CleanMyMac
Surface large files, caches, login items, and safe cleanup suggestions without deleting automaticall
The core loop is buildable, but a dependable replacement becomes a real weekend or multi-day project. For CleanMyMac, surface large files, caches, login items, and safe cleanup suggestions without deleting automatically. The hard boundary is os-specific cleanup knowledge, malware scanning, updater integrations, and support, plus os integration polish and maintenance.
Build verification: not recorded. How we judge buildability
What you give up
- 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
Why people still pay
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.
Your build guide
The stack, security requirements, and agent rules for a focused replacement.
Before you start
- macOS, Xcode and a selected deployment target. Ask for each OS permission only when its feature is enabled; code signing and distribution are separate release tasks. Only user-selected scan folders and an available Trash destination are needed; no full-disk cleanup privilege is required.
- Implementation components: Swift, SwiftUI and focused AppKit integrations for a macOS utility. SQLite or Codable files for local settings and history; macOS Keychain for credentials.
- Scope boundary: OS-specific cleanup knowledge, malware scanning, updater integrations, and support; years of OS-version edge cases
Use these project rules and optional skill references alongside the prompt. Review each skill before adding it to your agent; the AGENTS.md export includes the same guidance.
Optional external skill: swiftui-expert-skill — Build and review native SwiftUI views, state management, navigation, accessibility and rendering performance. Review its instructions and compatibility before use; it does not grant deployment, data-access or publication permission.
Optional external skill: swift-concurrency — Design Swift async tasks, actors, isolation, cancellation and safe data sharing, including Swift 6 migration. Review its instructions and compatibility before use; it does not grant deployment, data-access or publication permission.
Optional external skill: sharp-edges — Review security-sensitive APIs and configuration for dangerous defaults and easy-to-misuse interfaces. Review its instructions and compatibility before use; it does not grant deployment, data-access or publication permission.
Project rule — data model: user-selected scan roots, file paths, sizes, modification times and proposed Trash actions
Project rule — preserve this invariant: No automatic deletion, shell-built paths or recursive cleanup outside the selected root; recheck file identity before each move.
Project rule — acceptance evidence: A file changed since preview is skipped for review; cancelling a cleanup leaves all files untouched and an allowed move remains recoverable from Trash.
Implementation plan
Phase 1
Scope and fixtures. Implement this bounded workflow: Scan explicitly selected folders, group large files and cache candidates, and preview exact paths before moving approved files to Trash. Explain sync-folder consequences and leave system cleanup outside scope. Record prerequisites, select representative user-owned fixtures and document the unsupported features: OS-specific cleanup knowledge, malware scanning, updater integrations, and support; years of OS-version edge cases
Phase 2
Durable model. Model user-selected scan roots, file paths, sizes, modification times and proposed Trash actions Add migrations or a versioned document format, explicit validation, stable IDs and a visible import-error report. Preserve this rule: No automatic deletion, shell-built paths or recursive cleanup outside the selected root; recheck file identity before each move.
Phase 3
Complete the first useful path. Implement the workflow's input, review and output interface, with clear controls and explicit empty/error states. Keep UI state on the main actor, cancel obsolete background tasks, and avoid blocking system callbacks. Record only the selected feature scope, with clear retention controls.
Phase 4
Permissions and integration failure. Use user-selected folder access and resolve each exact target immediately before a confirmed move to Trash. Reject symlink/path escapes, preserve files changed since preview and keep a visible cancel control. Never delete automatically or request broad disk permissions for a narrow folder scan. Request integration credentials and permissions only for the enabled feature; show a disconnected state instead of mock results.
Phase 5
Portable handoff. Export settings and explicitly selected history without secrets. Preserve the last working configuration and provide a reset that does not delete user source files. Include setup, operating limits, fixture walkthrough and shutdown/restart instructions in the README.
Phase 6
Acceptance scenarios. A file changed since preview is skipped for review; cancelling a cleanup leaves all files untouched and an allowed move remains recoverable from Trash. Repeat the workflow after restart and with a denied permission or unavailable dependency; show recoverable failure rather than a success placeholder.
