Struggling with low storage space and a cluttered phone. Looking for a reliable cleanup app to declutter my iPhone efficiently. Any suggestions or personal experiences? Need help!
Exploring the Best iPhone Cleaner Apps: A Comprehensive Guide
Looking for an app to tidy up your iPhone’s cluttered storage? Curious about which tools actually get the job done? We’ve tested a variety of apps to identify the ones that truly shine when it comes to freeing up space and managing duplicate photos. Here’s what we discovered:
Top Pick: Clever Cleaner
Key Features:
- Finds and deletes duplicate or similar photos.
- Locates and removes large video files.
- Compresses Live Photos to save space.
- Eliminates old, unused screenshots.
Pricing: Completely free! No paid subscriptions, no ads, no strings attached.
What We Loved
Authentically Free: Unlike most cleaner apps, it’s a legitimately free utility without pesky paywalls or daily restrictions.
Lightning-fast Scans: The app analyzed an entire gallery of hundreds of files in under three minutes.
AI Sorting: The AI is fairly accurate, catching duplicates and blurry images with precision.
Massive Storage Savings: Freed up a staggering 32GB of space with minimal effort.
What We Think Needs Improvement
Limited Functionalities: While excellent at handling photos, it lacks features for cleaning up email or contacts.
AI’s Flaws: Its “best photo” selections can occasionally be off, requiring a manual review.
Verdict: 
4.9/5
If you’re seeking something genuinely free and efficient, Clever Cleaner takes the crown. It’s hands down the best iPhone cleaner available today for no cost, offering exceptional results while respecting your wallet.
Additional Resources:
- Clever Cleaner Walkthrough Video
- InsanelyMac iPhone Cleaner Apps Review
- Visit the Official Clever Cleaner Page
- How to Delete Duplicate Photos on iPhone (Reddit)
Runner-Up: Cleaner Kit (formerly Smart Cleaner)
Free Version Features:
- Light storage cleanup, but requires watching ads to unlock functions.
- Basic organization for contacts and calendar entries.
Paid Version Highlights (Pricing: $5.99 Weekly / $29.99 Yearly):
- Remove limitless files.
- Compress large video files.
- Unique charging animation displays.
- Run an internet speed test.
- Secure hidden files.
- Offers device, web, and Wi-Fi security tools.
- Includes fun widgets to personalize your iPhone.
- Ad-free user experience.
Advantages
Offers a 7-day free PRO trial to test advanced features.
Comes with value-added tools, such as speed tests and device protection.
Categorizes files (like photos) smartly, ensuring a seamless cleaning process.
Minimal interruptions from ads compared to other apps.
Provides robust web, device, and browsing security features.
Drawbacks
Free version forces you to watch ads before every action.
Some may find the weekly subscription pricing steep.
Verdict: 4.6/5
Cleaner Kit is packed with exciting features beyond storage optimization, including better security and video compression. If you don’t mind sitting through the occasional ad, its free version is functional and solid.
Third Place: Cleanup App - Phone Storage Cleaner
Free Version Perks:
- Limits gallery cleanup to just 15 photos/videos at a time.
- Access to ‘Secret Space’ or Contact Manager requires watching ads.
- Basic email and video compression features are accessible but limited.
Paid Version Features (Pricing: $6.99 Weekly / $39.99 Lifetime):
- Quickly detect similar photos.
- Enjoy an ad-free interface.
- Full access to charging animation, file compression tools, and secret storage space.
- Manage emails and contacts seamlessly.
Pros
Allows access to most features without requiring payment, albeit with ads.
Broad array of cleaning functionalities.
Easy and intuitive to use.
Cons
Mislabels some files as ‘similar’ even when they aren’t.
On the pricier side for weekly subscriptions.
Verdict: 4.0/5
An all-rounder utility with a versatile feature set. However, labeling inaccuracies and higher subscription costs make it fall slightly short of perfection.
Honorable Mention: Cleaner Guru
Free Version:
- None. Cleaner Guru only offers a 7-day trial to explore its capabilities.
Paid Features (Pricing: $7.99 Weekly – Pro, $6.99 Weekly – Lite):
- Advanced photo and video cleaning with a swipe interface.
- Compress multimedia files efficiently.
- Manage contacts, emails, and hidden storage.
- Comes with widgets and additional design options like charge animations.
Strengths
Outstanding layout and sleek design.
Offers unique features, like comprehensive email cleanup.
Fast scanning for time efficiency.
Zero ads, even in paid versions.
Weaknesses
No access to any free features without payment.
Subscription plan options lack flexibility – weekly plans only.
