MacPaw, the developer behind CleanMyMac, has added some new features to the tool. In the huge list of updates, however, we found something so impressive — Space Lens. It has been designed to help you clean up unwanted files from your Mac, but it’s different from other tools for the same purpose.

In this article, we will be talking more about Space Lens and how you can use Space Lens in CleanMyMac to remove unwanted files from your Mac. Before we get into the how-to part, let’s have a good look at what Space Lens can offer.

What is Space Lens?

Space Lens is an all-new CleanMyMac module that works as disk storage analyzer and optimizer. It means you can analyze your macOS disk and understand the files taking up space. In other words, CleanMyMac Space Lens is your answer to the question — where have all my storage space gone?

Simply put, Space Lens will help you see and clear out unwanted files taking up precious disk space.

How does Space Lens work?

Space Lens in CleanMyMac works the same way every other disk analyzer works. It will analyze your Mac disk thoroughly, find out which folders are taking up space, and show you the respective information. In case you are wondering what’s different, it’s the UI.

The biggest problem with disk analyzers is that they get really clumsy at times. They may have a GUI, but it isn’t easy to know which apps are taking up storage space. CleanMyMac makes all the difference here. The tool displays all the important information through an intuitive User Interface.

At a single glance, you can know which part of your computer is taking up all the space. Thereafter, you will be able to navigate and remove all the files. On any day, CleanMyMac Space Lens is better than the built-in macOS disk analyzer.

Yeah, you guessed that reason behind the name. CleanMyMac Space Lens lets you zoom into the disk and space. Awesome, huh?

Is Space Lens useful?

Do you love extra storage space on your Mac? If yes, Space Lens is super-useful on any day. If you do already have CleanMyMac installed on your Mac, it’s like a cherry on the cake, though. You can update the program to get the brand-new feature.

We also found that the Space Lens feature helps in quick decision making. Because it represents all data via Graphical Interface, you can easily decide whether you want to keep a particular file on the device. It makes everything easier.

Personal Experience: Space Lens is probably the feature I use the most on CleanMyMac. As I test apps and explore media, storage space on my Mac gets shrunk every day. After a few days, I have no idea where things are. The Space Lens interface is so good that I can make meaningful decisions in a few seconds.

How to use Space Lens to remove unwanted files?

Now that you are well-informed about the Space Lens feature, shall we check out the steps?

Step 1

You have to update your CleanMyMac to the latest version. If you are using Setapp, it will be automatically updated. In that case, you can simply open the CleanMyMac app from Launchpad.

Once you have opened the tool, go to the bottom part of the sidebar and choose Space Lens from the sidebar interface.

Step 2

Now, you can see the introductory screen of the Space Lens feature in CleanMyMac. As it says, Space Lens will help you visualize what is taking up your storage space and reclaim that space.

To proceed, you may have to click the Grant Access button. This means that CleanMyMac needs full access to the file system.

Step 3

To enable Full System Access, you have to go to System Preferences -> Security & Privacy -> Privacy tab and choose Full Disk Access section.

You won’t probably see any option out there. So, to add CleanMyMac to the section, you have to provide the system password. Click on the lock and provide the password.

Once you are done, click on the + button and choose CleanMyMac from the Applications folder. That’s it, it’s ready to roll.

Once you are back in the CleanMyMac Space Lens interface, click on the Scan button.

Step 4

In this step, CleanMyMac will build the storage map of your Mac. This means that the software will try to understand where you have placed your files and how much they weigh.

Wait for some time until CleanMyMac finishes the scanning process. This may take up to a few minutes, depending on your storage space. The process on my MacBook Air was done in a few seconds.

Personal Experience: It’s not that I haven’t tried other disk cleanup tools. DiskDaisy used to be a favorite of mine for this purpose. However, the sheer simplicity of CleanMyMac Space Lens requires some praise. So, when you prioritize ease of use, I will stick to CleanMyMac.

Step 5

Now, you can see the fully-fledged interface of the storage space analyzer in CleanMyMac Space Lens. As you can see below, the screen is split into two sections.

On the left side, there is a traditional list of directories, along with the size and number of items. On the right side, CleanMyMac shows a bubble-like cloud of directories. The size of the individual cloud depends on the size.

This means that the largest folder would be the biggest bubble.

Step 6

This step is easy. You can navigate through the whole file system by hovering over or clicking on the folders. The folders would open up the sub-folders, and you can go on until you find the final file.

If you want the traditional form of navigation, you can use the pane on the left as well.

Step 7

Now, after you have found the most space-consuming files/folders, you can easily delete them. Just pick the folders you want to delete using the right-click menu or from the left-side pane.

A ‘Review and Remove’ button would become active at the bottom. Click on the button, and CleanMyMac will start the cleaning process. There is also an option to review the selected files.

Note that CleanMyMac doesn’t remove system files for your Mac’s safety. That’s why some essential items are disabled, and you can’t select them for removal.

Personal Experience: One problem I regularly face with uninstalling apps is the presence of leftover content. However, when I use CleanMyMac and Space Lens, I don’t have to worry about application support files and cache. Considering that my Mac has 256GB of storage space, every GB that I save is precious!

Step 8

That’s it. In a second or two, CleanMyMac Space Lens would finish the file removal process. The whole thing is super-fast, and Space Lens would also show you a summary when it’s done.

The bottom line

That is how you use CleanMyMac Space Lens to remove unwanted files from your Mac. As you just saw, the process is super-easy and doesn’t take more than a few seconds. But, when compared to other tools for disk analysis, CleanMyMac does the job very well.

And, we would recommend CleanMyMac all the way more now that it has such a cool feature. I loved this feature, and it is completely secure. The tool understands which files are essential for your macOS system and what to remove.

Altogether, it’s great that you can now remove everything unwanted from the same space.

<p>The post How to Use SpaceLens in CleanMyMac first appeared on TheSweetBits.</p>

TL;DR: Space Lens Highlights

What’s New

According to MacPaw’s announcement, Space Lens was rebuilt from the ground up after being temporarily removed in earlier versions of CleanMyMac. The company said it wanted to “reinvent the feature with a better look and improved logic” and is “delighted to reintroduce it in CleanMyMac 5.”

Key updates include:

• A redesigned bubble map interface for clearer disk usage visualization.
• Improved scanning speed and accuracy.
• Enhanced safety mechanisms to avoid critical file deletion.
• Seamless integration with the newly unified “My Clutter” module.
• Support for system, user, and external volumes.

MacPaw emphasized that Space Lens helps users “analyze wha’s taking up space on a Mac at a glance” and remove unnecessary clutter quickly and safely.

What This Means

For users who’ve missed Space Lens since its disappearance, the return of this tool addresses a major gap. While CleanMyMac has always offered robust cleaning options, this module now brings a visually driven approach to identifying storage bloat.

It also reflects MacPaw’s responsiveness to user feedback—especially on Reddit, where multiple users expressed frustration over its removal. As noted in user comments, “The one good tool was Space Lens and now it’s gone.” Clearly, MacPaw listened—and acted.

What It Looks Like

The updated Space Lens visualizes your storage in the form of colored, proportionally sized bubbles—each representing a folder or file based on its size. Users can zoom into these areas, navigate deeper into subfolders, and preview or delete items with a click.

The tool also groups files into categories like Old & Unused or Large & Rarely Opened, helping users make smarter cleanup decisions.

You can scan your home folder, full disk, or any mounted external volume. After scanning, just click on any bubble to see detailed contents and remove what you no longer need.

How Does it Work (Testing Tool)

To see how well the updated Space Lens performs, we put it through its paces on a MacBook Air (M4, macOS Sequoia), loaded with a realistic mix of old downloads, creative projects, and cached system junk. The Mac had around 20GB of free space remaining—a perfect test case for cleanup.

After launching Space Lens from the CleanMyMac sidebar, we scanned the entire user folder. The scan was surprisingly fast, taking just under 10 seconds. Within moments, we were greeted by an interactive bubble chart that mapped out our disk usage by folder size—Documents, Downloads, Applications, and even obscure subfolders buried inside Library directories.

Highlight: Unlike Finder’s “Get Info” or even macOS’s Storage Management, Space Lens exposed hidden space hogs—like multi-gigabyte video render cache files from Final Cut Pro and large mail attachments tucked away in ~/Library/Mail.

Using the bubble interface, we could zoom in on any folder, drill down to the file level, and choose what to delete or review. One click opened the file in Finder, another sent it to the trash. Importantly, system-critical files were visually flagged as protected, avoiding accidental deletion.

We also tested Space Lens with an external SSD connected via USB-C. It scanned the external drive just as smoothly—revealing archived installers and long-forgotten media backups.

Also: How to Use SpaceLens in CleanMyMac

Why We Care

Macs are fast, but they’re not immune to clutter. Tools like CleanMyMac’s Space Lens help even non-technical users understand and manage their storage in a visual, engaging way. Its return is not only a win for usability, but also a nod to user-driven product development.

MacPaw’s decision to rebuild and reintroduce this tool reinforces the idea that Mac utility software can be powerful without being complicated. For those doing regular digital cleanups—or trying to avoid buying more iCloud storage—this is a feature worth having back.

Keep reading:

• CleanMyMac 2025 Update: Is It Still Worth Using?
• How CleanMyMac Helped Me Revive My Mac
• Best Mac Cleaners in 2025 (Tried & Tested)
• CleanMyMac vs Sensei: Battle of Mac Performance Tools

<p>The post CleanMyMac Revamps Space Lens for Enhanced Storage Management first appeared on TheSweetBits.</p>

But here’s the truth: even Macs slow down, crash, and run out of space—especially when junk files, app leftovers, and system clutter pile up.

Think of your Mac like a high-performance car. It needs regular tune-ups to stay fast and efficient.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to clean up your Mac—along with the best third-party Mac cleaner apps to help reclaim storage, boost speed, and keep your system running like new.

TL;DR: 2025 best Mac cleaner apps at a glance

• DaisyDisk for visualizing and removing files quickly
• CleanMyMac for comprehensive cleaning and optimization
• Sensei for system monitoring and cleaning
• App Cleaner & Uninstaller for thoroughly removing unwanted apps
• MacKeeper for automatic cleanup and real-time protection
• Disk Doctor Pro for disk space recovery
• OnyX for Mac for free utility with advanced maintenance features

What Redditors say about Mac cleaner apps

Before diving into our picks, we checked in on what real users in Reddit’s r/mac and r/apple communities are saying. Here’s what the crowd thinks:

• Less is more: Lightweight tools like AppCleaner and OnyX are community favorites.
• Skepticism toward paid tools: Many users are wary of “bloated” or overly aggressive cleaners.
• Built-in tools praised: Some say Apple’s own storage management features are all you need.
• DaisyDisk gets visual love: Redditors appreciate its simple drag-n-delete interface to free up space fast.

macOS tools vs. third-party cleaners

macOS has some solid cleanup tools built-in:

• Storage Management (About This Mac > Storage > Manage).
• Finder Smart Folders to locate large or duplicate files.
• Activity Monitor for memory and performance.

These are solid for basic cleanup, but they lack depth and automation.

With third-party apps, you can:

• Clean hidden system junk, old backups, email attachments.
• Uninstall apps completely—leftovers and all.
• Automate routine maintenance and scheduling.
• Detect performance issues early.
• Save you from manual file-hunting.
• Have safer cleanup options—avoiding accidental system damage.
• Often more cost-effective than upgrading to iCloud or buying an external drive.

Verdict? If you’re comfortable with DIY cleanup, macOS tools are fine. But for deeper cleaning, automation, and time-saving, the following third-party Mac cleaner apps are often worth it.

Evaluating and testing the Mac cleaner apps

In the past two weeks, we reviewed over 20 Mac cleaning apps for personal use. It’s a competitive market, but here are some critical questions when we consider a Mac cleaning app for this coverage, so keep these in mind when you choose one.

• Is the app intuitive and easy to use?
• Is the app secure and safe to use?
• Does it offer a free trial? And, not come bundled with other apps installation?
• What cleaning features are included?
• Is it priced reasonably with respect to the powerful features/functionalities we get?
• Is it compatible with the latest version of macOS?

We attempted to install the Mac cleaner apps on a test system with a representative amount of clutter (downloaded files, application leftovers, etc.), run a baseline benchmark to measure disk space usage and system performance metrics, and left them for a while so we could review the post-cleaning results, including available disk space and potential performance improvements. (Read the full rundown of how we select tools to feature on TheSweetBits blog.)

Based on that experience, here are the top apps we think work best for Mac users. Additionally, we’ve outlined the specific purposes for which each app shines.

DaisyDisk: Best for quick cleanup

DaisyDisk is our first recommendation if you need an app to clean your Mac quickly. It works great when you want to free up space on your Mac. But it works better when you want to know why you have insufficient storage on your Mac. Compared to the Storage Settings utility, DaisyDisk presents things more clearly.

