The Best Free System Utilities app downloads for Mac: Jiggler coconutBattery Parallels Desktop for Mac MacTFTP Client Disk Drill Alarm Clock Soundflow. Default Folder X. This has to be our most-used utility because Default Folder X inserts itself into.
I have put together a list of what are, in my opinion, the ten best Mac disk repair software and other excellent Mac tools for troubleshooting, diagnosing, and repairing a Mac. Many of them are free or offer a free trial. As Macs continue to gain market share, there is an increased likelihood that you will have to support them if you are a tech. And even if you aren't a tech, it's good to know which tools are the best to use when it comes time to repair your own.
Mac OS from Apple WWDC2019
In-page jumps:
Disk Warrior Trial
Free Mac Disk Repair Software
Drive Genius – is it the Best Mac Repair App
Introduction to our Top 10 Mac Repair Software
Did you know there are several Mac disk repair options that each function differently and one may suit your needs better than another? I detail several for you below so you can decide.
More than just a list of disk repair software, I provide many Mac software solutions for you and your clients! Even better, some are free!
Want to clone a Mac drive? Want to monitor a Mac's hardware sensors? Want heroic system recovery for mere mortals?! Oh, there are some great software here! Read on.
TechTool Protogo
TechTool Protogo is a Mac repair program suite which contains three of Micromat's best Mac repair tools; TechTool Pro 8, TechTool Pro Classic, and DiskStudio.
Protogo creates a bootable Mac repair toolbox with these tools as well as any of your own tools on a portable hard drive or flash drive.
You can then boot from this drive, bypassing the OS, and run diagnostics on a computer to determine problems.
Protogo also allows you to repair and recover data from problematic hard drives as well as defragment, optimize, and securely delete data.
Cost: $129.99
Memtest OS X
Memtest OS X is a memory testing program for Mac OS X. It is a command line utility so it can be ran in OS X or in Single-User Mode if your Mac will not boot.
It is great for testing intermittent system problems when you are having trouble determining if it is a memory problem.
If you prefer memtest with a GUI front-end, then be sure to check out Rember.
Rember will run in OS X but will not work in Single-User Mode so Memtest OS X is the better option.
Cost: $1.39
Mac Disk Repair – DiskWarrior 5
Disk Repair for Macs – DiskWarrior utilizes a unique disk repair method for Macs
DiskWarrior is arguably one of the best hard drive repair programs for the Mac.
It works differently than other data repair programs.
Instead of trying to rebuild the damaged data itself, DiskWarrior builds replacement data based off of the original data.
It then verifies the new data structure based on the original to make sure it is error free.
You can also use DiskWarrior as a preventative maintenance utility for hard disks.
When run, it rebuilds your directory eliminating any damage that you may not be aware of. It also optimizes the directory for better performance.
Cost: $99.95 but look for a trial.
If it is more serious and your Mac's hard drive has crashed, I have provided an extensive data recovery guide with a list of Hard Drive Recovery Tools in my article How to Recover Data from a Crashed Hard Drive.
First Free Disk Repair-Mac – OnyX
Onyx is a maintenance, optimization, and personalization utility for Mac OS X.
It allows you to run hard drive diagnostics, run system maintenance tasks, delete caches, and configure tons of OS X hidden features.
Even if you aren't using it as a repair utility, it is a great application to help keep your Mac running in top shape.
Cost: Free!
Mac Data Rescue
Data Rescue is a data recovery program that focuses purely on recovering data from corrupt drives instead of hard drive repair.
It scans the corrupt drive analyzing all of its contents and allows you to choose which data you would like to recover.
It even scans for deleted files. Data Rescue II restores the data to a separate drive leaving the original data intact.
It comes with an emergency boot CD that you can use to recover data when the computer will not boot and it also works on drives that won't mount.
Cost: $99.00
AppCleaner
AppCleaner may not be classified as a repair tool but it can be used as one.
When you are having trouble with an application in OS X, you can simply remove it by dragging it to the Trash.
However, this still leaves behind the applications preferences, caches, and other files that could still cause the same problem after you reinstall it.
AppCleaner will remove all of these files making sure that the app is completely gone before you attempt a reinstall.
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Interesting interface!
Cost: Free!
