MacPaw Review 2026: Pros, Cons and Verdict
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By Mohamed Zaki · Researched and updated October 28, 2026 · Coupons Scout may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.
This MacPaw review is for Mac owners deciding whether to buy CleanMyMac, Setapp or another MacPaw app. MacPaw started in 2008 with CleanMyMac and now also makes Moonlock antivirus, ClearVPN, Gemini 2 and more. We read MacPaw’s own pages, support articles and refund policy in October 2026 to explain prices, the free trial, the difference between plans and who MacPaw suits. Before you buy, check our MacPaw coupon page for current codes.
Quick Verdict
Our score: 4.4/5 · Popular Mac utilities with a 7-day free trial and clear refund windows
MacPaw makes CleanMyMac, Moonlock, ClearVPN, Gemini 2 and Setapp. As of October 2026, CleanMyMac starts at $3.33/month, its 7-day trial unlocks every feature, and you can choose a subscription or a one-time purchase. MacPaw Store purchases can be refunded within 30 days, or 14 days for monthly subscriptions, but renewals are not refundable.
Best for: Mac owners who want to clean up storage, remove apps and check for malware, and who like to try an app before paying.
Consider an alternative if: you tend to forget trials: the website trial asks for payment details and the paid plan starts automatically unless you cancel.
Key Takeaways
- MacPaw is a Mac software company founded in 2008 with CleanMyMac, and as of October 2026 its apps include CleanMyMac, Moonlock, ClearVPN, Gemini 2, The Unarchiver, Encrypto and the Setapp subscription.
- As of October 2026, CleanMyMac starts at $3.33/month, needs macOS 11 or later and is notarized by Apple, according to MacPaw’s CleanMyMac page.
- CleanMyMac’s 7-day free trial unlocks all features, but on MacPaw’s website it asks for payment details and the paid plan starts automatically unless you cancel.
- MacPaw’s refund policy gives 14 days from the initial purchase for subscriptions billed monthly or more often, and 30 days for other purchases; automatic renewal payments are not refundable.
- Setapp, MacPaw’s app subscription, lists plans from $14.99/month for 1 Mac to $22.99/month for 4 Macs and 4 iOS devices, each with a 7-day free trial, as of October 2026.
- We rate MacPaw 4.4 out of 5 for Mac owners who want cleanup and utility apps with a full-featured free trial before paying.
MacPaw at a Glance
| Detail | MacPaw |
|---|---|
| Best for | Mac owners who want cleanup, antivirus and utility apps |
| Main apps | CleanMyMac, Moonlock, ClearVPN, Gemini 2, The Unarchiver, Encrypto, Setapp |
| CleanMyMac price | Starting at $3.33/month |
| Free trial | 7 days, all features; payment details needed on the website |
| Plan types | Annual or monthly subscription, one-time purchase, or Setapp |
| Refund window | 30 days (14 days for subscriptions billed monthly or more often) |
| System requirement | CleanMyMac: macOS 11 or later, 320 MB |
From MacPaw’s CleanMyMac page, support articles and refund policy, October 28, 2026.
What Is MacPaw and Who Is It For?
MacPaw is a software company that makes apps for Mac, and some for iPhone and iPad. Its about page says the company began in 2008, when then-student and future CEO Oleksandr Kosovan developed CleanMyMac, and that its headquarters is in Kyiv with an office in Boston. MacPaw says that every 5th Mac on Earth has one of its apps installed.
MacPaw suits:
- Mac owners short on storage who want CleanMyMac to clear junk, remove apps and tidy cloud storage.
- Users who want malware checks through CleanMyMac or the Moonlock antivirus.
- People who use many Mac apps and prefer one Setapp subscription to separate licenses.
- Careful buyers who want a 7-day free trial and a clear refund window before committing.
MacPaw Review: The Main Apps
What Does CleanMyMac Do?
CleanMyMac is MacPaw’s best-known app. Its Smart Care feature is described as a Mac optimization routine that performs five tasks in one. MacPaw says the app can spot and remove malware hidden in seemingly innocent software, uninstall apps without leaving a trace, take control of clutter and clean up your cloud storage. It needs macOS 11 or later and 320 MB, and MacPaw says it is notarized by Apple.
What Is Setapp?
Setapp is MacPaw’s app subscription. Instead of buying apps one by one, you pay one fee and get hundreds of Mac apps, according to the Setapp pricing page. CleanMyMac is part of the collection, and MacPaw’s support page says current and future major CleanMyMac upgrades are included at no extra cost on Setapp.
What Are Moonlock and ClearVPN?
Moonlock is MacPaw’s Mac antivirus. Its page lists real-time protection, a malware scanner and a VPN, with 7 days free and then plans starting at $54/year. It needs macOS 13 or higher. ClearVPN is MacPaw’s VPN app for iOS, macOS, Windows, Android, Chrome, Apple TV, Android TV and routers, and its homepage says you can connect up to 6 devices per account.
