CleanMyMac is a paid, all-in-one Mac maintenance app. LaunchingPad is a free app launcher that also manages your apps. They overlap in two places, uninstalling apps and checking for updates, and differ in almost everything else.
Side by side
| LaunchingPad | CleanMyMac | |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | Bogdan Farca | MacPaw |
| Price | Free | Paid: subscription or one-time purchase, with a 7-day trial ($39.99 a year on the Mac App Store) |
| Requires | macOS 26 Tahoe or later | macOS 11 or later |
| Uninstall with leftover files | Yes, listed with sizes; you untick what to keep | Yes, including files outside the Applications folder |
| Leftovers of apps deleted long ago | No | Yes |
| Update checks | Mac App Store, Homebrew Cask, self-updating and Microsoft apps | Yes |
| Installing updates | One app at a time, through each app’s own update path | Installs updates for you, except Mac App Store apps and macOS |
| System junk cleanup, malware scanning | No | Yes |
| App launcher and folders | Yes | No |
| App Info: signing, notarization, permissions | Yes | No |
| Get it | launchingpad.app | macpaw.com, Mac App Store, Setapp, or Homebrew |
When CleanMyMac is the better fit
If you want one app that looks after the whole Mac, CleanMyMac does far more: system junk cleanup, malware removal, large and duplicate files, memory and CPU tools, and an updater that installs most app updates for you. It also finds leftovers from apps you deleted long ago, and supports macOS back to Big Sur.
When LaunchingPad is the better fit
If what you need is to keep your apps organized, remove the ones you don’t use and see which need updates, LaunchingPad does that for free, from the grid you already open apps from. It shows exactly which files go before an uninstall, and App Info shows an app’s signature, notarization and permissions before you decide. How update checks work →
Questions
Is there a free alternative to CleanMyMac’s uninstaller and updater?
Yes. LaunchingPad is free and covers both: it uninstalls apps with their leftover files and shows which apps have updates. It doesn’t clean system junk or scan for malware.
Does LaunchingPad clean system junk or scan for malware?
No. LaunchingPad manages apps: launching, organizing, uninstalling, update checks and App Info. For cache cleanup and malware scanning, a maintenance app such as CleanMyMac is the tool for the job.
Can I use LaunchingPad and CleanMyMac together?
Yes. They don’t conflict. LaunchingPad keeps its own layout and notices when apps are removed or updated by other tools.