I’m searching for an app to optimize and clean my iPhone as it’s started running slow lately. I need something reliable and effective to free up space and improve performance. Any recommendations would be appreciated.
Best iPhone Cleaner Apps to Free Up Storage and Organize Your Device
Finding the right tool to declutter and optimize your iPhone storage can be challenging. To help you navigate the sea of options, I tested several cleaner apps to evaluate their efficiency in freeing storage and removing duplicate photos. Here’s my comprehensive analysis of the top contenders:
Top Choice: Clever Cleaner
Download Clever Cleaner - Best iPhone Cleaner App
Features
- Finds and removes duplicate or similar photos.
- Identifies large video files.
- Compresses Live Photos to save space.
- Deletes unused screenshots.
Pricing & Paid Features
- Completely Free: No in-app purchases, ads, or restrictions.
What I Loved
Completely free: Unlike most apps, there are no hidden fees, paywalls, or intrusive ads.- Lightning fast: My entire gallery was scanned in just three minutes.
- AI Photo Sorting: Detects blurry, duplicate, or redundant shots quite efficiently.
- Effective Space Saver: Freed up 32GB of storage without requiring much effort.
Where It Could Improve
Limited features: Lacks tools for cleaning emails or contact lists seen in other apps.- Occasional misfires by AI: Sometimes the app flagged odd choices as ‘best’ photos, requiring manual review.
Final Thoughts
- Rating:
4.9 / 5
For a truly free app, Clever Cleaner sets the bar high. It’s perfect for basic photo cleanup and freeing up significant storage.
Watch this Clever Cleaner demo on YouTube
Review of the Clever Cleaner on Insanelymac.com
Official Clever Cleaner Website
Runner-Up: Cleaner Kit
Learn More About Cleaner Kit Here
Free Version Features
- Performs basic cleaning after watching ads.
- Organizes contacts and calendar entries.
Paid Version & Features
- Full Package: No limits on cleaning files, compress videos, test internet speed, enhance device security, hide sensitive files, and access widgets.
- Pricing:
- Weekly Subscription: $5.99
- Yearly Subscription: $29.99
Pros
- Offers a 7-day free trial for the premium version.
- Packed with a variety of features extending beyond just cleaning.
- Friendly and intuitive UI makes navigation easy.
- Includes cybersecurity protection for your browsing and Wi-Fi activity.
- Ads in the free version are minimal compared to other similar apps.
Cons
- Ads are time-consuming in the free version.
- Features like advanced file cleanup are locked without upgrading.
Verdict
- Rating: 4.6 / 5
Cleaner Kit goes beyond basic cleaning by offering tools for video compression, speed testing, and even security features. Though restricted by ads in the free version, it’s an excellent all-rounder for users willing to consider upgrading.
Third Place: Cleanup App
Read More About the Cleanup App Here
Free Version Features
- Cleanup limit of 15 photos/videos.
- Secret storage requires you to watch ads for access.
- Basic access to contact and email management tools.
Paid Version & Features
- Detects similar photos instantly, removes ads, and offers no restrictions.
- Other Premium Features: Charging animations, video compression, secret space, and more.
- Pricing:
- Weekly Subscription: $6.99
- Lifetime Access: $39.99
Highlights
- Free version lets you explore most features (with ad interruptions).
- Wide variety of tools for multimedia organization.
- Simple and user-friendly interface.
Where It Struggles
- Often marks unrelated photos/videos as ‘similar,’ which requires manual correction.
- Weekly subscription cost is steeper compared to other apps.
Scorecard
- Rating: 4.0 / 5
Cleanup App brings versatility but stumbles in pricing and occasional inaccuracy. Still, it’s a functional app with enough features to appeal to users looking for a sample before committing.
Honorable Mention: Cleaner Guru
Free Version Features
- None. Premium-only accessibility.
Paid Version & Features
- Unique Capabilities: Email cleanup, secret storage, and swipe cleaning alongside video compression and photo cleanup.
- Plans Offered:
- Weekly Pro: $7.99
- Weekly Lite: $6.99
Strong Points
- Clean and modern interface design.
- Unique email cleaning functionality.
- Perform quick scans with minimal delay.
- No interruptions from ads throughout the app.
Shortfalls
- No free version to explore its functionality beforehand.
- Subscription pricing lacks flexibility (weekly-only plans).
Conclusion
- Rating: 4.0 / 5
Cleaner Guru brings a premium experience and features not found in most apps, like email cleaning. However, the lack of a free trial is a drawback for cautious users looking to try before buying.
