Difference Between Mac App Remover And App Cleaner

Have you ever installed an app on your MacBook Pro only to find that it isn’t quite what you’re looking for? Maybe you just used an app for a while, but it’s no longer needed.

Whether you’re trying to save space on your hard drive or just want to get rid of bothersome app files, uninstalling these apps can be bothersome. Especially if you’re new to the Mac, the process of deleting unwanted apps can be confusing.

In this guide, we’ll show you some built-in, free, and paid methods for clearing up apps thoroughly; together with the pros and cons of each method.

App Cleaner for Mac is a simple application that uninstalls applications and all associated files. It is available from many download sites, although not from the App Store, and it installs easily. May 29, 2017  4. Although it sounds exactly like the previous app on our list, I can assure that “App Cleaner” is different. Apart from having ‘a space’ in the middle, there’s one key difference between both these apps, which makes this one better. Not only you can uninstall the current app, it can also scan for all the residual files. What is the difference between uninstalling a program through Control Panel, and uninstalling via the Program's uninstall.exe? Example: C:Program Files (x86)Notepaduninstall.exe In general, I read that it's better to uninstall a program via window's Control Panel.

We’ll also point out some additional features that will also free up space and keep your MacBook Pro from getting bogged down with old files.

1. Move to Trash

While you may have used the trash for standard files like old documents and images, the trash is a method of uninstalling apps on your MacBook as well. Here’s how to do it:

Cleaner

First, open Finder and locate the app you want to delete. Select it by clicking once, so that it is highlighted.

Then, press control + trackpad to bring up the supplementary menu. Here, you can select Move to Trash. Once you do, the application will be automatically moved to the trash and disappear from the Finder window you are viewing.

Once the application is in the trash, you can no longer use it. However, it is still taking up space on your computer until you empty the trash. To do this, open the Trash from your dock, then navigate to the top right corner of the window, where it says “Empty”.

Once you empty the trash, the window will close automatically, and you’ll have regained some valuable disk space for future use.

2. Uninstall Apps with AppCleaner

One software you can use to remove unwanted applications is AppCleaner. Because third-party applications distribute their files throughout your disk rather than storing them in a single location, you may accidentally leave chunks of the application on your Mac even after you think you’ve deleted it. AppCleaner will make sure to catch these extra files, even when you don’t know they exist.

Pros:

  • It’s completely free.
  • Extremely effective at removing hidden extra folders when you want to get rid of an entire application rather than just the surface level files.
  • Easy to use, simply drag unwanted apps into the window and let AppCleaner find all the files associated with it

Cons:

  • Downloading an app to remove apps seems a bit counterproductive.
  • Doesn’t have support/a help reference, but the app should be pretty easy to use anyways.

3. Remove Apps with CCleaner

Just like AppCleaner, CCleaner for Mac will remove hidden files associated with an unwanted app. However, it has a greater variety of features and tools. If you’re looking for something a wider set of abilities, this might be the more fitting app.

Pros:

  • Fast and easy application uninstaller for catching unseen folders.
  • Also includes general file cleaner for places where temporary files collect and eat up space such as Safari’s catch, preferences, and downloads.
  • Junk files can be scheduled for regular deletion so you can worry about more important tasks.
Mac app remover free

Cons:

  • If you want to access all the features, you’ll need to pay for the upgraded version.
  • Some users report complications when trying to select which files to delete and which to keep.

4. Via CleanMyMac Uninstaller

If you want a sleek, long-term solution to ridding yourself of unwanted apps and files, CleanMyMac X is a well-developed app that will keep your Mac in top shape. In addition to offering the smart Uninstaller that allows you to remove apps in batch and grabs hidden folders, it can also scan for junk files and securely delete sensitive files. Made by MacPaw, it’s an application you can trust to work smoothly and do exactly what it claims to.

Pros:

  • Smart uninstaller makes sure all files associated with a program are deleted and not left behind to take up space.
  • Clean out system junk and unnecessary files with tools to delete unwanted attachments or full caches.
  • Integrates with iPhoto (now Photos) to reduce space taken by photos on your Mac.
  • The combination of tools will help make any MacBook that feels sluggish get back to speed with very little effort on your part.
  • Plenty of support and help resources, an extremely clean interface for easy and intuitive use.

Cons:

  • Not a free software (though a trial version is available and allows you to remove up to 500 MB data), this is understandable given the breadth of features available.

5. Via MacBooster Uninstaller

Another great alternative for clearing out old apps and programs is MacBooster, made by IOBit. Besides removing apps from your MacBook, it also includes a built-in junk file remover and a duplicate file identifier. The duplicate identifier is especially useful because it can eliminate everything from double pictures to over-saved documents, among other files that can quickly add up over time.

