Head to head
TidyBar vs OnyX
OnyX is a long-standing, free maintenance utility for macOS. It's powerful but technical, and it doesn't show you what you'll reclaim or move things to the Trash - it runs maintenance scripts and clears caches directly.
TidyBar trades OnyX's deep controls for clarity and safety: see what's reclaimable, then remove it recoverably.
Quick verdict
Choose TidyBar for safe, visual, one-click cleanup. Choose OnyX if you're a power user who wants free, low-level maintenance controls.
$25 one-time · no subscription · macOS 14 (Sonoma) or later · Apple Silicon & Intel
| TidyBar | OnyX | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $25 one-time | Free |
| Shows reclaimable space first | Yes | No |
| Deleted files | To Trash (recoverable) | Cleared directly |
| Duplicates & large files | Yes | No |
| Ease of use | Friendly | Technical |
| Developer build junk | Yes | No |
Choose TidyBar if
- You want to see what you'll reclaim before deleting
- You want removals to be recoverable
- You want a clear, friendly interface
Choose OnyX if
- You want free, low-level maintenance scripts
- You're comfortable with technical tools and no undo
FAQ
Is OnyX free?+
Yes, OnyX is free. TidyBar is paid but shows reclaimable space, finds duplicates and large files, and moves removals to the Trash.
Is TidyBar safer than OnyX?+
TidyBar moves what it removes to the Trash so it's recoverable; OnyX clears items directly with no undo.
Try TidyBar for $25, once.
Free to download & scan. Unlock cleaning when you're ready.
Download TidyBarComparisons reflect publicly available information at the time of writing. All trademarks belong to their respective owners. More comparisons.