AppZapper For The Cheap

Posted by Brian Waldo on 03/26/08 in Featured, Utilities

Logo AppZapper is a great program for all Mac users. Before AppZapper, people always complained that there was never enough room left on their hard drives. When deleting a program with AppZapper, the program is deleted along with its preference files.

This task is not performed without a price. Some people, myself included, do not like to buy one-click applications. I would like to introduce to you the free AppCleaner and AppTrap.

AppCleaner runs as an application. The best part about the program is that it has four different modes. In the “Uninstall” section, by just dragging a file into the program’s window, it can be wiped forever. The “Applications”, “Widgets”, and “Others” sections all work the same. They list all of the files that go with the section’s name. The “Others” section finds all preference panes, plug-ins, screen savers, and components installed on the computer’s hard drive. The last three sections make finding and deleting an easy task.

Screenshot

Unlike AppCleaner, AppTrap is not an application, but a preference pane. Once activated, it will watch your trash for programs, finding its other associated files. The result is a complete uninstall of the program you are trying to delete. After dragging an application to the trash, you are greeted with AppTrap’s dialog window, which displays the files it has found. Leave the ones you want deleted checked and press “Move Files”. Additionally, if you want to keep all the files, there is a “Leave Files” button. AppTrap’s functionality is great for people who use the “Command-Delete” shortcut to delete files.

Screenshot

If you want AppZapper’s functionality, but are stingy with money, AppCleaner and AppTrap, are right for you and your wallet.

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13 Comment(s)

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Peter said on

March 26th, 2008 at 6:48 am

AppTrap is great. I’ve been using it for some time, and it saves you the hassle of going through a different method than “Cmd” + “Delete”. Maybe it’s not as thorough as AppZapper, but it does the job well enough for me.

Ammon Beckstrom said on

March 26th, 2008 at 7:55 am

I’ve used both AppCleaner and AppTrap and have found them to be great replacements for AppZapper. I recently bought AppZapper via MacHeist 2 and there really is something that sets it apart from these free apps. I can’t wait for the promised AppZapper 2.0!

Ryan Powell said on

March 26th, 2008 at 9:03 am

Hazel is a preference pane that adds the smart rule functionality of Mail to the file system, and is a very powerful and flexible utility. One of Hazel’s built in features is App Sweep, which is very similar to App Trap’s functionality. While Hazel is more expensive then AppZapper ($21.95 compared with 12.95), there’s a real value, as Hazel is not just a one-trick pony.

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Craig said on

March 26th, 2008 at 9:04 am

@Peter: what does AppTrap seem to miss?

@Ammon: what sets AppZapper apart? I use AppZapper but these actually offer what seems to be quite a bit more functionality, especially if you combine the two. AppZapper has a cool sound, and works well, but it’s weird when you want to delete an app to have to launch another app. The AppTrap mechanism is far more elegant. And from what I’m reading, it looks like AppCleaner offers more of a one stop, “I’m going to do some cleaning up,” type of solution.

I guess I’m struggling to see any value to AppZapper at all. I’ll download these two today and see, but I think that it shan’t be long ’til I’m dragging AppZapper to the trash.

Oh, yeah, the promised 2.0. Good luck. I’m sure it will come out eventually, but the developer is one of the big hype, tiny delivery crowd that seems to be gaining a foothold in Mac OS development.

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Peter said on

March 26th, 2008 at 9:26 am

@Craig: when app X by company Y is opened for the first time, sometimes it creates a folder Y in Application Support in which there is a folder X. AppTrap will not remove the folder Y, but folder X, yes.
That incredibly minor difference is the only instance where I remember I was told AppZapper does the full job.
But it’s not even close to being enough for me to get anything different from AppTrap.

There might be something else, but that’s the only example I can think of.
Hence, AppTrap is just fine.

Rowald said on

March 26th, 2008 at 10:27 am

Is this better than AppDelete?

P K said on

March 26th, 2008 at 11:24 am

Well, I use the application delete function of Forklift. I have AppZapper, and have compared it to Forklift multiple times. AppZapper almost always misses files (especially those in receipts folder), which Forklift earmarks for deletion. AppZapper is popular but unfortunately its not efficient in the one task it does. Forklift is way better. I’ve used AppDelete in the past, and that too is same as AppZapper, and misses files occasionally.

Jorge said on

March 26th, 2008 at 11:42 am

Free apps are great too, but one click apps are so bad…

I don’t mind paying for one click apps as long as they are useful and run well. We have to take the developer or programmer into consideration.

First, they have to think up the software then they actually have to write the code to have the program do what it needs to do, and well. If the program is not for sell why would be developer waste his time writing it?

Also, in general it has been my experience that developers are very receptive to our needs. They usually implement features we ask for and want in our software. So I appreciate all of them and their hard work.

Cheers…

-1

Jorge said on

March 26th, 2008 at 11:43 am

Free apps are great too, but one click apps aren’t so bad… sorry for that typo

-1

san said on

March 26th, 2008 at 7:47 pm

I like appzapper because I can change sound effect, with any .aiff files.
For example, try the Comedy drum fill files from garageband’s sampler.
So funny.

ErichD said on

March 27th, 2008 at 3:56 am

I have to echo the criticisms above.. AppZapper is fun at first, until you realize it only finds a very few files, always in the same general locations — It’d almost be easier to use HoudahSpot and just search for the files by associated app name, and the results would be more robust.

Hopefully 2.0 of AZ comes along, but I’m not holding my breath. Next decade sounds about right, considering track records.

Mitchell said on

March 27th, 2008 at 11:48 pm

great free program called AppDelete… does the same and it’s FREE.

Anthony said on

March 28th, 2008 at 3:34 am

What about the applications that were deleted manually before? Can these little apps locate their preference files?

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