MacKeeper alternative: Peekaboo vs MacKeeper
By Vishva Variya · Updated
MacKeeper bundles a lot under one subscription: a malware scanner with real-time protection, a VPN, an ad blocker, and the cleaning tools (junk files, duplicates, an uninstaller, a memory cleaner). It’s $10.95 a month or $71.40 a year for one Mac, with no one-time option. Peekaboo covers the cleanup half, paid once, and leaves security to macOS and the tools you choose for it.
Looking for MacKeeper itself? It’s at mackeeper.com.
- MacKeeper price
- From $10.95/month or $71.40/year (subscription only)
- MacKeeper requires
- macOS 10.15 or later
- Peekaboo
- $24.99 one-time (launch price $9.99 until Nov 13), 14-day trial, macOS 14+
MacKeeper figures from mackeeper.com and mackeeper.com/pricing, verified 2026-11-03.
Why pick Peekaboo over MacKeeper?
Pay once
Peekaboo is a one-time licence after a 14-day trial. MacKeeper renews automatically, monthly or yearly.
Know what you’re deleting
App Caches explains every folder before anything moves, Clean Up says why each file is suggested, and the Space Map shows where the rest of the space went.
Undo, always
Every cleanup is a recorded session in the Trash. One click puts it all back.
Peekaboo vs MacKeeper, job by job
| Job | MacKeeper | Peekaboo |
|---|---|---|
| Malware scan, antivirus, VPN, ad blocker | MacKeeper: Included | Peekaboo: Not offered |
| Junk files and caches | MacKeeper: Yes | Peekaboo: App Caches, each folder explained, risky ones marked Check First |
| Duplicates and uninstaller | MacKeeper: Yes | Peekaboo: Yes, with look-alike photos and leftovers of deleted apps |
| Disk map and health score | MacKeeper: Not on its feature list | Peekaboo: Space Map, Disk Usage and Mac Health |
| Undo a cleanup | MacKeeper: Not described on its site | Peekaboo: One click |
| Price | MacKeeper: $10.95/month or $71.40/year, renews automatically | Peekaboo: One-time per Mac |
The honest verdict
If you want antivirus, a VPN and cleanup from one vendor on one bill, MacKeeper is built for that and Peekaboo isn’t. If you mainly want space back and a tidy Mac, Peekaboo does it without a subscription, explains what it removes, and lets you undo it.
MacKeeper vs Peekaboo: questions
Is MacKeeper a subscription?
- Yes. Its pricing page offers 1 month for $10.95, 12 months for one Mac at $71.40 or 12 months for three Macs at $89.40, renewing automatically, with a 14-day money-back guarantee, as of November 3, 2026.
How do I remove MacKeeper?
- Quit it, uninstall it from its own menu or drag it to the Trash, then remove its leftovers in ~/Library. Our guide walks through each step.
Does Peekaboo include antivirus?
- No. Peekaboo has no malware scanning. macOS includes XProtect, which updates on its own.