Drive Genius – Is this the Best Mac Repair App?!
Drive Genius is a disk utility application for Macs.
Its main features include:
- defragmenting,
- running benchtests,
- directory repair,
- integrity checks,
- surface scans,
- repartitioning,
- cloning,
- shredding data, and more.
With all these features, you can see why I ask is it the best Mac repair app overall!
This is actually the same program used to defrag Macs at the Genius Bar in Apple Stores.
Oh yes, Apple uses it.
Drive Genius also comes on a bootable DVD so you can run it even when a Mac will not boot.
Cost: $99.00
Mac Backup – Carbon Copy Cloner
Carbon Copy Cloner is a simple yet very effective backup utility for the Mac. Like most other backup utilities, it can be scheduled to backup your Mac on a regular basis.
The best part, however, is its ability to completely clone a hard drive with it still being bootable.
This tool comes in very handy when you are replacing hard drives, setting up multiple Macs, or recovering from a system crash.
Carbon Copy Cloner is donation-ware so you can download it for free without any restrictions.
Maybe you will be so pleased you will buy them a coffee anyway!
You can also check out SuperDuper which has more features but costs $27.95.
However, if you just need a simple backup and cloning utility, Carbon Copy Cloner does a great job.
Cost: Free! (donation-ware)
Apple Mac Disk Repair – AppleJack
AppleJack is a troubleshooting utility for Mac OS X. It runs under Single-User Mode so it can be used even when OS X will not boot.
AppleJack will repair disks, repair permissions, cleanup cache files, validate preference files, and remove swap files.
You can select these tasks individually or have AppleJack run all of them and even reboot when finished.
Unfortunately, at the time of writing this article, AppleJack is not yet compatible with Leopard but a new version is in the works. Be sure to check their page frequently for an update because this is an invaluable tool.
When I updated this article for 2020, I checked on SourceForge and there were over 600 downloads last week!
Cost: Free! (open-source)
Hardware Monitor
Hardware Monitor is a utility that allows you to view data from the hardware sensors in a Mac.
It currently has support for temperature readings, battery data, voltage, current, fan speed, power and load, ambient light, as well as user-defined artificial sensors.
It's a great utility to use when simply trying to find out if your hardware is malfunctioning.
Cost: € 7.00 (can also be purchased with U.S. Dollars)
Also consider
OSX disk repair
This is kind of a nice segway into handy hardware tools and toolkits. Click on the following link if you want to see some great ideas on what I recommend for your Mac or PC Repair Toolkit.
As you may know, I believe your should support Macs in your Computer IT Consultant Business. I state my case here in my article on Why You Should Support Macs With Your IT Business.
Well if you were counting, that is 4 totally free Mac OSX disk repair utilities, and one so cheap it may as well be free!
The best Mac repair disk software may well be a paid one depending on your exact needs, and I've shown you my pick for the best of those too.
If you know of other great Mac software let me know in the comments below. What Mac OS X repair tools do you like? Is there another Mac Disk Repair utility you'd suggest? Please leave a comment to help others, or if the above tools have helped you.
And as for hardware, click this link if you want to repair hard drive-Mac for more details.
Summary of Best Mac Repair Software:
Excellent Mac disk repair software is provided above, for you to consider and try their features for yourself. I didn't stop there. This list contains some other handy Mac software I consider to be the best tools for techs and Mac owners.
Related posts:
Due to several reasons like a slow startup, lack of storage space, lagging system performance, and others, Mac users look for system utility tools. And due to this demand, supply is abundant. This means you can find several free & paid cleaning apps for Mac. Among them, one with a long history is OnyX, developed by Titan Software.
This free Mac maintenance utility is a useful tool for all Mac users. Using it, you can check startup disk, system files structure, run various cleaning tasks, delete cache, problem creating files and folders, rebuild databases, and do a lot more.
In a nutshell, this tool helps perform all the tasks required to keep Mac optimized. So, if you are interested to know more about this tool, here's a detailed review of the OnyX – The best Mac optimization tool.
