I’m running out of storage on my iPhone and want to free up space without spending money on apps. Can anyone recommend a reliable, free cleanup app to help me optimize storage and delete unnecessary files?
Unveiling the Best iPhone Cleaning Apps: A Complete Rundown
Putting several iPhone cleaner apps to the test, I aimed to find which ones truly declutter your device and eliminate duplicate photos. Here’s a breakdown of my findings:
Top Choice: Clever Cleaner - Ultimate iPhone Optimizer
Key Features
- Intelligently identify and remove duplicate or similar photos.
- Swiftly locate and purge large video files.
- Compress Live Photos to conserve valuable storage.
- Erase obsolete screenshots cluttering the gallery.
Paid Version & Pricing
- Absolutely free with no subscription fees.
- Enjoy the app with zero ads.
What Stood Out
Genuinely Free: Unlike most apps, it isn’t hiding behind paywalls, daily usage limits, or annoying ads.
Lightning Fast: Scanned my entire photo library in roughly three minutes.
AI That Delivers: The artificial intelligence worked wonders in detecting duplicates and blurry images.
Space Saver: I liberated 32GB of precious storage space without putting in much effort.
Room for Improvement
Lacks features for cleaning emails and managing contacts, which some competitor apps offer.
AI, though robust, occasionally selected odd ‘best’ photos, requiring a bit of manual correction.
Verdict
Rating: 4.9/5
For a completely free app, this one sets the gold standard. It’s arguably the best iPhone cleaning app available, given its impressive functionality and ease of use.
Useful Links for Further Insight
- Watch a detailed video walkthrough: Clever Cleaner App on YouTube
- Comprehensive app review: InsanelyMac - Best iPhone Cleaner Apps
- Official platform for Clever Cleaner: CleverFiles Official Page
- Guide on removing duplicates: Reddit Tips - Delete Duplicate Photos on iPhone
- Macgasm’s take on cleaner apps: iOS Cleaner Apps Reviews
- Reddit community feedback: Free iPhone Cleaner Discussion
Runner-Up: Cleaner Kit (formerly Smart Cleaner App)
Free Features
- Limited cleaning: Watch a few ads to unlock cleanup capabilities.
- Contact organization and calendar management.
Paid Features & Pricing
- Clean files without restrictions.
- Compress video files efficiently.
- Add customizable charging animations.
- Conduct internet speed tests.
- Enhanced privacy: Hide sensitive or private files.
- Robust device, web, and Wi-Fi security.
- Additional widgets for personalization.
- No ads.
- Cost: $5.99/week or $29.99/year
Highlights
7-Day Free Trial: Gives you a taste of its premium offerings.
A Swiss Army Knife of features: Beyond simple cleaning, it manages contacts, compresses videos, and even safeguards your Wi-Fi.
Highly intuitive interface and effortless to operate.
Admirable protection tools covering online activity, your device, and more.
Minimal ad bombardment compared to alternatives.
Downsides
Ads must be endured prior to using cleaning in the free version.
Verdict
Rating: 4.6/5
More than just a cleaner, Cleaner Kit packs in top-notch features like privacy protection and video compression. While ads in the free version aren’t ideal, the app’s functionality more than makes up for it.
Alternative: Cleanup App - Phone Storage Cleaner
Free Features
- Limited to cleaning 15 photos or videos at a time.
- Accessible features include secret storage (requires watching ads), basic contact manager, and charging animations.
- Compresses videos and performs rudimentary email cleaning but with restrictions.
Paid Features & Pricing
- Swift detection of similar photos.
- Full access to every feature without ads.
- Expanded functions for charging animations, video compression, and ‘secret space’.
- Enhanced management of contacts and emails.
- Cost: $6.99/week or $39.99 lifetime
Strengths
Access most features without paying, though ads are required.
Broad functionality, covering everything from photo cleanup to private file storage.
Easy-on-the-eyes and intuitive user interface.
Weaknesses
Inaccurate ‘similar photo’ detection at times (some flagged photos were entirely different).
Weekly subscription cost is steeper compared to competitors.
Verdict
Rating: 4.0/5
This app packs plenty into its free version, though you’ll encounter ads while testing its capabilities. Despite some mislabeling issues and costly weekly plans, it’s a decent choice for comprehensive device cleanup.
Honorable Mention: Cleaner Guru
Free Features
- None offered, making this a completely pay-to-use app.
Paid Features & Pricing
- Smart cleaning for both photos and videos.
- Innovative swipe-based cleanup.
- Advanced video compression.
- Features such as charge animations, secret storage, email cleaning, and widgets.
- Cost: $7.99/week for Pro or $6.99/week for Lite
Advantages
No intrusive ads.
Blazingly fast scanning.
Elegant and user-friendly app design.
Unique email cleaning capability, an area where many competitors fall short.
Drawbacks
Lack of free options to test the app makes commitment risky.
Subscription plans require weekly payments, reducing flexibility for users.
Verdict
Rating: 4.0/5
Cleaner Guru offers a chic design and impressive features, notably email cleaning, which sets it apart. While the absence of a free version is a drawback, the 7-day trial provides a chance to explore its offerings. Subscriptions, however, are limited to weekly plans, which may deter some potential users.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right iPhone cleaning app depends on your priorities. If you’re looking for a free solution that delivers extraordinary results, Clever Cleaner reigns supreme. For those willing to pay for extra features, both Cleaner Kit and Cleaner Guru offer robust functionalities that extend beyond cleaning, though with some limitations.
