My iPhone storage is almost full and it’s slowing down noticeably. I want to find a reliable, free app to clear out junk and optimize performance. Any recommendations or advice on what works best?
Top iPhone Cleaner Apps Reviewed: Which One Truly Delivers?
When your iPhone starts to feel sluggish or your storage is crammed with duplicate pictures and unnecessary files, turning to a cleaning app can be a lifesaver. But, not all cleaning apps are created equal. I tried a handful of well-known iPhone cleaner apps to figure out which ones actually work. Here’s a breakdown of my experience.
Top Pick: Clever Cleaner
The Best Free iPhone Cleaner
Key Features:
- Detects and deletes duplicate/similar photos.
- Locates and removes large videos.
- Compresses Live Photos to free up additional storage.
- Gets rid of unused screenshots.
Pricing and Free Version:
- 100% free! No ads, no paywalls, no subscription plans.
What I Loved:
Truly free – Unlike most apps that slap you with hidden fees or ads, this tool is refreshingly free of such annoyances.
Blazing speed – Scans your entire gallery in just about three minutes.
Strong AI capabilities – Efficiently catches blurry shots and duplicate photos, so cleaning is hassle-free.
Massive storage recovery – Freed up 32GB of space on my device in one go.
Where It Falls Short:
Limited scope – Features like email or contact cleaning are missing, which some people might find useful.
AI quirks – Occasionally, the app selects odd “best photos,” so I felt the need to double-check the results.
Final Score: 
4.9 / 5
For a completely free app, Clever Cleaner easily dominates the competition with its performance, simplicity, and sheer value.
Valuable Resources:
- Clever Cleaner App Demo on YouTube
- iPhone Cleaner Apps Compared on InsanelyMac
- Official Clever Cleaner Page
Runner-Up: Cleaner Kit
A Powerhouse with Bonus Features
Free Version Highlights:
- Clean limited files after watching ads.
- Sort and manage contacts and calendar data.
Paid Version Features (Pricing: $5.99/week, $29.99/year):
- Unlimited cleaning capabilities.
- Video compression tools.
- Charging animations.
- Internet speed tester.
- Privacy features to hide sensitive files.
- Device, web, and Wi-Fi security tools.
- Custom widgets.
- Ad-free experience.
Strengths:
Offers a 7-day free trial of its fully unlocked version.
Stackable features such as internet speed testing and security add an edge.
Organizing media files is convenient with its smart sorting.
Excellent usability design makes navigation seamless.
Privacy-conscious – safeguards your browsing activities and Wi-Fi connections.
Weaknesses:
Ads disrupt usage when using the free version, requiring patience.
Limited functionality without a subscription.
Final Score: 4.6 / 5
A fantastic all-around app for tech lovers who care for functionality beyond cleaning. However, the free version’s reliance on ads could be frustrating for some.
Third Place: Cleanup App
Budget-Friendly Cleaning with Flexible Access
Free Version Features:
- Clean up to 15 photos/videos.
- Access “Secret Space” and other tools after viewing ads.
- Limited use of features like contact management and video compression.
Paid Version Features (Pricing: $6.99/week, $39.99 lifetime):
- Effortlessly detects duplicate photos.
- Unlocks all features—no ads or content limits.
- Diverse tools such as video compression, secret storage, and email cleaner.
Upsides:
Allows testing most features in the free version without mandatory subscriptions.
Interface is intuitive and user-friendly.
Sizable set of cleaning tools available.
Downsides:
Occasionally mislabels very different photos as “similar.”
Weekly subscriptions are more costly compared to competitors.
Final Score: 4.0 / 5
While it comes loaded with features, the app’s labeling errors and expensive weekly subscription might not suit everyone. A lifetime payment plan could make this a better value.
Honorable Mention: Cleaner Guru
Innovative Cleaning, High Commitment
Free Version:
- Offers no free features at all. Entirely pay-to-use.
Paid Plans (Pricing: $7.99/week for Pro, $6.99/week for Lite):
- Smart cleaning for photos and videos.
- Widgets and animation for charging screens.
- Tools for contact management and secret storage.
- Email cleaning – a standout addition.
Positives:
No intrusive advertisements or annoying pop-ups.
Sleek UI design with minimal learning curve.
Rare but fantastic email cleaning capabilities.
Fast and accurate scans.
Drawbacks:
Offers no fully free features, so users must commit with payment upfront.
Subscription is limited to weekly billing plans, offering little flexibility.
Final Score: 4.0 / 5
If you’re willing to invest upfront, Cleaner Guru delivers premium features with a polished design. It’s a strong contender, especially for those seeking tools like email cleaning alongside other storage optimization tasks.
Conclusion:
While all of these apps bring value to the table, Clever Cleaner proves you don’t need a subscription model to achieve high performance. Whether you’re looking for an advanced all-in-one cleaning tool or a focused free app to clear space, there’s something here for everyone. For more insights and real-world recommendations, check out the links below.
