App Cleaner & Uninstaller 9.1: A 14-Year Journey by a Small Ukrainian Team—Stable, but Not Exactly "Cool"

2026-02-24 | ProductHunt | Official Site

30-Second Quick Judgment

What is this?: It helps you completely uninstall Mac apps—not just the .app file, but also the caches, logs, and preferences scattered across your Library. Version 9.1 adds AI app summaries and permission auditing.

Is it worth your attention?: If you're a Mac power user with dozens of apps and want to keep things tidy, this is much cleaner than just dragging files to the Trash. However, to be honest, the free AppCleaner and open-source Pearcleaner cover 80% of these needs. The "AI insights" in 9.1 are essentially just an integration with Apple Intelligence, not a proprietary breakthrough. The low heat on PH (8 votes) suggests it's a mature, stable, but not particularly exciting product.

Three Key Questions

Is it for me?

Target Audience: Mac users, especially non-techies who want a clean system—the type who install a bunch of trial software and don't know how to wipe it all out.

Do you fit?: You are the target user if:

• Your Mac is a few years old, your 256GB drive is full, and you need space.
• You frequently test new apps and want to uninstall them completely.
• You want to know which apps are secretly accessing your camera or microphone.

When would you use it?:

• Disk space is low → Use it to find and clear leftover files.
• After uninstalling an app → Use it to scan and ensure no junk remains.
• Auditing app permissions → Use the new 9.1 permission panel.
• Updating all apps at once → It works, but don't expect miracles; the update feature still needs polish.

Is it useful?

ROI Judgment: For most, free tools like AppCleaner or Pearcleaner are enough. If you value a "one-stop shop" for uninstalls, updates, and permission audits, $14.95/year is reasonable. But if you only uninstall apps occasionally, there's no need to pay.

Is it satisfying?

The "Aha!" Moment:

• Visualizing wasted space: Opening it up and seeing a full list of every app and its associated files gives you that "I didn't know my Mac was hiding this much junk" feeling.
• Permission transparency: The new 9.1 feature lets you see exactly which apps use your camera, mic, or full disk access, providing an instant sense of security.

Real User Feedback:

"The Essential Utility for Every Mac Owner — Apple's default suggestion is just dragging to the Trash, but that leaves a trail of hidden files. Nektony actually cleans it up." — Trustpilot User, Dec 2025

"Removes every single aspect of the unwanted app." — Long-term user review

The Critiques:

"(Regarding the early 2025 Remaining Files module) It's like using a flamethrower to kill a fly—it even tried to delete critical system files." — Macworld Review, 2025

Note: This issue has been addressed in the 2026 version.

For Independent Developers

Tech Stack

• Platform: Native macOS app (not Electron/cross-platform).
• Language: Likely a Swift/Objective-C mix (deeply integrated with AppKit, Foundation, etc.).
• Core Engine: Database-driven file matching—maintains a database of 20,000+ apps, mapping each to its specific file locations in the system.
• AI Component: Version 9.1 uses Apple Intelligence for app summaries; it's not a custom-trained model.
• System Integration: Uses Full Disk Access to scan Library directories and Automation permissions to control system settings.

Core Implementation

Essentially, it's a "file hunter." macOS apps only delete the .app bundle in /Applications when uninstalled, but caches live in ~/Library/Caches/, preferences in ~/Library/Preferences/, support files in ~/Library/Application Support/, and Launch Agents in ~/Library/LaunchAgents/. Nektony maintains a massive mapping database to know exactly where each app leaves its footprint.

This "database-driven" approach is more accurate than heuristic methods based purely on filenames, but it requires the team to constantly update the database as new apps are released.

Open Source Status

• Is it open source?: No.
• Similar Open Source Projects: Pearcleaner (Swift/SwiftUI, Apache 2.0 + Commons Clause), which is arguably more feature-rich—supporting Homebrew management, App Lipo, PKG management, etc.
• Build Difficulty: Medium. The core logic isn't complex (scanning Library + file matching), but the 20,000+ app database is the real barrier. Without the database, a basic heuristic version could be built in 2-3 weeks.

Business Model

• Monetization: Dual model of subscription + one-time purchase.
• Pricing: $14.95/year or ~$20 lifetime.
• User Base: 10M+ global installs.
• Revenue: Estimated annual revenue ~$957K.

Giant Risk

Medium-High. Apple could build a "Complete Uninstall" feature into macOS at any time—Linux package managers solved this long ago. Apple hasn't done it yet, likely because: (1) it's not a core priority; (2) it leaves room for the ecosystem. However, once Apple adds native cleaning, Nektony's core value proposition vanishes.

For Product Managers

Pain Point Analysis

• Problem Solved: macOS uninstallation leaves junk files that accumulate over time, eating space and slowing the system.
• Severity: Mid-frequency essential need. You don't uninstall apps every day, but 256GB MacBook Air users are genuinely plagued by space issues. This is a pain point Apple has yet to officially solve.

User Persona

• Core User: Non-technical Mac users who know their computer is slow/full but don't know how to fix it.
• Secondary User: Developers/Designers who frequently install and test various software.
• Edge User: Corporate IT admins needing to manage software across multiple Macs.

