern Macs.

As the Clario team puts it:

“Our purpose is to create a safe digital environment for Mac users and to help them get the most out of their hardware. In other words, we want people to enjoy their Macs without a single worry.”

Getting Started with MacKeeper

Installing MacKeeper is quick and straightforward. We downloaded it from the official website, and within minutes, we had the app up and running. Note that MacKeeper requires macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or later to function.

The setup is intuitive, and for most users, it’s a plug-and-play experience. It asks for only the necessary permissions—such as scanning important folders—making the setup process hassle-free. Once installed, the app works seamlessly in the background, sending you timely reminders to scan for issues or perform maintenance.

Beyond its intuitive interface, MacKeeper 7 delivers an even faster and more sustainable user experience, optimizing system resources to ensure smooth operation without draining your battery.

For instance, if you connect to a public Wi-Fi network, you’ll get a prompt to activate the built-in VPN. Scanning reminders are frequent, ensuring that your Mac stays free from threats like spyware and ransomware.

There’s also a menu-bar interface for quick access to the features you’ve enabled, allowing you to monitor your system’s health in real-time.

Our Experience with MacKeeper

We tested every feature of MacKeeper to see how it could improve the performance and security of our Mac. The app’s dashboard, called Find & Fix, is where everything starts. This section offers a one-click solution to scan your Mac for issues, and then allows you to fix those issues immediately.

The best part? It’s simple. With just one click, MacKeeper does the following:

• Enables antivirus protection to scan for malware.
• Cleans junk files and residual items to free up space.
• Optimizes the system for a noticeable performance boost.
• Checks for privacy issues like potential data breaches.

We love how this single button gives a quick overview of our Mac’s health and security. While exploring subsections in detail is great, the all-in-one dashboard does the job for most users.

# Security

When it comes to security, MacKeeper doesn’t cut corners. It offers two key features:

• Antivirus: You can manually scan for potential threats or enable real-time protection, which is designed to use minimal system resources—so your Mac won’t slow down.
• Adware Cleaner: We tested this by installing potential adware on our Mac, and it successfully removed the malicious apps without any issues.

The real-time antivirus protection is particularly valuable, as it keeps your Mac safe from malware without noticeable system lag.

# Cleaning

MacKeeper offers several utilities to help you declutter and optimize your Mac:

• Junk Cleaner: It scans for log files, caches, mail attachments, and other unnecessary files, including a new category of Installation Files (DMG, PKG, etc.), all of which can accumulate over time. We were surprised by how much junk it found, even after using other cleaning tools.
• Smart Uninstaller: Completely removes apps and their leftover files. This feature is handy for those who want to get rid of unwanted software without leaving any trace behind.
• Duplicate Finder: Frees up space by removing unnecessary duplicate files—whether images, documents, or videos. Going beyond macOS’s built-in photo management, it not only detects exact copies but also visually similar images, identifying duplicates based on content, not just file name or metadata. This helps you declutter while preserving the best versions.

# Performance

To ensure optimal performance, MacKeeper offers several performance utilities:

• Memory Cleaner: Instantly frees up memory by closing apps that are hogging RAM, helping speed up your system.
• Login Items Manager: Lets you control which apps start when you power on your Mac, improving boot-up speed.
• Update Tracker: Alerts you when apps installed from non-MAS sources need updating, with MacKeeper 7 offering a more varied and comprehensive app update tracker to help you stay on top of security updates and new features.

During our testing on an M4 MacBook Air, we noticed a significant performance improvement in both speed and system responsiveness.

# Privacy

MacKeeper goes beyond traditional cleaning tools with several features designed to protect your privacy:

• Private Connect (VPN): Built into the app, this VPN lets you browse securely on public networks. MacKeeper 7 features a redesigned Private Connect tool, offering an even more intuitive and personalized experience, providing peace of mind when connected to Wi-Fi hotspots.
• StopAd: An ad blocker that works across Safari and Chrome. While it might not be as powerful as some dedicated ad blockers, it gets the job done for basic protection.
• ID Theft Guard: This feature notifies you if your personal information has been involved in a data breach, keeping you aware of potential security threats.

These privacy features make MacKeeper stand out, providing an extra layer of protection that’s often overlooked in other Mac cleaners.

Customer Support

We were consistently impressed by MacKeeper’s customer support. You can reach their tech support team through multiple methods, including live chat and an international toll-free number. Crucially, you can be assured you’re talking to a real person at the other end – a fact we rigorously tested and confirmed.

