CleanMyMac alternative for developers: Shedi vs CleanMyMac

I make Shedi, so read this with that in mind. I've tried to only state what MacPaw says about CleanMyMac on its own site, support pages and App Store listing, and to say where I couldn't check something.

What does each app do?

CleanMyMac (by MacPaw) describes itself around several areas: Smart Care, which runs "five routines" in one scan; space cleanup; malware protection; performance optimization; app management, including uninstalling apps and updating them; clutter and duplicate removal; and cloud storage cleanup. MacPaw's site says it's notarized by Apple and requires macOS 11 or later. It's also available on the Mac App Store and through Setapp.

Shedi is a disk space cleaner and app uninstaller, and nothing else. It scans in about 10 seconds and groups what it finds: Xcode DerivedData, simulator runtimes and device support; Docker images and build cache; every project's node_modules; npm, pnpm, Yarn, Homebrew, CocoaPods, SwiftPM, Cargo, Gradle, pip and Go caches; app caches and logs; and large old files in Downloads, Desktop and Documents. It requires macOS 15 or later.

Shedi deliberately leaves out malware scanning, updating other apps, "speed up your Mac" tools and a duplicate finder. If you want those, Shedi isn't the app for you.

Shedi: the honest Mac cleanerEvery item says what it is, whether it's safe and whether it comes back. Only Safe items are pre-selected, and everything goes to the Trash first. $19.99, once.

Get Shedi

How do prices compare?

Prices as of October 2026, in US dollars.

CleanMyMac. MacPaw's support pages say it's sold three ways: a one-time purchase, an annual or monthly subscription, or through a Setapp subscription. According to MacPaw, the one-time purchase includes updates and fixes for the current major version, with future major versions at a special upgrade price, while subscriptions include future major versions. The MacPaw Store has plans for one, two or five Macs.

MacPaw's own store page didn't load for me, so these are the prices on CleanMyMac's US Mac App Store listing as of 14 October 2026:

The listing also includes 7-day trial options. MacPaw Store prices and plans may differ; check macpaw.com for current pricing.

Shedi. One-time purchase, no subscription:

Refunds within 14 days, no questions. See pricing.

So the honest summary is not "subscription versus one-time": both can be bought once. The difference is that Shedi costs less because it does much less.

Which is better for developer junk?

This is the reason Shedi exists. On my own MacBook, space kept running out for the same reasons: simulators, DerivedData, Docker and node_modules. Shedi looks for each of these specifically and tells you what each item is:

MacPaw's CleanMyMac product page doesn't mention Xcode, Docker or node_modules, and I haven't tested what its cleanup finds on a developer Mac, so I won't guess. If developer junk is your main problem, the fair test is to scan the same Mac with both and compare.

For a manual route, the guides cover Xcode, Docker, node_modules and every other developer cache.

How do they handle safety?

Shedi's rules, in its own words:

• Every item says what it is, whether it's safe to remove (Safe, Check first, or Your files) and whether it comes back.
• Only items marked Safe are pre-selected.
• Files go to the Trash first, so you can put anything back. Commands that can't use the Trash (like docker builder prune or xcrun simctl delete unavailable) are named on a confirmation sheet before they run.
• Nothing outside your home folder is touched, except through Docker's and Xcode's own tools and the app bundle you drag into the uninstaller.

This section only describes Shedi; for how CleanMyMac decides what to remove, see MacPaw's own documentation.

What about privacy?

Shedi has no account. Network traffic is the license check, update checks, and anonymous usage counts you can turn off. Nothing about your files leaves your Mac.

For CleanMyMac, MacPaw publishes its own CleanMyMac privacy policy; read it rather than relying on a competitor's summary.

Is either app notarized?

MacPaw's site says CleanMyMac is notarized by Apple. Shedi is not notarized yet: Apple Developer enrollment comes in November 2026, and a notarized build follows as a free update. Until then the first launch needs one "Open Anyway" (how).

Who should pick which?

Pick CleanMyMac if:

• You want one app for cleanup, malware protection, app updates and performance.
• Your Mac runs macOS 11 to 14; Shedi needs macOS 15 or later.
• You'd like a family plan for up to five Macs, or you already pay for Setapp.
• You want cloud storage cleanup or duplicate finding.
• You prefer an app with a long track record.

Pick Shedi if:

• You write code, and Xcode, Docker or node_modules are what fill your disk.
• You want to see what every item is, and whether it comes back, before anything is removed.
• You want files to go to the Trash first.
• You only want disk cleanup, and you'd rather pay $19.99 once for that.
• You want no account, and control over anything sent about your usage.

Or neither: if you only need to clear Xcode, Apple's own Components pane and DevCleaner are free. See DevCleaner alternatives for a fair look at the free and open-source options.

Sources

• MacPaw: CleanMyMac product page (features, system requirements, notarization)
• MacPaw Support: CleanMyMac purchase options
• MacPaw Support: Plans for multiple computers
• MacPaw: CleanMyMac privacy policy
• Mac App Store: CleanMyMac (in-app purchase prices, checked 14 October 2026)