Tidey vs CleanMyMac vs Hazel: Which Mac Cleaner is Right for You?

Choosing the Right Mac Cleanup Tool

There are dozens of Mac "cleaner" apps, but they solve different problems. This comparison focuses on three popular options:

Tidey - Desktop/Downloads file triage

CleanMyMac X - System cleaning and optimization

Hazel - Automated file organization rules

Let's break down when to use each.

Quick Comparison

FeatureTideyCleanMyMac XHazel Primary UseFile triageSystem cleaningAutomation rules Price$9.99 (one-time)$89.95/year$42 (one-time) Learning CurveVery easyEasyModerate SubscriptionNoYesNo Desktop/Downloads FocusYesPartialConfigurable System Junk CleaningNoYesNo Malware RemovalNoYesNo Menubar AppYesNoBackground

Tidey: Best for Desktop Triage

What It Does

Tidey lives in your menubar and helps you quickly review files from Desktop and Downloads. For each file, you see a preview and choose: Delete or Keep.

Strengths

Incredibly fast - Triage 50 files in 3 minutes

Visual preview - See files before deciding

One-time price - $9.99, no subscription

Privacy-focused - No data leaves your Mac

Lightweight - Tiny resource footprint

Limitations

Only focuses on Desktop/Downloads

Doesn't clean system files

No automation rules

Best For

People with cluttered desktops

Quick daily/weekly cleanup

Users who hate subscriptions

Minimalists who want a simple tool

Try Tidey →

CleanMyMac X: Best for System Cleaning

What It Does

CleanMyMac X is a comprehensive Mac maintenance tool. It finds and removes system junk, old caches, mail attachments, and more. Also includes malware scanning and app uninstallation.

Strengths

Deep system cleaning - Finds hidden junk

All-in-one tool - Many utilities included

Malware protection - Basic security scanning

Polished UI - Beautiful, Mac-native interface

Limitations

$89.95/year subscription - Expensive for occasional use

Can be overzealous - Sometimes suggests deleting useful caches

Overkill for simple needs - Many features you won't use

Doesn't help with file decisions - Focuses on automated cleaning

Best For

Power users wanting deep system maintenance

People with storage-constrained Macs

Users who want malware protection included

Those who don't mind subscriptions

Hazel: Best for Automation

What It Does

Hazel watches folders and automatically performs actions based on rules you create. For example: "Move PDFs older than 30 days to Archive folder."

Strengths

Powerful automation - Complex rules possible

Set and forget - Works in background

One-time purchase - $42, no subscription

Highly customizable - If you can describe it, Hazel can do it

Limitations

Requires setup time - You build the rules

No visual triage - Files move without review

Learning curve - Moderate complexity

Can cause problems - Bad rules = files in wrong places

Best For

Technical users who love automation

People with predictable file workflows

Those who want hands-off organization

Users comfortable with rule-based systems

Head-to-Head Scenarios

Scenario 1: "My desktop has 100 files I need to sort"

Tidey: Open app, triage each file visually, done in 5 minutes ✓

CleanMyMac: Won't help with this specific problem

Hazel: Would need rules pre-configured, moves files without review

Winner: Tidey

Scenario 2: "My Mac is running out of storage"

Tidey: Helps clear Desktop/Downloads, but limited scope

CleanMyMac: Finds system junk, caches, mail attachments across entire Mac ✓

Hazel: Only organizes, doesn't identify waste

Winner: CleanMyMac X

Scenario 3: "I want files to auto-organize as I download them"

Tidey: No automation, manual triage only

CleanMyMac: Limited folder watching

Hazel: Perfect for this, create rules once and forget ✓

Winner: Hazel

Scenario 4: "I want a simple, cheap solution"

Tidey: $9.99 one-time, dead simple ✓

CleanMyMac: $89.95/year, many features you won't use

Hazel: $42 one-time, but requires setup

Winner: Tidey

Can You Use Multiple Tools?

Absolutely. Many Mac users combine:

Tidey for quick daily/weekly desktop cleanup

Hazel for background automation of predictable files

CleanMyMac for occasional deep system cleaning

These tools don't conflict with each other.

Pricing Breakdown

One-Time Cost (Lifetime)

ToolPricePer Year (3 years) Tidey$9.99$3.33 Hazel$42$14 CleanMyMac X$89.95$89.95

Over 3 years:

Tidey: $9.99 total

Hazel: $42 total

CleanMyMac: $269.85 total

My Recommendation

For most people: Start with Tidey ($9.99). It solves the most common problem (cluttered Desktop/Downloads) at the lowest cost. If you find yourself wanting automation, add Hazel later. For power users: Combine Tidey + Hazel. Quick manual triage plus background automation covers all bases. For storage problems: CleanMyMac X is worth it if you're constantly running out of space and want deep system cleaning.

Conclusion

There's no single "best" Mac cleaner—it depends on your problem:

ProblemSolution Cluttered Desktop/DownloadsTidey Mac storage fullCleanMyMac X Want automated organizationHazel Want simple + cheapTidey

The good news: you can start small. Try Tidey for $9.99, see if it solves your problem, and upgrade to other tools only if needed.

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Ready to triage your desktop? Get Tidey for a one-time $9.99 and clean up in minutes.