Important: scope
These tools clean disk space and uninstall apps. Pearcleaner is closest to AppCleaner's job, while BleachBit does not run on macOS.
Alternatives / AppCleaner
3 open-source alternatives
3 Best Open Source AppCleaner Alternatives in 2026
Looking for an open source AppCleaner alternative? We compared 3 open source cleaning tools by license, platforms, and scope. They remove caches, leftovers, and junk files, but none bundles AppCleaner's antivirus or VPN.
Written by Maxime DERAME
Last updated:
Best AppCleaner alternatives at a glance
| Alternative | Best for | License |
|---|---|---|
| Mole | Cleaner and uninstaller (app is paid) | GPL-3.0 (CLI) |
| Pearcleaner | Uninstaller that removes leftovers | Apache-2.0 + Commons Clause |
| BleachBit | Junk cleaner for Linux and Windows | GPL-3.0+ |
How we chose these AppCleaner alternatives
We looked for open-source tools that clean caches and remove apps with their leftovers. We verified each project's license, recent activity, stars, and platforms in its repository. See our methodology for the full criteria.
Mac tools
Mole is a native Mac app that cleans caches, uninstalls apps with leftovers, maps disk usage, and shows system metrics. The CLI is open source, and the app is a paid one-time purchase. Pearcleaner is a Mac uninstaller that finds orphaned files and development artifacts and adds a Homebrew manager.
Cross-platform
BleachBit cleans caches, cookies, history, and logs from many applications, with file shredding and free-space wiping, on Linux and Windows rather than macOS.
Important: licenses
Pearcleaner is Apache-2.0 with a Commons Clause restriction that prevents monetizing the app, so it is source available. It needs Full Disk Access and supports macOS 13 to 15. Mole's open-source part is the CLI, and its app requires macOS 14 or later.
License details
Mole's CLI is GPL-3.0. Pearcleaner is Apache-2.0 with the Commons Clause. BleachBit is GPL-3.0 or later.
Maintenance status
All three had commits within weeks of this update.
Why look for a AppCleaner alternative?
AppCleaner is a free, closed-source Mac uninstaller. Open-source alternatives let you inspect the code and add features such as Homebrew management, but come with their own license caveats.
mole.fit
Mole is a free, open-source command-line toolkit for macOS that cleans caches and logs, uninstalls apps with their leftovers, analyzes disk usage, and optimizes the system, combining CleanMyMac, AppCleaner, DaisyDisk, and iStat Menus style workflows. This repository is the GPL-3.0 CLI. A separate native Mole for Mac app adds a graphical interface, live CPU, memory, GPU, and battery monitoring, and fan control for a one-time $19 license covering two Macs.
72.1K2.5KGPL-3.0 (CLI)macOS app
Pricing: Free open-source CLI; native Mole for Mac app is a one-time $19 purchase covering 2 Macs.
- Cleanup, uninstalling, disk analysis, and monitoring in one tool
- Free GPL-3.0 command-line version
- Very large and active community
- The graphical app is paid and not in the open-source repository
- macOS only
itsalin.com
Pearcleaner is a free, source-available Mac app cleaner with drag-and-drop uninstalling, orphaned file detection, Homebrew management, language pruning, and CPU architecture stripping. It is licensed under Apache 2.0 with the Commons Clause, which prohibits monetizing the software or modified versions.
14.9K394Apache-2.0 + Commons ClausemacOS app
Pricing: Free.
- Thorough app removal including orphaned and developer files
- Homebrew management and language pruning
- Free
- Source available, not standard open source
- macOS only, and a personal hobby project
bleachbit.org
BleachBit frees disk space and protects privacy by deleting caches, cookies, history, logs, and temporary files across thousands of applications, shredding files, wiping free space, and optimizing Firefox. It runs on Linux and Windows and is licensed under GPL-3.0 or later.
7.2K470GPL-3.0+Desktop app
Pricing: Free and open source.
- Cleans thousands of applications
- File shredding and free space wiping
- Linux and Windows
- No registry repair or startup manager like CCleaner
- Advanced options can delete data you need
Compare AppCleaner alternatives
| Alternative | Type | License | Platform | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mole | Mac utility | GPL-3.0 (CLI) | macOS 14+ | All-in-one Mac cleaning |
| Pearcleaner | Mac uninstaller | Apache-2.0 + Commons Clause | macOS 13-15 | Removing apps cleanly |
| BleachBit | System cleaner | GPL-3.0+ | Linux, Windows | Non-Mac systems |
Which one should you choose?
Want to remove apps completely
Pearcleaner finds orphaned files and watches the Trash for leftovers.
Want an all-in-one Mac utility
Mole combines cleanup, uninstalling, and disk analysis, with a paid app and an open CLI.
Clean a Linux or Windows machine
BleachBit supports thousands of applications and file shredding.