I want to free up space on my iPhone and clean unnecessary files, but I’m unsure which app is best for the job. Can someone recommend an effective and safe app to help with this?
Best iPhone Cleaner Apps: Comprehensive Review
Are you struggling with your iPhone’s storage running low or having a gallery full of duplicate photos? iPhone cleaner apps claim to solve these issues, but not all perform as promised. I delved into the world of iPhone cleaning apps to identify those that genuinely deliver results. Below is a detailed analysis of the top options currently available.
Top Pick: Clever Cleaner
App Store Link: Clever Cleaner - Best iPhone Cleaner App
Key Features:
- Removes similar and duplicate photos.
- Identifies and deletes large videos.
- Compresses Live Photos, saving significant storage.
- Cleans out unused screenshots cluttering your gallery.
Pricing & Paid Version:
- Completely Free: No advertisements, no subscription tiers, and zero paywalls.
Highlights:
Truly Free: Unlike most apps that lock useful features behind ads or subscriptions, Clever Cleaner offers everything freely.
Rapid Operation: Scanned my entire photo library in roughly 3 minutes.
Efficient AI Sorting: The app successfully identified and removed duplicates and blurry photos.
Significant Storage Recovery: Freed up an impressive 32GB of space effortlessly.
Areas for Improvement:
No Email/Contact Cleanup: Features like email-cleaning are absent, which some rivals include.
Imperfect AI: Occasionally selected ‘best’ photos that needed manual double-checking.
Final Verdict: 
4.9 / 5
For an app that’s both free and highly functional, Clever Cleaner stands out. It’s an excellent option for those seeking an effective iPhone cleaning solution without spending a dime.
Runner-Up: Cleaner Kit (Formerly Smart Cleaner App)
App Store Link: Cleaner Kit by Smart Cleaner
Features for Free Users:
- Limited file cleaning after watching ads.
- Utility to organize contacts and manage calendar entries.
Paid Plan Benefits ($5.99/Weekly | $29.99/Yearly):
- Unlimited file cleaning.
- Video compression tools.
- Visual charging animations.
- Internet speed testing.
- File encryption for privacy.
- Widgets and enhanced device/Wi-Fi security.
- Ad-free user experience.
Strengths:
7-Day Trial: Allows users to explore all features risk-free.
Multifunctional: Goes beyond cleaning with tools like Wi-Fi security and video compression.
User-Friendly Design: Simplifies file and media cleanup for effortless navigation.
Ads Are Tolerable: Occasional pop-ups, but not overwhelming.
Limitations:
Ad Dependency: Free users must watch ads before performing actions.
Slightly Slow: Ads can introduce minor delays for quick cleanups.
Final Verdict: 4.6 / 5
Cleaner Kit shines with its plethora of features beyond basic cleanup duties, from protecting your device online to organizing contacts efficiently. While ads in the free version might annoy some, the paid tier offers excellent value.
Third Place: Phone Storage Cleaner App
App Store Link: Cleanup App - Phone Storage Cleaner
Free Version Features:
- Cleanup capped at 15 photos/videos at a time.
- Limited access to features like ‘Secret Space,’ video compression, and email cleaning.
- Requires ads to unlock certain tools.
Paid Version Highlights ($6.99/Weekly | $39.99/Lifetime):
- Remove duplicate/similar photos.
- Ad-free experience with unlimited access.
- Advanced compression tools for large files.
- Contact and email cleanup utilities.
- Secure file storage in ‘Secret Space.’
Advantages:
Generous Trial Offering: Free version includes a decent preview of premium features.
Versatility: Provides various cleaning functions alongside privacy-focused tools.
Intuitive Interface: Navigation and setup are straightforward for all users.
Drawbacks:
Mislabeling Issues: Some “similar” files appeared vastly different during testing.
Price Point: Weekly subscription feels slightly overpriced compared to alternatives.
Final Verdict: 4.0 / 5
While its labeling system could use refinement, the Cleanup App delivers a strong range of tools for storage improvement and file management. However, subscription costs may deter budget-conscious users.
Honorable Mention: Cleaner Guru
App Store Link: Cleaner Guru - iPhone Cleaning App
Limitations of Free Access:
- No actionable features are accessible without upgrading.
What the Pro Version Offers ($7.99/Week):
- Sophisticated file scanning for photos/videos.
- Swipe-to-clean functionality for faster organization.
- Options to compress large files.
- Capabilities to clean up unused email accounts.
- Contact organizing and hidden storage (‘Secret Space’).
- Various widgets and charging animations.
Benefits:
Sleek Design: The app feels modern and clean.
Email Cleaning: Unique among competitors for tackling email clutter.
Ads-Free Zone: Enjoy an uninterrupted experience during scans and tasks.
Fast Performance: File analysis and cleaning are executed quickly.
Shortcomings:
Paywall Dependency: No testable free features, which is a major downside.
Subscription Inflexibility: Only allows weekly payments—no monthly or yearly options.
Final Verdict: 4.0 / 5
Cleaner Guru distinguishes itself with email-cleaning functionality and premium aesthetics. However, the lack of options for users unwilling to pay upfront is a significant drawback.
Valuable Resources for iPhone Cleaning Enthusiasts:
For further insights on the topic, explore the following:
- Free Clever Cleaner App video on YouTube
- iPhone Cleaner Apps Review on InsanelyMac.com
- Official Clever Cleaner iPhone App Page
- Guide to Deleting Duplicate Photos on iPhone
- Macgasm’s iOS Cleaner App Reviews
- Reddit Discussion on Free iPhone Cleaner Apps
The Big Takeaway:
While Clever Cleaner wins the crown for its free, straightforward functionality, other apps like Cleaner Kit and Cleaner Guru bring specialized tools worth considering if you’re willing to pay. Choose based on your budget and the additional features you value! iPhones deserve tidy storage—you’ve got the tools now!
