Mac guides

Looking for a Pearcleaner alternative? What changed, and your options

By Qiffe · Tested on macOS 27.0.1,

Pearcleaner has been one of the most popular free app uninstallers for the Mac: source-available, packed with features, and free. If you’re looking for an alternative, it’s probably for one of three reasons below. Here’s what’s going on and what you can use instead.

Disclosure: Qiffe makes Doff, one of the alternatives on this page.

What changed with Pearcleaner

As of October 2026:

  • The project is on hold. Its own README now carries the status “On Hold”. The developer explains that development “has basically stopped since end of 2025”, that they no longer have a Mac for development, and that issue responses, pull request reviews and new releases are on hold indefinitely. They also say it isn’t abandoned for good and that they’d like to return someday.
  • The latest release is 5.4.3, published on November 26, 2025.
  • macOS 27 problems are piling up. Open GitHub issues include “Can’t use on macOS 27” and a report that the glass effect renders incorrectly on macOS 27.
  • Fake download sites. The README warns that the only legitimate website is itsalin.com. A lookalike site, pearcleaner.com, was reported as pushing malware, and an issue reported a download link being replaced with a malicious one.

None of this takes away from what Pearcleaner is: a generous, feature-rich free app. But an uninstaller works deep inside your Library folders and sometimes with administrator rights. That’s exactly the kind of tool you want to be maintained and tested on the macOS version you run.

What to look for in a replacement

  • Tested on current macOS. It should state which macOS version it supports, and update for new ones.
  • Leftovers, not just the app. Containers, caches, preferences, logs, and background items like launch agents.
  • Orphans. Leftovers of apps you already deleted, including launch daemons and privileged helpers that can keep running as root.
  • Reversible. It should move things to the Trash or offer an undo, not delete them outright.
  • Careful matching. Shared data, such as group containers used by another app from the same developer, should not be removed by default.
  • A trustworthy source. Signed, notarized and downloaded from the developer’s own site.

Alternatives

Doff (ours)

Doff is a native uninstaller built and checked on macOS 27.

  • Catches apps you trash. Drag an app to the Trash and Doff asks whether its leftovers should go too.
  • Shows the footprint. It shows how much space an app really takes and where.
  • Finds orphans. It finds leftovers of apps you already deleted, including launch daemons and helpers that can keep running as root, using a helper you approve once in System Settings.
  • Everything goes to the Trash. History lets you put it back.
  • Careful matching. Only confident matches are preselected. Shared data and iCloud Drive folders never are, and Apple’s files are off-limits.
  • Price: free to scan, $12.99 once to remove. No telemetry. It needs macOS 15 or later.

Pearcleaner has features Doff doesn’t, such as Homebrew management, architecture stripping and a development-environment manager. If you rely on those, Doff only covers the uninstalling part.

AppCleaner

AppCleaner by FreeMacSoft is the classic free choice. Drop an app on its window and it lists related files to delete. Version 3.7 supports macOS 15 and later. We compare it in AppCleaner alternatives.

Doing it by hand

You don’t need any app to uninstall cleanly; it just takes longer. Our guide on how to completely uninstall apps on a Mac lists every folder to check. For leftover background services, see LaunchDaemons on Mac: what they are and how to remove them.

Should you uninstall Pearcleaner?

Not necessarily. If it works for you and you downloaded it from the official source, it keeps doing what it did. Just keep in mind that new macOS versions may break more of it, and fixes may not come. If you do remove it, Pearcleaner has its own self-uninstall option.

Questions

Is Pearcleaner still maintained?

Its README marks the project as on hold: the developer writes that development basically stopped at the end of 2025 and that new releases are on hold indefinitely. The latest release is 5.4.3 from November 2025.

Does Pearcleaner work on macOS 27?

Users have opened issues about it on GitHub, including one titled "Can't use on macOS 27" and one about the glass effect rendering incorrectly on macOS 27. With releases on hold, fixes may not come.

Where can I safely download Pearcleaner?

Its README says the only legitimate website is itsalin.com, and that other sites offering downloads are scams; pearcleaner.com was reported as a fake site pushing malware. If you install it, use the official GitHub releases or that site.