I built a Mac storage cleaner that uses Gemini AI to explain what it's deleting ($1.99)
On my old 128GB Mac, I constantly ran out of disk space with zero idea what was eating my storage.
Thinking more hardware would fix it, I upgraded to an M2 Mac Air with 256GB. But just 6 months later, I got the exact same "Storage Almost Full" warning!
Standard cleaners just showed generic red blocks of "System Data", leaving me scared to delete anything in case I broke my setup.
So I built Dusty for myself.
I wanted two non-negotiable rules:
- Everything must move to the Trash first — so I can safely restore any file if I ever need it back.
- An AI engine (Google Gemini) that scans and explains in plain English what each file actually is before touching it (node_modules, build caches, WhatsApp media vs chat databases).
After using it locally, it saved my Mac and freed up dozens of gigabytes safely. I found it so useful that I decided to polish it into a full app for anyone struggling with the exact same headache.
Website & Download: https://dustystorage.com
Pricing: 1.99 / month or 15.99 / year
I would love your feedback on the story, app design, and pricing!
The “explain what it’s deleting” part is a pretty clear difference from typical storage cleaners. Curious whether users mention that first when they try Dusty.
Thanks Aryan! Yes, 100%. Thats actually the #1 thing early users (especially developers) mention.
Most people have gigabytes of node_modules, build caches, or WhatsApp media sitting on their Mac for months simply because they are terrified of hitting "Delete" on folders they dont fully recognize.
Having Gemini write a 2-line plain-English explanation before anything moves to the Trash gives them the peace of mind to actually clear out space without anxiety!
That’s a useful early signal, especially that developers are calling it out unprompted. The anxiety around deleting unfamiliar files seems to be a real part of the problem. If you’re open to continuing the conversation, what’s the best email to reach you at?
Thanks Aryan! Totally agree — file deletion anxiety was the biggest bottleneck for me too before building this.
Would love to connect and chat more! You can reach me directly at
info@dustystorage.com
. Looking forward to continuing the conversation!