SpotlessSpotless vs AppCleaner and Pearcleaner
Spotless removes apps with their leftovers, then keeps going: caches, duplicates, developer storage and a space map are in the same app, and every removal goes to the Trash with a Restore list. AppCleaner and Pearcleaner are free uninstallers. This page compares how each handles removing an app.
Where Spotless wins
- Uninstall, Reset and shared-data guard. Spotless can remove an app or reset it to a first-run state, and it checks shared data before touching leftovers so one app's files are not taken with another's.
- An orphan scan. Spotless finds leftovers from apps you removed earlier. AppCleaner's vendor page does not document an orphan scan.
- An uninstaller inside a cleaner. After an app is gone, the same app clears its caches, finds duplicates and shows what else fills the disk.
- Restore. Removed files go to the Trash and appear under Recently Deleted, where you can put them back.
- Clear explanations. Each leftover says what it is and which app owns it before you tick it.
- Active development. Pearcleaner's README says development is on hold. Spotless is maintained by Doolphin.
Also in Spotless
- Nothing is ticked after a scan. You review the exact list before anything moves.
- Every item can explain itself: what it is, which app owns it, and what happens if it goes.
- Photos, iCloud, cloud folders, AI-app data and active projects are locked by default. You can turn the lock off for any of them yourself.
- Developer storage that understands projects: Xcode, Gradle, Cargo, pnpm, CocoaPods, Homebrew, Docker.
- System Data split into named folders, with sizes you can check against macOS.
- Space map, folder explorer, duplicates with keeper rules, app uninstaller with Reset and a shared-data guard.
- Startup items, memory and a menu bar monitor for disk, memory, processor and network.
- Export what would be removed as a text list. Keyboard shortcuts for everything.
- $9 once, taxes included. No subscription, no upsell.
- Scheduled cleaning: weekly, every 2 weeks or monthly, Spotless moves only items marked Safe to the Trash and notifies you. Restore any of it from Recently Deleted.
AppCleaner and Pearcleaner and Spotless, feature by feature
| Feature | AppCleaner and Pearcleaner | Spotless |
|---|---|---|
| Remove an app and its leftovers | Drop an app on the window; related files are listed | Uninstaller with leftovers; each file explains itself |
| Orphan files | Orphaned file search in Pearcleaner | Orphan scan for apps already removed |
| Where removals go | Trash first (AppCleaner) | Trash first, with Recently Deleted and Restore |
| Beyond apps | Homebrew manager, updater, Finder extension (Pearcleaner) | Caches, logs, duplicates, large files, developer storage, space map, startup items, memory |
| Maintenance status | Pearcleaner: development on hold per its README | Maintained by Doolphin |
Price
AppCleaner and Pearcleaner are free, and Pearcleaner is source-available under Apache 2.0 with Commons Clause. Spotless is $9 once, taxes included, and includes everything beyond uninstalling. See Spotless pricing.
Switching from AppCleaner and Pearcleaner to Spotless
Open the Apps page in Spotless to see every installed app with its size and last use. Pick an app and review its leftovers before they move to the Trash. Run the orphan scan once to find files from apps you removed long ago.
See also: App uninstaller, Review before you clean.
Frequently asked questions
Can Spotless replace AppCleaner?
Yes for uninstalling apps with their leftovers, and it also cleans caches, finds duplicates and maps your storage.
Does Spotless find leftovers from apps I already deleted?
Yes. The orphan scan lists them and you choose which to remove.
Can I undo an app removal in Spotless?
Yes. Removed files go to the Trash and the Recently Deleted list.
Is Spotless free like AppCleaner?
No. It is $9 once.
Keep comparing
- Spotless vs CleanMyMac: A one-time cleaner that ticks nothing for you against a larger subscription suite.
- Spotless vs BuhoCleaner: A cleaner built around review, locks and restore against a one-click cleaner with RAM tools.
- Spotless vs OnyX: A guided cleaner that explains each item against a maintenance toolbox for experts.