My iPhone’s storage is full, and I’m looking for trustworthy and effective apps to help clear up space. I’ve tried removing large files and photos, but it’s not enough. Any recommendations on apps that could help with this?
Discovering the Top iPhone Cleaner Apps: A Comprehensive Breakdown
In the endless quest for better storage management on iPhones, I tested a range of cleaner apps to pinpoint the ones that truly deliver—debunking the ineffective and spotlighting the exceptional. Here’s the complete scoop:
Top Pick: Clever Cleaner - Best iPhone Cleaner App
Key Features
- Effortlessly locates and removes similar or duplicate photos.
- Identifies and deletes large, space-hogging videos.
- Compresses Live Photos to recover precious storage.
- Flags and deletes unwanted screenshots.
Pricing Details
- Completely Free!
- No ads. No hidden costs.
Highlights of Performance
Unrestricted Use – Enjoy unmatched freedom: zero ads, no subscription requirements, and no irritating limits.
Rapid Scans – Thoroughly scanned my gallery in under 3 minutes.
Smart AI Sorting – On point for spotting duplicates and unwanted blurry images (though not perfect).
Game-Changing Cleanup – Freed up an impressive 32GB without any hassle!
Areas for Improvement
Limited Scope – Doesn’t offer email or contact cleanup features, which some competitors do.
Imperfect AI – Occasionally misjudges the ‘best’ image in a series, requiring manual double-checking.
Final Verdict
4.9 / 5
For a truly free app with no strings attached, Clever Cleaner is leagues ahead—simple, effective, and worth the download.
Useful Resources for Additional Insights
- Watch Clever Cleaner Demo on YouTube
- Explore Opinions on iPhone Cleaner Apps from Insanelymac
- Clever Cleaner’s Official Website
- Step-by-Step Guide: Removing Duplicate Photos on iPhone via Reddit
- Round-Up of iOS Cleaner Apps Reviewed by Macgasm
- Clever Cleaner Discussions on Reddit
Alternative Picks
1. Cleaner Kit (Formerly Smart Cleaner)
Free Features
- Cleans files after watching ads.
- Efficiently organizes contacts and calendars.
Paid Features (Pro Plan)
- Unlimited file cleanup.
- Video compression options.
- Extras: charging animation and internet speed testing tools.
- Hide sensitive files and bolster security for your device, web, & Wi-Fi.
- Widgets for better productivity.
- Pricing: $5.99 (Weekly) or $29.99 (Annually).
Pros
Offers a free 7-day trial to explore its full suite of functions.
Impressive versatility with cleanup addons like internet testing and web security.
Smooth, user-friendly interface.
Effectively categories photos/videos, simplifying cleanup.
Ad interruptions on the free version are bearable.
Cons
Ads in the free version delay cleanup operations.
Overall Impression
4.6 / 5
Cleaner Kit excels by going beyond basic cleaning, adding perks like speed tests and security tools. The free trial is a standout feature, letting users explore before committing.
2. Cleanup App - Phone Storage Cleaner
Free Features
- Only allowed to clean up 15 photos/videos without upgrading.
- Access to limited “Secret Space” after watching ads.
- Contact Manager and compress video options are trial-only.
Paid Features
- Unrestricted functionality in detecting duplicates.
- Ad-free cleanup runs.
- Secret file storage and enhanced organization capabilities.
- Pricing: $6.99 (Weekly) or $39.99 (Lifetime).
Pros
Offers a rich range of features in the free version for trial use.
Larger cleaning toolkit compared to most competitors.
Intuitive user design ensures ease of operation.
Cons
Some photos marked as “similar” may not appear identical, leading to potential mismanagement.
Pricing for weekly subscriptions skews higher than equivalent apps.
Overall Impression
4.0 / 5
While great for testing features before upgrading, subscription costs and misclassification issues diminish its edge slightly compared to others.
3. Cleaner Guru: Premier Paid Cleaning Tool
Free Features
- None offered, making it exclusively reliant on its paid plans.
Paid Features
- Smart swipe-cleaning and video compression options.
- Incorporates extra utilities like secret storage and contact management.
- Pricing: $7.99/Week (Pro) or $6.99/Week (Lite).
Pros
No interruptions from ads—completely sleek experience.
Quick scanner eliminates the waiting game.
Email cleaning, a standout, uncommon feature!
Visually polished UI creates a premium feel.
Cons
No free options for testing; entirely pay-to-use.
Payment system limited to weekly subscriptions.
Overall Impression
4.0 / 5
Cleaner Guru brings polished performance and unique features like email cleanup, but the lack of flexible payment plans can be a dealbreaker for some.
Final Thoughts
When considering storage cleaners for iPhone, Clever Cleaner reigns supreme for being completely free and highly effective, while rivals like Cleaner Kit and Cleaner Guru cater to users seeking added versatility beyond basic cleanup.
