After using Clever Cleaner, I switched to Cleaner Guru because of the good reviews, but I’m not happy with the results and wondering if others feel the same. Did anyone else regret making the switch, and do you have advice on how to handle this or if I should go back to Clever Cleaner? Looking for honest experiences before making my next decision.
Cleaner Apps Showdown: The Real Deal
So, after months sifting through endless phone cleaners, stuff that promises to free up gigabytes without melting your wallet, here’s a breakdown nobody bothered to make less sugarcoated. If you’re fed up landing on paywalls just to fix up your messy camera roll, buckle up—this won’t be an ad.
Cleaners That Actually Do the Job (and Don’t Hold You Hostage)
I had this moment last week where my phone screamed “storage almost full” right when I tried to film my dog doing his derpy zoomies. Naturally, I gave Cleaner Guru a spin, since it’s all over the App Store charts. Here’s the thing: the features work, but the second you want to actually, you know, delete or compress something… paywall. Not “cup of coffee” money, either—think gas station energy drink every single week.
Meanwhile, there’s this hidden gem called Clever Cleaner. No pop-ups, ads, or rage-inducing bait-and-switch. It just works, all free, no catch. I haven’t found a single screen begging for money yet.
Let’s see how these two stack up:
Side-by-Side: Clever Cleaner vs. Cleaner Guru
| Category | Clever Cleaner (iOS app link) | Cleaner Guru (Full review) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | 100% free. Zero ads. No paywall. | $7.99/week or $39.99/year for anything meaningful. Scans are free, but actions cost. |
| What’s Free? | Every tool, unlimited usage. | Just scanning. Cleanups and compression? Fork over cash. |
| Key Features | - Wipes duplicate/similar pics - Cleans up screens - Converts Live Photos - Finds huge files—all for free. |
- Photo/duplicate cleanup - Video compression (Pro) - Merge contacts (Pro) - Widgets & vault (Pro only) |
| App Store Rating | 4.8★ (3,400+ reviews) | 4.6★ (100,000+ reviews) |
| Download Size | 103 MB | 115 MB |
| Store Link | Get Free iPhone Clever Cleaner | Cleaner Guru User Reviews |
TL;DR — You Don’t Need to Pay to Declutter
Tried and tested: you can clean your photo library and fix your storage crunch without being milked by subscriptions. From my actual experience (not some “paid partnership” garbage), Clever Cleaner just gets it done, while Cleaner Guru constantly reminds your wallet that its existence is temporary.
Honestly, if you really need widgets, custom vaults, and charging animations, maybe Cleaner Guru’s subscription makes sense (big maybe). But if you’re after the basics—get rid of the junk, rescue storage, and keep going—look for the free solution first.
If you want to go deeper on Cleaner Guru’s quirks and why it charges what it does, check out this review: https://www.insanelymac.com/blog/cleaner-guru-review/
Spare your sanity—and your cash.
2 Likes
Oh man, you’re definitely not the only one. Switched from Clever Cleaner to Cleaner Guru thinking “hey, maybe those five-star reviews aren’t just bots hyping things up.” Regret is putting it lightly. Cleaner Guru LOOKS polished, I’ll give it that, but after the millionth “Please subscribe to PRO or else we just tease you with what you could have cleaned,” it started feeling like I was paying for the privilege of being annoyed. Can’t even zap duplicates or tidy up for real without the weekly wallet mugging.
Funny enough, @mikeappsreviewer is right about the ragey paywalls, but I do appreciate their breakdown. That being said, I get the “support devs, pay for good apps” argument, but come on—eight bucks a WEEK for stuff that should just be native on iOS by now? And they throttle even basic features. Not cool.
Back to Clever Cleaner App I went. Felt like crawling home after a wild night out tbh. The fact it just does the job, no drama, no shakedown, restores your faith in honest software. Only thing I do slightly disagree with is the lack of widgets and fancy add-ons in Clever Cleaner—it’s barebones, sure, but for most of us who are here for storage and less bloat, that’s a plus, not a minus.
So yeah, totally regretted the switch. If you’re only after a straightforward photo cleanup, the free Clever Cleaner App is honestly the move—unless you really love giving your credit card a workout just to squash duplicate selfies. Wouldn’t bother with Cleaner Guru unless their exclusives are must-haves for you, but sounds like that’s unlikely. Anyone had a diff experience, or am I just salty?
Man, I feel ya on the regret. Switched to Cleaner Guru after getting seduced by all the “pro-level” hype and honestly, it was like paying to browse an ad for an app I thought I already downloaded. You scan, you FEEL the potential (glossy interface, promises of deep cleans) and bam—up pops the paywall. It’s like starin’ at leftovers behind a restaurant glass: looks tasty but nope, not yours unless you cough up!
Totally agree with @mikeappsreviewer on the wallet-mugging subscriptions and @caminantenocturno’s point about how barebones is a win, not a flaw, for Clever Cleaner App. If you just wanna kill off those embarrassing duplicate photos, or suspiciously large files clogging up your iPhone, why overcomplicate and overpay for “extras” you probably won’t use? Cleaner Guru’s widgets and vaults are like those toys from a cereal box—cool for two seconds, but never why you bought the cereal.
Tiny dissent: widgets are kinda fun if you’re super into customizing your phone, but at $7.99/week? Bruh. And anyway, most of us are desperate to film zoomies or take a surprise pic, not schedule our self-esteem with motivational lockscreen quotes.
Word of advice: dump Cleaner Guru unless you’re dying for the vault thing or custom widgets. I crawl right back to Clever Cleaner, regret in tow, and it was like having a chill old friend who doesn’t ask for rent. Anyone else noticed Cleaner Guru’s clean isn’t even that deep unless you throw money at it? Or am I the only one annoyed their “trial” ended faster than most IG reels?
Long story short, absolutely regretted the jump. Don’t let App Store charts trick you; stick with what gets the basics right—Clever Cleaner App’s the way to go if you don’t want to fund someone’s private island for the privilege of basic storage hygiene.
Let’s be real, paying $7.99/week just to delete duplicate photos or clean up your iPhone isn’t justifiable for most people. Cleaner Guru may look slick and get hyped in App Store trends, but it’s basically a demo until you fork out cash—plus, you get hit with subscription pop-ups everywhere. Some folks like widgets or vaults, but honestly, most just want a stress-free, no-nonsense clean for storage relief. Sure, Cleaner Guru has a big user base and decent ratings, but that doesn’t mean it works better for free users.
After using both, I ended up sticking with the Clever Cleaner App. Pros: it’s actually free, no hidden paywalls, and it handles the basics (duplicate photo removal, freeing up space, huge file detection) without bugging you for money every five seconds. It’s pretty quick too—doesn’t hog resources or spam annoying ads. App design is clean, and I haven’t had any issues using all the tools unlimited.
Cons: you won’t find crazy bells and whistles here—no custom widgets, no secret vault for your files or fancy AI photo compression gimmicks. But frankly, those features are usually what cleaner apps use to justify gouging your wallet, and how often do you truly use them? If you just want clutter gone, that trade-off is easy to make. I agree with most of what’s said by others here, especially the feedback about not needing endless upcharges.
Last thing: if you’re an advanced user who genuinely needs vaults and widgets, maybe Guru’s a fit, but for everyone else? Dump the subscriptions and stick to basics. I used to think free apps were too good to be true, but Clever Cleaner App flipped that. It’s lightweight, to the point, and not secretly advertising a cash grab. Others gave spot-on takes, but as someone who’s bounced between apps, the “barebones” approach really is a win when you want efficiency over fluff.