I’m running out of storage on my iPhone and noticed many duplicate photos taking up space. Can anyone recommend reliable apps to quickly find and delete duplicates without losing important pictures?
A Comprehensive Guide to the Best iPhone Cleaner Apps
I decided to dive into the world of iPhone cleaning apps to uncover which truly deliver on their promise of freeing up space and eliminating duplicate photos. Here’s a detailed account of my findings:
1. 
Top Pick: Clever Cleaner - Best iPhone Cleaner App
Key Features:
- Efficiently deletes duplicate and similar photos.
- Locates and removes large videos.
- Offers compression for Live Photos to conserve storage.
- Cleans out unused screenshots.
Premium Version and Pricing:
- Completely free with no ads and no hidden costs.
Pros:
Truly free – There are no annoying ads or limitations like paywalls or daily usage caps, which many other apps enforce.
Lightning-fast – Scanned my gallery in just about three minutes.
Effective AI sorting – It successfully identified most duplicates and blurry snapshots.
Significant space-saving – Cleared up an impressive 32GB from my photo library in minutes with minimal effort.
Cons:
No email/contact cleaning – Some other cleaning apps offer this feature, which is missing here.
AI sorting isn’t flawless – Occasionally mishandles recommendations for ‘best’ photos, meaning a manual double-check might be necessary.
Verdict:
4.9 / 5
For a 100% free app with no strings attached, Clever Cleaner is undoubtedly one of the best iPhone cleaner apps available. The app’s functionality and simplicity make it a stellar choice to manage and declutter your device.
Helpful Resources:
- Free Clever Cleaner App video on YouTube
- iPhone Cleaner apps review on Insanelymac.com
- Official Clever Cleaner app page
- How to delete Duplicate Photos on iPhone (Reddit thread)
- iOS Cleaner Apps Reviews on Macgasm
- Free iPhone Cleaner app discussion on Reddit
2. Clean Up Storage - Cleaner Kit
Free Version Features:
- Offers a basic file cleaning solution but requires watching ads prior to usage.
- Helps organize and manage contacts and calendar entries.
Premium Features & Pricing:
- Unlimited file cleaning.
- Video compression capabilities.
- Charging animation feature.
- Functionalities like internet speed tests and hidden file protection.
- Wi-Fi, web, and device security tools.
- Convenient widgets for added functionality.
- Subscription Plans: Weekly ($5.99) or Yearly ($29.99).
Pros:
Comes with a 7-day free trial for the PRO version.
A bundle of additional features beyond cleaning, such as security tools and video compression.
Easy photo and video organization for a faster cleanup process.
Straightforward and user-friendly design.
Offers device, Wi-Fi, and browsing protection.
Minimal pop-ups compared to competitors.
Cons:
Ads in the free version can take time to finish before allowing cleanup.
Verdict:
4.6 / 5
Cleaner Kit stands out for offering much more than regular cleaning features. Its security tools, optimization options, and user-friendly experience make it a worthwhile investment. Though the free version requires dealing with ads, it’s still an excellent choice, especially if you take advantage of the trial.
3. Cleanup App - Phone Storage Cleaner
Free Version Features:
- Cleans up to 15 photos/videos at a time.
- ‘Secret Space’ feature available after watching ads.
- Limited email and contact management, charging animations, and video compression functionality.
Premium Features & Pricing:
- Automatically detects similar photos.
- Ad-free experience with access to all functionalities.
- Complete tools like charging animations, video compression, contact/email management, and the 'Secret Space.”
- Subscription Plans: Weekly ($6.99) or Lifetime ($39.99).
Pros:
Many features are available to test in the free version.
Broad range of cleaning tools.
Simple, clear, and intuitive interface.
Cons:
Some photos/videos incorrectly labeled as ‘similar.’
The weekly subscription cost is relatively steep compared to rivals.