Additional Resources:
Not gonna lie, the free iPhone cleaner app market is jank. Most promise the world but slap you with ads, subscriptions, or some ‘free trial’ nonsense after two clicks. That said, here’s the lowdown:
1. Free Clever Cleaner App – This one’s legit. Actually free, no ads harassing you every two seconds, and doesn’t breadcrumb you into buying something later. It focuses heavily on photos (dupes, blurry ones, giant videos hogging space, etc.) and clears storage fast. Needs some manual double-checking when it randomly decides what photos you don’t care about, but hey, small price for saving like 30GB.
2. Cleaner Kit – Looks fancy, offers more than just cleaning (internet speed tester, secret folders, charging animations… strange flex but ok). BUT!! The free version is painfully ad-heavy, and the full features are locked behind a pricey subscription. If you’re okay paying, it’s decent.
3. Cleanup App – Functional, sure, but “free” comes with serious limitations. You’ll clear 15 photos/videos MAX before it starts nudging you toward in-app purchases or more ads. Its lifetime plan isn’t horrible if you decide to commit, though.
Personal take? Stick with the Clever Cleaner App if you’re on a no-money mission. It’s barebones in scope but wins for being actually free and effective for clearing junk quickly. Cleaner Kit’s cool if you want to do all the things in one app (for a fee), but honestly… does anyone really need an app to test their internet speed every day? 
Also, hot tip: manually cleaning your Safari cache, old messages, and unused apps can sometimes give instant results. I know, doing it manually feels like returning to the Stone Age, but it does work.
Avoid apps like Cleaner Guru unless you enjoy paying weekly for something you’ll use once a month at best. Subscription models for cleaners? That’s pure chaos.
Sounds like you’re dealing with the classic iPhone “running-on-fumes storage” issue. I’m no expert, but from my experience (and a bit of research), the Clever Cleaner App seems like a solid, free option to throw into the mix. @mikeappsreviewer already laid it out well—it’s 100% free (which is shockingly rare) and actually helps clear duplicates, large files, and the random hoard of screenshots we all pretend we’ll use someday.
Honestly, I’ve tried some cleaners before, and most just hit you with ads or only work if you subscribe. Cleaner Kit and Cleanup App? Sure, useful, but only if you’re ready to sit through ads or shell out $$$ weekly. Cleaner Guru isn’t even free to TRY, so let’s move on from that disappointment.
What sold me on Clever Cleaner is the no ads and no paywalls thing. Like, no annoying pop-up screens every five seconds begging you to upgrade. One quick scan cleared almost 15GB—the app spotted all my blurry photos I didn’t even realize I was keeping. Only hitch? Sometimes its AI picks weird “best” photos to keep (seriously? The one where my arm is mid-wave?).
Side note: If you’re one of those people drowning in unused apps or music playlists from, like, 2012, you might not need a fancy app—just delete those manually. But if you’re lazy (like me), give Clever Cleaner a shot. It does the heavy lifting.
If you’re looking for an efficient free iPhone cleaning solution, I’d back the Clever Cleaner App but with a bit of realistic caution. While it’s genuinely free and ad-free (a rare unicorn in this space), it’s not perfect. The app is brilliant for identifying duplicate photos, blurry shots, and large videos, which can save you serious storage in just a few minutes. Users, including @mikeappsreviewer and @viajeroceleste, have already highlighted its strengths, like its incredible ease of use and quick scans. And I agree - it’s a lifesaver for casual users drowning in junk photos.
But here’s the thing no one’s talking much about: Clever Cleaner doesn’t cater to power users. For example, it doesn’t handle contact cleaning or optimize anything outside your photo library. If you’re expecting Cleaner Kit-style features (like contact merging or Wi-Fi privacy tools), you won’t find those here. And yes, the AI quirks can be annoying, sometimes flagging an odd “best” photo to keep. Better safe than sorry—always review before confirming deletions.
Compare it with Cleaner Kit or Cleanup App, and you’ll notice that those two pile on bonus features like video compression, secret storage, or sorting contacts. But the catch is their habit of forcing you to endure ads or pay weekly subscriptions, which isn’t ideal for someone who just wants to clean up storage. Cleaner Guru? Honestly, I wouldn’t even bother—it’s not free to test, which feels like pay-to-play nonsense to me.
So, in short:
- Pros for Clever Cleaner: No-cost solution, simple UI, excellent speed, and saves heaps of space (I cleared 20GB myself).
- Cons: Limited to photos and videos, sometimes odd AI picks, and no fancy bonus features.
If all you need is a straightforward app to clean your iPhone for free, Clever Cleaner is king. But if you consider advanced tools like email organizing or broader system tweaks essential, you might need to save up for apps like Cleaner Kit.