OnyX vs CleanMyMac: Which One Should I Use?

Over time, your Mac can accumulate unnecessary files, from internet downloads to leftover installation packages, cluttering your system and slowing down performance. Daily use also generates cache and service data, further impacting speed.

Since macOS doesn’t include a built-in tool for deep cleaning, external Mac cleanup apps can be a big help. If you are deciding between OnyX and CleanMyMac, this article will walk you through their features, pros, and cons to help you make the best decision for keeping your Mac running smoothly.

Onyx vs CleanMyMac: Which One Is Better?

Although they share some features, OnyX and CleanMyMac have different strengths and aren’t directly interchangeable. The better choice depends on your needs and budget.

OnyX is a powerful tool for Mac maintenance and repair, designed to prevent system issues while also offering cleaning features to free up valuable space. However, its interface and technical language can be challenging to navigate if you are unfamiliar with UNIX utilities. The best part? It’s completely free.

On the other hand, CleanMyMac focuses more on cleaning and optimization, offering a wide range of features in an intuitive, user-friendly interface. However, this convenience comes at a cost, as CleanMyMac requires a paid subscription.

If you want a free tool and don’t mind a technical learning curve, OnyX is a great choice. But if you prefer a smoother, more accessible experience with additional security features, CleanMyMac is worth the investment.

Onyx vs CleanMyMac: Cleanup Features Roundup

If you are interested in the OnyX vs CleanMyMac comparison because you are looking for a for cleaning solution your Mac, this section will break down their features.

Key cleaning features of Onyx for Mac

• Cleaning System: Scan your system and clean up caches, downloaded screen savers, APFS snapshots, and other junk items to release system drive space.
• Cleaning Applications: Remove cached files, libraries, and archives left behind by applications to reduce the clutter.
• Cleaning Internet: Safely delete DNS caches, browser history, downloads, and cookies to enhance privacy and ensure a more secure browsing experience.
• Cleaning Other: Eliminate unnecessary cache files, junk data, and trash to tidy up your Mac.
• Uninstall: Uninstall an application and all its related files and folders from your Mac. AppleDouble: Delete the AppleDouble files whose names begin with “._” to store additional metadata for files on non-Apple file systems.

Key cleaning features of CleanMyMac

• System Junk: Scan your Mac’s hard drive to free up space by removing hidden caches, broken downloads, unused language files, and other unnecessary data.
• Photo Junk: Clean up leftover files from the Photos app, delete large RAW images, and remove duplicate or similar photos.
• Mail Attachments: Quickly sort downloaded mail attachments by file type and easily clear out the ones you no longer need.
• Trash Bins: Empty all trash bins on your Mac, including the main Trash in your Dock and app- or drive-specific bins.
• Uninstaller: Completely remove unused apps along with leftover files like caches, preferences, and saved states.
• Space Lenses: Create a visual map of your storage to quickly identify and eliminate the biggest space wasters.
• Large & Old Files: Find and delete large or old files, as well as duplicates, to reclaim valuable disk space.
• Downloads Removal: Detect and delete downloaded files from your browser to reduce clutter.

Our Opinion

CleanMyMac simplifies the cleanup process with well-organized categories, making it easy to find and delete unnecessary files. It also offers features that OnyX lacks, such as managing mail attachments, clearing browser downloads, removing duplicates, and providing a visual display of disk space usage for a more intuitive experience.

On the other hand, OnyX excels in browser cleanup, offering more in-depth options to clear caches, history, and other browsing data.

Overall, CleanMyMac stands out for its rich feature set and user-friendly design, making it a great choice for those seeking a comprehensive and accessible Mac cleaning solution.

Onyx vs CleanMyMac: Optimization Features Roundup

In this section of the OnyX vs. CleanMyMac comparison, we will explore the optimization features each tool offers to help keep your Mac running at its best.

Key optimization features of Onyx for Mac

• Verifying: Inspect your Mac’s file system to identify and fix issues that might lead to crashes or system instability.
• Rebuilding: Update and repair essential components like service databases, Spotlight indexes, mailboxes, and disk structures to resolve outdated or corrupted data.
• Utilities: Perform system checks on features like the file system and Time Machine, run repair tasks, or manually execute maintenance scripts to keep your Mac running smoothly.

Key optimization features of CleanMyMac

• Login Items Management: Control which applications launch automatically when you start your Mac to speed up boot time.
• Free up RAM: Close background processes to clear up memory and reduce CPU usage to help your Mac run faster.
• Reindex Spotlight: Refresh the Spotlight search index to enhance search accuracy and speed to make it easier to find items.
• Repair Disk Permission: Fix disk permission errors and run essential maintenance scripts to resolve app malfunctions.
• File System Verification: Scan your Mac’s file system and hard drive for errors or physical damage.

Our Opinion

When it comes to Mac maintenance, both tools perform similarly. However, CleanMyMac goes a step further with additional features like managing startup programs and freeing up memory to boost performance. Overall, CleanMyMac offers more functionality and a more user-friendly interface to navigate.

Onyx vs CleanMyMac: Other Features Comparison

Beyond cleaning and optimizing your Mac, both products offer extra features that can make a difference. If one of these features meets your needs, it might be the deciding factor in choosing the right tool for you.

Additional features of Onyx for Mac

• Visibility management: Show or hide volumes, folders, files, or applications as needed.
• Checksum verification: Calculate and compare file checksums to ensure data integrity.
• Secure erasing: Permanently delete selected files or entire folders, including their contents.
• System customization: Personalize settings for Finder, Menu Bar, Dock, Login, and applications beyond the default Mac options.

Additional features of CleanMyMac

• Malware removal: Scan your Mac to detect and eliminate malware, adware, ransomware, and other threats.
• Update tracker: Easily find and update all third-party software on your Mac from one convenient location.
• File shredder: Overwrite and permanently delete unwanted files, making them impossible to recover.

A Better Choice for Mac Cleanup and Optimization

After the Onyx vs CleanMyMac comparison, you probably have realized that both of them come with "fatal flaws". OnyX is free and powerful, but it can be too technical for everyday users and lacks some essential cleanup features. CleanMyMac, on the other hand, offers an easy-to-use interface packed with features, but it requires a paid subscription, and you might not need everything it offers.

If you are looking for a solution that balances essential cleanup and optimization features without the steep learning curve or price tag, BuhoCleaner is a great alternative. It provides the key features you need to keep your Mac running smoothly, without the complexity or cost of Onyx and CleanMyMac.

What BuhoCleaner can do:

• Safely and thoroughly remove junk files from your Mac
• Fully uninstall applications and eliminate leftover files
• Find and delete large files, folders, and videos to free up space
• Identify and remove duplicate images, files, and more
• Manage startup items to speed up boot time
• Monitor disk space usage to spot and eliminate space hogs
• Shred sensitive data into a scrambled, irrecoverable state
• Reindex Spotlight to enhance search speed and accuracy
• Free up memory to boost your Mac’s performance
• Clear the DNS cache to fix internet connection or website loading issues

Bottom Line

This OnyX vs. CleanMyMac comparison breaks down their cleanup, maintenance, and extra features, highlighting what each tool offers. While they share some similarities, their differences stand out more.

You can clearly see both have unique strengths and limitations. If you are struggling to choose between OnyX and CleanMyMac, consider trying BuhoCleaner. This free Mac cleanup and optimization tool comes packed with helpful features, offering a great balance of functionality, ease of use, and cost.