Things we love

DaisyDisk is a beautiful yet powerful disk space analyzer that scans the drives on your Mac and gives you a visual overview of what’s eating up space on your Mac. It displays files in a pinwheel-shaped disk map, letting you quickly locate and clean up large files.

You can also use the built-in QuickLook preview to see what you might want to get rid of (you can also reveal the files/folders in Finder to take a closer look). But the good part is that DaisyDisk will warn you if you are about to delete something important to the system.

DaisyDisk also understands that you may have to remove files/folders from different parts of the file system. So, there is a collection drawer to which you can add contents. Then, once you review everything, you can delete everything in a single click.

Compared to the other space analyzer tools we have tested, DaisyDisk is pretty intelligent. For example, on top of showing storage space consumption, the cleaning app also points out free and purgeable space. It means DaisyDisk can help you revive space that other cleaning apps do not even bother about.

In the long run, using DaisyDisk to clean up storage space on your Mac is a better option than most forms of storage space upgrade.

What could be better

Even though DaisyDisk does an incredible job telling us how to clean up storage space on Mac, it doesn’t go beyond that point. For instance, you do not get actionable information about issues like junk files or residual stuff from the system or third-party applications.

It would also be great if DaisyDisk were proactive about interactions with system folders. At this point, there is a higher chance of interfering with system files. But, again, it is not desired when relying on a dedicated Mac cleaner app.

Pricing

On the bright side, DaisyDisk does not cost much. You can purchase a single license of the app for just $9.99, which is nothing compared to what other storage upgrade solutions cost. It also offers a 7-day free trial.

TheSweetBits verdict: If you’re a visual thinker and want to clean up space fast, DaisyDisk gives you a stunning bird’s-eye view of your disk usage.

CleanMyMac: Best for comprehensive cleaning

CleanMyMac has been our go-to Mac cleaning app for years, and we love recommending this app to our readers. But it does not stop us from objectively reviewing what this Mac cleaner can do. And after testing the latest version of CleanMyMac on macOS Sequoia we believe it deserves this top position.

Things we love

To keep things as simple as possible, CleanMyMac contains everything you need to revive your Mac and keep it that way. We are talking about a combination of system junk cleaning, anti-malware protection, and speed optimization. So, it checks all the boxes you expect from this cleaner app.

On the Cleanup side, you get dedicated cleaners for System Junk, Mail Attachments, and Trash Bins. These utilities ensure that residual/junk files do not take up your Mac’s storage space. Finally, when we come to the Protection aspect, you get malware removal and privacy enhancement utilities.

CleanMyMac also packs dedicated utilities to deal with speed optimization and maintenance. They do a lot of tasks that can take you hours if done manually. You can restore your Mac to the best state possible with a single click. We also loved the dedicated tools for uninstalling and updating your installed apps.

The cleaning app also takes care of large files on your system. For instance, you can use the Space Lens option to see how your Mac’s storage space is used. Similarly, the Large & Old Files utility will help you eliminate unused/huge files from the Mac. Finally, the Shredder utility comes in handy while deleting confidential data.

The best part is that all these utilities work hand in hand. For instance, you can use the app’s smart assistant to carry out all these tasks. Moreover, if you do not want to keep the fully-fledged app open, a simple menu-bar app of CleanMyMac will give you timely updates.

What could be better

While we love how comprehensive CleanMyMac is, we cannot say it is perfect. For instance, the malware removal utility cannot replace a fully-fledged anti-malware program. So, it is an area where we would like to see some improvement.

It is also true that CleanMyMac can be a little expensive for some people. It would be nice if the developers could decrease the price to an extent. On the bright side, you can get the CleanMyMac app as a part of the Setapp subscription, which means you spend only a fraction of the amount.

Pricing

CleanMyMac uses a freemium model, where you can try the app before unlocking all features. So, when you go premium, you can find plans starting at $34.95 per Mac. CleanMyMac also offers 10% discount exclusively for TheSweetBits readers.

TheSweetBits verdict: If you’re short on time and want a cleaner, malware scanner, and performance monitor in one, CleanMyMac delivers convenience—especially for non-techies.

Sensei: Best for system monitoring and cleaning

If you think CleanMyMac does not offer much information about your Mac while reviving it, you may like to consider Sensei. The app combines a powerful system monitoring tool and an all-in-one cleaning and optimization solution.

Things we love

When you get started with Sensei, it provides a comprehensive overview of your Mac. Depending on your machine, you can track the overall status of the SSD, RAM, CPU, GPU, and battery. Thanks to the intuitive UI throughout the app, you can understand if something is acting unusual.

But Sensei takes things further with the additional tool it packs. For instance, if you go to the Utilities section, you can find dedicated options to optimize your Mac, uninstall apps, clean junk files, or even trim your SSD. That’s right. If you have an old Mac with an SSD that could use the trimming feature, Sensei can help you.

You can also get an insane amount of monitoring data from your hardware components. For instance, there are dedicated sections for Storage, Graphics, Cooling, and Battery. So, if you want to know how much stress you are putting on your CPU or GPU, you can do it with Sensei.

More importantly, Sensei presents every critical piece of data simply. So, for instance, when you want to check the temperature of different system parts, you can see it in simple graphs. And if you want to keep an eye on what is happening with your Mac, you can keep the Sensei Monitor on your menu bar.

Overall, if you need a system monitor that also fixes many issues with your Mac, you cannot go wrong with Sensei. It is also great that Cindori, the developer, does a great job updating the app for the latest Mac desktops and notebooks.

What could be better

Even though Sensei works excellently with the latest macOS versions, we cannot say the same about backward compatibility. For instance, you cannot run this app on a Mac running a version older than macOS Catalina. So, if you plan to revive a considerably old Mac, you need something like CleanMyMac.

Similarly, although the cleaning options with Sensei are pretty comprehensive, you do not get many options for scheduling or notifications. It means you must keep an eye on where the RAM and disk usage are, for instance.

Pricing

You can download Sensei for free from the official website and use it for 14 days as a part of the free trial. After that, it costs you $29 per year or $59 (regular) per license, which you can use on up to three Macs.

TheSweetBits’ verdict: For users who want deep insights into their Mac’s performance alongside powerful cleaning and optimization, Sensei offers a great blend of system monitoring and practical utilities.

App Cleaner & Uninstaller: Best for app uninstalling

Sometimes, you do not need a comprehensive tool like CleanMyMac or Sensei. Instead, you need a more specific choice. In those instances, you can consider App Cleaner & Uninstaller by Nektony. This Mac cleaner app is designed to help you remove apps, system extensions, and leftover files.

Things we love

App Cleaner & Uninstaller by Nektony offers a few advantages of being a dedicated Mac cleaner for removing apps and extensions. Therefore, you get multiple sorting/filtering options in each section. For instance, in the Applications section, you can sort your apps based on size and usage.

On the other hand, when you move to Startup Programs, you can see a simple-to-edit list of apps you have set up for startup login. Editing these login agents using App Cleaner & Uninstaller by Nektony is faster and more efficient than going to System Preferences.

In the same way, you can deal with extensions and remaining files. These two features are great if you install too many apps on your Mac for work or personal use. In addition, the ability to remove extensions will help you keep your browsers clean and optimized.

With the correct permissions, App Cleaner & Uninstaller by Nektony can make things even easier by changing the default apps for different file formats. This task is usually tedious because you have to locate other file formats individually. But with this app cleaner, you can do it from a single screen.

What could be better

Honestly, we do not find anything problematic with App Cleaner & Uninstaller by Nektony. Judging it as one of the dedicated apps for removing apps, it does more than what it is supposed to. And the developers are great when it comes to keeping the UI and features up-to-date.

However, you may be disappointed if you expect App Cleaner & Uninstaller by Nektony to clean your entire Mac system. There are some areas where you need external help. For instance, the app does help you get rid of system junk.

Pricing

You can either subscribe to the app for $11.95 or pay $49.95 as a one-time purchase fee. Before you do either of these, you can use the app in the free trial mode for 14 days.

TheSweetBits’ verdict: If your primary need is thoroughly removing unwanted applications and their lingering files, App Cleaner &amp; Uninstaller is a highly effective, dedicated solution.

MacKeeper: Best for automatic cleaning

If you want cleaning features along with automation, you might want to check out MacKeeper. In many ways, MacKeeper is similar to CleanMyMac, but some of its features make it suitable for this position on this list.

Things we love

MacKeeper checks almost all boxes when considering the features you need for cleaning and speeding up your Mac. For instance, you can easily quit memory-conscious apps and remove system junk files. It also has a malware-scanning utility that works just fine.

This app does a great job of helping you stay away from annoying things like adware and pop-ups. And it goes a step further by monitoring potential data leaks. But, again, it is a feature we do not see on Mac cleaners. You also get a built-in VPN, which does an incredible job.

The app does not hold back in terms of cleaning utilities. For instance, you get a duplicate finder and a smart uninstaller. Similarly, utilities in the Performance section come in handy when freeing up RAM or updating all your apps.

In addition, you can use the MacKeeper cleaner app to stay on top of your digital life. There are a bunch of premium services that you may want to check out. And the tech support from developers is incredible on most days.

What could be better

While we appreciate the richness of features on MacKeeper, we did notice the lack of intuitive design. So, if you want to sit back and relax, the results from the app can be a little overwhelming. So, we would keep that in mind when buying this app.

Rest assured, MacKeeper does everything it can to ensure the best condition for your Mac. And it can be a good solution if you want to make the extra effort to keep your Mac that way.

Pricing

You can get the 12-month plan of MacKeeper for $7.49 per month. There is also a free version, but it does not offer many features that make MacKeeper different in the first place.

TheSweetBits’ verdict: MacKeeper is a solid choice for users seeking an all-in-one solution that includes automated cleaning, real-time protection, and additional privacy features like a built-in VPN.

Disk Doctor Pro: Best for disk cleaning

If you need a different approach to disk cleaning on Mac, we recommend Disk Doctor Pro from Fiplab. This cleaning app does many things that DaisyDisk does not, but you need to make some compromises. So, if you need more than quick cleaning, you should consider this app.

Things we love

The first thing we love about Disk Doctor Pro is that it offers a comprehensive disk cleaning solution. On top of helping you clean up storage space, this app can also deal with other elements like residual files, backups, caches, logs, system junk, etc.

Because it is the Pro version of Disk Doctor, a popular app from Fiplab, you can expect advanced control over your Mac. You also get to decide what you remove from the Mac. It is better than clicking a single button and worrying about what the app may delete.

We also loved the modern UI of Disk Doctor Pro. While it does not provide a graphical overview of how the system storage space is taken up, the UI is easy to navigate and control. You can also make use of filters such as unused applications and installer packages.

What could be better

As we said, even though we love the User Interface of Disk Doctor Pro, it does not quite cut it for advanced users. For instance, you need to use an app like Finder to understand where your most enormous files are located. Then, it simply lists the files matching the criteria.

It is also annoying that Disk Doctor Pro does not have a free trial. So, to even see how the app performs on your PC, you need to purchase the premium version. We would love to see a free trial option with the app. Even the non-Pro version of the app is premium.

Pricing

You can purchase Disk Doctor Pro for just $9.99 from the official website or Mac App Store. It does not have a free trial or free version, though.

TheSweetBits’ verdict: Disk Doctor Pro is ideal for users who need a comprehensive disk cleaning solution beyond basic space analysis, offering detailed control over removing various junk and system files.

OnyX for Mac: Best free cleaning tool

OnyX is a small and free utility that can verify your Mac’s startup disk, run a variety of system scripts for cleaning tasks manually and rebuilding your Mac. The developer offers specific OnyX versions for every major version of macOS. When a new version of macOS comes out, you have to revisit the OnyX site and grab the latest release. Every version is free and very small. So, you won’t waste space.

It’s handy for deleting caches, removing redundant and excessive files and folders, rebuilding databases and indexes, and making your machine run more smoothly and with added disk space. Just be careful playing with these settings. They’re helpful and can improve your Mac’s performance, but if you don’t know what a given setting is supposed to do, you’re probably best off not changing it.

TheSweetBits’ verdict: We think it’s excellent for tech-savvy and experienced Mac users to take significantly more time to get around and find what you need, then learn how to use it, but the result pays.

Honorable mentions

Here are the other Mac cleaner apps we tested for this review. Not every app we tested is listed here, but these are the ones worth mentioning.

CCleaner Professional

For years, the standard in PC cleaner software has been CCleaner. Now, Mac users can benefit from the experience that the Piriform developers bring to the table. CCleaner Professional is quick and easy to use the program, which speeds up your Mac and secures it. Although CCleaner has a free version, there are only some basic features aimed at a faster Mac and privacy protection.

At the premium level with a price of $24.95, you have Automatic Clutter/Browser Cleaning, Duplicate/Large file Cleaning, App Uninstalling, and what they call “Bad Photos Remove Support”. These five cleaning options inside CCleaner can help you remove junk files, trash files, unused data, unwanted files, and software

Though CCleaner Professional has many helpful features, it lacks some options. For instance, it always stays as a simple tool for cleaning temporary files and internet cache.

