CleanMyMac alternatives for developers (2026): which Mac cleaner understands Xcode, Docker and AI models
On a developer's Mac the space rarely goes to browser caches. It goes to Docker's disk image, model weights, simulator runtimes, build folders and package caches. The question is not only where the space went, but whether each folder comes back if you delete it. Here are ten tools developers actually reach for, with what each one knows about those folders.
- Disk maps (DaisyDisk, GrandPerspective, OmniDiskSweeper) show what is big. They do not say whether it is safe to delete.
- All-round cleaners (CleanMyMac, OnyX) target system and app junk. CleanMyMac now covers Xcode junk and Ollama and LM Studio models, but not Docker or the Hugging Face cache.
- Developer cleaners (Latent, DevCleaner, Mole, DevCleaner for Xcode, npkill) know specific tool folders. They differ in how many tools they cover, how they price, and whether they label each folder by risk.
The comparison
| Tool | Kind | Price | Developer folders it names | Says what is safe? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Latent | Developer and AI cleaner | Free scan and first 10 GB of cleanup; then $12.99 one-time, 3 Macs | 120+ tools: Xcode, Docker, Ollama, LM Studio, Hugging Face, npm, pip, Homebrew, coding agents | Yes: R, I or P per item, with the reason |
| CleanMyMac | All-round cleaner | $39.99/year (App Store, 1 Mac); one-time option sold too | Xcode junk, Ollama and LM Studio models, AI app junk | Smart Selection pre-picks what to remove |
| DevCleaner (devcleaner.app) | Developer cache cleaner, menu bar | Free tier; Pro $19.99/year or $59 lifetime, 3 Macs | 30+ tools: Xcode, Docker, Ollama, LM Studio, Hugging Face, project artifacts | Yes: Safe, Warning or Danger |
| Mole | Open-source CLI and a paid Mac app | CLI free (GPL-3.0); Mac app $19 one-time, 2 Macs | node_modules (CLI); simulator caches and unused Ollama models (app) | No per-item risk label on its pages |
| DevCleaner for Xcode | Xcode-only cleaner | Free (GPL-3.0) | DerivedData, Archives, Device Support, logs | Sorted by category; you choose |
| DaisyDisk | Disk map | $9.99 one-time | None by name | No |
| GrandPerspective | Disk map (treemap) | Free (GPL); $2.99 on the App Store | None by name | No |
| OmniDiskSweeper | Folders listed by size | Free | None by name | No |
| OnyX | System maintenance | Free (donations) | None; system caches and maintenance tasks | Not its job |
| npkill | CLI for node_modules | Free (MIT) | node_modules | Sorted by size; you choose |
Latent
Latent attributes every folder to the tool that made it, across 120+ developer and AI tools, and goes one level deeper than the folder: individual Ollama and Hugging Face models, simulator runtimes, device symbols, build caches and agent logs. Each item carries a mark. R rebuilds or re-downloads, checked against its source registry. I may hold your own work. P is never suggested. Removal goes to the Trash with an undo record, Homebrew, pip, npm, Conda and Docker items are removed with each tool's own command, and a built-in MCP server lets Claude Code, Codex or Cursor read the scan and draft a cleanup for you to confirm.
Good for: a Mac where the space is spread across models, Docker, Xcode and package caches, and you want each folder labelled before anything is removed. Keep in mind: it is new, it needs macOS 14 and Apple silicon, and after the first 10 GB, removing needs the one-time licence.
CleanMyMac
MacPaw's all-round cleaner covers system junk, app uninstalling, malware scanning and updates. Its knowledge base now lists "AI Junk Files" for Claude, Codex, Gemini and Cursor, and "Local Models" downloaded with Ollama and LM Studio, and its product page lists Xcode junk such as DerivedData and module caches. Its pages do not mention Docker or the Hugging Face cache.
Good for: general Mac upkeep with some developer coverage. Keep in mind: the main plan is a subscription ($39.99 a year on the US App Store; a one-time purchase is also sold), and it is built for every Mac user rather than around developer tools.
DevCleaner (devcleaner.app)
A menu bar app that sorts the caches of 30+ developer tools into Safe, Warning and Danger. The free tier runs the Safe quick clean; Warning and Danger items and project artifacts such as node_modules need Pro. It covers Xcode and simulators, Docker build cache and dangling images, Ollama, Hugging Face (per model) and LM Studio.