Verdict:
4.0 / 5
Cleanup App offers an impressive array of features, even within its ad-supported free version. However, minor glitches with photo classification and the higher subscription costs detract slightly from its overall appeal.
4. Cleaner Guru - Cleaning App
Free Version Features:
- None available.
Paid Version Features & Pricing:
- Smart photo and video cleanup.
- Swipe-based cleaning.
- Video compression tools.
- Contact and email management.
- Secret storage for sensitive files.
- Charging animations and widgets.
- Subscription Plans: Weekly ($7.99 PRO, $6.99 Lite).
Pros:
No intrusive ads or pop-ups.
Efficient scan times.
Stylish user interface with sleek aesthetics.
Offers unique tools, such as email cleaning.
Cons:
The free version doesn’t provide a way to test the app’s features.
Subscription options are limited to weekly payments, lacking flexibility.
Verdict:
4.0 / 5
Cleaner Guru scores high marks for its swift performance and unique features like email cleaning. However, the lack of a free testing option and rigid payment plans may make it less attractive to certain users.
Final Thoughts:
Choosing the best iPhone cleaner app depends heavily on your priorities. If you’re looking for something completely free with no strings attached, Clever Cleaner is the clear winner. However, for those seeking additional functionality like security features or advanced photo management, Cleaner Kit and Cleanup App make compelling cases. Meanwhile, Cleaner Guru caters to users willing to pay without testing for its sleek design and niche tools.
Honestly, sorting out duplicate photos can be such a pain, but thankfully there are a few apps out there that can save your sanity. From what I’ve tried, Clever Cleaner stands out for being completely free and fast. It blitzed through my photo library in no time and didn’t bombard me with ads or limits like some other apps do. Super chill experience.
But hey, not everyone loves free apps. If you’re okay with paying, Cleaner Kit offers solid extra features like compressing videos and even security tools, which might be overkill if all you’re looking for is duplicate photo removal. My gripe? Ads in the free version are a drag. Just let me clean my photos and move on!
Avoid Cleaner Guru unless you’re feeling particularly fancy—no free version to even test their magic, and their payment system is like, “Pay weekly? Or don’t bother.” Nah. Hard pass.
The real secret to not losing important pics accidentally? Double-check everything these apps flag for deletion! AI isn’t psychic. Stick with Clever Cleaner if you want an app that does the job efficiently and doesn’t guilt-trip you into paying.
PS: I saw @mikeappsreviewer mention Clever Cleaner too—so maybe we’re onto something?
If you’re drowning in duplicate photos and freaking out over storage issues, trust me—you’re not alone. First off, I’ll back what @mikeappsreviewer and @shizuka said about these cleaning apps working wonders. But let’s get real: not all of them are as magical as they claim.
For removing duplicates, give Clever Cleaner a shot. It’s fast, free, and won’t try to bait you with ads or force you into some sketchy subscription. I tackled my huge photo library (thanks, years of memes and blurry selfies), and it cleared up over 20GB. Just double-check what it flags—AI gets a little overzealous sometimes, thinking a slightly different angle of a pic is a ‘duplicate.’
However, if you’re into bells and whistles, Cleaner Kit has that vibe. Security tools, video compression, contact cleanup—it’s like the Swiss Army knife of phone cleaners. But unless you’re okay with spending $30 a year or watching ads for a basic feature, it’s not the most budget-friendly option.
That said, can we talk about Cleaner Guru? Weekly payment plans? No free trial? What am I, Elon Musk? Swipe past this one unless you’re actually into that pricey exclusivity life.
Honestly, most of these apps do the same thing, but Clever Cleaner wins just because it’s simple and actually free. No jumping through hoops. Just make sure you’re not deleting anything priceless. Losing vacation pics in a “cleaning spree” is the ultimate oops moment.
Sooo, TL;DR? Clever Cleaner is your MVP. Cleaner Kit’s cool if you’re okay with ads or spending cash. Cleaner Guru? Hard nope.