Appcleaner features simple drop and uninstall, like other uninstallers but also lets you browse through your programs, divided in applications widgets and others. This last one I really like as it shows all your plugins and components, which you normally have to go digging for in your library. Note that it will also take care of caches and receipts.

Appcleaner includes a search function to find applications faster, and I liked having the SmartDelete feature which will detect and trash related items. You can protect launched and default apps and 3D transitions and choose other ones you don't want to delete.

The only drawback in my opinion is the uninstall process, where you first have to search for the program, then uninstall it.

Apart from this minor issue, I think Appcleaner is an excellent uninstaller with both protection and smart removal, and surprisingly it's free! A must.

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With just a few simple clicks you can delete useless files that tend to mount-up and waste valuable disk space such as temporary files, disk images and all types of caches. CleanMyMac goes very deep so be warned that you won't even be able to see your "most recent" list in applications such as Excel and Word once you've used it.

CleanMyMac is clearly presented and its strongest point is that it gives you full control over what you clean. Only want to clean Firefox? No problem, CleanMyMac allows you to select only those programs that you want to clean. What's more, it also allows you to clean only those parts of applications that you want to - i.e. cache, language files and temp files. Be careful however when allowing it to clean language files that you may later need! Cleaning is quick and you're always updated on the status of the process with a status bar.

CleanMyMac is an elegant and excellent cleaning program which gives you maximum control over how you clean your machine.

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Magican performs maintenance and optimization of Mac OS X, removes duplicates to unnecessary translation files and binaries that take-up valuable disk space and In addition, it can uninstall applications and provide and can even generate a report of applications that are accessing the internet.

Although Magician is a very accomplished tool with a slick interface, it should also be used with care to prevent removing essential files. There's also no way of automating tasks which is a basic function in a maintenance tool like this. Magician is a fairly basic but useful and effective maintenance tool for OS X that will be particularly suited to beginners although it doesn't provide the kind of power you get in a program like Onyx.

Magican is a simple and efficient cleaning tool for OS X.

Download Magican 1.0.0 in Softonic

A number of developers have picked up on this issue (it's odd that Apple hasn't) and created applications that will fully delete all files associate with a program. AppDelete is such an app and a very good one at that too. Once AppDelete is installed, all you need to do is drag the program you want to remove onto its icon. Alternatively, you can selects Apps in the top right corner and AppDelete will reveal a list of Applications installed on your system. The search is very quick and takes just a few seconds.

Immediately, AppDelete will reveal the associated files that need deleting with the applications. These are normally receipts and library preference files. You can uncheck the ones you want to keep in the AppDelete window or remove them all. AppDelete also lets you keep a log of what you are removing. Its a good idea to save this file as you can use it for future reference in case of system problems and it turns out you've accidentally deleted an important file. There is an Undo feature in AppDelete too but it seems this only rolls back the last change that you made, not successive ones before that.

My favorite feature in AppDelete was Orphans. Orphans searches for files that are not associated with any applications anymore and have probably been left behind. I discovered a huge number of files using this that AppCleaner had obviously left behind. The only criticism I have is that there is no way to Select All which, if you're dealing with hundreds of files left behind, takes a long time to select them all. Cleaning though takes a matter of seconds.

Note that this trial is limited to a few uses after which you have to pay to upgrade to the full version. However, even if you don't choose to use it regularly, its very useful for removing orphan files as this can be done within the trial limit. Many users also report the developer is extremely helpful and responsive in case of problems.

AppDelete does a great job of removing files left behind when applications uninstall but beware that you may experience some problems with it when you restart your Mac.

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The first thing you notice from this version if you've ever used CCleaner for Windows is how many features are missing. The Uninstaller, the Drive Wiper and Tools section are all missing. Of course, some of these, such as The Registry Cleaner, aren't relevant to Macs anyway but its clear from the start that Mac users have a much reduced version.

In terms of browsers, CCleaner for Mac is strictly limited to cleaning Safari and Firefox - Chrome and Opera are not supported. It does, however, allow you to select exactly which parts of the browsers you want to clean (i.e. include or exclude, cookies, history, download history, etc.) In terms of hard drive cleaning, CCleaner for Mac supports cleaning trash, recent files and servers, cleaning of temporary folders and recent applications.

That's about it for functionality. There is a Preference option under File but its not accessible yet for some reason.

When it comes to actually cleaning, CCleaner is fast like the Windows version. There's no progress bar to tell you how things are going though if you Analyze or Clean - just a short pause and then a report of what's been done.

CCleaner for Mac is nowhere near as complete as the Windows version but as a one-stop cleaning tool for anyone that's familiar with the Windows version, it's worth installing.

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The first thing that struck me about AppZapper is that it looks very similar to AppCleaner, which, unlike this application, is free. The functionality is slightly different though as in AppZapper, you can drag and drop programs into the main interface to remove from rather than scan and select programs to remove as with AppCleaner.

When you drag and drop the files, AppZapper lists the associated files that you might want to delete with it. Click the 'Zap!' button to remove everything in one go. AppZapper isn't limited to applications either. It will also list all plug-ins and widgets and let you delete them with a click. Unlike AppCleaner, it also features a handy undelete feature just in case you've mistakenly removed a program and want to recover it.

