Long time Mac users have one problem in common, that is duplicates files in the system that not only clutters the precious space but also colonize it unnecessarily. The situation is most common amongst the photographers and those people who love to keep memories intact in the system. If these photos are not sorted now or kept in an organized manner, there could take up your precious system space. And you don’t want that to happen, right? Now the question comes how should I delete photos from Mac and which is the best duplicate photo finder for Mac. Keep scrolling, and you will find your answer regarding duplicate photo finder for Mac soon.
Apeaksoft Mac Cleaner is the powerful Mac cleaning and managing software which can help you remove any junk/unnecessary/old/large files on Mac and keep Mac system in good state. It can also clean emails, unneeded iTunes backups, find and remove duplicate files, and uninstall seldom used apps. App Cleaner & Uninstaller s a free tool to delete apps on Mac completely and safely. Uninstall programs and delete leftovers of already removed apps.
Before we move ahead, let’s clear the concept of duplicate photos about why they are created and how they interrupt in the workflow.
How Are Duplicate Photos Created?
No one creates duplicate photos in their Mac unless needed, yet they show up in the system. How? Well, they could be because of:
- Mistakenly downloaded multiple times from the browser.
- You might have copied these photos from one location to another but forgot to delete from the original location.
- If the photos are edited multiple times, they are created with different names and even extensions.
- If you are not able to locate the downloaded initially photos and new photos are downloaded once again.
These are the most popular ways photos are duplicated, and the need for duplicate photo cleaner tools rises.
How To Remove Duplicate Photos From Mac?
Although you can go for the manual method to remove duplicate photos, it is always recommended to use one of the best duplicate photos finders for Mac to save time, energy and precious space instantly.
Manual Method: In the case of manual method to remove duplicate photos on Mac:
Step 1: You can open Finder > go to Apple menu from the top bar > select File > New Smart Folder.
Step 2: Click ‘+’ icon from the top right corner > select Kind > Any (Images). As the images are detected, you can pull them down in the Trash.
However, this method still may leave the traces of duplicate photos on the Mac, especially if they are available in different file formats, and there are similarities between the pictures. It is best to go on an excellent duplicate photo finder for Mac and get rid of unnecessary duplicates in a quick snap.
Best Duplicate Photo Finder Mac 2021
1. Duplicate Photos Fixer Pro
USP: Overall best duplicate photo cleaner tool
One of the best duplicate pictures cleaner, this product by Systweak is well-trusted and easy to use. It allows you to add individual photos, photos library or even a folder. It not only provides the result for duplicates but similar files (for example, clicking in burst mode, slightly photoshopped, identical with less than 100 meters, etc.)
Once you select the folder/photos, you can customize the search results as per your requirements. You are free to slide the bar for Matching Level, Bitmap Size, Time Interval in which the pictures were clicked and GPS to change the geolocation. All this in one tool merely is ecstatic. Scan for the duplicates and similar photos and get the results displayed in a very organized fashion to avoid any confusion.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ● Finds duplicate as well as similar photos to save Mac’s space. ● Self-navigating interface ● Results are displayed in a group-wise manner. | ● Cannot be used without paying $1.99 |
2. Gemini 2
USP: Cleans other duplicate files along with duplicate photos
Many Mac users choose Gemini 2 as smart duplicate photos cleaner. This laser-accurate tool helps in recovering a lot of space in the system when you add a folder or tons of images for the process. While scanning is done at lightning speed, all duplicate and similar photos are displayed on the screen in a few moments.
They say “Your photos matter, their copies don’t”, and it stands true when Gemini 2 is installed as one of the best duplicate photo finders for Mac. Gemini 2 is simple with a smart and robust algorithm, and this is why it is an excellent choice for many users.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ● Compatible interface for newbies as well as experienced users. ●Image similarity detection ● Cleans duplicates from an external drive | ● Consumed more system resources as compared to others. |
3. Easy Duplicate Finder
USP: Capable of removing duplicates from cloud
Starting with a very simple and clean interface, these duplicate pictures cleaner can be comfortably used by newbie’s and experts alike. The backup of powerful technology allows you to search for any kind of duplicates from in or outside the system, be it HDD, SSD or Cloud. Interestingly, it works multi-platform like Windows and Mac and applies to emails, videos, music, Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.