Which Other Apps Does MacPaw Make?
MacPaw’s homepage also lists Gemini 2 for duplicate and similar files, The Unarchiver for archive formats, and Encrypto, which encrypts files with AES-256 for sharing with Mac and Windows users. CleanMy®Phone finds similar and duplicate photos on iPhone and iPad.
MacPaw Pricing in 2026
MacPaw shows starting prices on its product pages and the full plan list at checkout in the MacPaw Store. Here is what the pages we read list, as of October 2026.
| Product or plan | Price | Includes | Free trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| CleanMyMac | Starting at $3.33/month | Cleanup, app removal, malware checks | 7 days |
| Moonlock | Starting at $54/year | Real-time protection, malware scanner, VPN | 7 days |
| Setapp Mac | $14.99/mo plus tax | 1 Mac, 1,000 AI credits | 7 days |
| Setapp Mac + iOS | $18.99/mo plus tax | 1 Mac, 4 iOS devices, 1,000 AI credits | 7 days |
| Setapp Power User | $22.99/mo plus tax | 4 Macs, 4 iOS devices, 2,000 AI credits | 7 days |
Prices as shown on MacPaw’s CleanMyMac page, the Moonlock page and the Setapp pricing page, October 28, 2026. Setapp prices are billed monthly; Setapp says yearly billing saves up to 40%.
Should You Choose a Subscription or a One-Time Purchase?
It depends on whether you want future versions. MacPaw’s purchase options page says a one-time purchase gives you a CleanMyMac plan without an expiration date, but includes only updates and fixes for your current major version; a future major version is offered at a special price. An annual or monthly subscription includes future major upgrades, and renewals happen automatically. On Setapp, major CleanMyMac upgrades are included at no extra cost.
How Can You Pay Less for MacPaw Apps?
- Start with the free trial. Use the 7-day trial to check that CleanMyMac or Moonlock fits your Mac before you pay.
- Use a promo code. Our MacPaw coupon page lists current codes and offers. MacPaw’s refund policy says coupons must be entered before checkout, so apply yours first.
- Bundle MacPaw apps. MacPaw Store buyers can get other MacPaw products at a 30% discount.
- Pick yearly billing on Setapp. Setapp says yearly billing saves up to 40%.
- Choose the right plan. If you rarely upgrade, a one-time purchase avoids renewals; if you want new versions, a subscription includes them.
Free Trial vs Paid Plan: What to Know
How Does the CleanMyMac Free Trial Work?
MacPaw’s trial article says CleanMyMac comes with a free 7-day trial in which you can use all modules and features without limitation. When you start the trial on MacPaw’s website, you provide your email and payment details; the App Store does not require them. The paid plan starts automatically unless you cancel, and you can only have one trial.
How Do You Cancel Before You Are Charged?
For website purchases, MacPaw says to click the arrow below the CleanMyMac logo and choose Cancel Subscription. For App Store purchases, cancel in the App Store’s subscription settings. Set a reminder for day 6 so you have time to decide.
What Is the MacPaw Refund Policy?
MacPaw’s refund policy gives subscriptions billed every month or more often 14 days from the initial purchase to ask for a refund, and all other customers 30 days. Refunds do not apply to automatic renewal payments, to software bought for the wrong platform or to price drops after you buy. Approved refunds should appear on your card statement within 7 to 10 business days. Purchases made through the App Store are refunded by Apple, and Setapp purchases follow Setapp’s own support guidance.
Pros and Cons of MacPaw
✅ What We Like
- 7-day free trial that unlocks every CleanMyMac feature, according to MacPaw’s support page.
- Choice of an annual or monthly subscription, or a one-time purchase with no expiration date.
- 30-day refund window for most MacPaw Store purchases, such as annual or one-time plans.
- MacPaw Store buyers can get other MacPaw products at a 30% discount.
- Wide range of Mac apps: CleanMyMac, Moonlock, ClearVPN, Gemini 2, The Unarchiver and Encrypto.
- Setapp includes CleanMyMac with major upgrades plus hundreds of other apps in one subscription.
- CleanMyMac is notarized by Apple and runs on macOS 11 or later.
💡 Things to Consider
- The website trial asks for payment details and converts to a paid plan; set a reminder to cancel before day 7 if you do not want to keep it.
- Automatic renewal payments are not refundable; turn off auto-renewal if you only want one billing period.
- Subscriptions billed monthly have a shorter 14-day refund window; pick an annual or one-time plan if you want 30 days.
- A one-time purchase covers only the current major version; choose a subscription or Setapp if you want future upgrades included.