The only downside of this program is that the latest version only works on Snow Leopard. However, we have provided a download link to version 1.8 for OS X 10.4 and 10.5 when you click download.

AppZapper provides an intuitive way of deleted any application and all associated files via a simple drag and drop interface.

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All you need to do is drag and drop the applications you wish to remove into the program's interface. You can also lock certain items, that you wish to keep.

The interface is clear and uApp is basic enough for anybody to use it.

You'll have to go fishing for these yourself, which can be pretty annoying, since components are usually hidden away in Application Support in your Library, if not in more places if its more complex.

Download uApp 1.3 in Softonic

Which is why if you've ever installed McAfee VirusScan (formerly known as McAfee Virex) on a Mac, you'll need this tool to remove it. For months, I had been mystified by a couple of processes labeled 'VShieldCheck' that were sometimes hogging up-to 30% of my CPU. A few Google searches later and I realized that these processes were associated with McAfee VirusScan for Mac which I'd tested and uninstalled a long time ago.

It turns out that McAfee VrusScan leaves these processes behind when you drag and drop it in the Trash. You have to remove it using the uninstaller which comes with the original download. However, I'd obviously deleted the original download a long time ago so my only option was to download it, install the darn thing again, and then use the removal tool to get rid of it once and for all. Even more frustrating, to download it again, I needed to sign up for a McAfee account!

So to save you going through the same ridiculous process to remove something that should never have been left behind on your Mac anyway, here you have the official McAfee VirusScan uninstaller. Make sure that McAfee Virus Scan is definitely installed on your Mac (if not re-install it) and then run the installer. It opens a dialog in Terminal where you have to enter your password. After that, removal takes just a couple of seconds and you're left with no nasty process remnants.

If you've been tearing your hair out trying to uninstall McAfee VirusScan or mystefied by a 'VShieldCheck' process, then this uninstaller is the solution.

Download McAfee VirusScan Uninstaller 8.6 in Softonic

dupeGuru Picture Edition is actually a spin-off from the excellent dupeGuru, a program designed for doing the same thing for music files so from the start, you know you're in fairly good hands when it comes to duplication apps. The other good thing is, it's also open source too so those with programming knowledge can modify it to their needs.

dupeGuru Picture Edition can detect image duplicates in most of the major formats, including PNG, JPG and GIF. It integrates with iPhoto so you don't need to go browsing around for images to scan. In fact, it can automatically scan your entire iPhoto library. Of course, you may not wish dupeGuru Picture Edition to detect certain images or file types and the preferences give you the chance to tweak it to your liking via the scanning engine settings. dupeGuru Picture Edition also supports PSD and RAW (CR2 and NEF) formats especially for the needs of Mac users.

As regards what to do with your duplicates, dupeGuru Picture Edition can either delete images instantly or move them to another folder. The program features a 'Power Marker' for adding extra annotations to duplicate files. dupeGuru PE isn't perfect, however. One of the problems is that it doesn't always detect duplicates, especially those that are not in any of the major formats. In addition, scanning still takes a long time especially if you've got a big library of pictures.

Most recently, dupeGuru Picture edition has gone through a major revamp of the interface making it much slicker. However, the developer should have concentrated on improving the speed of scanning as many users will find it annoyingly slow.

Overall however, dupeGuru PE is an easy to use and highly customizable tool that will eventually help clear your hard drive of unwanted duplicate images.

Download dupeGuru Picture Edition 2.2.1 in Softonic

The main interface supports drag and drop, so any installed application can simple be pulled into TrashMe. However, you can also list all your apps and check those you want to uninstall. By default, deleted things are sent to the trash, but you can choose to have TrashMe remove them from there too.

TrashMe is really effective when it comes to removing folders created by apps containing histories, preferences and temporary files. It leaves your Mac's hard drive cleaner and tidier than otherwise.

If you're looking for an app to help uninstall programs and clean up any files left behind, TrashMe is an excellent free option.

Download TrashMe 1.4 in Softonic

Normally, only the program package is moved to the trash which means that there can be many other files left behind that you're not aware of. Going through them or searching or them one by one is terribly time consuming and also an inefficient way of doing it.

Clean App works by listing all the applications installed on your hard drive and then shows you which folders, files and other components are linked to it. In the system preferences, you can also ask CleanApp to track track widgets, plug-ins, and screen savers associated with a certain program. One thing CleanApp is very useful for is removing language packs from applications which can take up reams of folders on your Mac. CleanApp is also easy to access via a useful dashboard widget to stop you having to go into your apps folder or cluttering your dock with it.

CleanApp is a handy way to get rid of residue files or those folders and remnants left behind by uninstallers.

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OmniDiskSweeper is fast, efficient and a great way to recover lost disk space. When you start OmniDiskSweeper, you're presented with a list of disks attached to your Mac. Simply double click on one, and a new window opens with a column view listing every folder and file you can access, which it sorts by size. The free space remaining on the disk and the re-ordering of folders are automatically recalculated as you delete old, space-hogging stuff.

