# Disk Census vs Pearcleaner

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 9 October 2026. Canonical page: https://diskcensus.com/compare/pearcleaner

## 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

- **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

| | Disk Census | Pearcleaner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| App removal | Yes: Removes apps with their data. Shared and loosely matched items start unticked, and a running app is asked to quit, never forced. | Yes: Removes apps from its window or Finder’s right-click menu, and cleans up automatically when an app hits the Trash. ([Pearcleaner on GitHub (README)](https://github.com/alienator88/Pearcleaner)) |
| Finding what fills the disk | Yes: The biggest files and folders, filtered by size and by when they were last opened or modified. | Not stated on their site: Its README doesn’t mention a scan of the whole disk. |
| Duplicate files | Yes: Sets of identical files by content, side by side. The last copy of a set can never be deleted. | Not stated on their site: Its README doesn’t mention duplicates. |
| Developer caches and build output | Yes: Caches 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. ([Pearcleaner on GitHub (README)](https://github.com/alienator88/Pearcleaner)) |
| AI coding agents’ leftovers | Yes: Old 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 site: Its README doesn’t mention AI agents. |
| Command line for scripts and agents | Yes: census ships inside the app, at the same version, with JSON on every command and stable exit codes. | Yes: CLI support and deep link automation. ([Pearcleaner on GitHub (README)](https://github.com/alienator88/Pearcleaner)) |
| 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 site: Its README doesn’t say whether removed files go to the Trash. |
| Open source | No: Not open source. | Source-available, under Apache 2.0 with the Commons Clause. ([Pearcleaner on GitHub (README)](https://github.com/alienator88/Pearcleaner)) |
| Requirements | macOS 12 or later, on Apple silicon and Intel. Mac only. | macOS 13 or later. ([Pearcleaner on GitHub (README)](https://github.com/alienator88/Pearcleaner)) |

## Price

- Disk Census: **$3.99** ~~$10~~, one-time. Launch offer: Save 60%. Limited seats, offer ends soon. Then it’s $4.99. Up to 3 Macs.
- Pearcleaner: **Free**. Free and source-available, under Apache 2.0 with the Commons Clause, with optional sponsorship. ([Pearcleaner on GitHub (README)](https://github.com/alienator88/Pearcleaner), checked 9 October 2026)

Disk Census launch prices, by copies sold, in US dollars:

1. $3.99 · Save 60% · first 100 copies · now
2. $4.99 · Save 50% · next 150 copies · later
3. $6.99 · Save 30% · next 250 copies · later
4. $10 · regular price

## 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

- [Pearcleaner on GitHub (README)](https://github.com/alienator88/Pearcleaner)

Checked 9 October 2026. Spot something out of date? Write to support@diskcensus.com.

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