Can I open-source CleanMyMac?
YES · mature open-source replacementYes. Mole (62k stars), Stirling PDF (60k stars), Flameshot (27k stars) are mature open-source replacements for CleanMyMac — self-host in one command and stop paying $3.33/mo.
People still pay for CleanMyMac because small utilities are technically reproducible, but customers pay for polish and immediate fixes when an OS update breaks a daily habit. The recurring cost buys permissions, accessibility APIs, sandboxing, signing, notarization, OS regressions, updates, backups, and support, not just the visible interface.
xOS-specific cleanup knowledge, malware scanning, updater integrations, and support
xyears of OS-version edge cases
xlarge extension ecosystem
xcross-device sync
xcommercial support and rapid compatibility fixes
These projects already replace it, free.
MMoleCleanMyMac in a terminal; previews, history, and zero pretty gauges.open source↗SStirling PDFWeb app with 50+ PDF operations — merge, split, sign, OCR, redact — all processed locally on your server.open source↗FFlameshotPowerful cross-platform screenshot tool with annotations and pin-to-screen.open source↗What each one is, in full: Stirling PDF · Flameshot
all 4 open-source alternatives to CleanMyMac →· no votes, no pay-to-list · just what's real
CleanMyMac pricing
| plan | monthly | annual (per mo) | what you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| subscription, 1 mac | $9.95 | $3.33 | Licence for 1 Mac. |
| one-time, 1 mac | custom | — | Perpetual licence for 1 Mac on the current major version. |
| subscription, 2 macs | $15.95 | $5.33 | Licences for 2 Macs. |
| one-time, 2 macs | custom | — | Perpetual licences for 2 Macs on the current major version. |
| subscription, 5 macs | $32.95 | $10.66 | Licences for 5 Macs. |
| one-time, 5 macs | custom | — | Perpetual licences for 5 Macs on the current major version. |
free tierno free tier
billingmonthly + annual + one-time; annual has a 30-day money-back period and monthly 14 days
hidden costsSubscriptions auto-renew at the then-current rate and include future major versions; one-time licences cover only the current major version, so a later major upgrade can require another purchase. Taxes are added at checkout.
verified 2026-08-14 · source ↗
Can I open-source CleanMyMac?
Yes. Mole replaces CleanMyMac today — self-host it on your own server or machine with no subscription. The full list of open-source alternatives is on this page.
How much does CleanMyMac cost?
CleanMyMac costs about $3.33/month (Plan for 1 Mac, checked 2026-07-31), which is $39.96 per year. That's what you save by replacing it with open source.
What do I lose by replacing CleanMyMac?
Honestly: OS-specific cleanup knowledge, malware scanning, updater integrations, and support; years of OS-version edge cases; large extension ecosystem; cross-device sync; commercial support and rapid compatibility fixes. If any of those are load-bearing for you, keep paying.
Is there an open-source alternative to CleanMyMac?
Yes: Mole (CleanMyMac in a terminal; previews, history, and zero pretty gauges.) Stirling PDF (Web app with 50+ PDF operations — merge, split, sign, OCR, redact — all processed locally on your server.) Flameshot (Powerful cross-platform screenshot tool with annotations and pin-to-screen.) All 4 curated open-source alternatives are at caniopensourceit.online/cleanmymac/alternatives.