If you talk about image formats, JPEG, TIFF, BMP, PNG and GIF are all supported. Once scanned, you have a plethora of options to sort the files. Advanced filters could be applied to find the duplicate photos with this best duplicate photo finder for Mac.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ● Cleans duplicate pictures, videos and music. ● More than 10 scan modes for file management ● Can find duplicates from iPhotos and Photos | ● Quite slow and expensive when compared with others. |
Apple Mac Cleaner
4. Duplicate File Finder Remover
USP: Preview, compare and merge duplicates
This duplicate photo finder for Mac by Nektony has a fast scanning algorithm that makes it stand out in the list. It can easily find duplicates in multiple folders and drivers simultaneously and even supports external drives. When the results are displayed after the scanning, they can be searched by file type, file list and even viewed in the form of chart reporting.
Its Free version has options to view all the duplicate photos in the Mac, get a visual report, check the cleanup hints, and even delete the duplicate files in the Trash. When the Pro version is being discussed, this duplicate photo remover mac software offers to remove similar photos, merge folders and even restore the removed duplicates.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ● Easy customization options ● Gives you an option to preview the files. ● Lively and navigable interface | ● Advanced features can be used only after payment. |
5. PhotoSweeper X
USP: Cleans duplicate videos and photos
How would you like to have a duplicate pictures cleaner that can sort the gallery and even auto-lock the sorted pictures? Interesting, right? PhotoSweeper X is indeed a fantastic duplicate photo finder for Mac that deletes duplicates and similar photos while also analyzing iPhoto.
Once the photos are scanned and displayed, you can bulk rename the files when moving to some other folder. As the personal customization options are vast, viewing of photos could be made according to ‘One by One’, ‘Face to Face’ and ‘All in One’. The removal of photos is also pretty safe as they can be restored from the Trash unless you have emptied the Trash all over.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ● Supports a wide range of formats, including RAW, HEIC, PDF, DNG, etc. ● Flexible and multiple settings ● Cleans duplicate photos and videos from an external drive | ● There have been reports of constant crashes. |
6. Cisdem Duplicate Finder +
USP: Crystal clear representation with charts
If you wonder why this tool is one of the best duplicate photos finders for Mac, you should know that it helps in finding ‘real’ search results were not just the file names are compared but also the content within so that accuracy is maintained. Apart from finding duplicate photos in the library, it also scans all the internal and external hard drives.
It is wonderful to know that scanning speed is faster when compared to other tools, and all the scanningresults are displayed in real-time. When all the duplicates are mentioned in chart format, it becomes easier for user to understand which photos are taking so much space in the Mac.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ● Very easy to use interface that entices the users ● Shows results for image similarity ● Fast scanning saves time | ● One cannot exclude a folder from scanning. |
7. Duplicate Photo Cleaner
USP: Simple to use for Newbies as well as Professionals
One would love to have this amazing duplicate photo remover for mac tool in their Mac, which by the way also supports Windows, for its image similarity finding function. The image comparison algorithm is super smart with special scan mode, flexible settings and much more options that it offers to its users.
In fact, professional photographers and other professionals alike keep trying their hands on this duplicate cleaner tool for their help and get the whole gallery sorted.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ● Smart multi-platform utility ● Organises the pictures in different albums ● Easy to use interface | ● Very less advanced features when compared. |
8. Easy Duplicate Finder
USP: Capable of removing duplicates from cloud
Starting with a very simple and clean interface, these duplicate pictures cleaner can be comfortably used by newbie’s and experts alike. The backup of powerful technology allows you to search for any kind of duplicates from in or outside the system, be it HDD, SSD or Cloud. Interestingly, it works multi-platform like Windows and Mac and applies to emails, videos, music, Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.
If you talk about image formats, JPEG, TIFF, BMP, PNG and GIF are all supported. Once scanned, you have a plethora of options to sort the files. Advanced filters could be applied to find the duplicate photos with this best duplicate photo finder for Mac.
9. Disk Drill
USP: Add multiple locations and folders at a time
This duplicate photo finder for Mac is easy to install and understand to find duplicate photos and other files as may need to be removed. For your ease, you can quickly search the files with filters that mention ‘Auto’, ‘Old’ or ‘Newest’ files. If you select the ‘Oldest’ option here, all the oldest duplicates will be removed, and new ones will be kept intact.
