I’m running out of storage on my iPhone and it’s slowing down a lot. There are so many cleaning apps out there, and I don’t know which one to trust. I need an app that actually works for optimizing speed and clearing space efficiently. Any recommendations?
The Best iPhone Cleaner Apps: A Comprehensive Review
If you’ve been pondering which iPhone cleaner app is worth your time and energy for freeing up storage space and deleting duplicate photos, I’ve got you covered. I tested several apps to determine which ones genuinely deliver results. Here’s a detailed breakdown.
Top Pick: Clever Cleaner - The Best iPhone Cleaner App
Core Features
- Automatically deletes similar and duplicate photos.
- Identifies and removes large video files.
- Compresses Live Photos to reduce file size.
- Clears out unused screenshots.
Pricing: 100% Free
- No paid plans.
- No ads.
Why I Loved This App
Zero cost – Unlike most competitors, Clever Cleaner has no ads, limits, or hidden fees. Seriously, it’s completely free.
Blazing fast speed – It scanned my photo library of 32GB in just under 3 minutes.
Impressive AI sorting – It identified duplicate and blurry photos with decent accuracy.
Clutter-free gallery – After a single pass, my phone was 32GB lighter, and my photo library looked pristine.
Areas for Improvement
No extended cleaning options like managing email or contacts—features available in some competing apps.
The AI isn’t infallible—it sometimes misjudged which photo was the ‘best,’ so I had to double-check.
Verdict
4.9/5
For a truly free option with no restrictions, Clever Cleaner is a must-have.
Explore helpful guides and resources:
- Watch the Clever Cleaner demo on YouTube.
- Dive into Insane Mac’s iPhone Cleaner review.
- Visit the Clever Cleaner official page.
Runner-Up: Cleaner Kit (Formerly Smart Cleaner)
Free Version Features
- Limited file cleaning—each cleaning session starts after an ad finishes.
- Helps organize contacts and calendars.
Pro Version Features
- Removes all limitations and ads.
- Compresses video files.
- Features unique tools like ‘charging animations’ and ‘internet speed tests.’
- Includes security features for device, Wi-Fi, and web browsing.
- Starts at $5.99/week or $29.99/year.
Pros
Offers a variety of unique features beyond file cleaning.
Allows you to try out the premium version with a 7-day free trial.
Streamlines your photo and video cleanup process with effective sorting.
User-friendly interface ideal for beginners.
Bundles device security tools to protect Wi-Fi and online activities.
Fewer intrusive ads compared to other free apps.
Cons
Ads are required for most cleanup actions in the free version.
The paid features may only appeal to a niche of users.
Verdict
4.6/5
With a good balance of cleaning and utility features, Cleaner Kit provides excellent versatility. However, the ads can slightly hinder the experience for free users.
Third Place: Cleanup App - Phone Storage Cleaner
Free Version Features
- Cleans up to 15 photos/videos at a time.
- Includes limited access to features like ‘Secret Space’ (requires ad viewing).
- Contact management and email cleanup tools with heavy restrictions.
Pro Version Benefits
- Unlimited use of all features with no interruptions.
- Lifetime plan available for $39.99 or $6.99/week.
- Key features include video compression, contact management, and a ‘Secret Space’ for sensitive files.
Pros
Comprehensive toolkit with features like charging animations, contact management, and video compression.
Allows free feature testing without requiring immediate payments or subscriptions.
User-friendly layout.
Cons
The classification of ‘Similar’ photos and videos can be inaccurate.
On the pricey side—with weekly plans costing more than most alternatives.
Verdict
4/5
While it allows free testing of its features, mislabeling of content and subscription costs could deter some users. It’s still a reliable tool for occasional cleanup needs.
Fourth Place: Cleaner Guru: Premium-focused Cleaning Utility
Free Version Features
- None. The free version only allows browsing of premium features.
Paid Version Highlights
- Smart photo and video cleaning.
- Swipe-based cleanup tools for ease of use.
- Contact manager and email cleaning.
- Privacy tools like secret storage.
- Weekly subscription costs $7.99 for Pro or $6.99 for Lite.
Pros
No ads or interruptions.
Lightning-quick scans.
Aesthetically pleasing user interface.
Rare tools such as email cleaning, which most competitors lack.
Cons
No testing period or free tier features, which may limit appeal to cautious users.
Subscription-only pricing without flexibility.
Verdict
4/5
Cleaner Guru’s polished appearance and fast performance make it stand out, but the lack of any free functionality or alternative subscription plans might discourage prospective users.
Conclusion
Choosing the right iPhone cleaner should depend on your needs:
- Want versatile, cost-free cleaning? Pick Clever Cleaner.
- Interested in security and diverse features? Go for Cleaner Kit.
- Need advanced options like email cleaning? Try Cleaner Guru.
- Looking for a comprehensive trial before commitment? Consider Cleanup App.