Writer's Rating
- Overall – 4/5
- Price – 5/5
- Customer Service – 3/5
Overview –
Product Version – 3.8.6
Release Date: June 4, 2020
Price – Free
When it comes to maintaining Mac and optimizing the performance, OnyX is the best. This multifunctional tool lets you control basic Unix programs built-into macOS. Moreover, using it, you can delete files associated with uninstalled apps, rebuild the Spotlight search index, clean junk files, and a lot more.
Excited to know more about this amazing tool?
Well, before we move ahead, here's a heads up. OnyX is an advanced and powerful tool that gives full control of Mac. This means beginners can face difficulty when using OnyX.
Highlights –
- Onyx's maintenance tab helps rebuild, clean, and delete junk files
- Easy access to several Mac functions and verifies the structure of the file system
- Secure deletes file and folders without leaving any leftovers
- Offer configuration panel to change various settings
- Restart routine improved
Features:
1. Maintenance:
This tab consists of several subgroup tasks. Using it in a single click, you can rebuild, clean, and perform other tasks. To use it, you need to check the boxes next to the task and click Run Tasks.
Each task in the maintenance group is handcrafted to make your Mac work flawlessly and boost performance.
Verifying subgroups helps speed up the verification process by checking the file system structure. Honestly, if you are facing any problem in using the Mac or your Mac gets stuck while performing certain tasks use the First Aid built-in Disk Utility app.
Rebuilding subgroups help remove leftovers and associated files that unnecessary clutter the Mac.
Cleaning subgroups is the most useful section; you can clean log files and free disk space using it. Getting rid of these unwanted files will help boost startup time.
Misc. options help deal with problems that do not belong to any of the above subgroups. This includes maintaining scripts, fonts cache, clearing Trash, and more.
2. Utilities:
Honestly, all the operations explained in this group are quite advanced. I'll confess it wasn't easy for me too. But I did find this Applications section useful. This feature lists all the features that are hidden under System Preferences. This means you can access Storage Management, Wireless Diagnostics apps, etc., easily in one place.
3. Files:
Want to perform various actions on files, folder, and disk? Well, this feature gives control over all disks and files. You can change the disk visibility by adding a (.) to the file name. To show/hide hidden files, press the Shift+Command (.) dot key. This will show files. To hide the data, simply add a dot to the file name. This will hide the file. Moreover, using it, you permanently delete files.
4. Parameters:
This section is an all-in-one configuration panel. From here, you can change display speeds, graphic effects, change the default number of recent items from 10 to 20, save screenshots in some other format, remove restart, and shut down the menu bar, change hover color on Dark icons, and a lot more. All this will help fine-tune Mac.
Is OnyX Worth Giving a Try?
Indeed, the OnyX system utility tool for Mac is special. It helps perform intensive tasks without you bringing around and optimizing Mac in no time.
What makes OnyX a must-have system cleanup tool for Mac?
Unlike other disk managers, OnyX offers proficiency and gives full control to perform several tasks. During my research, I have noticed some noteworthy things about OnyX. They are listed below:
1. No Fancy design: Onyx believes in offering the services that users look for. Instead of paying attention to looks, the system utility app offers different tabs categorized hierarchically. This might look a bit old fashioned, but it does work.
2. Power: OnyX performs cleaning at a deep level, thereby permitting users to customize settings.
How to install OnyX
Note: Before you install OnyX you need to know the macOS version you are using. This is required to install the compatible version of OnyX.
However, if you do not know the OS, you are running, follow the steps below.
How to find the macOS Version?
1. Click the Apple icon in the menu bar > select About this Mac from the drop-down menu.
2. This will open a new window; here you can see the name of the current OS.
3. Now that you know the version of macOS head to the official site and download the compatible version of OnyX.
Note: When downloading the version of OnyX, ensure you download it from the website. This will prevent you from installing an infected version of OnyX.
4. Once downloaded, look for .dmg file on the Downloads folder in the Finder and double click the file.
Interesting interface!
Cost: Free!
Drive Genius – Is this the Best Mac Repair App?!
Drive Genius is a disk utility application for Macs.
Its main features include:
- defragmenting,
- running benchtests,
- directory repair,
- integrity checks,
- surface scans,
- repartitioning,
- cloning,
- shredding data, and more.
With all these features, you can see why I ask is it the best Mac repair app overall!
This is actually the same program used to defrag Macs at the Genius Bar in Apple Stores.
