Short answer
Safari can delete history, cookies and website data by hand, and it can remove history items after a period you choose. In the guides we checked, Apple doesn't describe a setting that cleans up when you quit Safari. Bushfire for Safari fills exactly that gap: the app deletes the categories you selected as soon as you quit Safari. If you only clean up now and then or use private windows, Safari alone is enough.
Comparison table
| Feature | Safari built-in tools | Bushfire for Safari |
|---|---|---|
| Cookies and website data | Manual only 1Settings › Privacy › Manage Website Data | Automatic |
| Cache | Manual only 2Develop menu, Empty Caches command | Automatic |
| History | Manual or timed 3 4Clear History with a selectable period; items can be removed after a set time | Automatic |
| Delete on quit | Not describedNot listed in the Apple guides we checked | YesAs soon as you quit Safari |
| Choice of data types | Limited 3“Clear History” removes a fixed list; website data is separate | Freely selectableSwitch categories on or off, pausing possible |
| Secure overwrite | Not describedNot listed in the Apple guides we checked | Optional |
| Effort | By hand every time | Set up once |
| Cost | No extra software needed | FreeNo account, open source (GPLv3) |
| Platforms | Mac and iPhone 5Separate Apple guides | macOS 10.11 or later |
Apple sources for the table (checked 1 November 2026)
Menus may differ depending on your Safari and macOS version. “Not described” means not listed on the Apple pages named here.
Delete manually in Safari
History
- Open Safari and choose History › Clear History.
- Pick the period in the pop-up menu.
According to Apple, this removes webpages you visited, the frequently visited site list, recent searches, webpage icons and snapshots, and the list of downloaded items. The downloaded files themselves aren't removed. More in the guide Delete Safari history automatically.
Cookies and website data
- Open Safari › Settings › Privacy.
- Click Manage Website Data.
- Select one or more websites and click Remove or Remove All.
Apple notes that you may be signed out of websites afterwards (source). See also Delete Safari cookies automatically.
Cache
The Empty Caches command is in the Develop menu. The Develop menu appears, according to Apple, once you select “Show features for web developers” under Safari › Settings › Advanced. Details in the guide Delete Safari cache automatically.
Automatic options in Safari
- Remove history items automatically: under Safari › Settings › General, the “Remove history items” option sets when items are removed from history (Apple).
- Private windows: according to Apple, webpages you visit aren't saved there and changes to cookies and website data aren't saved. Safari can also open with a new private window each time.
- Prevent cross-site tracking: Safari periodically deletes tracking data from third-party content providers, except those you visit yourself (Apple).
Limits of the built-in tools
- Deleting on quit isn't described in the Apple guides we checked.
- Private windows only cover what happens inside them. Downloaded items stay on the computer, according to Apple. What you collected in regular windows remains.
- Apple states that clearing history doesn't clear histories kept independently by websites. That applies to any local tool, including Bushfire.
- Tracking protection limits tracking. It doesn't replace cleaning up local data such as history or the download list.
If Safari is set up with iCloud, Apple says clearing history removes it from all connected devices.
When Bushfire makes sense
Bushfire for Safari is a free open-source macOS app (10.11 or later, GPLv3) that runs in the menu bar and needs no account. It deletes cookies, cache, history, the download list, top sites, preview images, form data, location prompts and website icons.
- You want everything cleaned up after each session without having to remember.
- You want to separate categories, for example delete history but keep cookies.
- You want to delete instantly from the menu bar without quitting Safari, or pause the app.
- You want optional secure overwriting.
The source code is on GitHub (ghostjuza/open-bushfire).
When Safari is enough
- You only clean up by hand now and then.
- You browse sensitive things in private windows anyway.
- Automatic history removal after a period is good enough for you.
- You don't want to install an extra app.
More settings are covered in the guides Private browsing in Safari and Make Safari anonymous (both in German).
FAQ
Can Safari delete data automatically when I quit?
The Apple guides we checked do not describe a setting that clears history, cookies and cache when you quit Safari. Apple documents manual deletion, a setting that removes history items after a chosen period, and private windows.
Does Private Browsing delete my cookies and history?
According to Apple, webpages you visit in a private window aren't saved and changes to cookies and website data aren't saved. Downloaded items remain on your computer. Private Browsing doesn't clear data collected in regular windows.
Can I clear Safari history for a chosen period?
Yes. According to Apple, you choose History > Clear History and pick how far back to clear from the pop-up menu.
Is there Cookie AutoDelete for Safari?
According to its GitHub page, Cookie AutoDelete is an extension for Firefox and Chrome. The page doesn't mention Safari. Bushfire for Safari is a standalone macOS app that deletes data when you quit Safari; it is not an extension.
Is Bushfire for Safari free and open source?
Yes. The app is free, needs no account and is licensed under GPLv3. The source code is on GitHub.
Is this the Bushfire disaster app?
No. This page is about Bushfire for Safari, a macOS app that deletes Safari data. It has nothing to do with bushfire warning apps.