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Skip CleanMyMac: Clean Your Mac for Free with Mole
Mole is a free, open-source terminal tool for macOS that handles disk cleanup, app uninstalling, and system monitoring in one place.
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When you get a new Mac, the usual next step is buying CleanMyMac, DaisyDisk, or iStat Menus. But there is a completely free and open-source terminal tool that does all of this on its own: Mole.
What Is Mole?
Mole is a terminal-based utility built for macOS. It brings disk cleaning, app uninstalling, disk analysis, and live system monitoring together under a single interface. Compared to paid alternatives it is lighter, and because it is open source you can inspect the code whenever you want.
How to Install
Installing Mole requires Homebrew first. Homebrew is a package manager for macOS that lets you install tools quickly from the terminal.
Head to Mole's GitHub repository and find the Quick Start section. Open Terminal, paste the install command listed there, and Homebrew will download and set everything up automatically.
What Can It Do?
Once installed, typing mole in the terminal opens an interactive menu with the following options:
Clean – Disk Cleanup
Mole scans your system for unnecessary cache files, temporary data, and leftover junk. Run mole clean --dry-run first to see a preview of how much space can be recovered without making any changes. In the video, a scan of 2,389 files across 75 categories revealed 11 GB of recoverable space. After running the actual clean, 8.33 GB was freed.
Uninstall – Full App Removal
Dragging an app to the Trash leaves behind cache folders and support files. Mole's Uninstall option lists all installed applications, lets you choose one, and removes it completely after you enter your password — no leftover files.
Analyze – Disk Analysis
Mole shows which folders and file types are consuming the most disk space in a clear, text-based output. It is a quick way to understand where your storage is going.
Status – System Monitoring
The Status screen gives you a real-time view of CPU, memory, and disk usage. Think of it as a terminal-native version of iStat Menus.
How Does It Compare to Paid Alternatives?
For disk cleaning in particular, Mole holds up well against paid tools like CleanMyMac. If you are not comfortable with the terminal and prefer a graphical interface, paid apps are still a valid choice — but it is hard to overlook what Mole offers for free.
Conclusion
You do not need to pay a subscription every year to keep your Mac tidy. Mole is a powerful, no-cost alternative for anyone comfortable typing a few commands in the terminal. The Quick Start section in its GitHub repository walks you through setup step by step. Give it a try and share what you think in the comments.