A new Mac always seems to be lightning quick. But then it might slow down up to 17% when its disk is near full (confirmed by MacWorld in a test). And there we got a whole world of Mac optimization apps. Some of them are good enough that even Apple employees use them (Guy Kawasaki, for one). So here are some absolutely essential Mac optimizers to check in 2020.
After languishing in the shadow of iPhone and iPad for over a decade, the Mac gets a new wave of features and a renewed identity. Feb 10, 2020 Catalina, the latest version of macOS, offers beefed-up security, solid performance, the ability to use an iPad as a second screen, and many smaller enhancements. It also ends 32-bit app support. Oct 07, 2019 macOS Catalina review: New and Updated Apps In addition to all the new and updated architectures and features — and there are plenty of both still to go over — some of the biggest updates in macOS Catalina are the other new, or newly updated apps. The updated Photos app is great.
These are top 3 optimizers that look most optimistic to us (sorry for the pun). We've chosen these among hundreds of others mentioned on Mac Forums.
| Rating | Name | Features | Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CleanMyMac X | Includes tools for optimizing your Mac, securely deleting files, and scanning for malware. | Link |
| 2 | AVG | Quick scan and deep cleaning of all kinds of junk | Link |
| 3 | Onyx | Allows you to adjust parameters that would normally need to be set in Terminal | Link |
All three are aimed at basic Mac housekeeping. And now, let's dive into these options and then we'll analyze a few more relevant alternatives.
Best Mac Optimizer software reviewed
Made by independent macOS developer, MacPaw, this app tops our chart.
1. CleanMyMac X
This app, which is notarized by Apple, is absolutely gorgeous visually. But it also sports 49 tools to optimize a Mac in one app. It has a free version you can download and play around with.
Inside, you'll find a full range of tools that will declutter your Mac, make it run faster, and even scan it for malware and remove whatever it finds. Mpeg streamclip windows portable. One of the great things about CleanMyMac X is that you choose how much control you take over what it removes.
In terms of Mac optimization, you can:
- Free up RAM memory
- Disable heavy memory consumers
- Run Maintenance scripts
It's worth checking, anyway if you want to improve your Mac's performance.
2. AVG Cleaner
AVG Cleaner has two functions — to find and remove 'junk'' files one you Mac and to identify duplicate files and make it easy to remove them. The files AVG Cleaner tracks down include cache files from web browsers, apps, photos, and videos; log files; download history; broken downloads; and Trash contents.
When you launch the app, you'll see it has a clean, modern interface that gives you the option of scanning your Mac for files to clean, or scanning for duplicates. Once you've chosen the Disc Cleaner and the scan is complete, you can press a button to clean up the files it has found or view them in more detail and decide which to delete and which to keep. If you choose to scan for duplicates, AVG Cleaner will ask you which folders you want to scan and then show you what it found.
AVG Cleaner is free, l looks great, and works well. However, compared with CleanMyMac X, it lacks many features. These include a malware removal tool, secure file deletion, optimization tools and an app uninstaller.
3. Drive Genius
Drive Genius started out many years ago as a tool for monitoring the performance of your drive, warning you of any potential problems and allowing you to fix them. It has evolved into a tool for optimizing performance and cleaning up drives, as well as keeping it safe.
Some of its features, such as re-partition, rebuild, and de-fragment, don't work on APFS drives, but the others do. Those other tools include a malware scanner and removal tool, a secure erase utility, and tools for finding and removing duplicate and large files. In addition to those, Drive Genius still has tools for identifying potential problems that could lead to drive failure and allows you to fix them.
It's not as user-friendly as Sensei, and doesn't include an application uninstaller and tools for removing login items and launch agents.
4. OnyX
Like most of the apps listed here, OnyX is more than just optimization software for your Mac. It also has a number of tools for cleaning your Mac. However, OnyX also does something that no other tool listed here does: it allows you to adjust settings on your Mac that are otherwise only available through the Terminal app. It's more of a customizer for your macOS.
Whether you want to rebuild a database or index, or just changed the default location or file format for screenshots, you can do it in OnyX. In terms of optimization tools, OnyX can clean up system files and browser data, rebuild Spotlight and Launch Services databases, run maintenance scripts and clean up recent items lists.
It doesn't have a secure file deletion tool or malware scanner, however. And it's nowhere near as user friendly as tools we've described above. If you like playing around with settings and getting under the hood of your Mac, though, it's a good choice.
5. macOS Manage Storage
Manage Storage is a feature that's built into recent versions of macOS. To access it, click on the Apple menu, then About this Mac> Storage> Manage Storage.
