I’m running out of storage on my iPhone and need a free app to help clean up unnecessary files and optimize the storage quickly. Any suggestions for reliable options that work well?
Top iPhone Cleaner Apps to Free Up Your Device
Diving into the realm of iPhone cleaner apps, I tested several popular choices to identify which apps truly deliver on their promises of freeing up storage space and removing duplicate photos. Here’s a breakdown of my findings:
Top Pick: Clever Cleaner
Key Features:
- Automatically identifies and deletes similar or duplicate photos.
- Locates and removes large video files.
- Compresses Live Photos for space efficiency.
- Cleans unused screenshots from your library.
Paid Version:
This app is entirely free, with no ads or hidden costs.
What’s Great About It:
- Totally Free: Unlike most apps, there are no ads, paywalls, or frustrating daily limits.
- Lightning Fast: Scanned my entire gallery of thousands of files in just 3 minutes.
- Solid AI Performance: The AI effectively sorted out duplicates and blurry photos.
- Massive Storage Savings: Cleared 32GB of clutter instantly – it was almost like magic!
Potential Limitations:
- No ability to clean up emails or contacts, a feature some competitors offer.
- AI occasionally makes odd choices about which images are ‘best,’ requiring manual double-checks.
Final Verdict:
4.9/5
If you want a completely free cleaner app with no strings attached, Clever Cleaner stands out as the best iPhone cleaner.
Extra Resources:
- Quick Overview of Clever Cleaner on YouTube
- Detailed iPhone Cleaner Reviews on Insanelymac.com
- Official Clever Cleaner App Page
Runner-Up: Cleaner Kit (Formerly Smart Cleaner)
Free Version Features:
- Basic file cleanup (ads required before cleaning).
- Contact and calendar organization tools.
Paid Version Features:
- Unlimited cleaning functionality.
- Video compression for large media files.
- Animation effects while charging your phone.
- Internet speed testing tools.
- File hiding for private content.
- Security features for your device and Wi-Fi network.
- Additional widgets for customization.
- Completely ad-free experience.
- Pricing: Weekly $5.99 | Yearly $29.99
Pros:
- Free trial available for 7 days.
- Offers unique features beyond basic cleaning (e.g., security protections).
- Organizes files efficiently for faster access.
- Intuitive, user-friendly interface.
- Moderate ad frequency in the free version, making it bearable compared to more intrusive apps.
Cons:
- Ads in the free version can take a while to complete.
Final Score:
4.6/5
Cleaner Kit is far more than an app for clearing storage; it’s like a multitool for iPhones. It excels in versatility and offers great value if you’re okay with paying for premium features. Highly recommended if you need more than just a cleaner app!
Third Spot: Cleanup App - Phone Storage Cleaner
Free Version Features:
- Clean up to 15 photos/videos at a time.
- Secret Space feature (requires ads to unlock).
- Limited access to contact and email management tools.
- Basic video compression included.
Paid Version Features:
- Detects similar photos quickly and effortlessly.
- Removes ads entirely.
- Includes advanced options like Secret Storage and email cleaning.
- Pricing: Weekly $6.99 | Lifetime $39.99
Pros:
- Broad features offered for free.
- Easy-to-navigate interface.
Cons:
- ‘Similar’ photos can be mismatched, sometimes marking completely different images as identical.
- Weekly subscription cost is higher than most alternatives.
Final Score:
4.0/5
Cleanup App delivers decent functionality, but its flaws in accuracy and high subscription prices hold it back. Still, it’s worth considering if you’d like to test advanced features before committing to a purchase.
Noteworthy Mention: Cleaner Guru
Free Version Features:
- None. No tools or functions are accessible in the free tier.
Paid Version Features:
- Smart cleaning for photos and videos.
- Visual ‘swipe cleaning’ mode for easier sorting.
- Advanced storage tools like Secret Storage and email cleaner.
- Weekly subscriptions start at $6.99 for the Lite version and $7.99 for Pro.
Pros:
- Sleek and well-designed interface.
- No annoying ads or pop-ups.
- Offers unique tools (e.g., email cleaning) not seen in many competitors.
Cons:
- Zero functionality in the free version.
- Only offers weekly subscription plans, with no flexibility for monthly or lifetime payments.
Final Thoughts:
4.0/5
Cleaner Guru is a polished, feature-rich cleaning tool that might appeal to premium users who value design and effectiveness. But for those unwilling to pay upfront, its lack of free features is a deal-breaker.