Oh yes, Apple uses it.
Drive Genius also comes on a bootable DVD so you can run it even when a Mac will not boot.
Cost: $99.00
Mac Backup – Carbon Copy Cloner
Carbon Copy Cloner is a simple yet very effective backup utility for the Mac. Like most other backup utilities, it can be scheduled to backup your Mac on a regular basis.
The best part, however, is its ability to completely clone a hard drive with it still being bootable.
This tool comes in very handy when you are replacing hard drives, setting up multiple Macs, or recovering from a system crash.
Carbon Copy Cloner is donation-ware so you can download it for free without any restrictions.
Maybe you will be so pleased you will buy them a coffee anyway!
You can also check out SuperDuper which has more features but costs $27.95.
However, if you just need a simple backup and cloning utility, Carbon Copy Cloner does a great job.
Cost: Free! (donation-ware)
Apple Mac Disk Repair – AppleJack
AppleJack is a troubleshooting utility for Mac OS X. It runs under Single-User Mode so it can be used even when OS X will not boot.
AppleJack will repair disks, repair permissions, cleanup cache files, validate preference files, and remove swap files.
You can select these tasks individually or have AppleJack run all of them and even reboot when finished.
Unfortunately, at the time of writing this article, AppleJack is not yet compatible with Leopard but a new version is in the works. Be sure to check their page frequently for an update because this is an invaluable tool.
When I updated this article for 2020, I checked on SourceForge and there were over 600 downloads last week!
Cost: Free! (open-source)
Hardware Monitor
Hardware Monitor is a utility that allows you to view data from the hardware sensors in a Mac.
It currently has support for temperature readings, battery data, voltage, current, fan speed, power and load, ambient light, as well as user-defined artificial sensors.
It's a great utility to use when simply trying to find out if your hardware is malfunctioning.
Cost: € 7.00 (can also be purchased with U.S. Dollars)
Also consider
OSX disk repair
This is kind of a nice segway into handy hardware tools and toolkits. Click on the following link if you want to see some great ideas on what I recommend for your Mac or PC Repair Toolkit.
As you may know, I believe your should support Macs in your Computer IT Consultant Business. I state my case here in my article on Why You Should Support Macs With Your IT Business.
Well if you were counting, that is 4 totally free Mac OSX disk repair utilities, and one so cheap it may as well be free!
The best Mac repair disk software may well be a paid one depending on your exact needs, and I've shown you my pick for the best of those too.
If you know of other great Mac software let me know in the comments below. What Mac OS X repair tools do you like? Is there another Mac Disk Repair utility you'd suggest? Please leave a comment to help others, or if the above tools have helped you.
And as for hardware, click this link if you want to repair hard drive-Mac for more details.
Summary of Best Mac Repair Software:
Excellent Mac disk repair software is provided above, for you to consider and try their features for yourself. I didn't stop there. This list contains some other handy Mac software I consider to be the best tools for techs and Mac owners.
Related posts:
Due to several reasons like a slow startup, lack of storage space, lagging system performance, and others, Mac users look for system utility tools. And due to this demand, supply is abundant. This means you can find several free & paid cleaning apps for Mac. Among them, one with a long history is OnyX, developed by Titan Software.
This free Mac maintenance utility is a useful tool for all Mac users. Using it, you can check startup disk, system files structure, run various cleaning tasks, delete cache, problem creating files and folders, rebuild databases, and do a lot more.
In a nutshell, this tool helps perform all the tasks required to keep Mac optimized. So, if you are interested to know more about this tool, here's a detailed review of the OnyX – The best Mac optimization tool.
Writer's Rating
- Overall – 4/5
- Price – 5/5
- Customer Service – 3/5
Overview –
Product Version – 3.8.6
Release Date: June 4, 2020
Price – Free
When it comes to maintaining Mac and optimizing the performance, OnyX is the best. This multifunctional tool lets you control basic Unix programs built-into macOS. Moreover, using it, you can delete files associated with uninstalled apps, rebuild the Spotlight search index, clean junk files, and a lot more.
Excited to know more about this amazing tool?
Well, before we move ahead, here's a heads up. OnyX is an advanced and powerful tool that gives full control of Mac. This means beginners can face difficulty when using OnyX.
