The best apps to clean up Xcode on a Mac (2026)
Quick answer
For Xcode specifically: DevCleaner for Xcode if you want free and open source, Derived if simulators are your biggest problem or you want it to work around running builds, and CleanMyMac CLI if you live in Terminal. CleanMyMac suits people who already pay for it for general Mac cleanup, and DaisyDisk is for seeing what's big anywhere on the disk. You can also do all of it free by hand.
Derived is our app. Facts about the other apps come from their own websites, App Store listings and GitHub pages, checked on October 3, 2026 (sources at the end). Prices and features change, so check before you buy. If something here is out of date, email us and we'll fix it.
At a glance
| App | Price | Type | Xcode items it names | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Derived | Free scan, $9.99 once | Mac app | DerivedData (by project), simulator runtimes and devices, archives, Device Support, SwiftPM / CocoaPods / Carthage caches | Simulators, and not breaking a running build |
| DevCleaner for Xcode | Free (optional tips) | Mac app + CLI, open source | DerivedData (by project), archives, Device Support, documentation cache, old logs | Free and open source |
| CleanMyMac | Subscription, from $3.33/month | Mac app | DerivedData, Module Cache, "other Xcode junk" | People who want one general Mac cleaner |
| CleanMyMac CLI | Free (public beta) | Terminal | DerivedData, Device Support, Module Cache, documentation cache | Terminal users and scripts |
| DaisyDisk | $9.99 once | Mac app | None (general disk map) | Seeing what's big anywhere on the disk |
| The manual way | Free | Finder + Terminal | Everything, one command at a time | One-off cleanups |
Derived
A Mac app built only for Xcode's data. It shows every DerivedData folder by its real project name with when you last built it, lists simulator runtimes and devices with size and last use (removed through Apple's simctl), and covers archives, Device Support and package caches. Before each delete it re-checks: it skips projects open in Xcode, folders a process is using, and waits while a build runs. Archives only ever go to the Trash.
- Price: scanning is free; cleaning is $9.99 once for 3 Macs.
- Requires: macOS 14 or later. Direct download, signed and notarized.
- Missing: no command-line tool, and it doesn't clean documentation caches or logs.
DevCleaner for Xcode
A long-running, free and open-source (GPL-3.0) app by One Minute Games on the Mac App Store. It covers DerivedData sorted by project, archives with their submission and notarization status, Device Support, the documentation cache and old simulator and device logs. It includes a command-line tool and can remind you to scan.
- Price: free, with optional in-app tips.
- Requires: macOS 14 or later. Version 2.8.0 (November 2025).
- Note: simulator runtimes and package caches aren't mentioned on its listing.
More detail: Derived vs DevCleaner.
CleanMyMac
MacPaw's general Mac cleaner. Its System Junk cleanup includes Xcode: its page says cleaning "Derived Data, Module Cache, and other Xcode junk" frees space and can resolve build issues. It does much more than Xcode, which is the point if you want one app for the whole Mac.
- Price: subscription, starting at $3.33/month; free download.
- Note: its System Junk page doesn't mention simulators, Device Support or archives.
CleanMyMac CLI
A separate terminal tool from MacPaw for developer caches. Its README lists Xcode DerivedData, Device Support, Module Cache and the documentation cache, among other developer caches. It shows what it found with sizes, lets you review and confirm before anything is removed, and has an ignore list. It's proprietary (not open source).
- Price: free while in public beta.
- Requires: macOS 11 or later and Homebrew (
brew install --cask cleanmymac-cli).
DaisyDisk
Not an Xcode cleaner: a disk space analyzer that shows your whole disk as rings, so you can see which folders are big and delete them yourself. Useful for finding things Xcode cleaners don't look at.
- Price: $9.99 once, with a free trial. Direct or Mac App Store.
- Requires: macOS 10.13 or later, Apple silicon and Intel.
- Note: it doesn't know what's safe to delete in Xcode's folders; you decide.
The manual way (free)
Everything above can be done by hand. The biggest wins first:
xcrun simctl runtime delete --notUsedSinceDays 180 --dry-run
xcrun simctl delete unavailable
rm -rf ~/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/*Step-by-step guides: simulator runtimes, DerivedData, Device Support, package caches and archives.
How to choose
- Free and open source matters most: DevCleaner for Xcode.
- Simulators are most of your space (they were 49 of 60 GB on our test Mac), or you clean during the workday: Derived.
- You script everything: CleanMyMac CLI, or the manual commands above.
- You want one cleaner for the whole Mac: CleanMyMac.
- You don't know what's big yet: DaisyDisk, or Derived's free scan for Xcode's part.
Sources
- DevCleaner for Xcode: Mac App Store, GitHub
- CleanMyMac: System Junk page
- CleanMyMac CLI: GitHub
- DaisyDisk: daisydiskapp.com
Questions
What is the best free Xcode cleaner?
DevCleaner for Xcode is free and open source. CleanMyMac CLI is free while in beta. And the manual commands cost nothing.
Do I need an app to clean Xcode?
No. Every folder can be cleared by hand; our guides show how. Apps help you see what each folder is, pick what's safe, and avoid deleting during a build.
Is it safe to use a cleaner on Xcode's folders?
Mostly yes: DerivedData, caches, Device Support and simulators all come back. Be careful with archives, which hold the dSYMs you need for crash reports.
Which one handles simulator runtimes?
Of the apps here, Derived names simulator runtimes and devices on its site. For the others it isn't mentioned on their pages; xcrun simctl does it by hand.