Probably called the best free duplicate photo cleaner because of the free trial version that doesn’t ask you to invest first handedly and saves an optimum amount of space quickly.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ● Easy to use ● Finds duplicate images, files, documents, videos and songs ● Gives you option for manual or automatic cleaning | ● Functionality is a little complicated. |
10. DupeGuru
USP: Highly customizable according to the needs of the user
If you are not looking for many advanced features but a simple duplicate photo finder for Mac that can find and delete duplicates, this tool is meant for you. You can place filters before scanning and later select any of the modes from three categories. As the scanning takes place, the real-time result is displayed alongside.
As the results are displayed, you just need to tick mark and delete them. Bravo! All the duplicates are landed in the Trash, and space is saved once again. A very simple and best duplicate photo cleaner it is!
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ● Free to use and known as best free duplicate photo cleaner ● Supports a plethora of file formats ● Multi-lingual support | ● Doesn’t allow previewing of files. |
FAQs: Duplicate Photo Finders For Mac
1. Can Mac Photos find duplicates?
As Mac doesn’t hold a particular in-built feature to find duplicates, one needs to go through a manual method for finding and removing duplicates. The method needs you to open Finder > go to Apple menu from the top bar > select File > New Smart Folder. Now click the ‘+’ icon from the top right corner > select Kind > Any (Images). As the images are detected, you can pull them down in the Trash.
2. How do I quickly delete duplicate photos on my Mac?
Using any of the best duplicate photo finders for Mac like Duplicate Photo Finder by Systweak or Gemini 2, you can quickly delete duplicate photos on your Mac.
3. Why do I need a duplicate photo finder for Mac?
Duplicate photos clutter your system while covering a lot of precious space within it. It is highly recommended that you clean the system using a good photo finder that also helps in optimizing the working space.
4. What is the best duplicate photo finder for macOS?
The best duplicate photo finder could be termed as a tool which can speedily scan the system, find the duplicates and remove them very quickly. This duplicate photo finder must have various options to filter and customize it accordingly.
5. Why do I have so many duplicate photos on my Mac?
As you copy files from one location to another and forget to delete the originals, you can create duplicate photos on your Mac. Similarly, when the same photo is downloaded more than one time in the system, duplicates are automatically created.
Conclusion
When we talk about the best duplicate photo finder on Mac, we liked Duplicate Photo Finder Pro by Systweak because of high customization, accuracy and finding of similar photos in an effortless way.
Must Read:
We clean our rooms and clothes so why not our Macs? But who can waste the entire day digging through folders and files? There are so many places like music, videos, apps and email downloads, and countless more locations on your Mac where junk and clutter accumulates. In 2021 cleaning your Mac is easier than ever. Which is why millions of people download free and low-cost Mac cleaning software.
To start off, we've made a quick comparison chart about the best Mac cleaners for Mac.
| Rating | Name | Features | Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CleanMyMac X | Best cleaning and antimalware functionality in one tool | Link |
| 2 | Disk Doctor | Quick scan and deep cleaning of all kinds of junk | Link |
| 3 | Gemini 2 | Finds duplicate and similar files everywhere on your Mac, including Photos, iTunes, and external drives. | Link |
A handy cleaner may prove that your Mac is still alive and can actually perform at its best. In this article we’ve brought together some of the best Mac cleaning solutions around to clean, optimize, and maintain Macs that are available in 2021.
Top 12 best cleaners for Mac: Free and premium versions
1. CleanMyMac X
CleanMyMac X takes the first place with good reason — this cleaner combines features of both cleaning software and antimalware tool. Its Smart Scan promises a “nice and thorough scan of your Mac.” It does what it says, detecting junk like user cache files and system logs, checking your Mac for malicious software, and speeding up your MacBook. Looks like, there is a threat in my system, that I need to get rid of:
Frankly speaking, CleanMyMac X is Tesla Roadster among other Mac cleaners. And it does a great job revealing your junk and other clutter, uninstalling unneeded apps and their leftovers, and keeping your Mac’s system clean and optimized. Another pro is that CleanMyMac X is Apple-notarized, which means it’s safe for your Mac. You can download its free version right here.
Price: $39.95
Free version: Available here
2. Disk Doctor
Disk Doctor is developed in the UK and was awarded the 'Mac Gem’ award by MacWorld in 2013. CNET and other tech journalists also praise functionality. As of 2021, it still looks like a useful tool for Mac cleaning that removes junk slowing down and reducing the computing power of your Mac.