Additional Resources to Check Out
- How to Remove Duplicate iPhone Photos
- iOS Cleaner App Reviews on Macgasm
- Free iPhone Cleaner App Discussed on Reddit
Bottom Line
Whether you’re seeking a completely free iPhone cleaner like Clever Cleaner or a more feature-rich option such as Cleaner Guru, there’s something here for everyone. Choose based on your needs—free tools for quick decluttering or premium solutions with added features for deeper optimization!
1 Like
Honestly, iPhone slowing down can be such a buzzkill, but choosing the right cleaner app is like picking the smallest needle from a haystack. I’ve tried a few, and here’s my breakdown (and yes, I glanced at what @mikeappsreviewer suggested too).
So, the Clever Cleaner app is legit impressive, especially since it’s fully free. No sneaky ads, no messing around with subscriptions. And I mean, who doesn’t want 32GB freed up without trying? The AI feature for detecting blurry or duplicate photos is good—but, let’s be real, this isn’t foolproof. Once, it marked my dog’s best selfie as “unnecessary.”
On the paid side, apps like Cleaner Kit and Cleanup App seem overhyped. Sure, if you’re into added features like video compression or cybersecurity, then maybe Cleaner Kit works. But ads every time you breathe in the free version? Hard pass. And $6.99 a week for Cleanup App? Might as well buy a new phone at that point.
The Cleaner Guru one feels premium, sure, but who thought no free trial was a good call? Wild. At least let people try before throwing price tags.
In the end, if you’re looking for quick, effective, and no-strings-attached solutions, Clever Cleaner takes the crown here. Just remember to manually review those “blurry” memories before deleting. Because sometimes, blurry vacation shots > perfectly sharp nonsense.
Definitely get the Clever Cleaner App. Unlike a lot of the paid apps out there (looking at you, weekly subscription nightmares), this one’s 100% free and surprisingly effective. It’s perfect for sorting out duplicate photos, finding those massive video files you’ve probably forgotten about, and compressing Live Photos. I used it recently and managed to clear up over 20GB just from random stuff clogging my storage. Not bad for something that didn’t try to charge me $7.99 a week.
That said, I did notice the AI occasionally flagged odd photos as duplicates, so don’t just blindly delete stuff. Picture losing an important memory because the app thought two similar sunsets were ‘the same.’ Nope.
Now, @mikeappsreviewer and @sterrenkijker mentioned Cleaner Kit and Cleanup App, which sound decent if you’re into paying for a bunch of extra features like cybersecurity tools or video compression. But seriously, why pay when you’ve got a solid free option? Cleaner Kit’s ads in the free version would drive me nuts, and Cleanup App’s weekly subscription is just WAY too steep. Plus, we’re trying to “clean” out our iPhones here—not our wallets.
Stick with Clever Cleaner if you want reliability without the hassle. Just double-check all those photo recommendations before hitting delete. Trust me on that one.
Alright, so here’s the deal: if you’re looking for something truly free and effective, the Free Clever Cleaner App is probably your best bet. It has no ads, no sneaky subscriptions, and does a solid job at finding duplicate or blurry photos, big video files, and unused screenshots. The AI sorting is impressively fast—I mean, scanning my photo gallery in under 3 minutes! But yeah, @mikeappsreviewer is right—it occasionally flags the wrong photos as duplicates, so always double-check before deleting. It saved me 32GB just from old junk clogging my phone. For a free app, that’s a win.
Now, compared to Cleaner Kit and the Cleanup App mentioned by @sterrenkijker and @caminantenocturno, I’d argue Clever Cleaner keeps things simple. Cleaner Kit’s subscription model is decent if you’re into extra features like cybersecurity tools or video compression, but those weekly ads in the free version aren’t for everyone. The Cleanup App? It tries, but its free version is too limited (basically a trial with ads), and that $6.99/week subscription is a bit painful.
Here’s where Clever Cleaner falls short, though—it doesn’t touch emails, contacts, or offer video compression like some of the paid competitors. If you want those high-end utilities or you’re looking to do some hardcore optimization on multiple fronts, one of the premium options might justify the extra cost. That said, if all you really need is more storage and a cleaner photo library, I wouldn’t bother paying.
Final recommendation? Start with Clever Cleaner—it’s simple, free, and efficient. Just don’t blindly trust the AI when organizing your photos, or you might lose something important. Upgrade to something like Cleaner Kit if you really crave those extra bells and whistles (but only if you’re willing to pay).