When you do that you'll see a list of categories on the left-hand side of the window that opens. At the top is Recommendations. How do you clean your mac from junk. This is where macOS helps you easily free up storage space by recommending what to get rid of. For example, it might recommend that you store files in iCloud and only keep recent ones on your Mac, or that you allow the OS to delete Apple TV downloads you've already watched.
The other categories cover things like Mail attachments, Garageband sound libraries, podcasts, and iOS backups. You just click on each section in turn and follow the advice in the window.
Manage Storage is a very useful tool and can certainly help free up storage space. However, it is not a replacement for a tool like CleanMyMac X because there is no app uninstaller and there are no tools to remove junk files or optimize performance.
6. CCleaner
CCleaner is one of the oldest cleaner tools around, having been available on the Mac for nearly a decade and on Windows before that. It offers tools to get rid of junk files cluttering up your Mac, remove cookies, history files, and other web browser data, and disable login items and launch agents. It also has an app uninstaller, and the professional version offers real-time protection against potentially harmful files you may download.
Like most tools here, you can choose to follow its recommendations and remove files with just a few clicks, or review the files it finds and choose which to remove yourself.
CCleaner has many of the tools available in CleanMyMac X. However, it's not as easy to use, in our opinion, thanks to its less friendly user interface. It also doesn't have a tool to allow you to quickly see what files are occupying space on your Mac, like CleanMyMac X's Space Lens, or a way of securely shredding sensitive files.
7. Disk Clean Pro
Disk Clean Pro offers many of the same tools as the other cleaners here. You can use its automated utilities to quickly get rid of junk files, logs, crash reports and partial downloads. And you can also use it to identify and remove duplicate files, old files, large files and old downloads. There are also tools to remove browser files, aloud backups and mail downloads.
Like CCleaner, however, its interface isn't the friendliest. Also, there are no tools for scanning for malware, securely deleting files, or uninstalling apps.
Does Mac optimization involve cleaning?
Many of the tools above belong to the category of cleaners, so why place them here? To answer that, we should define 'optimization' more clearly. If optimization means improving the performance, it does entail a bit of cleaning that is improving something by elimination. To optimize any computer, one should start with removing blockages, massive unwanted objects, and apps that eat up a lot of memory.
There are lots of applications that can optimize your Mac's performance and make it run more smoothly. Most of these apps are paid, but you can get away with a free version in some cases.
We would rather pick CleanMyMac X for the sheer number of features and its looks but the choice is yours.
News • June 26, 2019
macOS Catalina was indeed the biggest announcement that Apple made during this year's WWDC. This new OS has received such a subtle overhaul that would improve your Mac user experience. The latest iteration of macOS, Catalina brings a number of features – replacing iTunes with dedicated apps for Music, Movies and Podcasts, for instance. Perhaps more importantly, macOS Catalina is the inception of an age where you can use the same OS on multiple devices.
We still have to wait for a few months for the public release of macOS Catalina. Nevertheless, as Apple does almost every time, several technology publications have got their hands on the latest version of the OS. And the critics' reviews are already up.
These reviewers have been using the almost-final version of Catalina on their devices for some time and the reviews are basically well-thought first impressions. Even so, they would help us know what Apple has in the store for us.
In this article, we have a round-up of macOS Catalina reviews. We wanted to give you an insight on what the major tech critics think about the latest version of macOS and its future.
PCMag.comPCMag.com seems pretty impressed with what macOS Catalina has to offer at this point. Edward Mendelson of PCMag.com started the review with a few obituaries — to 32-bit apps and the almighty iTunes and then went onto talk about the colonization by iOS. Iphone messenger for mac. Mendelson says,
'Other iOS-style features have now made their way into macOS, notably Screen Time for budgeting and analyzing the time you waste looking at cat videos, and also for fine-grained parental limits on your children's phones if they're part of a Family Sharing setup.'
PCMag.com comes down to the verdict that macOS Catalina is indeed a worthy upgrade. The reviewer added the new version fixes some of the inconveniences found in macOS and in overall, polishes what the OS has to offer. Mendelson also seemed so impressed with the iPad OS and iOS blend Apple has done.
He added as the bottom line that, Can you stream live tv on directv.
'macOS Catalina, now in public beta, will be a major update, making it easy for iOS developers to port their apps to the Mac, and for iPad owners to use their tablets as a second screen. It won't support 32-bit apps, though.'
LaptopmagThe macOS Catalina review from Laptopmag was more like a guide: to decide whether you should or should not upgrade to the latest version right now. While Henry T. Casey too started with the obligatory mention of iTunes' death, he takes a different stance on the lack of support for 32-bit apps.