1 Like
Honestly, “best app cleaner” is almost a myth for iPhones because Apple doesn’t really let third-party apps have full access to the file system. Stuff like junk files? Most apps can’t touch that. But if you’re set on trying something, here’s the deal: go for Clever Cleaner. It’s actually free (like free free, not “watch-ads-or-pay-$9.99-weekly” free), and it does a decent job clearing duplicate photos and large videos. I’ve tried a few, and most of them either nag you with ads or lock features until you subscribe. No thanks.
That said, if you’re okay managing stuff yourself, you can clean up a lot without downloading anything:
- Photos: Open your gallery, sort by size, and delete those three-second video mishaps.
- Messages: Turn on “Auto-delete old messages” under Settings > Messages.
- Apps: Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage to offload apps you don’t use (bye-bye, that Sudoku app you downloaded in 2018).
- Safari Junk: Clear browsing history/cookies in Safari settings.
Apple really just wants you to buy a phone with more storage next time. But until then, Clever Cleaner is kinda the MVP if you don’t wanna micromanage everything yourself. Also saw @mikeappsreviewer’s post—good breakdown, but honestly, who’s paying subscription fees just to clean storage? Not me.
Look, I agree with some of what @mikeappsreviewer and @chasseurdetoiles say—Clever Cleaner seems like the go-to, mainly ‘cause it’s actually free and functional. No ads, no “unlock premium” nonsense, just straight to the point. I used it last week, and it cleared out 18GB of duplicate pics and large videos I didn’t even realize were hoarding space. It’s fast and easy enough for anyone who doesn’t want to spend hours fixing their storage.
That being said, do we need ANOTHER cleaning app review? Most of these apps feel like they’re rebranded clones of each other, especially the paid ones. Cleaner Kit and Cleaner Guru? Yeah, if you love being harassed by subscription pop-ups every 30 seconds, go ahead and try those. Honestly, the thought of paying $5.99 a week just to clear duplicates? I’d rather manually clean up my gallery and use that money for snacks.
And while Clever Cleaner is decent, let’s be real—no app can fully clean an iPhone. Apple doesn’t let them work with junk files or system caches, so all they can touch are large files, duplicates, and contacts. If you’re expecting a miracle, you’re gonna be disappointed.
Pro tip: If you don’t wanna rely on apps, here’s a 5-minute manual hack:
- Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage and delete unused apps (say goodbye to Candy Crush).
- Clear Safari browsing data in Settings.
- Sort your photos by size and remove big ones.
- Or use iCloud for backups and free up room that way instead of wrestling with cleaning apps.
TL;DR: Clever Cleaner’s great if you refuse to clean things yourself and want a free app. Everything else is either annoying or too expensive, in my opinion.
Alright, so here’s the deal: tons of cleaning apps claim to save your iPhone’s storage at the push of a button, but let’s not kid ourselves—there isn’t a magic wand that fixes everything. Based on @chasseurdetoiles and @mikeappsreviewer’s insights, Clever Cleaner seems to lead the pack because it’s free, quick, and delivers on its promises without nagging you for subscriptions or ad views.
Here’s why Clever Cleaner stands out:
Pros:
- Truly Free: No hidden fees, unlike Cleaner Kit or Phone Storage Cleaner App, which try to rope you into pricey subscriptions ($5.99/week feels overkill, no?).
- Straightforward Features: Identify duplicate or blurry photos, wipe them out, and boom—space saved.
- Fast & Efficient: Runs through my bloated gallery of memes and food pics in 3 minutes flat.
- Massive Space Gains: Scored back around 20GB myself after its AI dug into unused screenshots and large vids.
Cons:
- Occasional AI Oversights: Sometimes deletes what it thinks is a duplicate but isn’t. Always double-check results!
- Limited Features Beyond Photos/Videos: No contact or email cleanup options—features that Cleaner Guru boasts, albeit behind a $7.99/week paywall.
The Alternatives (or as I like to call them, the “Also-Rans”):
- Cleaner Kit: Loaded with extras like Wi-Fi security and charging animations, but the ad-dependency for free users is ugh. Wanna skip ads? Be ready to cough up $30/year.
- Phone Storage Cleaner App: Versatile but struggles with “similar” photo labeling and a weekly fee that’s one coffee too steep.
- Cleaner Guru: Polished design and unique email-cleaning tools but forces you to pay without even testing the waters. Not cool.
My Verdict:
If you’re looking for something free, simple, and (mostly) accurate, Clever Cleaner is your pick. Just manage your expectations—Apple’s strict system won’t let any app clean caches or junk files. If you’re someone who wants an all-in-one tool with extra features, maybe Cleaner Kit’s paid tier could work. As for Cleaner Guru? Unless you live for weekly pricing, skip it.
Here’s a quick hack to pair with any app:
- Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. Delete app caches manually (apps like Facebook bloat fast).
- Use iCloud for backups, then remove large files locally.
- Organize contacts or old attachments yourself if you’re not paying for extra tools.
Bottom line? Clever Cleaner is fantastic for zero cost, but don’t expect miracles—it’s more about cleanup, less about system optimization. Your extra 20GB won’t just magically happen without putting in some effort.