Pearcleaner: Open Source System Cleanup & Optimization

What is Pearcleaner?

What it is

Pearcleaner is a free, source-available, fair-code licensed macOS application written in Swift and listed under Productivity & Utilities / System Cleanup & Optimization. It is described as a Mac app cleaner inspired by Freemacsoft's AppCleaner and by Sun Knudsen's Privacy Guides post about an app-cleaner script. The project's homepage is hosted at itsalin.com, and the repository states that this is the only legitimate website owned by the author.

The concrete problem it addresses is the incomplete removal of macOS applications and their leftover files. It helps users uninstall apps and search for orphaned files, while also providing tools for Homebrew, PKG, plugins, services, updates, and app bundle cleanup. The app requires Full Disk permission to search files and a privileged helper to perform actions on system folders.

Key capabilities

Pearcleaner can uninstall macOS applications and search for orphaned files left behind by them.
It includes a Homebrew manager, PKG manager, plugin manager, services manager, and app updater for package and component cleanup.
It supports drag-and-drop app removal, command-line use, and deep link automation.
A Finder Extension lets users trigger uninstall actions from right-click menus, and the app can also uninstall itself.
It can prune unused app translations, strip unneeded architectures from universal apps, and export app bundles or file lists.
Sentinel Monitor can automatically clean up files when apps are moved to Trash, using about 2MB of RAM.

Who uses it and how

Mac users who want to remove an application and its leftover files can drag the app into Pearcleaner or use the Finder Extension for right-click uninstall.
Users who manage Homebrew, PKG, plugins, services, or app updates can use the included managers from the same interface.
Users who prefer automation can combine CLI support and deep links, while Sentinel Monitor can clean up files when apps reach Trash.
Users who need to customize cleanup behavior can include or exclude directories, adjust search sensitivity, and use a theme system with custom colors.

Getting started

The README points to precompiled, always up-to-date versions available from the project's releases, and the author states that itsalin.com is the only legitimate website for information.

When to use it — and when not to

Pearcleaner is useful when a Mac user wants a free, source-available, fair-code licensed cleaner inspired by Freemacsoft's AppCleaner and can accept a personal, opinionated app. It is a poor fit when someone needs active maintenance, because the repository states that development, issue responses, feature work, pull-request reviews, and releases are on hold indefinitely, while the project is not abandoned entirely and the author may return if circumstances change. It also requires macOS 13 or newer, Full Disk permission, and a privileged helper, so it is unsuitable for older systems or environments that cannot grant those permissions.

project readme (upstream, from github) — read inline

Pearcleaner

Website

The only legitimate website owned by me is https://itsalin.com. Anything else offering Pearcleaner downloads is either a scam or not affiliated with me. More details HERE.

Project Status: On Hold

As you may have noticed, development on the app has basically stopped since end of 2025, so I wanted to provide some context.

Between a new job, joining a friend who is building a SaaS company, and other life priorities, I no longer have the time needed to actively maintain or continue development on the project.

Another major reason is that I previously relied on my work MacBook for development. After changing jobs, I no longer have access to a Mac device that I can use for personal development work, which means I’m currently unable to build, test, or release updates for the app.

Because of that, issue responses, feature work, PR reviews, and new releases are effectively on hold indefinitely for now.

The project is not abandoned entirely, and I’d still like to return to it someday if circumstances change. For now though, I want to be transparent that active development is no longer possible on my end.

Thank you to everyone who has used the app, reported issues, submitted ideas, or contributed. I genuinely appreciate all of the support the project has received.

Status: On Hold
Version: 5.4.3
Download · Commits

A free, source-available and fair-code licensed Mac app cleaner inspired by Freemacsoft's AppCleaner and Sun Knudsen's Privacy Guides post on his app-cleaner script. This project was born out of wanting to learn more on how macOS deals with app installation/uninstallation and getting more Swift experience. If you have suggestions I'm open to hearing them, submit a feature request!

Features

Core

App Uninstall • Orphaned File Search • Development Environment Manager • File Search • Homebrew Manager • App Lipo • PKG Manager • Plugin Manager • Services Manager • Apps Updater
Drag/drop apps, CLI support, and deep link automation view
List or Grid view with badges for web/iOS apps
Finder Extension for right-click uninstall
Pearcleaner self-uninstall and other options

Utilities

Prune unused app translations, keeping only preferred languages
Strip unneeded architectures from universal apps without requirement of lipo binary from xcode tools
Sentinel Monitor: Automatic cleanup when apps hit Trash (~2MB RAM)
Export app bundles and file lists
Basic Steam games support

Customization

Theme system with custom colors
Include/exclude directories for searching
Adjustable search sensitivity

Screenshots

Issues

[!WARNING]

When submitting issues, please use the appropriate issue template corresponding with your problem HERE

Issues with no template will be closed

This is a personal/hobby app, therefore the project is fairly opinionated. Opinion-based requests (e.g., “the layout would look better this way”) will not be considered.

Requirements

[!NOTE]

Full Disk permission to search for files

Privileged Helper to perform actions on system folders

macOS Version	Codename	Supported
13.x	Ventura	✅
14.x	Sonoma	✅
15.x	Sequoia	✅
26.x	Tahoe	✅
TBD	Beta	❌

Versions prior to macOS 13.0 are not supported due to missing Swift/SwiftUI APIs required by the app.

Getting Pearcleaner

Releases

Pre-compiled, always up-to-date versions are available from my releases page.

Homebrew

You can add the app via Homebrew:

brew install --cask pearcleaner

Translations

If you are able to contribute to translations for the app, please see this discussion: https://github.com/alienator88/Pearcleaner/discussions/137

License

[!IMPORTANT] Pearcleaner is licensed under Apache 2.0 with Commons Clause. This means that you can do anything you'd like with the source, modify it, contribute to it, etc., but the license explicitly prohibits any form of monetization for Pearcleaner or any modified versions of it. See full license HERE

Thanks

Much appreciation to Freemacsoft's AppCleaner and Sun Knudsen's app-cleaner script for the inspiration
DharsanB for sponsoring my Apple Developer account

Some of my apps

Pearcleaner - An opensource app cleaner with privacy in mind

Sentinel - A GUI for controlling gatekeeper status on your Mac

Viz - Utility for extracting text from images, videos, qr/barcodes

PearHID - Remap your macOS keyboard with a simple SwiftUI frontend

Frequently asked questions

Is Pearcleaner free to use?

Pearcleaner is open source. There is no licence fee and no seat count — you can self-host it or, where the project offers one, pay a vendor for a managed version instead.

What does Pearcleaner do?

Remove Mac apps and all their leftover files

What is Pearcleaner written in?

Pearcleaner is primarily written in Swift. Its source is publicly available at https://github.com/alienator88/pearcleaner, and it has 14,653 GitHub stars.