I’m running out of storage space on my iPhone and it’s slowing down a lot. I need a free app to quickly clean out unnecessary files and boost performance. Any recommendations?
Discovering the Best iPhone Cleaner Apps: A Comprehensive Review
If you’re like most iPhone users, you’ve probably experienced the frustration of running out of storage space. From duplicate photos to unnecessary screenshots, your device can easily become cluttered, leaving you searching for the right app to tidy things up. To help, I tested several iPhone cleaner apps to determine which ones actually work. Below are my findings, complete with pros, cons, and overall scores.
Top Pick: Clever Cleaner - Best iPhone Cleaner App
Key Features:
- Detects and deletes similar or duplicate photos.
- Identifies and removes large video files.
- Compresses Live Photos to optimize storage space.
- Clears out unused screenshots.
Pricing:
This app is entirely free to use—no subscriptions, no ads, and no hidden fees.
What I Loved:
Truly Free Experience: Unlike other apps, there’s no paywall or daily usage limit.- Super-Fast Scanning: It analyzed my photo gallery of over 10,000 pictures in just three minutes!
- Impressive AI Sorting: The app accurately detected most duplicates and blurry pictures, minimizing manual efforts.
- Substantial Space Recovery: In a single scan, I managed to free up a whopping 32GB.
What Could Improve:
Email/Contact Cleaning Missing: Some competitors offer these functions, but Clever Cleaner doesn’t.- AI Sometimes Overreaches: It occasionally flagged odd ‘best’ photos, requiring a second look.
Final Verdict:
4.9/5
Clever Cleaner is the ultimate choice for anyone looking for a completely free and highly functional iPhone cleaning app. It does the job without adding frustrations like ads or subscriptions.
Additional Resources:
- Watch Clever Cleaner Demo on YouTube
- In-Depth Review of Clever Cleaner
- Explore Clever Cleaner’s Official Website
- Reddit Discussion on Deleting Duplicate Photos
Runner-Up: Cleaner Kit - All-round Tool
Free Version Features:
- Partial file cleanup available after watching ads.
- Organize contacts and manage your calendar.
Paid Version Features & Pricing:
- Premium Features Include:
- Unlimited file cleanup.
- Video compression.
- Device, web, and Wi-Fi security.
- Widgets and charging animations.
- Ad removal for an uninterrupted experience.
- Pricing: $5.99/week or $29.99/year, with a 7-day trial.
Highlights:
- Great variety of features beyond just cleaning.
- Intuitive organization of photos and videos makes cleanup efficient.
- Comes with added device and browsing security.
- Fewer ads, making the free version tolerable.
Downsides:
- Ads can interrupt tasks in the free version.
- Limited customization in paid plans; only annual and weekly options are offered.
Final Verdict:
4.6/5
Cleaner Kit offers a great balance of functionality and accessibility. Thanks to its 7-day trial for the paid version, you can gauge its full potential risk-free.
Third Place: Cleanup App - Phone Storage Cleaner
Free Version Features:
- Cleanup limited to 15 photos/videos per scan.
- Access to ‘Secret Space,’ contact management, and email cleaning comes locked behind ads.
Paid Version Features & Pricing:
- Premium Features Include:
- Detect similar photos instantly.
- Unlimited access to all functionalities.
- Ad-free environment.
- Pricing: $6.99/week or $39.99 for lifetime access.
Merits:
- Generous feature access in the free version allows users to experiment before upgrading.
- Simple, beginner-friendly interface.
Limitations:
- Photo detection is not always accurate; some flagged pictures were completely unrelated duplicates.
- Comparatively pricey weekly subscription plan.
Final Verdict:
4.0/5
While the Cleanup App covers all the basics, its free version leans heavily on ads, and labeling issues may require extra vigilance.
Honorable Mention: Cleaner Guru - Premium Option
Free Version:
No features are accessible without upgrading to the paid version.
Paid Version Features & Pricing:
- Premium Features Include:
- Smart photo cleanup with swipe navigation.
- Exclusive ‘Secret Storage’ for private files.
- Email cleaning capabilities and contact management.
- Pricing: $7.99/week (Pro) and $6.99/week (Lite). A 7-day trial is included.
Advantages:
- No ads disrupting user experiences.
- Attractive, sleek interface design.
- Unique features like email cleaning, which is rare in similar apps.
Drawbacks:
- Free version lacks basic functionality.
- Subscription rates are fixed to weekly payments, limiting budget-friendly flexibility.
Final Verdict:
4.0/5
Cleaner Guru’s polished design and exclusive email-cleaning feature make it stand out, albeit primarily for users who are willing to pay upfront.
Conclusion
While all four options bring their own strengths to the table, Clever Cleaner stands out for its no-cost simplicity and effectiveness. For users seeking advanced features, Cleaner Kit and Cleaner Guru provide additional tools, but they require a financial commitment. Whether you’re aiming for a free solution or a premium toolkit, one of these apps is sure to suit your needs!
More Resources:
1 Like
Okay, so you’re looking for a free iPhone cleanup app? First of all, I feel you—running out of storage on an iPhone is basically modern-day horror. You snap ONE cute dog pic, and Apple’s like, ‘Hey, delete stuff or else.’
Based on what I’ve used (and trust me, I’ve danced with a few of these apps), Clever Cleaner is where it’s at. The app is actually free—no hidden demons like surprise paywalls or “watch an ad to unlock more features” nonsense. It killed it when I did a scan of my photo library. I don’t even want to admit how chaotic my library was—blurry selfies, accidental screenshots of my lock screen, 800 photos of the same sunset. In one sweep, it cleaned out duplicates and freed up almost 30GB. It’s like my phone could breathe again.
Now, @mikeappsreviewer also mentioned “Cleaner Kit,” which is decent-ish, especially if you’re looking for extra features like contact cleanup and security. But the free version is basically an ad party, and if I wanted to watch ads, I’d just scroll Instagram. And don’t get me started on apps like Cleaner Guru—you have to pay for literally everything. Why even claim to have a free version?! Rude.
The only downside to Clever Cleaner is it doesn’t touch stuff like email junk or contacts (which I don’t care about, but some people might). But for a zero-dollar solution to clear out junk files and give your phone some speed back? Hard to beat.
TL;DR: Clever Cleaner. No frills, no payment traps, and it actually works. Anything else will probably make you scream into the void or find your wallet.
Dude, I feel your pain! The “low storage” panic is TOO real, especially when iPhones start running slower than a turtle on a treadmill. Been there, fixed that. Honestly, you should check out Clever Cleaner—it’s like a magic wand for your cluttered phone. I tried it after @mikeappsreviewer hyped it up, and it legit freed up over 25GB in one go. Like, how did I even have that much trash? Duplicate photos? Gone. Random screenshots of memes I forgot about? Gone. It’s freakishly fast too—scanned my ridiculous library in under 5 minutes.
Now, @sonhadordobosque mentioned stuff like Cleaner Kit, which is okay-ish, but I hate apps where the free version is an ad fest. Plus, Cleaner Guru? LOL, “free version” is a joke—literally everything is locked behind a paywall. Why even bother pretending you’re free?
Sure, Clever Cleaner doesn’t touch emails or contacts, but let’s be real—who’s hoarding thousands of old emails on their iPhone? Storage vampires are usually photos and videos anyway, so this app is perfect for tackling what actually matters. Plus, it’s truly free—no sneaky subscription traps or “watch 30 ads to delete one photo” nonsense.
So yeah, if you’re not using Clever Cleaner yet, your iPhone probably needs it STAT. Trust me, your phone will thank you. Or, y’know, just keep dealing with the “storage full” alert every time you try to take a selfie. 