MacBooster

MacBooster from IObit is a powerful Mac maintenance tool for cleaning up Mac computers and offers proper functionality for its class. MacBooster and Mackeeper have quite similar functionality, offering users several cleaning options and tools: system cleanup, finding duplicates, deleting large files, uninstalling applications, protecting your Mac from virus and malware, etc.

Start by clicking Clean and Boost, for example, and four sections – Internet Security, System Cleanup, System Optimization, and Disk Clean – are scanned for errors, threats, and redundant files. After a quick review, you can simply click the Fix button and proceed. We also liked MacBooster’s performance boost tool, which shuts down low-level services to speed up your Mac further.

MacBooster gives the 14-day trial a whirl, but the trial version of this app can only complete the preliminary steps of each function.  After that, it requires a $2.49/month subscription.

Cleaner One Pro

Cleaner One Pro (formerly known as Dr. Cleaner) does many things that DaisyDisk does not, but you need to make some compromises. So, if you need more than quick cleaning, you may consider this app.

Because it is the Pro version of Dr. Cleaner, a popular app from Trend Micro, you can expect advanced control over your Mac. It deals with other elements like big files, duplicates, app manager, etc. You also get to decide what you remove from the Mac. It is better than clicking a single button and worrying about what the app may delete.

Even though we love the quick cleanup, it does not quite cut it for advanced users. For instance, you need to use an app like Finder to understand where your most enormous files are located. Then, it simply lists the files matching the criteria.

You can purchase Cleaner One Pro for $19.99 from the official website or download it from Mac App Store for free.

Disk Diet

Disk Diet is a tool that automatically scans your Mac’s storage drive and cleans it by deleting all trash files. You don’t have to do a thing. The app will automatically look through the cache and the drive to keep it clean and optimized.

The UI is minimal, and you don’t even have a clear breakdown of the storage space. It features a one-click optimization tool, and you can clean all the trash by just clicking the “Diet” button. Of course, we have included Disk Diet as a limited alternative only. It cannot be compared to DaisyDisk or CleanMyMac on any day. But, if you prefer a tiny tool, Disk Diet helps you with the baby steps.

Disk Diet is a paid Mac app with a price tag of $5. It also offers a limited free trial version that helps you clear 500 MB of trash files.

Hyperspace

This utility takes a different approach to reclaiming disk space by leveraging APFS (Apple File System) technology. Instead of deleting files, Hyperspace identifies duplicate files and optimizes storage by creating “clones” that share the same data while maintaining separate metadata. This non-destructive process ensures that your files remain fully accessible and intact.

Hyperspace is ideal for users who want to save space without risking data loss, especially those with large media libraries or older Macs.

It’s available for a free scan, with pricing options starting at $9.99/month.

OmniDiskSweeper

OmniDiskSweeper is a free disk space analyzer for macOS, developed by The Omni Group. With its simple interface resembling the macOS Finder, the tool lets you view files sorted by size, starting from the largest, making it easy to identify storage hogs.

The app efficiently scans internal and external drives, as well as network volumes, to locate large files. You can easily delete unwanted files with a single click of the “Delete” button, but the software also provides warnings when attempting to delete files critical to macOS or installed applications.

OmniDiskSweeper is completely free to download and use, but it might lack some of the polish or advanced options found in paid alternatives.

FAQs

Are Mac cleaner apps safe to use?

While we cannot talk about all Mac cleaner apps out there, the Mac cleaning software we have recommended on this list are 100% safe to use. We have personally tested these apps and have been using them for months, if not years. So, you do not have to worry about security while choosing any of these apps.

Do I really need a Mac cleaner?

Just like Windows, macOS also generates temporary/junk files over time. If you use your Mac for simple tasks like web browsing or checking email, this won’t be a problem. If you use your Mac for intensive tasks like development, software testing, video editing, or research, you need one of the best Mac cleaner apps.

Does Mac have a system cleanup?

Mac’s got your back on that system cleanup!  First, tackle storage with “Optimize Storage” (Apple logo > About This Mac > Storage > Manage) – it frees up space by offloading dusty files and rarely used apps. Feeling brave? Dive into “Delete System Data” and safely remove temporary caches and leftovers. Spotlight’s your cleanup buddy too – use it to hunt down forgotten apps, bulky files, and pesky duplicates. For resource hogs, Activity Monitor (Applications > Utilities) lets you identify and shut them down with a click. Need to go deeper? Advanced users can access the Library folder (Finder > Go > Go to Folder) to manually remove app leftovers. Remember, backup before any major cleaning adventure!

What is the best free Mac cleaner?

You have a number of options when you need a free Mac cleaning software, including Onyx, CCleaner Free for Mac, App Cleaner, and Disk Doctor. You can also use the Storage Optimization feature on macOS. But we think Onyx remains the best free Mac cleaner if you do not want to pay.

How to choose the best cleaner for Mac?

As you can see, these Mac cleaners above can help your Mac in different ways. And all of them allow you to keep your Mac running the best way possible. However, depending on your needs and technical expertise, you may need only one.

For instance, Macpaw CleanMyMac remains the best choice for most people. The comprehensive cleaning app has what it takes to keep your Mac clean and optimized. In addition, you do not have to worry about mechanic tasks thanks to scheduling options.

On the other hand, if you want more system info, you may want to go for Sensei. Other options like Nektony App Cleaner & Uninstaller and MacKeeper are great options if you are specific about the features you need in a cleaning app. For users looking to reclaim disk space without deleting files, newer tools like Hyperspace offer innovative solutions using APFS technology.

* Readers like you help support TheSweetBits. When you buy something through the links in this article, we may get a small commission at no extra charge to you.

<p>The post Best Mac Cleaners in 2025 (Tried & Tested) first appeared on TheSweetBits.</p>

Latest macOS version: macOS 15 Sequoia

Released in September 2024, macOS 15 Sequoia is Apple’s most advanced macOS yet, packed with AI-powered tools and seamless cross-device integration.

Key Features:

• Apple Intelligence: AI-driven features like summarizing documents, generating images from text prompts, and enhanced Siri natural language understanding. (Requires Apple Silicon M1 or later.)
• iPhone Mirroring: Control your iPhone directly from your Mac, even when the phone is locked.
• Passwords App: A dedicated app to manage passwords and Wi-Fi credentials securely, with iCloud syncing and potential Windows support.
• Interactive Desktop Widgets: Place and interact with widgets anywhere on your desktop for quick access.
• Unified Notifications: iPhone notifications appear seamlessly on your Mac.
• Enhanced Privacy & Performance: Optimized for Apple Silicon chips (M1, M2, M3, M4), with improved battery management and privacy controls.
• Messaging Enhancements: Support for bold/italic text, tapbacks, scheduled messages, stickers, and animated effects.

Impact: macOS Sequoia pushes the Mac ecosystem forward with smart automation and tighter integration, making it ideal for users with Apple Silicon Macs who want the latest AI features.

A quick look: all major macOS versions until 2025

The best macOS version: Sequoia

Choosing the “best” macOS depends on your Mac model and workflow. If you’re on Apple Silicon, macOS Sequoia is a top-tier pick thanks to:

• Its AI-driven assistant tools
• Enhanced productivity features
• Seamless iPhone integration

On a side note, for Intel Macs, macOS 11 Big Sur still holds strong as a stable and performance-friendly version with modern design and key security upgrades.

The worst macOS version: macOS Catalina

While it introduced many security upgrades and broke from 32-bit apps, Catalina remains one of the most criticized versions:

• Dropped 32-bit app support without transitional options
• App permission issues and privacy prompts were overwhelming
• iTunes was split into 3 apps, confusing many users
• Reports of instability and performance drops

Catalina may have paved the way for future improvements, but its rollout was rocky for many.

How to choose the right macOS version

• On Apple Silicon? Stick with Sequoia, Sonoma, or Ventura for the best performance.
• Need maximum stability? Monterey or Big Sur are proven and reliable.
• On older Macs? Mojave or High Sierra offer good compatibility and legacy support.

Always check your Mac’s compatibility using Apple’s official list.

How to check which macOS version you have?

Not sure which macOS version is installed on your Mac? There are two main ways to check your macOS version: using the graphical interface or the Terminal.

1. Check macOS Version Using the Graphical Interface (About This Mac)

This is the easiest and most common method, suitable for all users:

• Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen.
• Select About This Mac from the dropdown menu.

A window will appear showing:

• The macOS name (e.g., Sonoma, Sequoia) at the top.
• The version number below the name (e.g., 14.5, 15.0).
• Your Mac model and chip type (Apple Silicon M1/M2/M3/M4 or Intel).

This window also provides quick access to Software Update if you want to check for or install the latest macOS version.

2. Check macOS Version Using the Terminal

For power users or those comfortable with command-line tools, the Terminal provides a quick way to check detailed macOS version information:

• Open Terminal (found in Applications > Utilities or search via Spotlight).
• Type the following command and press Enter: sw_vers

The output will display three pieces of information:

• ProductName: macOS
• ProductVersion: 15.0
• BuildVersion: 24A335

Here, ProductVersion shows the exact macOS version number. Note that this command does not show the marketing name (like “Sequoia” or “Sonoma”), only the version number.

You can also get just the major and minor version (e.g., 15.0) with: sw_vers -productVersion | cut -d ‘.’ -f 1,2

Additional Tips

The macOS version number follows a major.minor.patch format. For example, in version 14.5.1:

• 14 = major version (Sonoma)
• 5 = minor update
• 1 = patch or security update

If you want to check for available macOS updates via Terminal, use: softwareupdate -l

To install updates via Terminal, use: sudo softwareupdate -i -a

How to upgrade or clean install macOS

Upgrading macOS

• Back up your data using Time Machine or another backup method.
• Open System Settings > General > Software Update.
• If an update is available, click Download and Install.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the upgrade.

Clean Install (Fresh Start)

A clean install erases your Mac and installs a fresh copy of macOS. This can solve persistent issues or improve performance. Steps:

• Back up your Mac thoroughly.
• Create a bootable USB installer for the desired macOS version (see Apple’s official guide).
• Restart your Mac and hold the Option (⌥) key during startup.
• Select the USB installer from the boot menu.
• Open Disk Utility and erase your startup disk.
• Install macOS from the USB installer.

Warning: Clean installs delete all your data. Make sure your backup is complete.

What if your Mac can’t run the latest macOS?

If your Mac is too old to support Sequoia or Sonoma, don’t worry. You can continue using the latest compatible version for your hardware, such as Mojave, High Sierra, or Catalina, but be aware that older versions may no longer receive security updates.

Advanced option: Some users use community tools like OpenCore Legacy Patcher to install newer macOS versions on unsupported Macs. This is not officially supported by Apple and can be risky.

Troubleshooting macOS upgrades

Not enough free space?
Free up storage by deleting large files or moving data to an external drive.

Installer won’t launch?
Check your Mac’s date and time settings, and try re-downloading the installer.

Mac stuck on black screen during install?
Reset NVRAM or try booting in Safe Mode (hold Shift during startup).

Slow upgrade process?
Ensure a stable internet connection and avoid using your Mac during installation.

For detailed fixes, see our macOS upgrade troubleshooting guide.

macOS version FAQs

Is there any difference between Mac OS X and macOS?

“OS X” was the name Apple used for its Mac operating system versions from 2001 to 2016. Starting with macOS Sierra (10.12), Apple rebranded it to “macOS” to align with its other OS names like iOS and watchOS.

How do I know if I’m running the latest macOS?

Go to Apple menu > About This Mac > Software Update. It will show if you have the latest version or if an update is available.

Which macOS version is the fastest?

For older Macs, macOS High Sierra or Mojave are known for speed. On Apple Silicon Macs, Sonoma and Sequoia offer the fastest and most optimized experience due to better hardware integration and AI enhancements.

Will my Mac run macOS Sequoia?

macOS Sequoia is compatible with most Macs released from 2018 onward. Officially supported models include:

• iMac (2019 and later)
• iMac Pro (2017)
• Mac Pro (2019 and later)
• Mac mini (2018 and later)
• MacBook Air (2020 and later)
• MacBook Pro (2018 and later)
• Mac Studio (2022 and later)

Both Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3, M4) and select Intel-based Macs are supported. You can check your model by going to Apple Menu > About This Mac.

How do I update to the latest version of macOS?

Head to System Settings > General > Software Update, and click Update Now. For major upgrades, ensure your Mac is compatible and backed up.

What is the oldest macOS that’s still supported?

As of 2025, macOS Monterey (12) is the oldest version still receiving security updates from Apple. Catalina (10.15) and older versions are no longer officially supported.

What version of macOS is no longer supported?

Anything below macOS Big Sur (11) is considered legacy and no longer receives security updates. Using these could expose your Mac to vulnerabilities.

Why should you keep macOS updated?