Good for: a quick, regular sweep of known-safe caches without paying. Keep in mind: Pro is $19.99 a year or $59 for life. Not to be confused with DevCleaner for Xcode below, which is a different, free app.
Mole
Mole started as an open-source command-line tool (mo) that cleans, uninstalls, analyzes and purges project folders such as node_modules. There is now also Mole for Mac, a separate paid app with a treemap, cleanup and a status monitor; its site says it can remove Ollama models unused for 30 days through ollama rm and clear simulator caches.
Good for: people who live in the terminal, or who want an inexpensive general cleaner with some developer awareness. Keep in mind: the CLI's README does not list Docker, Hugging Face or LM Studio cleanup, and the app is closed source and licensed for two Macs.
DevCleaner for Xcode
A free, open-source app on the Mac App Store that cleans what Xcode leaves in ~/Library/Developer: DerivedData, Archives, Device Support, documentation caches and old simulator and device logs. It also has a command-line mode.
Good for: iOS and macOS developers whose problem is mostly Xcode. Keep in mind: nothing outside Xcode, and Archives may hold the only dSYMs for builds you shipped.
DaisyDisk, GrandPerspective and OmniDiskSweeper
All three answer "what is big?" and leave the rest to you. DaisyDisk ($9.99) draws a fast, polished sunburst map and can also scan snapshots and cloud disks. GrandPerspective is a free, open-source treemap (also $2.99 on the App Store). OmniDiskSweeper is a free list of folders sorted by size.
Good for: finding the surprise 80 GB folder. Keep in mind: they do not know that ~/.ollama/models holds re-downloadable models while ~/Library/Developer/Xcode/Archives may hold the only copy of your crash symbols. Pair them with each tool's own cleanup command; our guide on freeing disk space on a developer Mac lists them.
OnyX
A free maintenance utility from Titanium Software: verifies the disk, runs maintenance scripts, clears system caches, rebuilds databases and exposes hidden settings. A separate build is released for each macOS version.
Good for: system upkeep. Keep in mind: it does not look at developer tool folders.
npkill
A free, MIT-licensed command-line tool: run npx npkill, and it lists every node_modules folder under the current directory by size so you can delete the ones you pick.
Good for: JavaScript developers with many dormant projects. Keep in mind: it handles node_modules only (other folder names with -t).
How to choose
- You only want to see what is big: DaisyDisk or GrandPerspective, then each tool's own command.
- Your problem is almost all Xcode: DevCleaner for Xcode, free.
- Your problem is node_modules: npkill, free.
- You want one app for general Mac upkeep: CleanMyMac or OnyX.
- Your disk fills with a mix of models, Docker, Xcode, package caches and agent logs: a developer cleaner that labels each folder. Latent (one-time $12.99, R/I/P marks, MCP for your coding agent) and DevCleaner (free tier for safe caches, Pro by subscription or $59 lifetime) are the two that cover all of these.
Whatever you use, the rule that keeps you out of trouble is the same: delete what the owning tool can rebuild or re-download, and leave what exists only on your disk.
Questions people ask
What is the best CleanMyMac alternative for developers?
It depends on where your space goes. If it is a mix of Xcode, Docker, local AI models and package caches, a developer-aware cleaner such as Latent or DevCleaner names each folder's owner and says whether it comes back. If it is mostly Xcode, the free DevCleaner for Xcode is enough. If you only want to see what is big, use a disk map such as DaisyDisk or GrandPerspective and delete through each tool's own command.
Is there a free CleanMyMac alternative for developers?
Yes. GrandPerspective and OmniDiskSweeper show what is big for free, DevCleaner for Xcode cleans Xcode data for free, the Mole command-line tool and npkill are free and open source, and every developer tool has its own cleanup command. Latent is free to scan and the first 10 GB of cleanup is free.
Does CleanMyMac clean Xcode, Docker and AI models?
According to MacPaw's own pages, CleanMyMac clears Xcode junk such as DerivedData and module caches, models downloaded with Ollama and LM Studio, and junk files from AI apps such as Claude, Codex, Gemini and Cursor. Its pages do not mention Docker or the Hugging Face cache.
Do disk visualizers like DaisyDisk tell you what is safe to delete?
No. DaisyDisk, GrandPerspective and OmniDiskSweeper show how big each folder is. Whether a folder rebuilds itself or holds the only copy of something is left to you.
See what your Mac holds, tool by tool
Latent is free to scan, and your first 10 GB of cleanup is free. One-time license after that, three Macs.
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