AppCleaner alternative: Peekaboo vs AppCleaner
By Vishva Variya · Updated
AppCleaner has been the answer to “how do I uninstall a Mac app properly?” for years, and it costs nothing. Drop an app on its window, it lists the files that came with it, and one button removes the lot. Version 3.7 needs macOS 15, and older builds go all the way back to 10.10. Peekaboo also uninstalls apps with their leftovers, but as one part of a paid app that looks after the rest of your disk too.
Looking for AppCleaner itself? It’s at freemacsoft.net.
- AppCleaner price
- Free (donations welcome)
- AppCleaner requires
- macOS 15 (3.7); 3.6.8 for macOS 10.14 to 15.6 or later
- Peekaboo
- $24.99 one-time (launch price $9.99 until Nov 9), 14-day trial, macOS 14+
AppCleaner figures from freemacsoft.net/appcleaner, verified 2026-11-02.
Why pick Peekaboo over AppCleaner?
Apps you deleted long ago
AppCleaner works on the app you drop on it. Peekaboo also scans for folders in ~/Library that no installed app owns any more, the remains of apps that went to the Trash months ago, and checks each folder is untouched before offering it.
Asked when you trash an app
Turn on “Review leftovers when an app is deleted” and Peekaboo has the leftovers waiting for you to confirm the next time an app lands in the Trash.
Homebrew apps stay in sync
Apps installed with Homebrew are removed with Homebrew, once you allow permanent removal in Settings, so brew doesn’t still list them. The leftovers you pick, like everything else Peekaboo removes, go to the Trash.
Peekaboo vs AppCleaner, job by job
| Job | AppCleaner | Peekaboo |
|---|---|---|
| Removing an app and its files | Drag the app onto the window, then delete | Pick the app in the App Uninstaller (⇧⌘X), review, remove |
| Leftovers of apps already deleted | Not described on its site | Scans ~/Library for folders no installed app owns |
| Apps installed with Homebrew | Not described on its site | Removed with Homebrew itself |
| Caches, duplicates, disk map | Outside its scope | App Caches, Duplicates, Space Map and Disk Usage |
| Price and macOS | Free; 3.7 for macOS 15, older builds to 10.10 | One-time per Mac after a 14-day trial; macOS 14 or later |
The honest verdict
If uninstalling the odd app is all you need, AppCleaner is free, tiny and does it well, and there’s no reason to pay Peekaboo for that alone. Peekaboo earns its price when you also want the leftovers of apps you deleted long ago, Homebrew apps handled by Homebrew, and the rest of the disk (caches, duplicates, big folders) cleared in the same window.
AppCleaner vs Peekaboo: questions
Is AppCleaner free?
- Yes. freemacsoft.net offers it as a free download with an optional PayPal donation, as of November 2, 2026.
Which AppCleaner version do I need?
- Version 3.7 is for macOS 15 and later; 3.6.8 covers macOS 10.14 up to 15.6, and older builds go back to 10.10. Peekaboo needs macOS 14 Sonoma or later.
Does Peekaboo delete an app’s files permanently?
- No. The app and its leftovers go to the Trash, so you can restore them until you empty it. Apps installed with Homebrew are removed by Homebrew itself.