CleanMyMac, made by MacPaw, dropped the X from its name at version 5 and now bundles system junk removal, malware scanning, app uninstalling, large file discovery and memory optimisation into one subscription, priced from around $3.33 a month on an annual plan or available as a one-time lifetime licence for $119.95. Memory Meter 3, formerly known as Memory Clean 3, and Nektony's free Memory Cleaner both do the narrower memory-freeing job Shiny does, each living quietly in the menu bar, while BuhoCleaner offers a cheaper, broader take on CleanMyMac's junk-and-uninstall toolkit and Sensei adds performance monitoring alongside its own cleanup tools. Unlike MacKeeper and MacBooster, both long associated with scare-tactic marketing and unwanted bundled software, Shiny asks for nothing beyond what the job needs: no Full Disk Access, no bundled extras and a single honest $4.99 purchase rather than a subscription.
| Rank | App | Best For | Price | Key Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Shiny |
Memory cleanup & background app quieting | $4.99 One-Time | One-tap RAM cleanup with no file access |
| 2 |  CleanMyMac |
All-in-one maintenance suite | From $3.33/month or $119.95 lifetime | Junk removal, malware scanning, uninstaller and memory optimisation in one subscription |
| 3 |  Memory Meter 3 |
Dedicated memory monitor & cleaner | Paid, one-time | Menu bar RAM monitor and cleaner, formerly named Memory Clean 3 |
| 4 |  Memory Cleaner (Nektony) |
Free standalone memory cleaner | Free | Nektony's paid MacCleaner Pro bundle adds broader junk and uninstall tools on top |
| 5 |  BuhoCleaner |
Budget junk removal & uninstaller | Lifetime from ~$14.99 | Cheaper, broader cleanup toolkit than Shiny, without CleanMyMac's malware scanning |
| 6 |  Sensei |
Performance monitoring & cleanup | $59 one-time or $29/year | Adds ongoing performance monitoring alongside its own cleanup and optimisation tools |
Shiny
One-tap memory cleanup for Mac.
Shiny does one CleanMyMac job, freeing memory and calming background apps, without ever reading, writing or deleting a file, and without asking for Full Disk Access or Accessibility permissions.
- Frees inactive memory in one tap
- Quiets background apps you forgot were running
- Polishes itself automatically when memory fills up
- No telemetry, and never touches your files
Frequently asked
What is the best CleanMyMac alternative for Mac?
It depends what you need. Shiny is the closest lightweight alternative for memory and background apps, Memory Meter 3 and Nektony's Memory Cleaner do the same narrower job, and BuhoCleaner or Sensei suit anyone who wants a broader, cheaper maintenance toolkit.
Is CleanMyMac still worth using in 2026?
Yes, CleanMyMac (which dropped the X from its name at version 5) remains one of the most complete Mac maintenance tools available, bundling junk removal, malware scanning, uninstalling and memory optimisation into a single subscription.
Does Shiny need Full Disk Access like CleanMyMac?
No, Shiny works only with running processes and memory. It never asks for Full Disk Access, Accessibility or Screen Recording permissions, and it never reads, writes or deletes a file.
Is Shiny anything like MacKeeper or MacBooster?
No. MacKeeper and MacBooster are both long associated with scare-tactic marketing and bundled extras. Shiny asks for no unnecessary permissions, bundles nothing and is a single $4.99 purchase with no subscription.
What happened to Memory Clean 3?
FIPLAB renamed it Memory Meter 3. It is the same menu bar RAM monitor and cleaner, still sold and maintained under the new name.
Is Nektony's Memory Cleaner free?
Yes, Memory Cleaner itself is free. Nektony's paid product is a broader bundle called MacCleaner Pro, which includes the memory cleaner alongside other maintenance tools.