Mole alternative: Peekaboo vs Mole
By Vishva Variya · Updated
Mole is the developer’s cleaner: a free, GPL-licensed Terminal tool that cleans caches and logs, uninstalls apps, analyzes the disk, shows system status and purges build folders like node_modules, with a dry-run flag to see first. Its author also sells Mole for Mac, a separate app at $19 for two Macs. Peekaboo is a native app first, aimed at the same space with more of a safety net.
Looking for Mole itself? It’s at mole.fit.
- Mole price
- Free CLI (GPL-3.0); Mole for Mac $19 one-time for 2 Macs
- Mole requires
- macOS 12 (CLI); macOS 14 (app) or later
- Peekaboo
- $24.99 one-time (launch price $9.99 until Nov 13), 14-day trial, macOS 14+
Mole figures from github.com/tw93/Mole (README) and mole.fit, verified 2026-11-03.
Why pick Peekaboo over Mole?
Trash, not gone
Mole’s CLI deletes cleaned caches and purged folders permanently. Peekaboo sends your files to the Trash as one recorded cleanup you can undo; permanent removal, for things that can’t go to the Trash, stays off until you turn it on.
Explained, folder by folder
App Caches says what each cache is and what you’ll notice if it goes, and marks the ones with side effects Check First.
Beyond caches
Duplicates, look-alike photos, forgotten downloads and old installers, plus plain-English search over all your files.
Peekaboo vs Mole, job by job
| Job | Mole | Peekaboo |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | Mole: Terminal (free) or a separate $19 app | Peekaboo: Native Mac app |
| Caches and logs | Mole: mo clean, permanent by default in the CLI | Peekaboo: App Caches, each explained, to the Trash |
| Developer build folders | Mole: mo purge for node_modules, target and more | Peekaboo: Developer caches such as Xcode, npm and Docker, explained |
| Duplicates | Mole: Not offered | Peekaboo: Exact copies and look-alike photos |
| System status | Mole: mo status: CPU, memory, disk, network, processes | Peekaboo: Mac Health with a 0–100 score and a week of history |
| Price and macOS | Mole: CLI free on macOS 12+; app $19 for 2 Macs on macOS 14+ | Peekaboo: One-time per Mac after a 14-day trial; macOS 14 or later |
The honest verdict
If you live in Terminal and want a free, scriptable cleaner, Mole is excellent and costs nothing. If you’d rather click than type, see what each cache is before it goes, find duplicates and undo a cleanup you regret, Peekaboo is the friendlier route.
Mole vs Peekaboo: questions
Is Mole free?
- The command-line tool is free and open source under GPL-3.0, installed with brew install mole. Mole for Mac, the separate app, is a $19 one-time licence for 2 Macs, per mole.fit on November 3, 2026.
Does Mole delete files permanently?
- Its README says uninstall, analyze and slim move items to the Trash, while clean, purge and installer delete them permanently. Use --dry-run to preview.
Which sites distribute Mole?
- Only Homebrew, its GitHub repository and mole.fit, per the README, which names look-alike domains that aren’t Mole.