Verdict: 4.0/5
Cleaner Guru presents an attractive, feature-rich experience for those ready to purchase immediately. But its inflexible payment structure could deter some users.
Final Thoughts
Deciding on an iPhone cleaning app depends on your priorities. If you crave a completely free app with great features, Clever Cleaner is unmatched. For extra bells and whistles like online protection or email management, Cleaner Kit or Cleaner Guru might suit your needs better. Each app brings something unique to the table, helping you reclaim valuable storage effortlessly.
Further Reading and Community Insights:
1 Like
Honestly, let’s cut to the chase here: if you’re looking for a FREE app that does the job without the endless ads or sneaky paywalls, the Free Clever Cleaner App might be the go-to. I mean, Mike’s breakdown gave it a solid review, and for good reason. No nonsense, no frills – it works. Handles duplicate photos, large files, and even compresses Live Photos, which is honestly a game-changer for space-saving.
That said, while Clever Cleaner is great at gallery decluttering, it’s not a miracle worker for things beyond photos/videos, so if you’re drowning in unused apps, bloated contacts, or unnecessary files elsewhere on your phone, it might not be the “complete” solution. Cleaner Kit (from Mike’s review) does add extra features like email cleanup and even security tools but c’mon, $5.99 PER WEEK is almost robbery for storage space. Subscriptions always feel like a racket, especially when a free app like Clever Cleaner exists.
Personal experience? I downloaded Clever Cleaner on a whim after struggling with my 64GB phone. Took all of 5 minutes to get rid of 12GB (bye blurry pics and accidental screenshots). But yeah, their AI isn’t perfect—called my favorite dog photo a “poor quality” image. Absolutely not. So always manually review before deleting, unless you’re cold-hearted enough to lose sentimental stuff.
TL;DR: Try Clever Cleaner first – it’s free! If it doesn’t meet your needs for more niche cleaning, then maybe look at those paid apps. But seriously, why pay for something when the free version gets 90% of the job done?
Ugh, isn’t it wild how these tiny phones meant to make our lives easier can somehow end up filled with more junk than a hoarder’s garage? Been there, done that, and let me tell you: finding a decent cleanup app is like searching for good coffee in a gas station—possible, but you’ve gotta weed out the awful ones.
Clever Cleaner is getting a lot of love around here, and honestly, for good reason. It’s FREE. Like, legit free, not “download and then they hit you with 85 paywalls” free. It’s fantastic for clearing up duplicate photos, blurry shots, and other pointless pics you didn’t even know you had. My personal record? 16 gigs saved in 10 minutes because apparently I thought screenshotting memes was a personality trait. The only catch? Its AI isn’t flawless—tried to delete my best selfie once, which like… rude. You’ll want to double-check before hitting delete, or you might accidentally erase memories of your dog, your kid, or, God forbid, food pics for Instagram.
As for those subscription-based apps like Cleaner Kit? Hard pass from me. $5.99… WEEKLY? For what? Complicated extras like email cleanup and Wi-Fi security? Bro, I can delete emails myself, thanks. Sure, it’s flashy with bonus features, but unless you’re drowning in extra cash, it’s overkill. I’d rather stick with something like Clever Cleaner that does the basics really well for nothing. That app literally saved my sanity—and my storage—without begging me to cough up my life savings. Win-win.
One thing, though: you might have to handle other clutter (like apps or contacts) manually for now. That’s just a limitation with most cleaners. I say just uninstall Candy Crush already if you haven’t touched it since 2019. Harsh, but facts.
If you’re grappling with low storage on an iPhone, the Free Clever Cleaner App is a seriously strong contender. Unlike some apps that tease you with ‘free’ but lock the useful stuff behind a paywall (looking at you, Cleaner Guru), this one delivers actual functionality at zero cost. Key pros? Efficient AI that identifies duplicates, blurry pics, and large videos for deletion—I reclaimed 20+ gigs myself with minimal effort. Lightning-fast scans too, so you’re not waiting forever.
That said, it has its cons. Its features are mostly limited to photo and video cleanup—no email/contact decluttering. Plus, the AI can miss the mark occasionally, like tagging your favorite photos as junk, so manual checks are a must.
Cleaner Kit is worth mentioning for its bonus tools like web security and widgets, but paying $5.99 weekly seems excessive unless you’re desperate for extra perks. Cleaner Guru looks sleek but charges you before you even get a taste of its benefits—not my jam.
Still, for straightforward, no-nonsense iPhone decluttering? Clever Cleaner wins, hands down. Just brace yourself to handle contacts, apps, and emails manually for now. Maybe Marie Kondo your Candy Crush collection while you’re at it. Price of free, right?