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Disk Census vs Pearcleaner

An uninstaller is one part of Disk Census.

Pearcleaner is a free app cleaner built around removing apps and their files, with a Finder extension and a monitor that cleans up when an app hits the Trash. Disk Census removes apps too, from a scan that covers the whole disk.

Checked · Sources

In short

  • Pearcleaner is a free, source-available app uninstaller. Disk Census removes apps too, and scans the whole disk for what else can go.
  • Disk Census adds large files, duplicates, AI coding agents’ leftovers and a named list of developer caches, each tagged Safe, Review or Keep.
  • Both have a command line. census prints JSON from every command, so AI agents can use it.
  • Pearcleaner is free and adds a Finder extension, a Homebrew manager and cleanup when an app hits the Trash. Disk Census is a one-time purchase.

Only in Disk Census

What Disk Census does that Pearcleaner doesn’t, going by Pearcleaner’s own pages.

  • The whole disk in one scan

    Large files, developer caches, AI agents’ leftovers and duplicates, from the same scan that finds apps.

  • It says what’s safe to clear

    Every item is tagged Safe, Review or Keep, with what regenerates it.

  • AI coding agents’ leftovers

    Old versions, caches and logs of Claude Code, Codex, Cursor and others, with their history kept.

  • Duplicates

    Identical files found by content and shown side by side. The last copy of a set can never be deleted.

Side by side

Each Pearcleaner fact links to where it was read. “Not stated” means Pearcleaner’s site doesn’t say either way.

Disk Census and Pearcleaner, side by side. Checked 9 October 2026.
Disk CensusPearcleaner
App removal
YesRemoves apps with their data. Shared and loosely matched items start unticked, and a running app is asked to quit, never forced.
YesRemoves apps from its window or Finder’s right-click menu, and cleans up automatically when an app hits the Trash.Source
Finding what fills the disk
YesThe biggest files and folders, filtered by size and by when they were last opened or modified.
Not stated on their siteIts README doesn’t mention a scan of the whole disk.
Duplicate files
YesSets of identical files by content, side by side. The last copy of a set can never be deleted.
Not stated on their siteIts README doesn’t mention duplicates.
Developer caches and build output
YesCaches and build output of Xcode, Homebrew, npm, pnpm, Yarn, Bun, Cargo, Go, Gradle, CocoaPods, Swift Package Manager, pip, uv, Poetry, conda and more, with node_modules, target and .venv folders grouped by project.
Has a Development Environment Manager. The README doesn’t list the tools it covers.Source
AI coding agents’ leftovers
YesOld versions, caches, temporary files and logs of Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Windsurf, Zed, Warp, Kiro, Antigravity, Goose and more. History, settings, credentials, plugins and skills are never offered.
Not stated on their siteIts README doesn’t mention AI agents.
Command line for scripts and agents
Yescensus ships inside the app, at the same version, with JSON on every command and stable exit codes.
YesCLI support and deep link automation.Source
Where deleted items go
Deleted permanently, never to the Trash, and only after a person approves the exact items. Every confirmation says so.
Not stated on their siteIts README doesn’t say whether removed files go to the Trash.
Open source
NoNot open source.
Source-available, under Apache 2.0 with the Commons Clause.Source
Requirements
macOS 12 or later, on Apple silicon and Intel. Mac only.
macOS 13 or later.Source

Price

Disk Census’s price is live. Pearcleaner’s is as its site showed it on 9 October 2026.

Disk Census

Launch offerSave 60%

Regular price $10Launch price $3.99

One-time, for up to 3 Macs, with every future version. Limited seats, offer ends soon. Then it’s $4.99.

Pearcleaner

Free

Free and source-available, under Apache 2.0 with the Commons Clause, with optional sponsorship.

Checked · Source

Launch prices, by copies sold

  1. $3.99Save 60%First 100 copiesNow
  2. $4.99Save 50%Next 150 copies
  3. $6.99Save 30%Next 250 copies
  4. $10Regular priceAfter the launch

Checkout by Stripe. Sold through Link, which sends your receipt. Prices in US dollars, tax included. Refund policy

When Pearcleaner is the better pick

  • You want it free and source-available: Pearcleaner costs nothing.
  • You want apps cleaned up as soon as you drag them to the Trash: Pearcleaner’s Sentinel monitor does it.
  • You want to uninstall from Finder’s right-click menu, or manage Homebrew packages in the same app.

Questions

Is Disk Census a good Pearcleaner alternative?

If you want more than app removal, yes: Disk Census also finds large files, duplicates, developer caches and AI agents’ leftovers, and says what is safe to clear. If you want a free uninstaller that works from Finder and the Trash, Pearcleaner fits better.

Can Disk Census remove an app’s leftovers?

Yes. It removes apps with their data. Shared and loosely matched items start unticked, and a running app is asked to quit, never forced.

Do Pearcleaner and Disk Census both have a command line?

Yes. Pearcleaner has CLI support and deep links. census ships inside Disk Census with JSON on every command and stable exit codes, so scripts and AI agents can use it.

Sources

Every fact about Pearcleaner was read on its own pages on . Spot something out of date? Write to support@diskcensus.com.

Pearcleaner is a trademark of its owner. Disk Census isn’t affiliated with it.

Other comparisons

Download Disk Census for Mac

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macOS 12 or later · Intel and Apple silicon