Price: $2.99
Free version: N/A
3. Gemini 2
Gemini 2 is the duplicate finder that allows you to free up gigabytes of storage and organize your files. In just a few minutes.
It quickly scans every corner of your Mac and weeds out useless copies. No matter what type of file it is: a photo, music track, or a doc… Gemini will definitely find it. And once the scan is done, you can remove the duplicates in a click. Or review results to make sure nothing important gets deleted.
If you remove something by accident, it takes just a click to put it back. And to make sure things like that never happen again, you can exclude specific files and folders from scan. Try out the free version right here.
The app has seen a major update in 2021 which included a real-time duplicate monitor. This new tool notifies you of duplicates the moment they are created on your Mac.
Price: $19.96
Free version: Available here
4. DaisyDisk
DaisyDisk gives you a visual representation of your Mac folders, making it easy to see what is taking up space and delete the folders you don't need. All you need to do is select a drive, DaisyDisk will scan it, then you can delete everything that is wasting valuable space. It comes with a free and premium version.
Price:$9.99
Free version: Trial version available
5. AppCleaner & Uninstaller
If you only need to uninstall apps on Mac, AppCleaner is a good pick. AppCleaner only removes applications, plugins, and widgets, which are again, small apps. AppCleaner works in a familiar drag & drop mode. Its interface is also clean and easy to understand for a newbie.
After feeding the apps to AppCleaner, you should visit the Leftovers section of the app to erase their remains. Why we place AppCleaner & Uninstaller among free Mac cleaner tools? Because it is 100% free. Whether you will fully clean your Mac using it, is a different question.
AppCleaner & Uninstaller is created by FreeMacSoft, also the makers of LiteIcon, an icon customizer for Mac.
Price: Voluntary donation
6. Smart Mac Care
If you launch Smart Mac Care, it will look hauntingly familiar to other free Mac cleaner apps. Not only features will be called the same, everything up to the fonts, will be identical to some other app you’ve just used. That’s not a minus, though. You can still free up a lot of space with Smart Mac Care.
Smart Mac Care operates by a logic of “scans.” There is a Junk Scan, Malware Scan, Privacy Scan, etc. Just like Mac Booster, Smart Mac Care removes duplicates scattered in various locations on your Mac. There’s also a Memory Optimizer feature that promises to free up RAM on your Mac. In a word, Smart Mac Care resembles every other generic product whose only difference is in packaging. This is supported by the fact that we couldn’t find any credible third-party reviews for this app.
On another skeptical note: to uninstall Smart Mac Care you have to enter your admin password. This is not the case with other Mac cleaners we’ve used.
Price: $56.62 per year
Free version: Demo available
7. Drive Genius
Drive Genius is labeled a “Mac monitoring software.” It’s a whole suite of tools that provide powerful disk diagnostics. It’s hard to list a thing that this software doesn’t do. You can scan for malware, secure-erase files, customize icons — it’s dozens of apps in one body. What makes Drive Genius unique is, probably, its search for corrupted files and inconsistencies on your drive. If your Mac is an old one, keeping it in good health will be easier with Drive Genius.
In a free version, you can use just a fraction of tools, notably a DiskPulse utility. This is an automatic Mac health checker that notifies you before your hard drive fails. Unlike Mac cleaners that merely scan, it is able to repair damage on your disks, which makes it a real deal. Be prepared that hard drive scan may take some time, but the results are worth it. The latest version of Drive Genius released in 2020 adds long-awaited support for macOS Big Sur.
Price: $299 for Professional edition
Free version: Limited Lite edition is available
Apple Mac Cleaner Virus
8. CCleaner
Originally created in 2004 by Piriform, CCleaner comes with a free and professional version, focusing on businesses and business customers. CCleaner is a cross-platform tool, for PCs, Macs, Android, and it has a Cloud, Network and Technician tool, depending on what you need and the platform/software you use.
The premium version comes with a lot more features, including real-time alerts, free updates, and dedicated support. Although created for PCs in the early days, CCleaner does well to identify unwanted files on a Mac, so that users can select and delete the files and folders they don't need to free up space. As a cleaner for Mac, customers are pretty happy with the results of CCleaner.