MacPaw’s strengths are a full-featured free trial, flexible plans and a 30-day refund window on most purchases. The things to consider are mostly about billing, and each has a simple fix: set a trial reminder, turn off auto-renewal if you only want one period, and pick an annual or one-time plan if you want the longer refund window.
How We Rated MacPaw
| Criterion | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|
| App range | 4.6/5 | Cleanup, antivirus, VPN, duplicate finder, archive and encryption apps, plus Setapp. |
| Free trial | 4.5/5 | 7 days with all CleanMyMac features; payment details needed on the website. |
| Plan flexibility | 4.5/5 | Annual or monthly subscription, one-time purchase or Setapp. |
| Refund policy | 4.2/5 | 30 days for most purchases, 14 days for monthly plans, no refunds on renewals. |
| Pricing transparency | 4.0/5 | CleanMyMac shows a starting price; full plan prices appear in the MacPaw Store. |
| Overall | 4.4/5 | Popular Mac utilities with a 7-day free trial and clear refund windows |
How we score: we read MacPaw’s homepage, about page, CleanMyMac page, support articles, refund policy, Setapp pricing page and Moonlock and ClearVPN pages on October 28, 2026. Scores reflect this research of brand pages, not use of the apps or a sponsorship, and no company reviewed this article.
MacPaw Store vs App Store vs Setapp
You can get CleanMyMac in three places, and MacPaw’s support pages say they differ in pricing, billing and features. This table sums up what we found.
| Where you buy | Plan types | Major upgrades | Refunds handled by |
|---|---|---|---|
| MacPaw Store | Annual or monthly subscription, one-time purchase | Included with a subscription; special price for one-time buyers | MacPaw (30 days, or 14 days for monthly plans) |
| Mac App Store | Subscription or one-time purchase | See the App Store listing | Apple |
| Setapp | Setapp subscription from $14.99/mo | Included at no extra cost | Setapp support |
From MacPaw’s purchase options, editions and refund pages and the Setapp pricing page, October 28, 2026.
MacPaw’s editions page notes that the App Store version slightly differs, with some features missing. For more software buying tips, browse our shopping guides.
Final Verdict: Is MacPaw Worth It?
We think so, for Mac owners who want cleanup and utility apps they can try before paying. We rate MacPaw 4.4 out of 5. CleanMyMac starts at $3.33/month, the 7-day trial unlocks every feature, and most MacPaw Store purchases come with a 30-day refund window. Set a reminder before your trial ends and turn off auto-renewal if you only want one billing period.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does CleanMyMac cost?
As of October 2026, MacPaw’s CleanMyMac page lists a starting price of $3.33/month. Full plan prices, including one-time purchase options, appear in the MacPaw Store at checkout.
Is there a CleanMyMac free trial?
Yes. CleanMyMac comes with a 7-day free trial that unlocks all features, according to MacPaw’s support page. On the website you enter payment details, and the paid plan starts automatically unless you cancel.
What is the MacPaw refund policy?
As of October 2026, MacPaw gives 14 days from the initial purchase for subscriptions billed monthly or more often, and 30 days for other purchases. Automatic renewal payments are not refundable, and App Store purchases are refunded by Apple.
Is a one-time purchase of CleanMyMac better than a subscription?
It depends. MacPaw says a one-time purchase has no expiration date but covers only the current major version, while a subscription includes future major upgrades and renews automatically.
How much does Setapp cost?
As of October 2026, Setapp’s pricing page lists $14.99/mo for 1 Mac, $18.99/mo for 1 Mac plus 4 iOS devices and $22.99/mo for 4 Macs and 4 iOS devices, plus tax, each with a 7-day free trial.
Is MacPaw software safe to install?
MacPaw says CleanMyMac is notarized by Apple, and its page lists 29 million downloads. As with any Mac utility, download it from MacPaw’s website, the App Store or Setapp, and read what each cleanup step removes before you confirm.
Are there MacPaw promo codes?
Yes. Our MacPaw coupon page lists current codes and offers. Enter the code before checkout, because MacPaw does not apply coupons after purchase.
Weighing other options? See our MacPaw Alternatives and Competitors.
Comparing more stores in this category? See Top Mac Utility Software and Virtualization Tools.
About the author: Mohamed Zaki, Founder & Chief MarTech Strategist, Coupons Scout. Mohamed Zaki is the founder of Coupons Scout and leads how the team finds deals and researches the software behind them. He focuses on marketing technology, automation tools and ways to pay less for them.
Editorial note: this article is based on research of brand product pages, help centers and policies, last checked October 28, 2026. Scores are our editorial opinion. Coupons Scout may earn a commission from some links, which never changes our rankings.
Sources
Brand pages we used for this article, checked October 28, 2026. Prices and plans can change, so confirm on the brand’s own website before you buy.
