FileMayor vs CleanMyMac X.
They sound similar — both touch your files. They are not the same tool. CleanMyMac is excellent at one thing: removing system junk and app remnants. FileMayor is a different shape entirely: it organises your working filesystem, plans moves with AI, and provides a full undo journal for every operation. Most people who use one end up using both.
The decision matrix.
| FileMayor | CleanMyMac X | |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | macOS · Windows · Linux · CLI · PWA | macOS · Windows (limited) |
| Pricing | Free · Pro $19/mo · Team $99/mo | $39.95/yr or $9.99/mo (MacPaw) |
| Primary function | Filesystem organisation, bulk ops, AI planning | System junk removal, app uninstaller, malware scan |
| AI planning | ✓ Curative Triad — explain → cure → apply | ✗ |
| Rollback | ✓ Full session journal · undo --all | ✗ No undo for cleaned files |
| File organisation | ✓ Sort, move, rename, dedupe at scale | △ Limited — focuses on system files, not user folders |
| CLI access | ✓ 14 commands, --json everywhere | ✗ |
| MCP / AI tool integration | ✓ Claude Desktop, Cursor, Zed | ✗ |
| Safety architecture | Chevza Doctrine — 6-layer hardened runtime | Standard app sandboxing |
| Telemetry | ✓ None | Usage analytics (opt-out available) |
| Best for | Organising folders, managing projects, AI-driven curation | Freeing disk space, removing app leftovers, quick system scan |
System cleanup, not folder work.
If your goal is to reclaim gigabytes from caches, remove app remnants after uninstalling software, or run a quick malware scan, CleanMyMac X is a polished and well-maintained solution. The UI is thoughtful, and MacPaw has a long track record on macOS. It does what it does very well.
When the mess is in your folders, not the system.
Downloads folder with 4,000 files. A project directory that grew without a plan. A media library that spans three drives. These are not CleanMyMac problems — they are FileMayor problems. FileMayor scans the structure, explains what it finds, proposes a cure, and applies it only after you approve, with every move journaled so undo is always one command away.
Add the fact that FileMayor runs on Windows and Linux and exposes a full CLI and MCP server, and the two tools occupy completely different niches.
CleanMyMac tidied the system. The folders are still a mess.
CleanMyMac users often reach FileMayor the same way: the system is clean, the app is happy, but the Downloads folder still has 3,000 files and no structure. CleanMyMac cannot help there — and it should not try. That is what FileMayor is for.
- →No guesswork — FileMayor explains every proposed change before touching a file.
- →Any mistake is undoable — the full session journal means undo --all is always available.
- →Works where you work — macOS, Windows, Linux, and inside your AI assistant via MCP.
From chaos to structure in one session.
CleanMyMac freed 4 GB from caches. Now FileMayor handles the Downloads folder that has been accumulating for two years.
$ filemayor scan ~/Downloads
Scanned 3,847 files in 1.4s
◆ Diagnosis
• 412 duplicate files (2.1 GB recoverable)
• 890 files unmodified for 18+ months → archive candidates
• 1,204 files with no folder structure (flat root dump)
• 23 broken symlinks
◆ Proposed cure
[1] Archive 890 stale files to ~/Downloads/_archive/2023/
[2] Deduplicate 412 files, keeping newest → saves 2.1 GB
[3] Sort remaining 2,545 files by type into subfolders
[4] Remove 23 broken symlinks
Apply? [y/N] y
✓ 3,847 operations journaled. Run `filemayor undo --all` to reverse.FileMayor vs CleanMyMac — FAQ.
- Is FileMayor better than CleanMyMac X?
- They solve different problems. CleanMyMac X removes system junk, app remnants, and macOS clutter. FileMayor organises your working folders — Downloads, project directories, media libraries — with AI-planned bulk operations and a full undo journal. Most people benefit from both, not one or the other.
- Can FileMayor replace CleanMyMac?
- No, and it is not trying to. CleanMyMac handles system caches, malware scans, and app uninstallation — none of which FileMayor touches. FileMayor focuses entirely on organising your user filesystem. Run CleanMyMac monthly for system hygiene; use FileMayor whenever a folder needs structure.
- Does FileMayor remove system junk or caches?
- No. FileMayor never touches system directories, app caches, or macOS internals. Its scope is your user filesystem: the folders you create and manage. The Chevza Doctrine — FileMayor's six-layer safety architecture — explicitly prohibits operations on protected system paths.
- Is FileMayor free?
- Yes. FileMayor has a permanent free tier with no time limit. Pro adds watch mode, scheduled scans, and advanced deduplication at $19/month. CleanMyMac X starts at $39.95/year with no free tier (trial only).
- Does FileMayor work on Windows and Linux?
- Yes — macOS, Windows, Linux, and a PWA. CleanMyMac X is macOS-focused (Windows version has limited features). If your team spans operating systems, FileMayor gives a consistent CLI and MCP interface everywhere.
Run CleanMyMac monthly to clear system debris. Use FileMayor whenever you need to actually restructure, organise, or make sense of a folder. They do not compete.