SpotlessSpotless vs OnyX
Spotless is built for the question "what fills my disk and can I get it back": it explains every item, ticks nothing for you and keeps a Restore list. OnyX is a maintenance toolbox. This page compares how each helps you clean a Mac.
Where Spotless wins
- Every item explained. Macworld and TheSweetBits both note that OnyX gives no per-item explanations or safety net. Spotless tells you what each item is, which app owns it and what happens if it goes.
- A safety net. Removals go to the Trash and the Recently Deleted list, so a decision can be reversed.
- Approachable. Macworld's July 2026 review called OnyX intimidating for beginners. Spotless uses plain section names: Home, Clean, Storage, Apps, Health and Safety.
- Storage views. A treemap space map, a folder explorer, large and old files and a System Data page that names what it is made of.
- Developer storage and duplicates. Xcode, Gradle, Cargo, pnpm, CocoaPods, Homebrew and Docker, plus duplicates with keeper rules.
- One universal build. OnyX ships one build per macOS version. Spotless is one 10 MB download for Apple silicon and Intel on macOS 14 or later.
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.
- 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.
OnyX and Spotless, feature by feature
| Feature | OnyX | Spotless |
|---|---|---|
| Cache cleaning | Delete caches | Caches, logs, Trash, browser caches, Mail attachments, iOS backups, installers; each item explains itself |
| Per-item explanations | Not listed on its pages | Every item |
| Undo | No safety net (Macworld) | Trash first with a Restore list |
| Uninstaller | Basic uninstall | Leftovers, Reset app, shared-data guard, orphan scan |
| Scheduling | Task scheduling | Scheduled cleaning of Safe items to the Trash, with a notification |
| Builds | One build per macOS version | One universal build, macOS 14 or later |
Price
OnyX is free and supported by optional donations. Spotless is $9 once, and pays for guided review, explanations, a space map and an undo that OnyX does not provide. See Spotless pricing.
Switching from OnyX to Spotless
Keep OnyX for the maintenance tasks you rely on. Use Spotless for storage: scan, read what each item is, tick what you want gone and confirm. Everything goes to the Trash first.
See also: Review before you clean, System Data, Space map.
Frequently asked questions
Is Spotless easier to use than OnyX?
Spotless explains every item and ticks nothing for you, so you do not need to know what each cache is before you decide.
Can I undo a cleanup in Spotless?
Yes. Items go to the Trash and the Recently Deleted list.
Does Spotless show what is using my disk?
Yes, with a treemap space map, a folder explorer and a System Data page.
Do I need a different Spotless build for each macOS?
No. One build runs on macOS 14 or later, on Apple silicon and Intel.
Keep comparing
- Spotless vs Mole: A Trash-first, review-first app against a command line tool and a pricier Mac app.
- Spotless vs CleanMyMac: A one-time cleaner that ticks nothing for you against a larger subscription suite.
- Spotless vs DaisyDisk: A disk map that permanently deletes against a map plus a full cleaner with an undo.