Beyond standard support, MacKeeper offers a ‘Premium Services’ section within the app itself. If a ‘Find & Fix’ session doesn’t resolve your issue, this feature allows you to schedule a one-on-one appointment and get personalized solutions for your Mac.

We tried this, and MacKeeper’s tech support was remarkably quick to transfer our chat to a live technician. It’s impressive to chat with an expert directly from within the MacKeeper app. The expert also offered to set up a remote connection to analyze our Mac better and fix issues.

While the remote connection was helpful, we personally prefer the support team to listen to the user’s initial problem description more thoroughly before initiating a remote access request. However, the overall responsiveness and efficacy of the support were highly commendable.

Trustworthiness

Now, let’s address MacKeeper’s reputation, which is a slightly different story.

In the past, MacKeeper faced accusations of aggressive marketing and questionable practices regarding pricing and subscriptions. However, based on our weeks of extensive testing in 2025, we can confidently state that the current version of MacKeeper has shed this legacy.

The app is legitimately up-to-date, transparent, and designed with user privacy and security in mind. We also cross-referenced numerous other user and expert reviews, all of which corroborate that MacKeeper is now an entirely trustworthy and effective Mac optimization software utility.

So, if you’re asking whether MacKeeper is legit in 2025, the answer is a resounding Yes. It remains one of the most legitimate and effective ways to clean and secure your Mac. It’s truly time to move past its historical reputation and assess the tool based on its current performance.

Pricing and Subscriptions

MacKeeper offers a free plan with basic features, including malware scanning and real-time protection for one month. To access premium features like the VPN, ID Theft Guard, and priority support, you’ll need a paid plan.

Here’s a breakdown of the standard pricing:

• 1-month plan: $10.95
• 12-month plan: $5.95/month
• 12-month plan for 3 Macs: $7.45/month

And, don’t forget the MacKeeper Deal:

Right now, you can save up to 40% on MacKeeper’s premium plans with a special coupon code! This limited-time offer allows you to experience the full power of this all-in-one app at a significant discount. Time is running out, so grab this deal before it ends!

Even at its regular price, the value MacKeeper offers is reasonable. You get a well-rounded suite of tools for performance and privacy protection, which makes it a great deal for Mac users. The current special offer makes it an even more compelling choice.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• All-in-one solution for cleaning, optimization, and security.
• Easy setup and minimal system impact.
• Comprehensive privacy tools (VPN, ad blocker, ID theft protection).
• Affordable pricing for premium features.
• Responsive customer support with live chat and remote help.

Cons:

• Legacy reputation due to past controversies with pricing.
• No system info tracker in the menu bar (meaning you can’t quickly monitor live resource usage without opening the main app).

FAQs

Is MacKeeper safe to use?

Yes, MacKeeper is completely safe and highly trustworthy to use. Our extensive testing confirmed it poses no security risks to your Mac. To further back this up, MacKeeper boasts several key certifications and achievements, including notarization by Apple, and certifications from App Esteem and AV-TEST, ensuring it meets rigorous security and compliance standards for security apps.

Is MacKeeper a virus?

No, MacKeeper is not a virus. While it faced historical reputation challenges, it has undergone a significant transformation. MacKeeper’s code has never contained anything malicious designed to replicate or damage your system. Instead, it offers robust security features like real-time antivirus protection against actual viruses, malware, and adware. Its legitimacy is further confirmed by Apple’s notarization and certifications from independent labs

Does MacKeeper work? Do I really need it for my Mac?

Yes, MacKeeper works effectively. While macOS has built-in features, a dedicated tool like MacKeeper offers a more thorough and automated approach to maintenance. It saves you time and effort by efficiently finding and removing junk, optimizing performance, and providing essential security features. It’s not strictly “obligatory” in the sense that your Mac won’t function without it, but MacKeeper is a highly beneficial tool that makes keeping your Mac clean, fast, and secure significantly easier than manual efforts.

Final Words

MacKeeper is a powerful, all-in-one solution for keeping your Mac clean, fast, and secure. With robust privacy features like a VPN and ID Theft Guard, as well as effective cleaning and optimization tools, it’s a standout choice for Mac users in 2025.

Though it carries some baggage from its past, MacKeeper is now an up-to-date and legitimate Mac optimization tool. If you’re looking for a hassle-free way to improve your Mac’s performance and protect your data, MacKeeper is definitely worth considering.

For more details, visit official MacKeeper site.