Updating ensures:

• Better security with the latest patches
• Compatibility with apps
• Improved performance and stability
• Access to new features like iPhone Mirroring or Apple Intelligence

Are macOS updates free?

Yes, most macOS updates are available for free to download and run. Major updates, on the other hand (such as upgrading from mac operating system Monterey (12) to mac operating system 15 Sequoia), may necessitate a significant amount of storage space and may take some time to download and install.

Is it possible to continue using an earlier version of macOS?

Certainly, if your Mac hardware supports it, you can still use an earlier version of macOS. However, Apple may discontinue offering security upgrades and bug fixes for older mac operating system versions, possibly leaving them susceptible to security risks.

Can I install macOS on any Mac?

No. Each macOS version supports specific Mac models. Older Macs may not support the latest versions due to hardware limitations. Always check compatibility before upgrading.

Can I downgrade macOS if I don’t like the new version?

Yes, but downgrading requires erasing your Mac and reinstalling an older macOS version. Always back up your data before attempting.

How often does Apple release new macOS versions?

Apple typically releases a major new macOS version annually, usually in the fall, alongside new hardware announcements.

Is it safe to upgrade to the latest macOS right away?

While most upgrades are smooth, it’s wise to wait a few weeks after release to ensure any bugs are fixed. Always back up your data before upgrading.

Can I run Windows or Linux alongside macOS?

Yes. Macs support dual-booting or virtualization software like Parallels Desktop, allowing you to run Windows or Linux alongside macOS.

Final thoughts: the ever-improving macOS

macOS continues to evolve toward a smarter, more unified, and privacy-focused experience. Whether you’re looking for peak performance, modern features, or compatibility with your existing setup, knowing the full macOS landscape helps you make the right upgrade choice.

At TheSweetBits, we spotlight hidden gems and tools that shine brightest on the best versions of macOS. Stay tuned for app recommendations, optimization tips, and AI-powered enhancements to keep your Mac experience smooth and powerful.

Related reads:

• Best Mac System Monitor Apps
• macOS Upgrade: Not Enough Free Space Fix
• Best Mac Optimization Software for 2025
• The Ultimate Guide to Mac Backup

<p>The post macOS Versions: Full List, Latest Updates & Best Choice first appeared on TheSweetBits.</p>

Let’s dive into what’s new, what’s improved, and whether it’s still worth having on your Mac.

What’s new in CleanMyMac 2025?

MacPaw dropped the “X” from the name and rolled out a redesigned interface that feels lighter, more modern, and more aligned with macOS Sequoia’s aesthetic.

Key additions:

• Mac Health Score: A new, at-a-glance metric showing overall Mac performance and security.
• Duplicate File Finder: Helps clean out space-hogging clones that are otherwise tedious to track manually.
• Streamlined Smart Scan: Now faster and smarter at detecting junk, potential threats, and performance issues.

What’s gone?

• The File Shredder tool didn’t make the cut in version 5, which may disappoint some privacy-focused users.

Verdict on the update? A welcome refresh. The UI is cleaner and more intuitive, and the new features add real value—especially for users who want less manual maintenance and more automation.

Core features that still shine

Despite the update, CleanMyMac retains its signature modular approach:

• System Junk Cleanup: Frees up gigabytes of hidden files, app leftovers, and system clutter.
• Malware Protection: Powered by Moonlock, CleanMyMac now includes robust scanning and threat removal, along with privacy auditing tools.
• Performance Boosters: Maintenance scripts, login item managers, and background task control help reclaim system resources.
• App Manager: Easily uninstall or update apps, even those installed outside the App Store.
• My Clutter: Locate and remove large or duplicate files eating up your SSD.

Combined, these features make CleanMyMac more than just a cleaner—it’s a well-rounded optimization suite.

What’s Next for CleanMyMac

MacPaw isn’t slowing down. Their mission to empower Mac users continues, and future updates to CleanMyMac are focused on making digital life even more organized, clutter-free, and secure.

Here’s a sneak peek at what’s in development:

• Space Organization & Cleanup: Smarter tools to help you manage storage with more precision.
• Advanced File Search & Management: Find what you need faster, and handle it more efficiently.
• Photo, Video & Screenshot Cleanup: Automatically detect and clean up redundant or bloated media files.

These upcoming features aim to make CleanMyMac not just a cleaning utility—but a full-fledged digital management assistant.

macOS Sequoia: do you still need CleanMyMac?

Short answer? Yes—if you want more control and automation than Apple’s built-in tools provide.

macOS Sequoia (version 15) is one of the most crucial releases of macOS version we’ve seen in years. It brings a redesigned UI, performance improvements, and smarter system tools. But while Apple has added polish and power to macOS, some things remain unchanged under the hood.

Everyday usage still leads to clutter:

• Browsers like Chrome continue to leave behind cache files and web cookies.
• Uninstalled apps can leave behind orphaned files and logs.
• System junk, crash reports, and old backups accumulate—especially on Macs used for creative work, testing, or heavy multitasking.

Related: How to Fix Slow Mac After new macOS Update

Yes, macOS Sequoia has improved, but it still lacks:

• One-click cleaning
• Malware scanning
• App leftover removal
• A Mac Health Score
• Menu bar monitoring
• Automated maintenance tasks

CleanMyMac fills in all these gaps, making it an ideal companion for Sequoia-powered Macs. And MacPaw has updated the app to align well with Sequoia’s look, feel, and performance standards.

So if you want deeper cleaning, smarter optimization, and more control than what’s built into macOS, CleanMyMac is still very much worth having on your dock in 2025.

Real-world use: does it actually help?

In daily use, CleanMyMac continues to impress:

• Startup is faster, especially on older Intel Macs.
• Free space was reclaimed easily, often several gigabytes after a single scan.
• The menu bar tool is genuinely useful—it gives live readouts of RAM, CPU, network, and more.

Whether you run CleanMyMac on an M2 MacBook or a 2017 Mac mini, the experience is snappy and non-intrusive. And for those wondering—CleanMyMac doesn’t hog system resources. You can disable background monitors if preferred, and the app stays lightweight in most workflows.

Is it safe and trustworthy?

Yes—CleanMyMac is:

• Apple-notarized
• Built with GDPR compliance
• Uses a Safety Database to ensure important files aren’t mistakenly deleted.

MacPaw also has a strong privacy policy and doesn’t harvest your personal data.

Pricing and availability in 2025

CleanMyMac isn’t free, but it offers flexible pricing:

• $39.95/year for a single Mac
• $89.95 one-time license
• Setapp availability, if you’re subscribed to the app bundle

There’s also a 7-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free.

MacPaw also offers CleanMyMac Business, a solution designed for small and medium-sized businesses and managed service providers. It brings centralized Mac maintenance, malware protection, and fleet-wide health monitoring—all powered by the same technology behind CleanMyMac.

MacPaw: a developer worth supporting

Beyond CleanMyMac, MacPaw has become a leading voice in the macOS software ecosystem. Headquartered in Ukraine, the team has built a reputation not just for clean, user-friendly utilities—but for thoughtful, ethical software development.

In 2025, MacPaw was named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies—a recognition of their commitment to user-first design, privacy, and purposeful innovation.

But their impact goes beyond product innovation. Through the MacPaw Foundation, the company has raised over $12 million to support humanitarian and recovery efforts in Ukraine, including rebuilding access to education in war-affected areas.

Their dedication to users and community alike makes MacPaw a developer truly worth rooting for.

Final verdict: is CleanMyMac still worth it in 2025?

Yes, especially if:

• You want to keep your Mac running like new.
• You prefer an all-in-one utility over a collection of separate tools.
• You value great UI and automation.
• You’re running macOS Sequoia or earlier and need advanced cleanup, app removal, or malware protection.

It might not be for you if:

• You only use your Mac for browsing and email.
• You’re comfortable using free tools and Terminal commands.
• You want hyper-specific apps for each use case.

TL;DR

CleanMyMac is a thoughtful update that modernizes the app without dumbing it down. It’s still one of the most comprehensive Mac utilities available, and in 2025, it continues to justify its spot in your Applications folder.

* Readers like you help support TheSweetBits. When you buy something through the links in this article, we may get a small commission at no extra charge to you.

<p>The post CleanMyMac 2025 Update: Is It Still Worth Using? first appeared on TheSweetBits.</p>

But when you think about it, MacBooks and other Mac devices are designed to be a long-term investment, right? Well, they still are. It’s just that you need to revive your Mac sometimes. Reviving your Mac may seem confusing, but it is easier and less expensive than upgrading to a new MacBook, iMac, or Mac Pro.

I have done it with some of my Mac devices, and CleanMyMac, a Mac cleaning and optimization tool, was a lifesaver. So, I have prepared this guide to show you how it helped me revive my Mac.

It is also a story of how CleanMyMac helped me save hundreds of dollars that I may otherwise have spent on upgrades.

Key takeaways

• CleanMyMac delivers a comprehensive suite of tools for Mac optimization and maintenance.
• The software effectively frees up storage space, speeds up system performance, and protects against malware.
• User-friendly interface and automated processes simplify the cleaning process.
• Additional features like app uninstallation and menubar monitor enhance its utility.
• While offering significant improvements, some users might find the malware protection module to be less robust than dedicated antivirus solutions.

CleanMyMac in 2025

CleanMyMac has been our go-to Mac cleaning and optimization suite for years. While new competitors have emerged, CleanMyMac still stands out in 2025—here’s why:

• Optimized for macOS Sequoia – CleanMyMac is fully compatible with macOS Sequoia, so you can install it without worrying about compatibility issues.
• Enhanced Security – The latest version is built to comply with Sequoia’s new security measures, ensuring seamless integration with macOS. Plus, it’s fortified against emerging threats.
• Advanced Malware Protection – CleanMyMac’s malware detection and removal tools have been supercharged. With better real-time protection, it’s more equipped to detect zero-day threats.
• Smarter App & Background Item Management – The new version streamlines app uninstallation and background process management, making it easier to keep your Mac clutter-free.

But are these upgrades really worth it? Well, let me share how CleanMyMac helped me revive and speed up my Mac in ways I didn’t expect.

The experience aka how CleanMyMac helped me revive my Mac

As you know, there is a manual way to clean up and optimize a Mac. But first, you have to find out big files, unwanted applications, and junk files and remove them. I was aware of this method but was a little skeptical. For one, I did not want to accidentally delete a critical system file. Nor did I want to make any system-level changes that would turn out negatively.

Overall, the manual cleaning method did not appeal to me as viable or safe. After some research and several Reddit threats, I came across CleanMyMac from MacPaw. Since I had used other apps from MacPaw in the past, I was confident about the security. I understood that CleanMyMac is not adware or bundleware. It seemed very legit—for all the good reasons.

Getting started with CleanMyMac

Probably the best thing about CleanMyMac is that you can get started with it in a few seconds. Moreover, thanks to its intuitive UI and design, it is easy to use all the utilities. The first time I used CleanMyMac, the Smart Care feature caught my attention. Smart Care is designed to analyze different aspects of your Mac to find room for cleaning, optimization, and speed improvement. And it works smoothly.

In particular, the Smart Care looks for five aspects:

• Cleanup your Mac
• Look for threats
• Boost performance
• Run applications update
• Declutter storage

After a scan that takes about a minute, CleanMyMac will show you a summary with actionable items. Then, you can review potential fixes before applying them. For instance, CleanMyMac offered to clean up a whopping 40GB of space on my Mac.

Upon reviewing the results, I discovered that the Mac Trash and System Junk were responsible for the severe storage space issue on my Mac.

The scan took a few minutes, but I could start seeing a better experience from my Mac.

You can also find smart recommendations from CleanMyMac once it has finished fixing the primary issue. For instance, it may suggest uninstalling unused apps, purging available space, or running a deep scan to improve the in-depth problems.

That’s when I checked out the powerful utilities in the CleanMyMac package. I tried the utilities featured in different sub-sections like Cleanup, Protection, Performance, Applications, and Clutter. Here is what I think of them.

# Junk Cleanup

As you may know, macOS generates system files like logs, which, while initially necessary, can become outdated and consume disk space within the “Other” storage category. These temporary files don’t automatically disappear.

Manually deleting them carries the risk of removing essential data, which is why Apple doesn’t simplify this process. The CleanMyMac is designed to deeply identify and remove only the system files that are safe to delete. As I had expected, various system junk files were taking up a lot of my storage and slowing down my Mac.

To remove system files, I

• Open CleanMyMac and go to the Cleanup section.
• Click Scan, and then Clean.

After the system junk cleanup, particularly if this is my first time cleaning my Mac, I notice a significant reduction in the “Other” storage used by macOS. In our experience, this method freed up gigabytes of space on our MacBook.

Trash Bins are also more helpful than one would imagine, especially if you have multiple Trash bins on your Mac. You can clean multiple Trash Bins at once. This was a helpful thing, especially in showing that my Mac had multiple trash bins.