Pros:

  • Clean and simple interface, intuitive to use.
  • Combines duplicate file searching program with junk file eliminator for the greatest level of excess file removal.
  • Can find unknown folders attached to unwanted apps and delete them to save you space and completely erase unnecessary files.
  • Optimize the memory on your MacBook and keep everything running smoothly with just one program, and keep track of everything with the menu bar widget.

Cons:

  • Excessive cleaning can be detrimental to Mac performance as your laptop rebuilds necessary caches it references frequently.
  • It’s not freeware, though a free evaluation version is available.

We hope this guide has given you an idea of the many ways you can rely on to keep your Mac clean of unwanted apps and make it run at peak performance even after long periods of use.

The built-in process of moving an application to the trash will always work, but if you want to go a bit deeper, all the apps mentioned above can fill in the gap and provide additional services.

Got an app that doesn’t seem to delete or keeps reappearing? You may have a virus or malware on your Mac – these are possible to accidentally catch on Mac and you’ll want to check out this article from MacWorld on how to remove them from your MacBook.

What’s your preferred method for removing apps on your MacBook Pro? Tell us more in the comments below.

Like any computer, your Mac needs some clean up work done every once in a while. Before downloading a Mac cleaner software however, you should know that some Mac cleaners can actually make your Mac worse, instead of better!

Some reasons that you should be cautious of which Mac cleaner you choose, include downloading a virus, installing a program that works improperly, or by downloading multiple cleaning programs that will just add to the clutter on your Mac’s hard drive.

Why do you need to clean up your Mac?

We get it, your mac isn’t the top performer it once was. That is a solid reason for getting a mac cleaner to restore past performance.

Another thing is to consider is privacy and protection. Do you have viruses or injections on your laptop? Yup, a legit mac cleaner will help this, too.

Getting a Legit Mac Cleaner.

By getting the best Mac cleaning software (and not just a “one trick pony” apps) you’ll be able to optimize, speed, protect and un-clutter your computer pretty quickly.

But wait… is Mac Cleaner even safe?

The short answer would be yes. Mac cleaner safe and it does work. This app just like Antivirus, Firewall or Speed-optimization software people are using for PC (Windows, eww)

The only difference that a good mac cleaner does it ALL in one program. No more installing 5 different apps, each for its own purpose – maccleaner does it all.

Why do you even need an Antivirus software?

Mac owners (or Apple fans) answer to this question is usually “No, I do not need an anti-virus program for my Mac, because Mac’s don’t get viruses”. Although it’s true that Mac’s do not get viruses as often as Windows, but they do still get them!

In fact, there are new viruses popping up every day (and malware programs), that are directly targeting Mac computers!

If your Mac got exposed to such a virus in any way, you’d be happy you got a real Mac cleaner (which includes an anti-virus program) that will either block the virus all together, or locate and destroy it before it harms to your files and passwords.

Best Free Mac App Remover

Keeping your computer protected from malware and viruses, is not something all Mac cleaning software programs include. Therefore, finding a reputable, good-quality Mac cleaning software that includes advanced antivirus protection is VERY important.

Final thing before you use a Mac cleaner: Know what you’re downloading!

By downloading a Mac clean up software, you could actually be downloading a virus or malware program to your computer. In fact consider the names of the four most popular Mac viruses: MacSecurity, MacProtector, MacDefender, and MacShield. Each of them sound as if they will be a beneficial Mac clean up tool, when in fact they are all viruses that will corrupt your Mac’s hard drive, and steal your personal information.

Difference Between Mac App Remover And App Cleaner Free

So what can you do to be safe? Just remember that like with any computer, you should only download what you know is safe. To avoid downloading bogus Mac clean up software, you should be sure that the program is one that is recognized via awards, and other acknowledgments, and promoted as a good Mac clean up utility, by those in the computer industry.

Mac App Remover Free

Another sign of a Mac cleaner that may not be what it says it is, is that it will be offered to you completely for free. Therefore, one should consider spending a few dollars on a good Mac cleaning software program, which will help them feel confident that it is a legitimate program, and company. Purchasing a safe, and reliable program that will do what you need it to do, is definitely worth the price.

Difference Between Mac App Remover And App Cleaner Download

Next step? Get your Mac scanned and cleaned up!

Difference Between Mac App Remover And App Cleaner Reviews

If, before reading this article, you never used a mac cleaner – please start using one now. We’ve already done the heavy lifting for you and after reviewing 23 different mac cleaners, we found the best, safe and legit software you should use in 2019. Read our review of MacKeeper here, the link to download it (completely free) is there too.