Both are free ways to remove a Mac app along with the files it leaves in your Library. AppCleaner is a small, focused uninstaller you drop apps onto. LaunchingPad is an app launcher that uninstalls apps from the same grid you open them from, and also tracks updates and organizes your apps.
Side by side
| LaunchingPad | AppCleaner | |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | Bogdan Farca | FreeMacSoft |
| Price | Free | Free download, with optional donations |
| Requires | macOS 26 Tahoe or later | macOS 15 or later (version 3.7) |
| How you uninstall | Right-click an app in the grid, or select it and press ⌘ Delete | Drop an app onto the AppCleaner window |
| Finds leftover files | Yes, listed with sizes; you untick what to keep | Yes, listed before deleting |
| Protects system apps | Yes | Yes |
| Update checks | Yes: Mac App Store, Homebrew Cask and self-updating apps | No |
| App launcher and folders | Yes | No |
| App Info: signing, notarization, permissions | Yes | No |
| Get it | launchingpad.app | freemacsoft.net, or brew install --cask appcleaner |
When AppCleaner is the better fit
If all you want is a tiny uninstaller and nothing else, AppCleaner has done that one job for years, and it’s still maintained: version 3.7 arrived in September 2026. It also runs on macOS 15 Sequoia, which LaunchingPad doesn’t, and it can remove the disk image an app was running from.
When LaunchingPad is the better fit
If you’re on macOS 26 Tahoe or later and miss Launchpad, LaunchingPad replaces it and handles uninstalling in the same place. You see the app, its leftover files and their sizes before anything is removed, and you can check its signature and permissions in App Info first. It also shows which apps have updates, which AppCleaner doesn’t. How uninstalling works in LaunchingPad →
Questions
Is there a free alternative to AppCleaner for macOS Tahoe?
Yes. LaunchingPad is free, needs macOS 26 Tahoe or later, and uninstalls apps together with their leftover files from its app grid. AppCleaner itself also still runs on current macOS: version 3.7 supports macOS 15 and later.
Can I use LaunchingPad and AppCleaner together?
Yes. They don’t conflict. If you remove an app with AppCleaner, LaunchingPad notices it’s gone and takes it off the grid without disturbing your folders.
Does LaunchingPad work on macOS 15 Sequoia?
No. LaunchingPad needs macOS 26 Tahoe or later. On Sequoia, AppCleaner is the one to use.