For a developer's Mac, the useful cleaners are the ones that know what Xcode, Docker and package managers leave behind, and tell you what comes back. DevCleaner for Xcode is free but Xcode-only. TidyDisk is free and open source. Shedi, Mole and CleanMyMac are paid; Shedi and TidyDisk send files to the Trash first. If you only want to look before deciding, diskreceipt or a disk analyzer like DaisyDisk shows where the space went.
I make Shedi and diskreceipt, two of the tools below, so weigh my pick accordingly. Every fact about the others comes from their own sites and repositories, linked at the bottom, checked on 21 October 2026.
The short answer
- Just look, free: diskreceipt in Terminal, or DaisyDisk to see it visually.
- Xcode only, free: DevCleaner for Xcode.
- Every developer cache, free and open source: TidyDisk.
- Every developer cache, explained item by item, files to the Trash: Shedi.
- Developer caches plus system maintenance and AI tools: Mole.
- Malware scanning and general Mac maintenance too: CleanMyMac.
Compared
| App | Price | Developer caches | Deletes to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shedi | $19.99 once (1 Mac) | Xcode, Docker, node_modules, 10 package managers, AI models | Trash |
| TidyDisk | Free, open source (MIT) | Xcode, Docker, node_modules, package caches | Trash where possible |
| Mole | $19 once for 2 Macs; CLI free (GPL-3.0) | Developer, AI and design tool caches, build folders | Permanent by default, Trash in Settings |
| DevCleaner for Xcode | Free, optional tip | Xcode only | Not stated |
| CleanMyMac | From $39.99/year, or $89.99 once (App Store) | Not listed on its product page | Not stated |
| DaisyDisk | $9.99 once, 5 Macs | Shows sizes; you decide | Permanent |
| diskreceipt | Free (MIT) | Every developer cache, read-only | Nothing: it only reads |
"Not stated" or "not listed" means the app's own page doesn't say, not that it's missing.
Shedi
Shedi is the one I make. A 10-second scan groups what it finds by category, largest first: Xcode DerivedData, archives and old simulators, Docker images and build cache (cleaned with Docker's own commands, volumes kept separate as your files), node_modules project by project, build folders, package manager caches, AI models, app caches and logs. Each item says what it is, whether it's safe, and whether it comes back. Only Safe items are pre-selected, and files go to the Trash.
Good to know: $19.99 once for 1 Mac, $27.99 for 2, $34.99 for 3, with a 14-day refund. macOS 15 or later. It isn't notarized yet, so the first launch needs Open Anyway once.
TidyDisk
TidyDisk is a free, open-source (MIT) SwiftUI app covering Xcode DerivedData and caches, simulator runtimes and device support, Docker, npm, pnpm, Yarn, CocoaPods, Gradle, Homebrew and SwiftPM, plus build artifacts like node_modules, build and Pods. It's notarized, sends deletions to the Trash where possible, and can run a weekly scan in the background.
Good to know: free, macOS 14 or later, brew install --cask prateekcode/tap/tidydisk.
Mole
Mole is a Mac maintenance app with a free open-source command line (mo, GPL-3.0). Its Clean tool covers app caches, developer, AI, communication and design tools, uninstall leftovers and System Data such as local snapshots; the CLI's mo purge removes build artifacts and dependency folders.
Good to know: the Mac app is $19 once for 2 Macs, with scanning always free and a 14-day refund. macOS 14 or later. Cache cleanup is permanent by default, with a Trash option in Settings.
DevCleaner for Xcode
DevCleaner for Xcode does one thing: Xcode's leftovers. Device support symbols, archives, DerivedData, documentation caches, and old simulator and device logs. It's free on the Mac App Store with an optional tip, and open source (GPL-3.0). If Xcode is your only problem, it's the simplest answer. See DevCleaner alternatives for when it isn't.
CleanMyMac
CleanMyMac is the best-known Mac cleaner, with malware removal and general maintenance alongside cleanup. Its product page talks about system junk in general and doesn't list developer-specific cleanup. As of October 2026 the Mac App Store lists it from $39.99 a year, or $89.99 as a one-time purchase. More in Shedi vs CleanMyMac.
DaisyDisk
DaisyDisk isn't a cleaner as such: it's a visual disk analyzer that draws your disk as rings so you can find what's big and decide yourself. It doesn't label developer caches, and it deletes permanently, so you need to know what you're looking at. $9.99 once for up to 5 Macs, macOS 10.13 or later, with a free download to try.
diskreceipt
diskreceipt is a free Terminal tool I wrote (MIT). It prints every developer cache on your Mac with its size, a safe, check or keep label, and the command to clean it. It never deletes anything, so it's a good first step before choosing any of the apps above.
$ brew install abdiraimov-otabek/tap/diskreceipt $ diskreceipt
How to choose
- Look first. Run diskreceipt or a disk analyzer and see whether Xcode, Docker or node_modules is the real problem.
- Xcode only? DevCleaner for Xcode is free and enough.
- Everything at once? Pick one that explains each item and uses the Trash: Shedi or TidyDisk, or Mole with its Trash option on.
- Leave Docker volumes alone unless you know what's in them: they hold data, not cache.
Sources
- TidyDisk on GitHub
- Mole
- DevCleaner for Xcode on GitHub
- CleanMyMac by MacPaw and the Mac App Store listing (prices checked October 2026)
- DaisyDisk
- diskreceipt on GitHub