Each app has its strengths, so take a moment to evaluate which features best suit your storage woes!
Extra Resources
Enhance your experience with these links:
Honestly, when it comes to cleaning up your iPhone, the reality is most of these “cleaning apps” are unnecessary fluff. Your phone isn’t a PC from 2003 that needs registry cleaners and defragmentation tools. But I get it—space fills up fast, and you want something simple to help clear out duplicates, random junk, or massive video files hogging your storage.
If you’re dead-set on using an app, I’d say Clever Cleaner is your best shot. Yeah, @mikeappsreviewer already broke it down, but I’ll focus on what actually matters. It’s FREE—no ads, no sneaky in-app purchases. These days, that’s almost too good to be true. Plus, its AI actually does a decent job sorting through duplicates and blurry photos. Sure, it’s not 100% accurate, but does any app EVER perfectly decide which selfie angle is your best? Spoiler: No.
However, don’t sleep on the iPhone’s built-in tools before jumping into third-party apps. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage and see Apple’s recommendations. It’ll suggest things like offloading unused apps or enabling iCloud Photos to free up local space. Heck, you might not even need an app if you follow those advisors religiously.
That said, avoid falling into the Cleaner Guru rabbit hole. Charging $6.99 a week for what? Fancy animations and features you probably don’t care about? Hard pass. Frankly, even Clever Cleaner’s lack of options beyond media cleanup might feel limiting if you were hoping for something to scrub unnecessary app data or emails. But hey, for free, it’s worth a shot.
At the end of the day, no app is gonna make your phone magically faster—it’s running out of storage, not a race car engine low on oil! Clean your gallery, back up to iCloud, and if your phone still feels like it’s asleep at the wheel… it might just be time for an upgrade.
Clever Cleaner is seriously a no-brainer if you’re looking for something free—that’s 100% FREE—without ads or the gimmicky add-ons like “charging animations” or “internet speed tests” (I’m looking at you, Cleaner Kit). It’s simple, does the job, and won’t drain your wallet every week like some of these other apps. I personally used it to shave a ridiculous 22GB off my iPhone photo library. AI wasn’t perfect at picking which photo to keep (apparently a blurry cat is better than a sharp one?), but it at least saves you hours of manually sorting junk.
That said, do you actually need a third-party app? Apple’s built-in storage optimization tools are criminally underrated. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage and let it tell you what’s hogging space. Offloading unused apps or deleting big attachments in iMessages can make a massive difference. Adding iCloud is also an option if you’re cool with Apple holding your data ransom—er, storing it safely in the cloud.
One app I’d avoid like the plague is Cleaner Guru. Seriously, $6.99 A WEEK for the exact same features Clever Cleaner offers for free? Even worse, they don’t let you try anything out unless you pay upfront. It’s almost like they want you to overpay for nothing new. Honestly, just skip that nonsense.
To wrap up, Clever Cleaner is solid for freebie cleaning, but don’t forget the tools you already have on your iPhone. If it’s still crawling after a cleanup, though, maybe the problem isn’t storage—it might be time to retire your phone! No app can fix old hardware slowing down, no matter how fancy its features seem.
You’re swamped with cleaning apps, I get it. @viajantedoceu pointed out some solid free options like the Free Clever Cleaner App, which seems almost too good to be true. But trust me, this app gets the job done efficiently without rattling your wallet or patience. Its strengths lie in simplicity: automatic deletion of duplicate photos, clearing large video files, and compressing those hefty Live Photos. Without ads or hidden fees, it’s a solid pick. Major thumbs up for its speed too. My library went from chaotic to streamlined in under 5 minutes—no exaggeration here.
Pros:
- Completely free—seriously, no in-app traps or forced upgrades.
- Fast scanning and decent accuracy.
- Straightforward interface, even for non-tech-savvy users.
Cons:
- Doesn’t clean emails, contacts, or offer Wi-Fi analysis like Cleaner Kit.
- AI sometimes struggles with choosing which photos to keep, so you’ll have to double-check.
Now, not to repeat @mike34 too much, but Apple’s built-in tools deserve a quick mention. Under Settings > General > iPhone Storage, you can offload unused apps or tackle those iMessage attachments taking up tons of space. It’s free and effective, but a bit tedious if you’re working with loads of media files.
Speaking of alternatives, Cleaner Kit is ideal if you want extra features like Wi-Fi security or internet speed tests, but the ad bombardment in its free version can get annoying real fast. Also, don’t even get me started on Cleaner Guru’s pricing—$7.99 a week is just outrageous. Yes, it’s visually appealing, but the cost-to-benefit ratio? Nope.
If you prefer a straightforward workhorse app and don’t care about excessive frills, Free Clever Cleaner App is the one to beat. But hey, if spending a bit doesn’t bug you, Cleaner Kit’s premium plan might be worth a trial.