WORKING SLICE Scan explicitly selected folders, group large files and cache candidates, and preview exact paths before moving approved files to Trash. Explain sync-folder consequences and leave system cleanup outside scope. Build this scoped CleanMyMac-inspired workflow with a documented data model and visible failure states. Architecture - Swift, SwiftUI and focused AppKit integrations for a macOS utility. - SQLite or Codable files for local settings and history; macOS Keychain for credentials. Prerequisites and limits macOS, Xcode and a selected deployment target. Ask for each OS permission only when its feature is enabled; code signing and distribution are separate release tasks. Only user-selected scan folders and an available Trash destination are needed; no full-disk cleanup privilege is required. Outside this release: OS-specific cleanup knowledge, malware scanning, updater integrations, and support; years of OS-version edge cases Data model and correctness user-selected scan roots, file paths, sizes, modification times and proposed Trash actions Invariant: No automatic deletion, shell-built paths or recursive cleanup outside the selected root; recheck file identity before each move. Keep UI state on the main actor, cancel obsolete background tasks, and avoid blocking system callbacks. Record only the selected feature scope, with clear retention controls. Security and privacy Use user-selected folder access and resolve each exact target immediately before a confirmed move to Trash. Reject symlink/path escapes, preserve files changed since preview and keep a visible cancel control. Never delete automatically or request broad disk permissions for a narrow folder scan. Recovery and export Export settings and explicitly selected history without secrets. Preserve the last working configuration and provide a reset that does not delete user source files. Implementation order 1. Phase 1 — Scope and fixtures. Implement this bounded workflow: Scan explicitly selected folders, group large files and cache candidates, and preview exact paths before moving approved files to Trash. Explain sync-folder consequences and leave system cleanup outside scope. Record prerequisites, select representative user-owned fixtures and document the unsupported features: OS-specific cleanup knowledge, malware scanning, updater integrations, and support; years of OS-version edge cases 2. Phase 2 — Durable model. Model user-selected scan roots, file paths, sizes, modification times and proposed Trash actions Add migrations or a versioned document format, explicit validation, stable IDs and a visible import-error report. Preserve this rule: No automatic deletion, shell-built paths or recursive cleanup outside the selected root; recheck file identity before each move. 3. Phase 3 — Complete the first useful path. Implement the workflow's input, review and output interface, with clear controls and explicit empty/error states. Keep UI state on the main actor, cancel obsolete background tasks, and avoid blocking system callbacks. Record only the selected feature scope, with clear retention controls. 4. Phase 4 — Permissions and integration failure. Use user-selected folder access and resolve each exact target immediately before a confirmed move to Trash. Reject symlink/path escapes, preserve files changed since preview and keep a visible cancel control. Never delete automatically or request broad disk permissions for a narrow folder scan. Request integration credentials and permissions only for the enabled feature; show a disconnected state instead of mock results. 5. Phase 5 — Portable handoff. Export settings and explicitly selected history without secrets. Preserve the last working configuration and provide a reset that does not delete user source files. Include setup, operating limits, fixture walkthrough and shutdown/restart instructions in the README. 6. Phase 6 — Acceptance scenarios. A file changed since preview is skipped for review; cancelling a cleanup leaves all files untouched and an allowed move remains recoverable from Trash. Repeat the workflow after restart and with a denied permission or unavailable dependency; show recoverable failure rather than a success placeholder. Acceptance A file changed since preview is skipped for review; cancelling a cleanup leaves all files untouched and an allowed move remains recoverable from Trash. Use real source data or clearly labeled fixtures. Explain unsupported input and provider failures; do not fabricate analytics, delivery receipts, accuracy claims or security guarantees. Optional agent guidance Optional external skill: [swiftui-expert-skill](https://github.com/AvdLee/SwiftUI-Agent-Skill/blob/main/skills/swiftui-expert-skill/SKILL.md) — Build and review native SwiftUI views, state management, navigation, accessibility and rendering performance. Review its instructions and compatibility before use; it does not grant deployment, data-access or publication permission. Optional external skill: [swift-concurrency](https://github.com/AvdLee/Swift-Concurrency-Agent-Skill/blob/main/skills/swift-concurrency/SKILL.md) — Design Swift async tasks, actors, isolation, cancellation and safe data sharing, including Swift 6 migration. Review its instructions and compatibility before use; it does not grant deployment, data-access or publication permission. Optional external skill: [sharp-edges](https://github.com/trailofbits/skills/blob/main/plugins/sharp-edges/skills/sharp-edges/SKILL.md) — Review security-sensitive APIs and configuration for dangerous defaults and easy-to-misuse interfaces. Review its instructions and compatibility before use; it does not grant deployment, data-access or publication permission. Project rule — data model: user-selected scan roots, file paths, sizes, modification times and proposed Trash actions Project rule — preserve this invariant: No automatic deletion, shell-built paths or recursive cleanup outside the selected root; recheck file identity before each move. Project rule — acceptance evidence: A file changed since preview is skipped for review; cancelling a cleanup leaves all files untouched and an allowed move remains recoverable from Trash.
