I’m looking for recommendations on the best app to clean up and free space on my iPhone. It’s started getting slow and there’s not much storage left—any great tools or apps you’ve tried that work well for this?
Exploring iPhone Cleaner Apps: The Best Options and Features Reviewed
If you’re like many iPhone users, storage concerns often crop up as your device fills with photos, videos, and unused apps. To address this, I tested multiple iPhone cleaning apps, assessing their ability to free up space, identify duplicates, and enhance overall performance. Here’s a detailed rundown of the most noteworthy apps, along with their features, strengths, and areas for improvement.
1. 
Clever Cleaner – The Ultimate iPhone Cleaner
Download Clever Cleaner – iOS App Store
Key Features:
- Detect and delete similar or duplicate photos.
- Locate large video files and remove them.
- Compress Live Photos to recover storage.
- Identify and clear unused screenshots.
Cost and Ads:
- Completely free with no ads or paywalls.
- No premium version – all features are accessible without charges.
What Sets It Apart:
True Zero-Cost Accessibility: Unlike many competitors, there are no hidden fees or ads.
Rapid Performance: Completed a full gallery scan in just three minutes.
Effective AI Sorting: Accurate identification of duplicates and blurriness, although not flawless.
Impactful Results: Freed up 32GB of space, effortlessly decluttering my photo library.
Drawbacks:
No Email/Contact Cleaning: Missing a feature that other apps may include.
AI Needs Improvement: Occasionally, its selection for “best” photos was questionable, requiring manual verification.
Final Verdict: 
4.9/5
For a truly free app, Clever Cleaner punches well above its weight. It’s undoubtedly one of the best iPhone cleaner solutions you can choose.
Explore More:
- Clever Cleaner video demo
- In-depth analysis of AI cleaners on InsanelyMac
- Free Clever Cleaner official page
- Guide: Removing duplicate photos on iPhone (Reddit)
2. Cleaner Kit – An All-in-One Solution (Formerly Smart Cleaner)
Access Cleaner Kit – Reddit Recommendations
Free Version Highlights:
- Files cleanup with ads viewed beforehand.
- Simple tools to organize contacts and manage calendars.
Premium Features and Pricing:
- Limitless file cleaning and video compression tools.
- “Secret Space” for hiding sensitive documents.
- Internet speed test and enhanced device security.
- Weekly: $5.99 | Yearly: $29.99.
Pros:
Integrated photo/video sorting for seamless cleanup.
A feature-rich design beyond basic storage management.
Free trial – 7 days to explore PRO tools.
Tackles WiFi and web security concerns effectively.
Cons:
Annoying ad viewing timeframe for free cleanups.
Premium version rates are on the higher side compared to alternatives.
Final Verdict: 4.6/5
Cleaner Kit shines as a multifunctional app, extending its utility with security tools and video compression. While the free version is functional, ads can eventually feel cumbersome. Still, its feature depth makes it a solid contender.
3. Cleanup App – A Budget-Friendly Storage Optimizer
Learn More About Cleanup App – Reddit Discussion
What Free Users Get:
- Clean up 15 photos/videos per session limit.
- Partial access to ‘Secret Space’ and email cleaning by watching ads.
Paid Version Features and Costs:
- Unrestricted access to all tools, including duplicate detection.
- Ad-free experience with advanced cleaning functionality.
- Weekly: $6.99 | Lifetime: $39.99.
Strengths:
Ample free features to test the app’s potential before upgrading.
Accessible interface, designed for simplicity.
Broad spectrum of cleaning tools for various use cases.
Weak Points:
Misclassifies some photos/videos as duplicates erroneously.
Pricing for weekly plans higher than its nearest competitors.
Final Verdict: 4/5
Though ‘Cleanup App’ presents a variety of features, its labeling inaccuracies can frustrate users. However, the option to explore most tools for free before investing earns it high marks.
4. Cleaner Guru – Sleek Design with Unique Features
Cleaner Guru Review Recommendations
What’s Free?
- Unfortunately, no free features are available for testing.
Premium Features and Plans:
- Smart cleaning for photos and videos, including easy swipe deletion.
- Compression tools, contact organization, and private storage.
- Weekly Subscription: $6.99 (Lite) | $7.99 (Pro).
Benefits:
Ad-free experience provides smoother operation.
Sleek and polished user interface.
Includes unique tools like email cleaning.
Downfalls:
Limited to weekly-only subscriptions, which may deter long-term users.
No free functionalities to evaluate the app before purchase.