Another helpful tool to free up storage is Mail Attachments. Even if you forget to delete unimportant mail attachments, CleanMyMac will help you with that. Since I was not using any native email apps on my Mac, this section was not really helpful.

# Malware Protection

CleanMyMac includes a thorough malware scanner that identifies and removes even sophisticated threats. Its Protection feature also provides real-time malware and virus protection.

Here’s how I use CleanMyMac to scan for and eliminate malware:

• Open CleanMyMac and select “Protection” from the sidebar.
• As it’s my first time using this feature, I configure the scan. I click “Configure Scan” to select the file types to check, and for a comprehensive scan, I choose “Deep Scan.”
• Then, I click “Scan” to initiate the system-wide scan. It found 29 threats on my system.
• Once the scan is complete, I click “Remove” to eliminate them.
• Finally, I review application permissions to ensure no apps can access my files without my knowledge.

Please note CleanMyMac’s malware database is updated weekly, which significantly reduces the risk of malware infiltrating the system.

The Privacy module on CleanMyMac helps you take a step further regarding online security. For example, I often use it to remove browsing traces and chat data in a single click. I found this quite impressive as it helps us stay one step ahead of privacy threats.

# Performance Monitor

Here we’ll take a look at CleanMyMac’s performance monitor with menu bar. This menu app offers a detailed snapshot of your Mac’s health and performance, making it easy to keep your system in check. One of my favorite aspects is the ability to connect Dropbox, allowing me to preview its capacity directly from the menu!

In this section, you can get an overview of

• Real-time system monitoring: Track CPU usage, RAM consumption, battery health, and storage space in real-time.
• Security insights: Stay informed about malware status and update your database for optimal protection.
• Storage management: Analyze storage usage, identify large files, and clean up junk.
• Battery health tracking: Monitor battery temperature, percentage, and charge cycles.

CleanMyMac’s menu bar monitor has also evolved managing connected devices. You can monitor the health of devices like iPhones and iPads, as well as manage external drives and bluetooth devices. While it does the job well enough for my core devices, it’s not quite as comprehensive as a dedicated battery management tool like AlDente Pro. However, it’s still a handy feature to have right within the app, adding convenience to the overall experience.

# Applications Uninstall

You can use the Application utility to find and remove multiple Mac apps at once. It also helped me find out unused/unopened applications. It was a great way to free up space on my Mac.

When you delete an application, leftover components can remain, often running small service apps that continue to use your Mac’s processor and memory. The Leftover module solves this by fully removing apps and all their associated components, regardless of their location.

On the other hand, the Updater module helped me update all my Mac apps with a single click. It meant I did not have to visit multiple app stores. For instance, I could manage all the apps I installed from Setapp, other app stores, etc.

# Clutter Control

And the last feature is a fully-fledged clutter manager, which helped me find out what is taking up storage on my device. It is also helpful in removing these huge/unnecessary files.

Alternatively, you can use the Duplicates & Similar Images module to have a more filtered view. Once again, I was able to clean up the system better.

Note: To avoid unintended deletions, CleanMyMac only removes files from the category you are currently viewing. For example, even if you previously selected files in the ‘Duplicates’ category, clicking ‘Remove’ while viewing ‘Large & Old Files’ will only delete files from the ‘Large & Old Files’ category.

Now, the big question: did CleanMyMac revive my Mac?

Yes. After the first use of CleanMyMac, I got the following perks:

• Right away, I noticed that my Mac could multitask better. Handling multiple browser windows and shifting between apps was smoother than before. I also saw that my Mac worked better with multi-touch gestures.
• More importantly, there was a lot of available storage space. I could use this space to arrange my files better and sync them with other devices. Otherwise, I would have had to purchase an extra SSD for my machine.
• Last but not least, there was less clutter on my Mac altogether. I could remove unwanted apps, files, and extensions with a single click. In addition, because CleanMyMac arranged everything based on categories, it was a lot easier.

In short, within a few minutes, CleanMyMac revived different aspects of my Mac. And I could put aside the thought of purchasing an additional SSD or upgrading to an expensive model. So, it was worth whatever I spent on CleanMyMac.

For reference, CleanMyMac is available for $39.95 per year. But since I use the Setapp subscription, I did not have to pay anything.

The improvements

It is not to say that CleanMyMac is perfect. As you would expect, there is room for improvement.

• The malware removal utility on CleanMyMac does not quite replace an antimalware program. So even though it detects various threats, it could use some improvements.
• Some utilities like Extensions and Updater can also use some improvements. For example, they are not 100% right when detecting and categorizing elements.

If we keep these points aside, CleanMyMac is an exceptional choice I can recommend.

The competition

There is no scarcity of Mac cleaning and optimization apps on the market. You can find various options which offer different levels of control and features. Some of them are:

CCleaner for Mac is a popular option people swear by, especially those who have moved from Windows to macOS. This cleaning app can do a thorough cleaning of your Mac, helping you get rid of junk files and apps. It also works closely with browser extensions and removing bad/duplicate photos from your Mac.

MacKeeper is also a popular choice for many. However, even though the cleaning suite offers a couple of great cleaning utilities, we felt the tool is not comprehensive enough. But you can give it a try if you already have a good idea about what is slowing down your Mac.

We have also recommended Sensei as a great Mac optimization tool, but it can be a little tricky to get used to. For instance, it does not have a smart wizard or anything. However, on the bright side, Sensei gives you a lot of system information.

Overall, we think the competition does not cut it when considering the comprehensive Mac cleaning and optimization abilities of CleanMyMac.

The conclusion

As is evident, I truly appreciate CleanMyMac for its powerful features and intuitive UI. The developers also actively listen to user feedback, constantly enhancing the app by improving malware detection and introducing additional speedup tools. This makes CleanMyMac not just a one-time purchase, but an evolving tool that adapts to your needs over time. More importantly, the money you invest in this cleanup solution could potentially save you from larger expenses, such as hardware upgrades or an external SSD.

Rest assured, if you have a relatively new Mac that’s slowing down, CleanMyMac can help. And with a free 7-day trial, you can explore all the features and modules of the app without any limitations before making your decision.

* Readers like you help support TheSweetBits. When you buy something through the links in this article, we may get a small commission at no extra charge to you.

<p>The post How CleanMyMac Helped Me Revive My Mac first appeared on TheSweetBits.</p>

On the bright side, thanks to the control that Microsoft Windows offers, you get a few options to fix the problem. A partition recovery tool is one of them. That said, choosing the right partition recovery tool for Windows can be quite confusing, primarily due to the number of choices.

Here’s something I have done.

I tested a few drives with formatted/corrupted/deleted partitions with some of the most popular partition recovery tools for Windows. The idea was simple: find which partition recovery tools you can rely the most on when it comes to recovering a partition.

TL;DR: Top 10 partition recovery software tools

• EaseUS Partition Recovery: Best overall for ease of use and high success rates
• AOMEI Partition Assistant: For versatile partition management and OS migration
• Partition Recovery by Disk Internals: For professional-grade recovery
• MiniTool Power Data Recovery: For recovering a wide range of file types
• Hetman Partition Recovery: For recovering from various storage devices and file systems
• Recoverit: For versatile file recovery beyond just partitions
• TestDisk: Free option for advanced Windows users
• DiskGenius: All-in-one partition management and recovery
• Disk Drill: For user-friendly interface and additional disk health tools
• Stellar Data Recovery: For beginners with a straightforward interface

What is partition recovery software & why you need it?

So, what exactly is partition recovery software, and why should you care? Simply put, it’s your lifeline when a drive partition goes missing or becomes inaccessible. Think of your hard drive as a filing cabinet, and partitions as the individual drawers. Partition recovery software is the tool you use to find a drawer that’s been misplaced, damaged, or simply vanished.

You might need it in situations like these:

• Accidental Deletion: We’ve all been there – a slip of the mouse, and a partition is gone.
• Botched Operating System Installations: Trying to install a new OS, or even just updating, can sometimes corrupt the partition table.
• Virus Attacks and System Crashes: These can wreak havoc on your file system, leading to partition loss.
• Drive Errors: Let’s be honest, sometimes the drive itself is the problem.

Why not just restore from a backup? Well, not everyone has a recent backup. Partition recovery software offers a chance to salvage your data without starting from scratch. It can save you time, money (compared to professional recovery services), and a whole lot of frustration.

These tools aim to restore access to your partition and its data with minimal extra damage to the drive. Now that you are more aware of partition recovery and its importance, let’s get into which tools worked out the best!

Note: It is essential to note that this article is for educational purposes, and we do not guarantee data recovery or take responsibility for any loss. Using the below-mentioned partition recovery tools is at your own risk. These tools worked as they did during our testing, but the final results depend on many factors.

RELATED: Best Disk Partition Manager for Windows 11

10 Best Partition Recovery Tools for Windows

At TheSweetBits, we began with an array of 25 data recovery tools that offered partition recovery options. Most of the tools were general data recovery tools, but there were, of course, dedicated options. As I said, we tested HDDs as well as SSDs that had earlier contained partitions. In some cases, these partitions were deliberately deleted, but we included drives with corrupted partitions as well.

All the testing was done on a Windows PC with a 13^th-generation Intel processor and 16GB of RAM. All HDDs and SSDs were connected using a USB 3.0 port to ensure that variables didn’t affect the judgment. In addition to the success rates of the data recovery tool, other factors like ease of use and compatibility were also taken into consideration.

Now that you know about the testing, shall we move to detailed reviews of the four top options you have? We will also mention our experience with other top contenders.

#1 EaseUS Partition Recovery

At the top spot, we have the much-deserving EaseUS Partition Recovery. In addition to offering the highest partition recovery success rates, this tool from EaseUS packs an intuitive UI design. It thus becomes one of the partition recovery tools that don’t need you to be tech-savvy.

Like the many EaseUS tools we have tested, EaseUS Partition Recovery also follows a three-step process. So, after you have installed the app, you can select a disk, preview available partitions, and recover the partitions you want to have back.

Our Testing Experience

We tried testing EaseUS Partition Recovery with multiple storage devices like SATA and M2 drives. We also made sure that it works with different file systems like NTFS, FAT, and Ext2/Ext3. The program worked great with multiple partition tables, including MBR and GPT.

A worth-mentioning feature is “Explore support” as it helped us with selecting the partitions that we need to restore. We used the explore feature by clicking on the lost partition to preview the stored files and narrowed down the necessary partitions while avoiding unnecessary ones.

We faced a slight delay while dealing with corrupt partitions. However, it is still impressive that Partition Recovery from EaseUS can handle such devices in the first place. Many generic data recovery tools we tested were not able to detect corrupted drives.

Pricing

Though EaseUS Partition Recovery offers a free version, it lacks many features. If you want access to all the features like RAW recovery and maximum compatibility, you need the paid plan. You can pay either $49.95 per month or $69.95 per year for this package. If you prefer a one-time payment, you can get it for $99.95.

The Final Take

Considering the features and speed it offers, EaseUS Partition Recovery is a worthwhile investment for most people out there. If you prioritize compatibility and success rates over generic features, you’d appreciate the package from EaseUS.

Pros

• User-friendly interface
• Powerful scanning algorithms
• Wide compatibility

Cons

• Limited effectiveness in certain data loss scenarios

Editor’s Note: While EaseUS Partition Recovery is a great choice for partition-specific issues, those needing a more comprehensive data recovery solution should explore the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for its broader file recovery and repair capabilities. This tool offers a wider range of features in its premium versions, including advanced file repair and recovery options beyond just partitions.

#2 AOMEI Partition Assistant

AOMEI Partition Assistant is an all-rounder and is ideal for those looking for a complete partition tool that can recover data as well. It packs a clean and simple design, making it accessible to both new and experienced users. It assists you with multiple steps in handling disk partitions, including cloning and booting.

Getting started with AOMEI Partition Assistant was straightforward. First, you select the disk containing the lost partition, then initiate a scan. The software then searches for lost or deleted partitions. Once the scan is complete, you can preview the found partitions and their contents.

Finally, you select the partition you want to recover and initiate the recovery process.

Our Testing Experience

Like the overall best option, AOMEI Partition Assistant also handled the variety of storage devices and file systems with ease. We felt that AOMEI gets an additional advantage in terms of compatibility, probably because it is designed to be a comprehensive assistance suite.

It also works with different file systems like NTFS, FAT2, FAT16, exFAT, ReFS, Ext2, Ext3, and Ext4. We found the Preview feature quite handy as we have the option to know what is inside without spending resources or time recovering everything.

While the interface is intuitive, it may feel slightly dated compared to some other tools on the market. However, its comprehensive feature set and robust performance make it a strong contender in the partition recovery space.

Price

AOMEI Partition Assistant offers a free standard version with basic partition management features. For advanced features like partition recovery, you need to upgrade to a paid version. The pricing options include a yearly subscription for $49.95, which covers two PCs, and a lifetime license for $59.95.

