Allowlist only
A path is deletable only if it descends from an explicit target in the registry. There is no "delete everything except" logic anywhere in the codebase. The rules are data you can read.
Free and open source for macOS
Free up disk spacewithout deleting the wrong file.
Dusty lives in your menu bar and reclaims the gigabytes hiding in caches, logs, and developer junk. It can only ever delete from a fixed allowlist, and it shows you every path and its size before it removes a thing.
$ brew install --cask yagcioglutoprak/tap/dusty
38allowlisted cleanup targets, all readable in the repo
62unit tests on the engine that decides what gets deleted
3cleanup levels, from everyday caches to look-first deep cleans
0telemetry, accounts, subscriptions, or upsells
Why you can trust it
Built so it cannot delete the wrong thing.
Most "Mac cleaners" are closed software that deletes files you cannot see. Dusty is the opposite. The deletion logic is a separate, unit-tested Swift package, and a single validator is the only thing that can authorize a delete. These are the rules it enforces.
Protected folders off-limits
Documents, Desktop, Photos, Mail, iCloud Drive, and Keychains are rejected even as path prefixes.
No symlink escapes
Symlinks are never followed, so a delete can never walk out of an allowed directory.
Boot volume only
Confined to the volume your home folder lives on. Never runs as root, never uses sudo.
Dry run
Flip one toggle to scan and report exact bytes, without removing a thing.
Move to Trash, then undo
Developer and Deep cleanups can land in the Trash, with an undo window right after. Nothing is irreversible by surprise.
A written record
Every action, with timestamp, path, and exact bytes, is appended to a plain JSON log in Application Support you can open any time. Nothing happens off the books.
"ts":"2026-05-31T22:14Z", "path":"~/Library/Caches/…", "bytes":248512
What it cleans
Three levels, from "anytime" to "look before you leap."
Level 01
Safe
User caches, app logs, the Trash, and browser caches. The everyday stuff that piles up on its own.
Regenerates on its own. Zero functional impact.
Level 02
Developer
Xcode DerivedData and simulators, plus caches for npm, pnpm, pip, Cargo, Go, Homebrew, Gradle, CocoaPods, SwiftPM, JetBrains, and Unity.
Rebuilds or re-downloads next time you need it.
Level 03
Deep
Old .dmg and .pkg installers in Downloads, Xcode archives, unused simulators, and aged diagnostic logs.
Per-file checklist. Nothing goes without a tick.
Some paths ask for Full Disk Access
How it compares
The honest version, against the paid cleaners.
| Dusty | CleanMyMac and similar | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, MIT licensed | Paid license or subscription |
| Source code | Open, every rule is readable | Closed |
| What it can delete | A fixed allowlist, nothing else | Broad categories, not all visible |
| Sizes shown before deleting | ✓ Always, per path | Varies |
| Undo and a deletion log | ✓ Yes | Varies |
| Account or telemetry | None | Often |
FAQ
Answers for cautious Mac users.
Dusty is intentionally narrow: it cleans known safe targets, shows the exact paths first, and leaves personal folders alone.
Is Dusty a CleanMyMac alternative?
Yes, if you want disk cleanup without a subscription or closed deletion rules. Dusty focuses on safe cache, log, Xcode, simulator, package-manager, and developer-artifact cleanup. It is not an antivirus, app updater, duplicate finder, or privacy scanner. Read the focused Dusty vs CleanMyMac comparison.
What can Dusty delete on macOS?
Only allowlisted targets: user caches, app logs, browser caches, Trash, Xcode DerivedData, old simulators, package-manager caches, and selected old installer files. The cleanup targets are data in the open-source repository, so the rules are reviewable.
Can Dusty delete my documents, photos, or iCloud files?
No. Dusty rejects protected folders such as Documents, Desktop, Photos, Mail, iCloud Drive, and Keychains, including paths that only use those folders as prefixes. It never runs as root and does not use sudo.
Can I preview or undo a cleanup?
Yes. Dry-run mode shows exact paths and sizes before deletion. Developer and Deep cleanups can move files to Trash and expose an undo window immediately after cleanup. Every action is also written to a local JSON log.
Does Dusty collect telemetry or require an account?
No. Dusty does not require an account and does not include telemetry. It is MIT licensed, open source, and its cleanup rules can be inspected in the public GitHub repository.
Open source
Cleanup targets are data, not code.
Adding a cache is a single entry that the scanner, the UI, and the safety checks all pick up. That is the whole contribution model, so pull requests are easy.
XcodenpmpnpmpipCargoGoHomebrewComposerGradleCocoaPodsSwiftPMJetBrainsUnityDocker
CleanupTarget( id: "dart-pub-cache", displayName: "Dart and Flutter pub cache", level: .developer, pathTemplates: ["~/.pub-cache"], category: "Package Manager", deletesContentsNotDirectory: true, regenerates: true ) // one entry, everywhere it needs to be
Get your disk space back.
Free, open source, signed and notarized. Installs in one line.
$ brew install --cask yagcioglutoprak/tap/dusty
Dusty is free forever, with nothing to upsell. If it earns a spot in your menu bar, a star on GitHub is how other Mac users find it.