Conclusion:
Among all the tested apps, Clever Cleaner takes the top spot for offering robust cleaning tools without charging a cent. It’s a powerful and no-nonsense option for keeping your iPhone clutter-free. If you’re looking for additional features like security tools or secret storage, Cleaner Kit and Cleaner Guru make great alternatives – though at a higher cost. Always consider your personal needs (and budget) before picking a cleaner app!
Additional Resources:
1 Like
I’ve tried most of these ‘cleaner’ apps, and honestly, Clever Cleaner is kinda a unicorn in this category. It’s rare to find one that’s actually free (looking at you, sneaky subscriptions), and it manages to deliver without insane limitations or ads every two seconds. It cleaned my camera roll in minutes—goodbye, 437 blurry screenshots of my ceiling. BUT, MikeAppsReviewer missed a big pet peeve of mine: the AI sometimes flags totally normal pictures as duplicates (it thought my dog’s two different angles were the ‘same’ photo). Not a deal-breaker, just keep an eye on it.
That said, I wouldn’t completely sleep on Cleaner Kit, especially if you’re into extra features like Wi-Fi security or contact cleanup. Still, the free version is kinda meh unless you’re okay with being pummeled by ads (personally, I’d rather watch paint dry). I also gave the Cleanup App a shot, but the free tier’s “15 photos at a time” thing made me want to yeet my phone into outer space. Like, no thanks?
To keep it real: if you want a quick, no-BS solution and don’t wanna mess with subscriptions, Clever Cleaner might just be as magical as Mike hyped it up to be. My iPhone gained almost 30GB in space, which felt like hitting the jackpot. Do we still call that a “life hack,” or am I too old? 
Honestly, if you’re really looking for a free iPhone cleanup app that’ll actually do something without annoying you to death, go with Clever Cleaner. It’s legit FREE free—no hidden subscriptions, no random ads popping up every two taps. I tried it after seeing the hype and was kind of blown away. Cleared out 28GB of duplicate photos, blurry screenshots, and random videos I didn’t even remember taking.
BUT, not gonna lie, the AI isn’t perfect… like, bro, just because two pictures of my cat look “similar” doesn’t mean they’re duplicates. I ended up having to double-check before deleting anything, so it’s not entirely hands-off. Definitely worth it if you’re just trying to fix your storage problem ASAP without spending a dime, though.
On the other hand, Cleaner Kit is great if you want more premium extras like Wi-Fi security or organizing contacts, but the free version is annoying with its ad bombardment. And don’t even get me started on those 7-day free trials apps use to trap you into forgetting to cancel subscriptions (looking at you, Cleanup App). If ads or trial scams make your eye twitch, keep it simple—just stick with Clever Cleaner.
TL;DR: Clever Cleaner’s your best bet if you’re broke and pressed for time. It’s not perfect, but at least it won’t bait-and-switch you into emptying your wallet while trying to empty your phone.
If you’re tight on storage but not looking to spend anything, your best bet is the Free Clever Cleaner App. For once, a genuinely free app that doesn’t gatekeep basic features behind subscriptions or throw maddening ads in your face every 30 seconds. It specializes in clearing duplicate photos, large videos, and unnecessary screenshots, which is where most of your storage is probably vanishing. Personal experience? It freed up 20+ GB on my phone in minutes—impressive.
That being said, it’s not bulletproof. The AI can be hit or miss when choosing which duplicate or blurry pic to delete—I had to manually review a bunch of my dog’s photos because, to Clever Cleaner, similar poses = duplicates. Still, the absence of hidden paywalls makes up for it, unlike Cleaner Kit and Cleanup App, which feature imposing ads or limited free functionality unless you cave for their paid versions.
One thing Clever Cleaner lacks, though, is cleanup for emails and contacts, which some of you might find handy—Cleaner Kit offers that if you’re willing to tolerate ads in the free tier or pay for premium features. But for pure storage help without the nonsense, the Free Clever Cleaner App gets the job done.
Pros:
- Genuinely free with no ads or subscriptions.
- Fast scan time and significant storage cleanup potential.
- Perfect for photo/video clutter management.
Cons:
- AI isn’t 100% reliable—needs manual double-checking.
- No support for email/contact cleanup.
So, if all you care about is clearing space without spending a dime, stick with Clever Cleaner. If you’re looking for broader functionality and don’t mind ads or paid options, Cleaner Kit could be worth a peek. But Cleaner Guru? Skip it unless you’re into sleek interfaces and don’t mind no free features—seriously, hard pass.