Feature Breakdown

Competitor Differentiation

Key Takeaways

1. Database-driven precision: More reliable than heuristic matching; the 20,000+ app mapping database is a genuine moat.
2. Permission Audit + AI Summary: Pivoting "Security" as a new selling point for cleaning tools, moving beyond just saving space.
3. Hybrid Pricing: Offering both subscription and one-time options caters to different consumer psychologies.

For Tech Bloggers

Founder Story

• Company: Nektony, founded in 2011 in Odessa, Ukraine.
• Origin: The team started with a Visio file viewer for Mac before pivoting to system cleaning tools.
• Team: ~11 people, remote-first across the globe, with core dev in Odessa.
• Highlights: Continued product delivery through the war; won a Red Dot Design Award in 2023; team includes Apple Certified Support Professionals (ACSP).
• Latest News: Released FireWally (Mac Firewall) in Dec 2025, continuing to expand their product line.

Discussion Angles

• "Small Ukrainian Team vs. 10M+ Users": An 11-person team reaching $957K ARR and 10M installs while being bootstrapped is a great indie dev story.
• "Should Apple build this?": Linux has had package managers for years; why hasn't Apple solved the residue problem? Is it beneath them, or a gift to the ecosystem?
• "The 2025 Safety Incident": The case of the Remaining Files module almost deleting system files, and how they recovered, is a great case study in product iteration.
• "The Rise of Open Source": With Pearcleaner gaining ground, can Nektony's paid model survive?

Heat Data

• PH Ranking: 8 votes (very low heat).
• Trustpilot: 5 stars / 231 reviews (strong reputation).
• Global Installs: 10M+.
• Slant Community: Ranked #3 for Mac uninstallation tools.

Content Suggestions

• Best Angle: "The Bootstrapped Survival of an 11-Person Ukrainian Team"—focusing on the team story will likely get more traction than the product itself.
• Practical Angle: "How much junk is your Mac hiding? A test of 5 uninstallation tools"—utility-based reviews always perform well.
• Trend Jacking: Low (this isn't a hot sector). However, if tied to Apple Intelligence privacy topics, the permission audit feature could be a hook.

For Early Adopters

Pricing Analysis

Money-Saving Tip: If you only uninstall apps once in a blue moon, AppCleaner or Pearcleaner are perfectly fine. Only pay the $14.95 if you want the "Update + Permission + Residue" suite.

Quick Start Guide

• Setup Time: 2 minutes.
• Learning Curve: Extremely low.
• Steps:
  1. Download from the site, open, and grant Full Disk Access.
  2. Wait for it to scan installed apps (1-2 minutes).
  3. Select the app to remove, click Remove, and you're done.

Known Issues

1. Unreliable Updater: Misses updates for many mainstream apps (WoW, Java, Minecraft, Dropbox, etc.); don't rely on it to replace manual updates.
2. Short Trial: 2 days is barely enough to test it once, compared to CleanMyMac's 7-day trial.
3. No Deletion Guidance: It lists all residues but doesn't rank them by importance; beginners still have to guess what's safe to delete.

Security & Privacy

• Data Storage: Local processing; no data is uploaded to the cloud.
• Apple Notarized: Fully certified by Apple.
• Safety Mechanism: Deletes to Trash by default (recoverable) and keeps a deletion history.
• Protects Personal Files: Uninstalling Photoshop won't delete your PSDs; uninstalling Office won't touch your Word docs.

Alternatives

For Investors

Market Analysis

• Sector Size: Computer cleaning software market was $1.2B in 2024; disk cleaning market was $1.3B in 2023.
• Growth: 10.4-11.5% CAGR through 2033.
• Drivers: Remote work, AI integration, subscription growth (+29% YoY), and increased personal device management needs.

Competitive Landscape

Timing Analysis

• Why now?: Version 9.1 leverages Apple Intelligence for permission audits and summaries to ride the AI wave. However, this differentiation is thin—Apple Intelligence is a system-level capability any app can call.
• Tech Maturity: Core cleaning tech is highly mature; 14 years of history means low technical risk.
• Market Readiness: Mac users are well-aware of cleaning tools; education costs are low.

Team Background

• Company: Nektony Limited, established 2011.
• Location: Odessa, Ukraine (Remote team).
• Size: ~11 people.
• Track Record: 15 macOS/iOS apps, 10M+ installs, Red Dot Award 2023, WWDC participants.
• COO: Yuriy Varbanets.

Funding Status

• Funding: No known external funding.
• Model: Bootstrapped.
• Estimated ARR: ~$957K.
• Valuation: Unknown.

Investment View: This is a classic "small and beautiful" bootstrapped SaaS—$957K revenue, 11 people, 14-year history. It's not a VC-scale play, but it's a very healthy lifestyle business. Main risks are Apple's native features and the squeeze from free open-source alternatives.

Conclusion

One-Sentence Verdict: App Cleaner & Uninstaller is a solid but unexciting Mac utility—a 14-year veteran that does its job well but faces fierce competition from free alternatives. The AI features in 9.1 feel more like trend-chasing than true innovation.

Resource Links

2026-02-24 | Trend-Tracker v7.3 | Data Sources: ProductHunt, Macworld, Trustpilot, Nektony Official, Crunchbase, SourceForge, Slant, CyberLab, Apple Community