In a glance, OmniDiskSweeper helps you identify the biggest culprits (such as Lightroom cached files) that are taking up valuable space. It must be used with caution however - once you hit the Destroy button, there's no undo button. Most recently, OmniDiskSweeper has been made free by the developers making it an even more attractive utility.

If you're struggling for hard drive space, you can't do much worse than free OmniDiskSweeper.

Download OmniDiskSweeper 1.7.2 in Softonic

Download Duplicate Annihilator 3.4.1 in Softonic

Mac Cleanse is a shareware program mainly focused on cleaning internet applications, like browsers. It provides a list of the applications you can clean, and clicking on a a name will open up a drop down menu of the elements you can check for deletion, such as cookies, downloads, or recent searches. The right side of the interface features an information panel with a description for the selected application, something which isn't really necessary.

We were a little confused by the way Mac Cleanse worked. The + and - buttons on the left won't let you add more applications to the cleanse list. Instead these let you create or remove custom selections of the applications in the list. The 'cleanse' button isn't very apparent either. You'll find it on the bottom right of the interface.

The good thing about Mac Cleanse though is that it lets you select and clean multiple applications quickly and safely, saving you lots of time.

Despite the slightly counterintuitive interface, Mac Cleanse is efficient at cleaning up multiple internet applications at once.

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FinderCleaner is particularly useful for external devices such as USB sticks that have .DS or Trash files on them that you can't remove normally. FinderCleaner cleans .DS_Store files, Resource forks, FBC files and .Trash files. In addition, it can be used to eject a volume in a cleaner way so that no new hidden files are created.

However, be careful when using it. Because it accesses system resources that aren't normally used, it requires your password to work properly. Users have reported that FinderCleaner has been detected sending data out from OS X which shouldn't be necessary at all. If you block this pinged data, the app seems to crash and the developer gives no explanation as to why it's necessary.

However, if you're not worried about security and really can't get rid of awkward files created by Finder, it's a powerful solution.

Download FinderCleaner 1.6 in Softonic

This nifty little application works very easily. Just drag and drop your removable media onto the interface and Curb will take care of removing the trash. A little progress bar will appear, showing you what you are erasing. Curb includes Secure Remove, of which you can select several options: single pass, 7 pass, 35 pass or zero out blocks after overwriting. Generally single pass is enough to safely remove all your trash, however if you are worried about your privacy you should turn to one of the other options.

Curb is really a great trash removal program, not only because of its simplicity but also thanks to the Secure Remove feature. In a sense, it's a shame that it's only built for removable media, as I'm sure it would also come very handy as a normal removal tool.

Curb is a simple, drag and drop trash removal tool for USB, with a good Secure Remove feature.

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Spring Cleaning for Mac reminds me of a cleaning tool for Windows that's been tastefully adapted for OS X. Installation is a bit annoying however. Because Spring Cleaning for Mac requires access to hard to reach system files, it requires you to log out and log back in again after installing.

When you open the application, you're presented with a wealth of cleaning options including Disk Image Finder, Image Finder, Widget Finder, Music Finder etc. All of these options target the specific file types they describe with the aim of cleaning-up or deleting those that you don't need anymore. Most of the options are self explanatory but some of them - such as Access Monitor and Poser File Finder, could do with a little bit more explanation.

When you click on any of the options, Spring Cleaning for Mac takes a while to search your system for the appropriate files. It seemed this search time was a bit longer than you'd expect to wait for in a cleaning app but the results are at least displayed and organized very logically and clearly. Along the top of the interface, a series of tabs allow you to Maintain, Exclude, Restore and Schedule cleaning sessions.

Most recently, Spring Cleaning for Mac has been enhanced by online backup integration courtesy of QuickBackup, a handy complete overview of your entire system with Magnifile and even the ability to upload and share files online with StuffIt Connect.

Spring Cleaning for Mac covers every possible cleaning angle although the slow search times and the installation procedure mean it doesn't score top marks.

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This valuable space can be recovered however using Trimmit! which aims to delete junk files, clear resource forks, strip universal binaries, clean out NIBs, strip debug symbols, compress TIFFs and remove foreign languages. It does with this a touch of humor too asking you only to "Drop your fat app in here. Gently" in the simple interface. Just drag your application that you want to trim from you applications folder and it will bring up a dialog indicating what you can remove.

Then click "Trimmit!" and you'll be presented with a Terminal dialog displaying the results. This doesn't really mean much and it would be more useful to know exactly how much disk space you've freed but you have to take Trimmit! at its word that it has trimmed off unnecessary files. It does make a backup copy too so if anything goes wrong, you can reverse it. Where it stores this backup is not clear - you would think that backing up the application would consume even more diskspace but obviously not.

Use Trimmit! with care however. Some users have reported that it has affected applications so that they don't open anymore so always make a backup.

Trimmit! is an excellent application for anyone that doesn't want to pay for a trimmer like Xslimmer, but wants to do away with bloated applications.

Download Trimmit! 0.95 in Softonic