Highlights –
- Onyx's maintenance tab helps rebuild, clean, and delete junk files
- Easy access to several Mac functions and verifies the structure of the file system
- Secure deletes file and folders without leaving any leftovers
- Offer configuration panel to change various settings
- Restart routine improved
Features:
1. Maintenance:
This tab consists of several subgroup tasks. Using it in a single click, you can rebuild, clean, and perform other tasks. To use it, you need to check the boxes next to the task and click Run Tasks.
Each task in the maintenance group is handcrafted to make your Mac work flawlessly and boost performance.
Verifying subgroups helps speed up the verification process by checking the file system structure. Honestly, if you are facing any problem in using the Mac or your Mac gets stuck while performing certain tasks use the First Aid built-in Disk Utility app.
Rebuilding subgroups help remove leftovers and associated files that unnecessary clutter the Mac.
Cleaning subgroups is the most useful section; you can clean log files and free disk space using it. Getting rid of these unwanted files will help boost startup time.
Misc. options help deal with problems that do not belong to any of the above subgroups. This includes maintaining scripts, fonts cache, clearing Trash, and more.
2. Utilities:
Honestly, all the operations explained in this group are quite advanced. I'll confess it wasn't easy for me too. But I did find this Applications section useful. This feature lists all the features that are hidden under System Preferences. This means you can access Storage Management, Wireless Diagnostics apps, etc., easily in one place.
3. Files:
Want to perform various actions on files, folder, and disk? Well, this feature gives control over all disks and files. You can change the disk visibility by adding a (.) to the file name. To show/hide hidden files, press the Shift+Command (.) dot key. This will show files. To hide the data, simply add a dot to the file name. This will hide the file. Moreover, using it, you permanently delete files.
4. Parameters:
This section is an all-in-one configuration panel. From here, you can change display speeds, graphic effects, change the default number of recent items from 10 to 20, save screenshots in some other format, remove restart, and shut down the menu bar, change hover color on Dark icons, and a lot more. All this will help fine-tune Mac.
Is OnyX Worth Giving a Try?
Indeed, the OnyX system utility tool for Mac is special. It helps perform intensive tasks without you bringing around and optimizing Mac in no time.
What makes OnyX a must-have system cleanup tool for Mac?
Unlike other disk managers, OnyX offers proficiency and gives full control to perform several tasks. During my research, I have noticed some noteworthy things about OnyX. They are listed below:
1. No Fancy design: Onyx believes in offering the services that users look for. Instead of paying attention to looks, the system utility app offers different tabs categorized hierarchically. This might look a bit old fashioned, but it does work.
2. Power: OnyX performs cleaning at a deep level, thereby permitting users to customize settings.
How to install OnyX
Note: Before you install OnyX you need to know the macOS version you are using. This is required to install the compatible version of OnyX.
However, if you do not know the OS, you are running, follow the steps below.
How to find the macOS Version?
1. Click the Apple icon in the menu bar > select About this Mac from the drop-down menu.
2. This will open a new window; here you can see the name of the current OS.
3. Now that you know the version of macOS head to the official site and download the compatible version of OnyX.
Note: When downloading the version of OnyX, ensure you download it from the website. This will prevent you from installing an infected version of OnyX.
4. Once downloaded, look for .dmg file on the Downloads folder in the Finder and double click the file.
5. Drag the app into the Applications folder > grant Full Access to the disk by following instructions.
System Software For Macbook
Pros
- Free to use Mac system utility
- Excellent maintenance and Mac optimization tool
- Helps clean junk files
- Automated cleaning and maintenance
- Allows accessing macOS hidden features
- Enlist malware infections in detail
Cons
- No information about the reclaimed storage space
- Lacks preview option
- There's a specific version of OnyX for every macOS
System Info App For Mac
So, this is all the information about OnyX – a safe to use Mac system utility. Using it, you can perform different operations on your Mac. However, if you are still looking for an alternate, try using Disk Clean Pro – #1 Mac cleanup and optimization app. Offered by Systweak, this Mac tweaking tool works wonders. If you want to give it a try, click here.
Best System Utility For Mac
Alongside you can check the list of best Mac optimization apps. This will help find alternatives to OnyX and make you aware of the tools available in the market.