Price: $19.95
Free version: Available
9. Sensei
The Sensei app is a relatively new app on the market, but it can be another useful tool for your Mac. The Sensei software developers call the app “Pro Mac Cleaner” on their website. I would call it a performance controlling tool.
Best Free Mac Cleaner App
Sensei presents a detailed picture of how your Mac performs. In the Dashboard, you can find out information about your MacBook, check your CPU’s current temperature, and see how much of your RAM is used. Cooling gives you exact information on your Mac’s fans' speed.
Its Clean option helps to get rid of user cache, logs, large files, etc. The Uninstaller feature allows you to delete apps from your Mac and remove their traces. It doesn’t list pre-installed apps from Apple, such as Safari or Calendar, but it shows every app you have installed on your Mac.
What Is Mac Cleaner
Surely, you can clean up your Mac manually, but using dedicated software will save you tons of time.
Price: $29 per year
Free version: Available
Free Mac cleaners review
The following Mac cleaning apps are either completely free or donation-based. You won’t find any trial limitations here. If you’re looking for a no thrill basic cleanup, these free Mac cleaners might help you.
10. Onyx
OnyX is a french Mac cleaning solution developed by Titanium software. It weighs only 5 MB but that doesn’t mean its capabilities are limited. OnyX is a tool that programmers will have a lot of fun with. With it, you can peek under the hood of your macOS and automate a whole list of jobs, like disk cleanup and cache removal. You can even tweak the color of folders on your Mac, and even make them invisible. Deservedly, it's among the best free Mac cleaners.
OnyX is one of the best Mac cleaners because it cleans many specific under-the-surface files, like inner databases and logs. If you know what is XPC cache is, you’ll probably like this app. But for us, ordinary Mac users who came here for the design and glossy buttons, OnyX will require some learning time.
Those who use OnyX say it is stable and reliable. There is no dedicated customer service (because OnyX is free software), but you shouldn’t be worried. The only likely damage is you accidentally deleting files by yourself.
Price: Free cleaner
11. Clean me
This open-source app that only exists in the form of GitHub download is good enough for cleaning caches and logs. It’s so small its ZIP file weighs only 1.3 MB.
Clean me shows the size of each category of cache files. It analyzes such junk as Application Cache, User Cache, and more temporary files
The developer recommends that you start your cleanup with auto-selected options. Otherwise, you may delete something valuable by accident. So treat is as an analyzer and you’ll be safe.
Price: Free cleaner
12. Native macOS cleaner (Optimize Storage)
Your macOS has its own cleaner of sorts. You’ve probably come across it when checking your occupied disk space.
Go to Apple menu.
Now, click About this Mac > Storage > Manage.
In the sidebar you’ll see the main categories of files on your Mac. Going through Documents is likely to be the most fruitful option. Check the Size and click on Last Accessed. Now you’ve found all those movies gathering dust in your Downloads.
In the same way you can delete some old apps. This feature is could be an alternative to a free Mac cleaner; the only problem is it works largely on the surface. You won’t be able to remove System Junk or analyze the grey areas occupied by “Other.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Can’t my Mac clean itself?
Apple Mac Cleaner Software
Your macOS also has a built-in Mac cleaner, which Apple called Optimized Storage. Though its capabilities are limited, it gives you basic directions on where to start the cleanup. But for a thorough system cleanup and removing malware, you’ll need a dedicated Mac cleaner app.
Can Mac cleaner apps delete my important files?
Typically, best Mac cleaner apps have a protection built-in. They will usually select only those files that are safe for deletion.
Will Mac cleaners slow down my Mac?
Some cleaners try to get into your Login items, thus creating an extra burden on the processor. On a flip side, the reliable Mac cleaner apps might even speed up your Mac. They remove all the outdated junk files giving your Mac an extra boost.
Mac cleaning apps you should avoid
Above we've touched the trusted Mac cleanup solutions but there are many that work on the dark side. Malwarebytes lists Advanced Mac Cleaner Pro and similar tools as unwanted applications. Here are some signs that should warn you against using scam Mac cleaners.
Signs of Mac cleaner scam:
- 'Your Mac is infected' intrusive message
- An app is installed as part of different app
- An app finds 2323 (the number is an example) threats on your Mac
- Mac cleaner redirects your search engine page
Apple Mac Cleaner Software
Be safe and happy cleaning.