Pro Tip: Start with a free app like Clever Cleaner and see if your needs are met before exploring paid alternatives!
1 Like
Okay, let’s be real here. I’ve tried quite a few ‘free’ cleanup apps for iPhone, and most are about as free as a first date with a hidden tab: they lure you in, let you do a little, then slap you with a subscription. So, when I saw @mikeappsreviewer rave about Clever Cleaner, I was like, sure, let’s see if it actually does what it claims. Spoiler: It kinda impressed me.
Clever Cleaner does the basics super well—removing duplicate photos, deleting large files, and cleaning unnecessary screenshots. And YES, it’s actually free without those nonsense restrictions or ads that make you wanna throw your phone out the window. I cleared over 15GB in one run with minimal effort, and it felt great not to be bombarded by upgrade pop-ups the entire time. Bonus: You don’t need to be some tech wizard to figure it out.
That said, if you’re looking for a magical one-size-fits-all app that also manages emails, contacts, or dusts the cobwebs off your unused apps, Clever Cleaner might not scratch that itch. Some bells and whistles aren’t there, but for a genuinely free cleaner, who cares?
One slick trick—if this doesn’t cut it for you and you’re okay with a few ads, Cleaner Kit (also mentioned by @mikeappsreviewer) has more features, but IMO, the constant ad interruptions are brutal unless you throw down cash.
Long story short, if you just wanna free up space without dealing with sales gimmicks, Clever Cleaner’s worth it. No cost, no stress, no worries. And if anyone finds something even better that’s legit free, tell me ASAP because I’m always deleting photos of my cat to make room for updates. Sigh.
Alright, let me break it down for you. When it comes to actually free iPhone cleanup apps, I’ve gotta agree with some points from @mikeappsreviewer and @codecrafter, but also not entirely. Most ‘free’ apps out there are just bait-and-switch schemes—oh, look at this shiny free app!—and the minute you download it, BAM! Paywalls, ads plastered everywhere, and the next thing you know, you’re scrolling through shady subscription offers.
After trying a bunch because, let’s be honest, I also have 1,000 blurry cat pics clogging my phone, I landed on the Clever Cleaner App. And yeah, it is actually free and works surprisingly well for what it claims. The AI is solid—probably not like Terminator-grade AI—but it’s good enough to find duplicates, weird screenshots, and random crap taking up space. Cleared almost 20GB in one run, and I didn’t have to sell my soul for a subscription. No ads, no annoying pop-ups, just straight functionality. Huge win.
BUT here’s the thing, and I gotta disagree with others hyping this as “perfect”: it’s basic. If you’re someone who hoards emails or wants to clean up your contacts (who really needs Eric-from-2013 in their address book still?), it’s not going to do that. It’s purely for photo and video cleanup. So, keep your expectations grounded.
Now, if you’re looking for slightly fancier options, that Cleaner Kit app @mikeappsreviewer mentioned is okay-ish, but TBH, unless you’re into watching ads just to do anything, it’s infuriating. Great UI, lots of extras like email cleaning (meh), but those ads killed it for me. I get it, apps gotta make money, but when I’m being forced to sit through a 30-second clip about miracle cookware, I’m out.
Bottom line? If you want free and functional, stick with Clever Cleaner. It’s not gonna blow your mind, but it’ll free up space without any hidden tricks. For more complex needs, maybe think about combining it with manual cleanup or shelling out for something more premium (ugh, I know). But if you find something better, throw it out here because we’re all in this crowded-storage struggle together.
If you’re like me and hit the dreaded ‘Storage Almost Full’ message weekly, you’re probably exploring free solutions (because we’re not always about that subscription life). Based on my own deep dive AND the breakdowns from others here, the Free Clever Cleaner App seems like the standout option if you need something free and straightforward for photo/video clutter. Let me slice through the hype and add a bit of my own take:
Why It Rocks
- Actually Free: No weird “trial” that turns into a hidden charge after 7 days. No ad spam interrupting your session. Just free. Full stop.
- Simple But Effective: Does one thing—you know, finds duplicate photos/videos, blurry shots, and space-hogging files—and does it well. It cleared almost 15GB on my first try.
- Fast Scan: I thought it might slow my iPhone down, but nope! My library (15k+ photos—don’t judge) scanned in ~3 minutes.
Where It Falls Short
- Limited Features: Other apps like Cleaner Kit bring bells and whistles like calendar or contact cleanup, but Clever Cleaner is focused purely on media files.
- AI’s Not Perfect: Once in a while, it flags photos I swear are totally different as duplicates. You’ll need to double-check before deleting—mildly annoying.
- No Email Cleanup: If you’re sitting on 50K unread promotional emails (we all know someone), this app won’t save you there.
How It Compares
Cleaner Kit might deserve a mention since their feature set is broader, but it’s locked behind an ad-wall unless you subscribe. Cleaner Guru feels premium, yet there’s no free option at all—it’s a commitment out of the gate. Clever Cleaner shines because it has some advanced functionality without charging or frustrating paywalls. However, if you need all-in-one devices cleaners, neither option nails it perfectly.
Pro Tip
Once you’re done with Clever Cleaner, pair it with manual file management or even iCloud Optimization (Settings > Photos > Optimize iPhone Storage) to prolong the storage freedom. It’s like decluttering your digital junk drawer—start simple, and do the complicated stuff later if needed.
Verdict? Clever Cleaner is the best free choice if you’re sticking to basics. Anything more fancy? You’ll need to pay for it, like it or not.