$ open in your agent (prompt prefilled, you press enter), copy the prompt or copy or download AGENTS.md
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CleanMyMac pricing
| plan | monthly | annual (per mo) | what you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| subscription, 1 mac | $9.95 | $3.33 | Licence for 1 Mac.$39.95 billed yearly. |
| one-time, 1 mac | — | — | Perpetual licence for 1 Mac on the current major version.One-time $119.95. |
| subscription, 2 macs | $15.95 | $5.33 | Licences for 2 Macs.$63.95 billed yearly. |
| one-time, 2 macs | — | — | Perpetual licences for 2 Macs on the current major version.One-time $191.95. |
| subscription, 5 macs | $32.95 | $10.66 | Licences for 5 Macs.$127.95 billed yearly. |
| one-time, 5 macs | — | — | Perpetual licences for 5 Macs on the current major version.One-time $383.95. |
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.
pricing sources checked 2026-08-14 · pricing source ↗
Questions about CleanMyMac
Can you build your own CleanMyMac with AI?
Partly. The core loop is buildable, but a dependable replacement becomes a real weekend or multi-day project. For CleanMyMac, surface large files, caches, login items, and safe cleanup suggestions without deleting automatically. The hard boundary is os-specific cleanup knowledge, malware scanning, updater integrations, and support, plus os integration polish and maintenance.
What does the CleanMyMac build prompt cover?
The prompt starts with this scope: Scan explicitly selected folders, group large files and cache candidates, and preview exact paths before moving approved files to Trash. Explain sync-folder consequences and leave system cleanup outside scope. Full-product capabilities excluded from the comparison include: OS-specific cleanup knowledge, malware scanning, updater integrations, and support; years of OS-version edge cases; large extension ecosystem. Follow the implementation plan and its prerequisites before expanding the build.
How do I use the prompt, AGENTS.md and agent skills?
Start with the CleanMyMac prerequisites and stack, then copy the prompt into your coding agent. Save the project rules as AGENTS.md in the project root. Linked skills are optional packages or source instructions for specific tasks; review their current contents and install only those matching the chosen stack. A skill does not supply API credentials or verify the finished app.
How long will this CleanMyMac project take?
The catalogue estimate is one sitting for the limited scope. Setup, integration approvals, debugging, deployment and ongoing maintenance can add time. This is an estimate, not a delivery guarantee.
What would I give up by replacing CleanMyMac?
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. 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.
What price is this guide comparing against?
The recorded Plan for 1 Mac plan is $3.33/mo (annual-equivalent), checked 2026-07-31. Check the linked pricing source before buying. Building your own also has hosting, API and maintenance costs; the recorded amount is not a guaranteed saving.
What can I use instead of building CleanMyMac?
Mole: CleanMyMac in a terminal; previews, history, and zero pretty gauges. OnyX: Twenty-three years of cache cleaning and maintenance controls, with considerably less hand-holding. Check each option's license, hosting needs and feature limits.