'This might hurt. macOS Catalina does not support 32-bit apps, and during its installation, it warns you of which apps on your system it will break because they're not 64-bit apps.
For me, that meant that OpenVPN — which is essential for our work here at Laptop Mag — hit the chopping block, and I couldn't keep using my test MacBook Pro for my work. This is a huge problem.'
Another area where T. Casey has focused is the blend of iPadOS itself. While he is not completely satisfied with what Sidecar can offer, he believes it has hopes for the future. He specifically added that this might be the start of Apple launching hybrid, two-in-one, convertible devices.
'This could have given Apple a chance to tip its toe in waters it's long avoided: 2-in-1 convertible laptops. In the meantime, though, Sidecar does offer minor touch support, allowing the cut, copy, paste, undo and redo swipe controls that iPadOS enables.'
Henry T Casey ends the review on a kind of sour note, saying that the update isn't as exciting as he thought it would be. He also added that 'Your motivation to update to this first public beta will be even smaller if you, like me, have a gigantic photo library.'
Macworld UKMacworld UK was also one of the first to publish a full review of macOS Catalina, but it's more of an overview of the new version. Karen Haslam, however, seems to focus the entire review on Sidecar and how it is going to impact your computing experience with Mac.
Macos 10.15 Catalina Download Link
'We'd say the headline feature of Catalina is Sidecar, the ability to use an iPad as a second screen and as a Mac attached graphics tablet. Whether this sells Catalina to you will depend on whether you have an iPad that can support the feature.'
He also makes a comprehensive note of the new major features coming to macOS Catalina. More notably, the reviewer aims to show us how these features will work together for a better Mac and iPad experience in the longer run.
Haslam points out the potential issues with incompatibility in the verdict but the overall review is positive in its tone.
'We like the sound of being able to use our iPad as a second screen and the arrival of the TV app is well timed since Apple's going to be offering all that new programming'
ComputerWorldThe Catalina review from ComputerWorld is an attempt to see how all the new features from Apple are spot on when it comes to the performance. Jonny Evans is also one of the first to give special mention to Voice Control, a feature that Apple so emphasized during the event, with a powerful video commercial as well.
'Using Voice Control to navigate the Mac is another revelation. Using a combination of on-screen labels and grid references you can direct your Mac mouse to precisely where you want it to be. I think this is superb,'added Evans.
He also seems to love the brand-new Photos app on macOS Catalina. He says that the app is more like an intelligent photo curator. 'Apple doesn't know what your images include, but your device (including your Mac) knows how to present them to you and make them better,' said Evans in the review.
In short, it's clear that ComputerWorld loved whatever macOS Catalina is offering. The publication believes that the new version can improve the overall macOS and Apple experience.
Mac Catalina Review
'That's an augmentation that makes sense – not only will you continue to be able to do everything Macs ever have been capable of doing, but you'll also find your Mac becoming an increasingly personalised and trusted advisor, helping you make better decisions and offering advice when you hit the wall.'
AppleInsiderAppleInsider currently has the longest and most in-depth review of macOS Catalina. Daniel Eran Dilger has taken an in-depth look at every nook and corner of the new OS with equal focus on everything. And, boy, he loves Catalina!
Mac os journaled on pc. 'Apple's macOS Catalina is another ambitious refinement of the Mac featuring a fundamental rethinking of iTunes and an infusion of fresh ideas from iOS: from Sidecar to Continuity Sketch to Screen Time, a whole new world of Catalyst apps from iPad, and many more features under the hood. But note: Catalina is still in beta!'
Unlike some other reviews, the one from AppleInsider also takes a look at the Augmented Reality tools that Mac is now coming with. While they wholeheartedly welcome the appearance of some young apps, reviewer believes that Catalina deserves a visual overhaul.
'With all of its cash, you'd think Apple could give macOS Catalina a complete appearance refresh so that all of its bundled apps use a similar sidebar style with icons in an appropriately harmonious color palette in the same size, and with consistent controls that enable users to scale sidebar icons and text to their liking.'
10.15.2 Catalina Review Mac
The Catalina review from AppleInsider is probably the most critical ones we have seen. The reviewer seems to love the potentials of the new OS version despite the current flaws. The review ends with a precautionary note about public betas, but we know how that goes.
What's Your Take?
Mac Is
So, this is what tech reviewers across the globe are thinking about macOS Catalina. As we said, the final and public release of the OS is still a few months away and Apple may make slight changes. Of course, we don't expect a complete UI overhaul, but some things are bound to change. By the way, are you excited to check out the public beta of macOS Catalina?