The Final Take

In the end, despite being recovery-focused, AOMEI Partition Assistant does a great job of dealing with various types of disk partitions. Considering the reasonable pricing plans, we can’t ask for more from this package. It thus suits most people who need a better way to manage partitions.

Pros

• Easy partition management
• Drag-and-drop interface
• Supports various file systems

Cons

• Poor error handling

#3 Partition Recovery by Disk Internals

You should check out Partition Recovery by Disk Internals if you need a professional partition recovery suite for all intents and purposes. This tool is made for professionals, offering maximum performance in terms of recovery success rates and compatibility.

Setting up Partition Recovery by Disk Internals on your Windows PC does not take more than a few minutes at max. We were excited to try the app, considering its compatibility claims, but we thought the UI could use some improvements.

Our Testing Experience

Once we installed and started with the recovery operation, and just like any tool, we were asked to pick the disk on which we wanted to perform the restore operation. However, the interesting thing happened once we selected a disk and proceeded to the Folder Structure Recovery window.

The program offers two scanning modes here. The Full Recovery mode provided the flexibility to manage and manually select the file systems of our liking. On the other hand, the “Fast Recovery” mode is straightforward and ideal for lightly damaged disks.

Once the recovery operation was done, we noticed that the Full Recovery mode did a significantly better job than the Fast Recovery mode, with better recovery featuring more files. However, on the dark side, the Fast Recovery mode took a lot of time to finish.

The performance was good, but we were disappointed with the Preview section as it felt completely outdated. The interface of the Preview section resembled a combination of Windows XP and Windows 7 themes, and we couldn’t preview everything inside the selected partition.

Pricing

Once the free trial is complete, you can get Disk Internals Partition Recovery for either $39.95 (Personal) or $219.95 (Business). All these plans offer core features like advanced compatibility, but you may not get extra options like Exporting to Virtual Disk and offering data recovery services to third parties.

Our Take

Despite its rudimentary UI design, Disk Internals Partition Recovery is a great choice for professionals. The tool offers great value in terms of performance and compatibility. We really liked the option to read disk partitions from macOS and Linux.

Pros

• Three scanning modes
• Supports RAID recovery
• File preview feature

Cons

• It can be complex for beginners

#4 MiniTool Power Data Recovery

MiniTool Power Data Recovery is a feature-packed, comprehensive tool that’s perfect for anyone in search of the ultimate data recovery solution. It offers a wide range of features, from the basic to the advanced, and one of its standout capabilities is partition recovery.

Starting with the downloading and installing MiniTool software, there were no issues, and the setup file took care of the entire installation. Even though the home screen is intuitive, we felt room for improvement, and with additional refinement, it would arguably be the best in its segment.

Our Testing Experience

Our testing showed that MiniTool Power Data Recovery supports the retrieval of lost partitions due to accidental deletion, formatting, or other system errors. The tool scans the storage media thoroughly, searching for lost partitions and displaying them in a clear and understandable manner.

We can preview files within the found partitions before initiating the recovery process. Additionally, we have the option to selectively recover specific files or folders, saving time and storage space by excluding unnecessary data.

Aside from partition recovery, MiniTool Power Data Recovery offers a range of other useful features. These include data recovery from damaged or deleted files, CD/DVD drives, SSDs, USB drives, memory cards, and the ability to recover data from inaccessible or corrupted drives.

Pricing

The free version of MiniTool Power Data Recovery has a 1GB file limit. If you want unlimited recovery of disk partitions and files, you can get the paid version for $69 per month. The premium versions also offer extra features like scan result history and support for WinPE bootable media.

The Final Take

Whether you’re a novice or an expert, MiniTool Power Data Recovery has got you covered when it comes to managing your partitions with ease. The performance was impressive, and we recommend this tool to most people.

Pros

• Easy to use
• Supports various storage devices
• Quick scan option

Cons

• 1GB recovery limit in the free version

#5 Hetman Partition Recovery

If you want support for multiple storage devices and file systems such as FAT, NTFS, exFAT, HFS+, etc., you must check out the Hetman Partition Recovery. Like most prominent partition recovery tools, it comes with advanced scanning and recovery algorithms, resulting in faster scanning and recovery of lost partitions.

On the other hand, the interface is one of the best-looking in the segment, as it is easy to navigate. The paid versions pack more features, and it is a great choice if you have to deal with many partition recoveries. Our experience with Hetman Partition Recovery was satisfactory, but we encountered a few more glitches.

For instance, we had to completely disable our antimalware suite before Hetman Partition Recovery could start up. You should watch out for these minor issues while using the app. On the bright side, the app does a great job of integrating with Windows.

As for pricing, the paid version of Hetman Partition Recovery starts at $37.95.

Pros

• User-friendly interface
• Supports all Windows versions
• HEX editor

Cons

• Conflicts with anti-malware suites

#6 Recoverit

Wondershare’s Recoverit is a data recovery tool that is different from the standard partition recovery tool. With Recoverit, we start by selecting a disk, and the recovery begins automatically. So, you get to decide if you want to recover an entire partition or a single file from the bunch.

Unlike the partition recovery tools, all the lost data is displayed in one place, and one doesn’t have to worry about managing partitions after recovering them. Like our list’s top three partition recovery tools, Recoverit supports all file system types and storage devices.

You also get a few extra features with the package. For instance, the Enhanced Recovery option offers the best results with removable devices. Meanwhile, its corrupted video repair utility and NAS data recovery are also great. Considering it is from Wondershare, the interface is free of issues.

The premium plans for Wondershare Recoverit are available for $79.99 per month.

Pros

• Versatile file recovery
• User-friendly design
• Supports over 1000 file types

Cons

• It may not be effective in all data loss scenarios

#7 TestDisk

If you believe you’re technically sound and can work with complex tools while referring to a few tutorials and walkthroughs, then  TestDisk is for you. For starters, TestDisk is open software designed to recover lost partitions and can make non-booting disks bootable again.

One capable of using TestDisk would never consider checking out any tools as it can easily handle all the recovery operations. TestDisk can easily compete with any modern data recovery tool, but the downside lies in its complexity and outdated interface.

However, it would be an absolute steal for only those who can figure out how to use it.

Pros

• Free and open-source
• Supports multiple file systems
• Powerful recovery features

Cons

• Steep learning curve

#8 DiskGenius

DiskGenius is another disk management and data recovery software that is extremely efficient at recovering lost data. We were extremely happy with its performance, but the reason for not considering it for top spots was its interface.

The interface is very technical, and most people might find it confusing, and only a few would navigate around and use the features without difficulty. There are no additional limitations; on the bright side, it supports multiple file systems and storage devices.

We have noticed the paid version offers additional flexibility, but there is no improvement to the interface. Hence, we suggest looking for a recovery tool with an intuitive interface that provides great performance and recovery rate.

Pros

• Comprehensive partition management
• Supports virtual disk images
• HEX editor

Cons

• Complex interface for beginners

#9 Disk Drill

If you don’t want to go through the entire process of restoring and recovering a partition to get back the lost data, then Disk Drill is for you. Disk Drill is an efficient and reliable data recovery suite that can recover lost data from removable drives, hard drives, and physical/virtual partitions.

Like other disk recovery tools, it has advanced scanning algorithms and support for multiple storage devices and file types. However, it stands out from the rest because of its special tools, such as disk cleanup, duplicate file finder, and disk health monitoring.

The intuitive interface of Disk Drill is probably the best looking in its segment and matches the theme of Windows 11. One wouldn’t find it difficult to navigate, and even beginners can easily use this tool to recover lost data.

Pros

• User-friendly interface
• Supports various file systems
• Free version available

Cons

• Limited features in the free version

#10 Stellar Data Recovery

While looking for data recovery with an extremely simple and user-friendly interface, we crossed paths with the Stellar Data Recovery tool. The interface is so straightforward that an individual with no prior experience or knowledge would use it straight away with ease.

We felt nothing new with the Stellar Data Recovery tool except for the interface. Like every other data recovery tool, it features custom advanced scanning algorithms paired with support for multiple storage devices and file types.

The recovery rate is promising, and purchasing a pro version can help you gain access to a few perks. These additional perks enhance the overall usability and performance, resulting in better data recovery. These paid plans start at $69.99.

Pros

• Advanced recovery features
• Supports encrypted drives
• User-friendly interface

Cons

• Expensive compared to competitors

Comparison

Conclusion

To wrap this up, recovering a lost partition loss and its associated data is a frustrating experience. However, you can ease the process with the right Partition Recovery tools.

Independently developed tools like our pick, EaseUS Partition Recovery, represents the best choice for most users, and AOMEI Partition Assistant remains the complete solution for advanced operations.

However, if you are willing to take some extra effort, you can try command line-based tools as well. So, the final choice is between convenience and whether you want to spend.

FAQs

Is it safe to use partition recovery software?

It is safe to use partition recovery software if you download it from a reputable source and follow the instructions carefully. We suggest checking if the tool is prominent and has decent reviews. Also, try the free version before subscribing or purchasing a tool.

Can I recover the lost partitions and their data entirely?

There is no guarantee about total data recovery with any of the recovery tools mentioned above. Also, remember that misusing these tools can lead to data loss and partition deletion.

What precautions should I take to prevent future data loss and partition damage?

Here are a few suggestions from us that would help you with preventing data loss and partition damage in the future;

• Always back up data regularly.
• Use reliable Anti-virus software.
• Invest in a UPS to avoid power failures.
• Always update your device.
• Download only trusted software or tools.
• Eject external storage devices carefully.
• Handle storage devices with care.

Keep learning

• Disk Partition Management: Merging, Extending, Adding Partitions and More
• Your Guide on How to Back Up Your Windows PC
• How to Delete System Reserved Partition?
• How to Partition a Hard Drive in Windows 11?
• How to Recover Deleted or Lost Partitions in Windows?
• The Ultimate Guide to Registry Clean on Windows?

* Readers like you help support TheSweetBits. When you buy something through the links in this article, we may get a small commission at no extra charge to you.

<p>The post Top 10 Partition Recovery Tools for Windows first appeared on TheSweetBits.</p>

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Keep learning:

• The Ultimate Guide to Mac Backup
• Ultimate Guide: How to Back Up Your iPhone
• The Best Personal Cloud Backup Service
• How to Backup an iPhone or iPad to an External Drive or Another Location
• The Guide to iPhone Backup Software & Cloud Solutions
• Top 7 Backup Software for Windows 10/11

<p>The post World Backup Day 2025: Sweet Deals to Keep Your Data Safe first appeared on TheSweetBits.</p>

Want to make one hard drive act like two and more?

The drive needs a partition to set up a file system and save any files to the drive.

Having partitions on a hard disk works like having different hard disks, although not precisely the same. It’s a great way to organize your files, folders, and applications into their virtual drives.

Whether you’re working with a new drive or just looking to partition an existing one, though, these best partition manager tools will surely come in handy.

Quick summary of top partition managers:

• EaseUS Partition Master Pro: for the best all-around partition manager
• AOMEI Partition Assistant: for an alternative to EaseUS
• MiniTool Partition Wizard Pro: for more functionalities beyond basic tasks
• Macrorit Partition Expert: for basic partition management tasks
• IM-Magic Partition Resizer: simple interface for easy operation
• NIUBI Partition Editor: for advanced functions
• Free options

What is a partition manager?

Partitioning creates multiple regions on the hard disk to allow the operating system and partition manager software to efficiently and separately manage information in each region.

Partition management programs let you create, delete, shrink, expand, split, or merge partitions on your hard drives or other storage devices.

The partition managers are also useful in creating more space for a new operating system, copying the data stored in the hard disk, reorganizing the disk usage, and disk imaging. Backing up files and restoring the backups are possible with partition manager software too.

Well, all-in-all, there are advantages of disk partitioning that may come in handy, and they are:

• Easy OS installation(multiple OS) / re-installation
• Better availability of storage space
• Better management of storage space
• Better file organization
• Using many file systems at once
• Simpler backups
• Potentialimproved security

Let’s start with standard: Windows 10/11 Disk Management

Windows comes with a native disk partition manager. Creatively called Disk Management, it’s functional but uninspiring. However, it gets the job done with relatively quick speeds and a fast process.

The Disk Management tool is built into Windows 10 to create, delete, format, extend and contract partitions. It can also initialize a new hard drive with a Master Boot Record (MBR) and GUID Partition Table (GPT) partitioning structure.

The tool lacks some of the features of some of the best third-party partition manager tools—in fact, it still looks like something from Windows 2000—but it gets the job done.

Third-party partition managers also include advanced features such as creating bootable disks, creating a FAT32 partition larger than 32GB, recovering information from damaged volumes, and extending volumes into unallocated space to the left of the volume without error.

So, if you need any of those features, it might be worth looking around the following standalone disk management utility instead.