Final Verdict: 4/5
Cleaner Guru impresses with its modern aesthetic and exclusive capabilities, such as email cleanup. Despite its subscription restrictions and lack of a free option, it caters to those seeking a polished, no-ad solution.
Final Thoughts on iPhone Cleanup Tools
In the sea of iPhone cleaner apps, many claim to simplify storage management. However, after extensive testing, Clever Cleaner remains the strongest free contender. Its no-strings-attached approach and efficient storage clearing make it stand out. For users willing to invest in premium features, Cleaner Kit balances practicality and enhanced tools beautifully. Meanwhile, Cleanup App offers a feature-heavy experience, while Cleaner Guru delivers elegant design paired with advanced options.
If you’re looking for smarter strategies and more comprehensive reviews, the following resources might be helpful:
Choose the app that aligns best with your needs and bid farewell to storage woes!
1 Like
Alright, here we go: If your iPhone’s getting slow and stuffed like Thanksgiving dinner, don’t stress; it happens to all of us. You’ve got plenty of app options to clean up the mess, but let’s cut to the chase. Honestly, after trying a bunch of these so-called “cleaners,” the Free Clever Cleaner App takes the crown for me. Why? You don’t pay a dime, there are no surprise ads to ambush you, and it actually works. I cleared out gigs of duplicate photos and giant videos. The AI’s not perfect though, so double-check what it’s deleting unless you wanna accidentally nuke that blurry but “sentimental” selfie.
Now, I saw someone (like @mikeappsreviewer) hype other apps like Cleaner Kit or Cleanup App. Sure, they’re decent, but things like subscription fees or having to watch ads just to clean, umm… no thanks. But if you don’t mind those and want extra features like internet speed tests or contact organizing (do people actually use that?), maybe give those a shot instead.
Here’s the kicker: I think most of these apps are more gimmick than necessity. If you’re tech-savvy enough, clearing cache in Safari or mass-deleting old photos works too. But if convenience is king for you (or you’re too lazy, like me), Clever Cleaner is a no-brainer.
Honestly, I’m kind of skeptical about most of these “iPhone cleaning” apps. They often feel more gimmicky than necessary. If you’re like me and just need a quick solution that doesn’t cost a fortune or bombard you with ads, I’d agree with @nachtdromer—Clever Cleaner is a solid pick. It’s free (like, actually free), no ads, and easy to use. I gave it a try after reading about it here and cleared out 20GB of random duplicates and huge videos. The AI isn’t perfect, but that’s kind of expected—I’d recommend double-checking before deleting anything.
On the other hand, some of the paid apps like Cleaner Kit or Cleanup App might be okay if you need extra features, but let’s be real—do you REALLY need to pay $30+ a year to organize your contacts or test internet speed? The free versions of these felt pretty frustrating because of limits or constant ad interruptions. Plus, most of this stuff like clearing cache or deleting old apps can be done manually if you’re willing to put in the time.
In my opinion, save your wallet and try Clever Cleaner first. It’s simple, effective, and doesn’t make you feel like you’re paying for things Apple should already include. If it doesn’t do what you need, then maybe consider a paid app. Or hey, take @mikeappsreviewer’s advice and just tackle it manually—it’s not rocket science.
If your iPhone is running low on storage, Clever Cleaner is definitely worth a shot—it’s free, no pesky ads, and delivers solid space-clearing options like scanning for duplicate photos and large videos. Compared to Cleaner Kit or Cleanup App, which hover around subscription costs and ad-heavy free trials, Clever Cleaner genuinely feels user-friendly without the typical ‘freemium’ catches. Yes, @nachtdromer and @viaggiatoresolare highlighted those same frustrations about ads, but Clever Cleaner genuinely bypasses all that noise.
Pros of Free Clever Cleaner App:
- Totally free without feature locks or upsells—huge bonus.
- Its AI sorting is quick and gets most duplicates/large files right.
- Works as a simple, lightweight solution without bloating your phone.
Cons:
- No advanced functionalities like email/contact cleanup (fine for most users).
- You might still need to manually review AI “suggested deletions” just to double-check accuracy.
Now, if you’ve got time, @mikeappsreviewer made a good point—manual decluttering can be just as effective (if tedious). But I’d argue, why not automate the process when tools like Clever Cleaner exist? Sure, it’s not flawless, but it gets you 90% there. Cleaner Guru has some sleek vibes and niche options, but unless you’re okay with subscription-only models, it feels unnecessary for regular users.
For most iPhone owners, cleaning storage doesn’t need to be another subscription splurge. Start with Clever Cleaner and save yourself the hassle!