Top 3rd-party tools to manage hard drive partitions

When looking for the best Windows Partition Manager software, we looked at design, ease of use, management support (create, wipe, resize, merge, split, extend, copy or clone partitions, etc.), format partition support, migrate OS to SSD/HDD, rebuild MBR, defragment on MBR & GPT disks, and whether it has the ability to convert dynamic disk. While not everyone needs all of these features, we felt like this was a good guide to help us as we examined the market.

To keep everything straight, we hand-tested more than 20 apps from the market and tried downloading the latest version of Partition Manager tools (Read the full rundown of how we select tools to feature on TheSweetBits blog.) Based on our testing sessions, we’ve found the following options of your dreams.

#1 EaseUS Partition Master Pro

Enter, EaseUS Partition Master Pro – the professional partition manager full of features from EaseUS. We have been using this tool for quite some time, and while it does have all the features that the native Windows Disk Management tool comes with, it also comes with the features mentioned above.

User interface & experience

As you can see in the image below, the first screen you see as soon as you open the program is relatively self-explanatory.

Only relevant tasks are enabled when a partition is selected. This takes much of the guesswork out of deciding what you need to do to complete a task. In addition, since the software is installed onto your hard drive, you work within the familiar Windows environment without the need to boot from a Live CD.

Disk & partition cloning

The Disk Cloning feature in the EaseUS Partition Master Pro is one of the most used features in these types of tools. This feature is beneficial when you want to replace your disk drive or have the same software and OS setup on another computer.

The cloning process will copy and replicate everything, including the data, the partitions, and everything from the source disk drive.

Depending on the type of disk you’re cloning to or from, it will take some time to clone the disk. For example, if you’re cloning an SSD to another SSD, things will move faster, but the process will take some time if a hard drive is involved.

Merging partitions

Windows 10/11 Disk Management can help you merge partitions, but you cannot combine two partitions directly or merge partitions with a non-contiguous unallocated space.

When you merge two partitions, EaseUS Partition Master guides you through creating a single bigger partition. This is very useful in the cases where you have the central C: Drive as the OS partition, and you’re running out of storage on that part of the drive.

Merging the two partitions will also save you the trouble of reinstalling your OS again and then partitioning your hard drive from the start.

Convert MBR to GPT (Fix Windows 11 Issues)

Windows uses a Master Boot Record (MBR) or GUID Partition Table (GPT) for their storage drives. So, it is necessary to convert MBR to GPT if you’re updating to Windows 11 from an older version such as Windows 7.

Hence, EaseUS Partition Master is a great choice to help you convert MBR to GPT without losing all the crucial data. All you need to do is select the disk to convert and choose the ‘Convert to GPT’ button. It doesn’t require any partition formatting and will help you keep all your files.

WinPE bootable disk creator

This tool will let you create a bootable image of your current disk setup. You can choose to save it as an image ISO file or create a bootable USB or a CD/DVD from the tool.

This will be very helpful if you run into issues with your hard drive, and if you have an image saved, you can literally restore it on another drive and use the disk as your normal computer quite easily.

Availability & pricing

EaseUS Partition Master Professional is available for Windows. You can download the free trial version from the developer’s official website.

The Partition Master Professional version is priced at $39.99. The price seems steep, but the developer offers TheSweetBits readers an exclusive 30% discount. For users with less stringent requirements, there’s a free home version of Partition Master. There is also a server version for use with Microsoft’s server operating systems.

Verdict

As mentioned, we have been using the EaseUS Partition Master Pro for quite some time now, and overall, we find this partition manager the most efficient and to the point tool for the purpose. Mainly because, unlike some other alternatives, the EaseUS one gives me to-the-point tools.

One downside that we think this software has is the user interface. It’s not that it is tough to use or something, it is indeed relatively easy to use, but it does have a bit of a learning curve. It is recommended that any newbie who hasn’t worked with such programs go through the manual first.

Read our full EaseUS Partition Master Review here.

#2 AOMEI Partition Assistant

If you’re looking for an alternative to EaseUS Partition Master Pro, we suggest checking out AOMEI Partition Assistant. With the ability to handle multiple disks and partition operations at a complex level, it is a great contender for all Disk Partition software in its segment.

With an eye-catching color scheme, all icons are easily recognizable, and navigating around is never a problem. However, we wished for the dark mode on AOMEI Partition Assistant to match the Windows dark theme.

We have tried and tested AOMEI Partition Assistant for several disk partitioning purposes. We have found it reliable and made several complicated tasks easy for us.

For instance, features such as Migrate OS to SSD, Partition Recovery Wizard, Bootable Media Wizard, Data Recovery, etc., are unique tools that come in handy and can be seen in only a few premium partitioning software.

To conclude, AOMEI Partition Assistant’s Professional Edition is an all-rounder and the best pick out of all editions. We believe that AOMEI Partition Assistant has room for improvement, and they need to re-evaluate the editions and provide better customer support.

Check out AOMEI Partition Assistant detailed review here.

#3 MiniTool Partition Wizard Pro

The MiniTool Partition Wizard Pro is an excellent alternative to EaseUS Partition Master Pro. Primarily because of the similarity in the way both programs work. They have the very same options and price, and they do the same things.

Whatever points we have listed for EaseUS Partition Master Pro above also stand valid for MiniTool Partition Wizard Pro. But the MiniTool option comes with many additional features that might be useful to a lot of people.

You get options to change the cluster size, delete dynamic volumes, and other advanced options like migrating the OS from MBR to GPT disk, which can be tricky.

If you want a to-the-point partition manager, then EaseUS Partition Master Pro will work the best for you, and if you’re someone who wants extra features as well, then the MiniTool Partition Wizard Pro will make more sense for you.

#4 Macrorit Partition Expert

Macrorit Partition Expert stands out for providing all features of its paid version in the free edition. You can clone drives, create bootable drives, and migrate the OS to a different disk. The visual interface, despite potential aesthetic improvements, enables easy volume extension, shrinkage, storage merging, and drive label changes.

The software’s portability adds to its appeal. With a comprehensive set of features available in the free version, Macrorit Partition Expert is a noteworthy option for reliable and feature-rich disk management.

#5 IM-Magic Partition Resizer

IM-Magic Partition Resizer offers essential functions like expanding, shrinking, merging, and moving partitions without data loss.

The interface, with its reliance on right-click actions for disk management options, presents a different approach. The program efficiently displays pending operations, and a simple click on the “Apply Changes” button makes modifications permanent.

While the free version provides access to basic disk management options, limitations include the absence of a bootable media option without opting for the paid version. IM-Magic Partition Resizer is a viable choice for those seeking fundamental disk management capabilities with a slightly different interface approach.

#6 NIUBI Partition Editor

NIUBI Partition Editor distinguishes itself by offering all hard disk management functions in its free version without any adware or advertisements.

The graphical interface, featuring a slider bar for effortless drive expansion or reduction, is user-friendly. Noteworthy is its ability to merge adjacent partitions without data loss, a unique feature among free disk management tools.

While the software lacks portability, the inclusion of advanced functionalities in the free version makes NIUBI Partition Editor an appealing choice for robust partition management.

Are the freely available tools any good?

There are both premium paid tools and ones that you can download and use for free when it comes to partition managers. But keep in mind that the free tools have a minimal set of features and functionalities available.

Even developers such as EaseUS or MiniTool offer free tools for the purpose, but they essentially do the same things that the native Disk Management tool on Windows does. If you need advanced features, it is always good to go with a premium option since the free tools aren’t as good.

#7 GParted

GParted is an entirely free-to-use, Linux-based partition and disk management tool that works with Linux, Windows, and macOS. It has to be booted from either a USB stick or a Live CD/DVD. The tool has features such as creating or deleting partitions, resizing or moving them or changing the labels.

The best part about GParted is that it supports file systems across different platforms, so you have support for HFS and HFS+ for macOS, FAT16, FAT32, and NTFS for Windows and EXT2 EXT3 and EXT4 for Linux based systems.

While the software has many features, you must put the software on a bootable media drive and then use it, making it less user-friendly. On the other hand, the software is entirely free to use, and you don’t have to pay to download and use it.

#8 PARAGON Partition Manager

Paragon Partition Manager is another alternative that can be used instead of EaseUS or MiniTool if you want. The thing about this partition manager is the fact that this one has a very straightforward user interface and features.

It has all the essential features that a partition manager should carry, including splitting partitions, undelete partitions, and more. It also comes with other features such as Backup and Recovery, Drive Copy, and Disk Wiper.

You have the option to download the freeware version of Paragon Partition Manager but keep in mind that the functionality of the freeware is limited to a certain extent. For example, you can only use the freely available features such as undeleting a lost partition. You also get options for backing up your current hard drive in the form of an ISO image either on your hard disk or on removable media.

#9 Active@ Partition Manager

Active@ Partition Manager is a freeware partition manager that is completely free to use. However, while it is free, it does come with all the necessary features that a partition manager should have in the package.

You don’t get features like creating a clone of your disk or moving your OS from a hard drive to an SSD, but you get features that allow you to create a disk image, create partitions, and format them. It has nowhere near the features that tools like EaseUS or MiniTool offer, but it is a good program for newbies since it is freeware.

#10 DMDE

While DMDE is primarily known as a robust data recovery solution, its free version also includes a capable partition manager. This tool allows you to perform basic operations on MBR- and GPT-style disks, including partition diagnostics and restoration.

DMDE’s partition manager supports viewing and searching volumes, and performing basic operations like partition removal and undeleting, as well as boot sector restoration.  It also offers essential features such as partition table editing and the ability to display lost and removed partitions, along with disk image creation.

To modify disk partitions, you must enable the “Advanced” option and confirm write operations. Keep in mind that the free version has limitations compared to the paid version, and designed with professional use.

FAQs

What is the best partition manager software for Windows 11?

While there are a lot of partition manager apps for Windows, you can’t be sure if the app is good or not. However, through our testings, we found out that EaseUS Partition Master was the best pick and provided a great overall experience for partitioning and managing the drives on Windows 11. So, we would recommend using it as your primary partition manager.

Is EaseUS Partition Master safe?

Yes, EaseUS Partition Master is safe to use. It has no malware, spyware, or adware and provides an easy-to-use and clutter-free UI with some powerful tools that help you manage, format, or create partitions quickly.

What’s the best alternative to Acronis Disk Director?

Acronis Disk Director has been a go-to Disk Partition software for many years. However, the lack of updates and development has turned it into legacy software. We believe that the best alternatives for Acronis Disk Director are EaseUS Partition Master Pro and AOMEI Partition Assistant.

Does Windows 11 have a partition tool?

Yes, Windows 11 does have a partition tool. It is known as Disk Management, and it is also present in Windows 10. It essentially provides the same tools as the other partition management apps on the list but is built into Windows and can be accessed from the search bar. However, the UI is a little dated and might need getting used to.

A final word

Finally, it all boils down to the partition manager that gets the job done for you. EaseUS Partition Master Pro is a great program and has to-the-point features, while the MiniTool Partition Wizard Pro has the features that EaseUS has to offer and then some extra ones.

However, it all depends on you, and if you want something free and built into Windows, we recommend using the default Disk Management tool. GParted also stands out from the rest when it comes to a free partition manager, and while it is a bit complicated to use, it is the only free option available with all the essential features.

Keep learning:

• Best Partition Manager Apps for Mac
• Disk Partition Management: Merging, Extending, Adding Partitions and More
• How to Recover Deleted or Lost Partitions in Windows?
• How to Delete System Reserved Partition?
• How to Partition a Hard Drive in Windows 11?
• Top 10 Partition Recovery Tools for Windows

* Readers like you help support TheSweetBits. When you buy something through the links in this article, we may get a small commission at no extra charge to you.

<p>The post Top Windows Partition Managers (incl. free options) first appeared on TheSweetBits.</p>

However, we still haven’t reached a point where a random data recovery app would do the job. As it happens, the market has too many options to offer, and you must pick the right one for your needs. Depending on the device, features, and budget, you can choose from tens or hundreds of options.

Here’s what we have done.

We have prepared a complete guide on the best Mac data recovery software for 2025. In this guide, you will find free and paid data recovery tools that you can use to recover data from your Mac as well as other storage devices, including your smartphones and pen drives.

TL;DR: the best data recovery software for macOS in 2025

• Best All-in-One Data Recovery: Disk Drill
• Best for Performance: EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard
• Best for Easy to Use: iBoysoft Data Recovery
• Best for NAS Recovery: Wondershare Recoverit
• Best for Additional Tools: Stellar Data Recovery
• Best for Thorough Scanning: Data Rescue
• Best for In-depth Analysis: R-Studio

Best all-in-one data recovery: Disk Drill

Disk Drill is undoubtedly one of the best Mac data recovery software you can find in 2025. It packs almost everything you’d need in a data retrieval suite, starting with universal compatibility. You can use Disk Drill to recover data from your Mac, Android smartphone, iPhone, iPad, memory cards, NAS devices, etc.

While at it, this data recovery suite works with almost every file system out there. We have tested the app on M series Macs from Apple, and it works in sync with T2 chips as well. Despite its advanced set of features, using Disk Drill to retrieve data from your Mac is super-easy.

In addition to incredible data recovery rates and top-notch performance, Disk Drill offers some additional utilities as well. The list includes S.M.A.R.T. Disk Monitoring, Duplicate Finder, Data Shredder, Data Backups, Recovery Drive, and Mac Cleanup.

In short, Disk Drill offers impressive data recovery capabilities as well as some handy tools to keep track of your Mac.

Pros

• Wide compatibility with devices and file systems, including RAID
• Intuitive interface that offers ample options for customization
• Support for Time Machine recovery and all Apple Silicon Macs

Cons

• Deep scans can be quite time-consuming on some devices

Pricing: starts at $89.99

Best for performance: EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard

If you are looking for versatile data recovery software for your Mac, you might want to consider EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac. In its basic form, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard can assist you in recovering almost everything from your Mac and removable devices. On the other hand, you get a suite of additional utilities.

You can use this tool to recover data from a variety of sources like partitions and other recovery scenarios, such as a Mac that does not boot up. The Pro version of this tool, which costs a premium, will let you repair corrupt videos and pictures and create a bootable USB drive for macOS installation.

Like Disk Drill, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard delivers impressive data recovery results. In our tests, its performance was slightly higher than that of other contenders, achieving a 97% success rate. The preview function and its support for file systems like Microsoft NTFS add value to the product. It supports recovery from cloud storage like iCloud as well.

Overall, if you need an all-rounder tool for data recovery, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is a great choice.

Pros

• Great recovery success rates from various devices/file systems
• Dedicated utilities for repairing photos and videos
• Support to recover data from unbootable Mac

Cons

• The interface could be more stable while handling heavy load

Pricing: starts at $89.99.

Related: Disk Drill vs EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard

Best for easy to use: iBoysoft Data Recovery

There are times when you just want a simple tool that can recover the most data from one source, right? In these instances, you can try iBoysoft Data Recovery for Mac. Though it does not offer as many features as other tools, it makes it so easy to recover data from multiple sources, including the startup disk of your Mac.

It works great with M1, M2, and M3 chips, but we are not sure about the M4 chip situation. Regardless, you get to recover more than 1000 file formats, and the app works with systems like APFS, HFS+, and exFAT. One thing that we do not see here is support for Microsoft NTFS, but iBoysoft has another tool for that purpose.

So, while you don’t get any advanced features, iBoysoft Data Recovery makes things easier for most people. You don’t need any technical expertise to use this data recovery tool. We also found this app to have decent data recovery rates.

Pros

• Intuitive UI design that is easy to navigate
• Available for both Windows and macOS
• Comprehensive deep scan for advanced recovery

Cons

• The file preview doesn’t work with all file types

Pricing: Starts at $89.95.

Best for NAS recovery: Wondershare Recoverit

We recommend you check out Wondershare Recoverit if you need a balance of recovery rate, scanning time, and optimal support for NAS and Linux recovery. In addition to offering staggering amazing recovery success rates, the app offers optimized support for NAS recovery for situations like hardware aging, failure, etc. while keeping the drives on the NAS.

In our testing, Wondershare Recoverit has been on par with its promise. The three-step process for getting data back on your Mac also makes a lot of sense. The Linux and NAS recovery options are easy to access, and they offer broader compatibility as well.

Because Wondershare uses multiple patented technologies for data recovery, you have a better chance of data recovery from a corrupted/reset Mac as well. Linux support makes it possible for you to connect a hard drive you installed Linux on and recover data from the drive. The app works great with file systems like EXT4, BTRFS, XFS, and BFS file systems and Linux distros like Ubuntu, Debian, Linux Mint, etc.

Pros

• Versatile data recovery options and devices to choose from
• Bootable recovery options through drives
• Built-in support for data recovery from NAS and Linux devices

Cons

• It sometimes fails to recover actual file names

Pricing: Starts at $79.99 per month.

Best for additional tools: Stellar Data Recovery

Stellar Data Recovery Professional for Mac is an amazing option if you need some additional tools on top of the best success rates. Like other tools on this list, this Stellar app also offers compatibility with various file types and systems, including NTFS, which is not natively supported on Mac.

We noticed impressive speeds during our testing, and Stellar does not require a kernel extension to get the best recovery rates. It also packs some tools to power up and recover data from crashed or non-responding Macs. These features work on top of its support for all M-series Macs.

However, the best part about Stellar is its integrated feature set. For instance, you can use its imaging options to deal with corrupted/damaged hard drives. Similarly, you get ample utilities for monitoring the disk health and removing duplicates from your Mac.

Overall, you can count Stellar Data Recovery Professional for Mac as a feature-rich, reliable option.

Pros

• Offers a comprehensive set of additional tools
• Reliable data recovery options for most devices
• Complete support for M4 series Mac and Sequoia

Cons

• It could have included some bootable features

Pricing: Starts at $69.99

Best for thorough scanning: Data Rescue

Sometimes, you need a data recovery tool that offers thorough scanning. It should check all parts of a drive to find recoverable information, right? If this is your case, you can check out Data Rescue for Mac. By the looks of it, Data Rescue is easy to use, but it packs a punch in terms of performance.

Compared to the other tools, Data Rescue has a minimal User Interface design. You can get started with the process in a few minutes. In our testing, this tool was able to recover almost everything from a USB drive. However, the numbers may vary for a corrupted/broken device.

When you go for Deep Scan, Data Rescue offers some additional customization options. So, while the tool thoroughly scans your drive, you can use the hex viewer or set scan parameters for better results. You would also benefit from the secure erase tool.

In the end, despite its minimal design, Data Rescue 6 does not disappoint.

Pros

• Enables easy and efficient recovery on crashed/unbootable Macs
• Advanced control over deep scan with customization options
• Built-in support for RAID arrays, Time Machine backups, etc.

Cons

• Some may find the UI a little rudimentary.

Pricing: Starts at $79.

Best for in-depth analysis: R-Studio

When you want to recover data from corrupted drives, you need access to minute details. In these instances, you should use something like R-Studio for Mac. For starters, the app offers support for a variety of devices and file systems, including NTFS. The damaged RAID recovery option is also great from a functionality point of view.

R-Studio claims to use an advanced recovery algorithm, and it seems to make a difference. We noticed the difference while attempting to recover app-specific files like DOCX and PSD. We could not completely test the feature, but R-Studio lets you recover data from devices connected through a network as well.

Disk Imaging is another handy feature that we came across. R-Studio can clone a drive into a disk image and use it for recovery purposes. This way, you can prevent unwanted impact on the drive. The professional hex editor system is also great if you want to customize the results.

In the end, this feature-rich data recovery is a great addition to the tech-savvy lot.

Pros

• Advanced control over the recovery process
• Professional hex editor for refining results
• It works great for app-specific files like PSD

Cons

• It is slightly on the expensive side.

Pricing: Starts at $79.99

About our testing and comparison

First, we understand that data recovery success rates are subjective, as they depend on the device, system file format, and the condition of the drive. However, we wanted to standardize the results by testing all the data recovery tools on our M2 MacBook Air with Sequoia. The tests were as follows:

We tried recovering data from two sources: an external SSD (Samsung) of 1TB storage space and a USB drive of 128GB capacity. The 1TB SSD had some content left, but the 128GB USB drive was fully formatted. Our logic was to find how each tool handles overwritten storage space.

Here is how each tool fared in this contest.

We did have many tools that offered better utilities even when their recovery speeds were just okay. So, we believe it is a balanced bunch.

We wanted to check how all these tools performed with different file types as well.

For reference, these tested drives contained JPEG, PNG, PDF, DOCX, MP4, and AAC files. We also added and deleted some PSD (Photoshop) files to check whether the apps can recover them. Most tools were able to recover a variety of files without a hassle.

It means you can rely on these tools when you want to recover different file types.

Other recovery tools to consider

Beyond the top picks, several other data recovery tools are worth mentioning, depending on your specific needs and technical expertise:

• TestDisk: A powerful, open-source tool primarily designed for partition recovery. It can fix boot sector issues and recover lost partitions, making it invaluable for technical users dealing with drive structure problems. It’s a command-line tool, which might be challenging for beginners.
• PhotoRec for Mac: This free, open-source companion to TestDisk excels at recovering photos, videos, and other file types from various storage media, using file signature analysis. Although it lacks a graphical user interface and requires using command line, it can find lost data even when the file system is severely damaged. It recovers files with generic names, so renaming is required.
• DiskWarrior: A long-standing and highly regarded Mac utility specifically designed to rebuild damaged directory structures, to restore access to files and folders. It focuses on directory repair and optimization and is not suitable for individual file recovery. It does not support APFS disks.
• DMDE: A robust data recovery and disk management tool, offering a range of advanced features. It includes a powerful disk editor, a partition manager for quick diagnostics and restoration, and tools for creating disk images and clones. DMDE also features a RAID constructor that supports various RAID configurations, making it particularly useful for complex recovery scenarios involving RAID arrays. It is designed with professionals in mind.
• Recuva: Recuva is a popular, user-friendly data recovery tool specifically designed for Windows. It does not have a version for macOS, but Mac users can consider alternatives like Disk Drill or use Recuva via a Windows virtual machine on their Mac. Recuva excels in simple recovery scenarios but may not perform as well in complex data loss situations.

You may have questions about…

What are the basics I need to know before attempting data recovery?

Before attempting data recovery, check the Trash first for deleted files. If you can’t find them there, stop using the computer or device to prevent overwriting the file system. Avoid creating new files in the same directory, as this can reduce recovery chances. The type of drive (e.g., SSD with encryption) and its condition (e.g., corrupted) can affect recovery success. Ensure you give the recovery software proper permissions for optimal results. While there are several factors to consider, understanding these basics can simplify the process.

Does the free version of data recovery software work?

If you’re still wondering whether free data recovery tools work – just have a look at our number one choice. It’s free software that has a premium (paid) version too, right? This means that there are free versions of data recovery software that can really help with recovery and get the job done.

However, not all free versions are the same. While some companies provide an efficient free version that doesn’t require an upgrade to a paid version – others don’t work this way.

Some tools offer a trial version which is far simpler than a free version and it has fewer features and benefits. The sole purpose of this type of recovery tools is to help showcase some of the features and make the users go premium.

If you are on a budget and are looking for a free version – we highly recommend sticking with a free instead of a trial version.

But if you don’t mind going for a paid version of a software, the trial version could give you a great insight into how the tool works before you make the payment.

So the long story short – yes, a free version is effective and can get the job done, but you have to carefully choose them.

How to improve chances for a successful file recovery?

Since the success of date recovery mostly depends on the condition of the Mac and its disk – it’s important to act quickly after you notice that you’re missing data.

Luckily, recovery tools were able to keep up with the technology and make the recovery process far more efficient.

One of the most important tips is to stop adding and saving more data on your Mac after you notice that you’re missing documents.

Why?

Because this could result in overwriting the previous files (or deleted files) and make the recovery harder.

The second most important tip is to choose the correct type of search. Most recovery tools provide you a choice. You can either choose the place where you’d like to perform the search or a type of file you’re looking for.

The recovery process can be long and slow, but limiting the search will always provide better results.

What should data recovery software come with?

Most data recovery software is very simple to use and they’ll feature an intuitive & simple interface that anyone can follow. This is important because you only want a clean & efficient software that is easy to learn.

However, additional instructions are almost always provided with this type of software so the users are able to get the best successful recovery rate.

Even though we’ve listed many recovery tools that are made to help users deal with the same thing – not all of them work in the same way.

It’s important to find a software that will support type of a file you’re looking to recover. Along with that, you should also think of the devices you’d like the data to be recovered from (if it’s not just your internal storage drive).

Another important thing that should come with a recovery tool is the security. Security features will help you evaluate your disk’s health and ensure that you don’t lose any data in the future due to a mechanical failure.

No one likes waiting for a long time – so being able to scan your hard disk and preview lost files before recovering only the ones you need is very useful.

Lastly, but not least important is the support. If you ever occur any problems during the recovery process, you would want a supportive customer service that will help you resolve any issues.

Not all tools are the same, but these are some of the aspects we considered when we made up our list of the best recovery tools above you can use on a Mac.

What is the best Mac hard drive recovery software?

For what it’s worth, you can use any of these data recovery software tools to get deleted/lost data from your Mac devices. However, depending on how and when you lost the data, you need to choose a more suitable option.

For instance, if you want control over everything, you’d want to go for R-Studio. For most others, Disk Drill and EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Professional are the go-to options. These two apps deliver so much for what they charge.

* This article was originally published in June 2020 by Raymond Pon. The most recent update was in March 2025.

* Readers like you help support TheSweetBits. When you buy something through the links in this article, we may get a small commission at no extra charge to you.

<p>The post Best Data Recovery Software for Mac 2025 – Tested on M2 MacBook Air with Sequoia first appeared on TheSweetBits.</p>