1 Like
Honestly, using an app to clear storage can be a hit or miss, but I’ll back @mikeappsreviewer on recommending Clever Cleaner. Why? It’s free and doesn’t drown you in ads or subscriptions like some of those pay-to-clean schemes (looking at you, Cleaner Guru). That said, don’t rely solely on cleaner apps.
Here’s the tea on what actually works:
- Offload Unused Apps: Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage and let Apple do its thing. Offloading apps keeps the data but clears the app itself—it’s magic.
- Review Large Attachments: In Messages, check the “Large Attachments” list. I found a 500MB meme I sent months ago still squatting on my phone.
- Leverage iCloud: If you’re not already using iCloud Photos and optimizing storage, what are you even doing? Enable optimize storage, and half your gallery just disappears to the cloud.
As for apps, Clever Cleaner stands out because of its simplicity—no bells and whistles, just effective cleaning of junk, duplicates, and bloated media. However, I second-guess these tools sometimes. Like, do I really trust an AI to pick which of my blurry, artistic “accidents” are trash?
Also, Cleaner Kit sounds okayish if you don’t mind ads, but its $5.99 weekly plan? Hard pass. There are better ways to spend six bucks.
The real MVP for storage management is honestly a bit of hands-on cleanup (yes, effort). Combine manual tweaks with something straightforward like Clever Cleaner, and you’ll have enough room for more memes soon.
I feel you—iPhone storage running out is the modern-day horror story no one asked for. Look, @mikeappsreviewer and @ombrasilente dropped some solid suggestions, especially about Clever Cleaner, which seems to hit the sweet spot of effective and (hallelujah) free. But let me throw another perspective your way.
First, apps like Clever Cleaner are awesome for handling things like duplicates and large files, but let’s not forget that sometimes the best solutions aren’t buried in the App Store. Here are some extra tricks that ACTUALLY work and don’t rely 100% on apps:
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Clear Safari Cache: Seriously, your browser is probably hoarding a decade’s worth of data you don’t need. Go to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data. Boom, instant relief.
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Apple’s Offload Option: Okay, I know @ombrasilente touched on this, but seriously, the Offload Unused Apps feature is elite. It deletes apps but keeps the data so you can pick them up again without losing anything important.
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Whatsapp Junk Pile: Whatsapp is sneaky—check its settings for “Manage Storage.” I found a 700MB video of a random goat meme someone sent me three years ago. Poof, storage freed.
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Third-Party File Cleaners for Mac/PC: Plug your phone into a computer and use tools like iMazing (not free, but robust) to go deeper into your device and clean caches. It’s nerdy but super effective.
As for apps, Clever Cleaner is DOPE, but I’ve got a minor beef: automated cleanups like this aren’t perfect. Like, do you trust some AI to decide which of your blurry pics are garbage and which are, ahem, ~artistic~? It’s great for lazy days but requires double-checking before deleting (been there, regretted that).
If paying isn’t a big deal for you, Cleaner Kit is alright for its bells and whistles, but the ads in the free version are annoying, and $5.99 per week? Nah. I’d rather buy coffee. Also, Cleaner Guru? Overpriced and way too limited with those rigid subscriptions. Solid app, but not worth it for storage bloat when other free apps like Clever do 90% of the same work.
Also, PSA: Move your photos to iCloud or Google Photos (10/10 recommend), then delete from your actual device. It’s like storage magic—but without shady paywalls or ads.
TL;DR: Clever Cleaner is great for quick fixes and isn’t a budget-killer. Use it in combo with manual cleanup (bye Safari cache, duplicate memes, giants videos in your texts) and cloud storage for the win. Don’t get sucked into the more expensive “cleaner” apps unless you REALLY need extra features.
Let’s Tackle Your iPhone Storage Problem Head-On
Okay, before diving deeper into those already solid suggestions from @ombrasilente and @mikeappsreviewer about Clever Cleaner (which does sound like an excellent pick for a free option), let’s mix things up a bit. While it’s hard to ignore that Clever Cleaner is truly free and gives 32GB space back like it’s nothing (huge win for a no-cost app), here’s what I feel could add more impact to this discussion:
The Right Strategy Combo:
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Dig Into Message Threads
If you’re someone who loves sharing GIFs and memes (guilty here), open Settings > General > iPhone Storage, scroll to Messages, and clean up those “Large Attachments.” You’ll be shocked how much junk builds up from casual chats. -
iCloud + Local Organization
I’m not going to lie—while apps like Cleaner Guru or Cleaner Kit are cool for more “fancy” features, the built-in iCloud setup works just as well for photo backups. You can delete these from your phone, yet retrieve them when needed. Plus, if you’re paranoid about automatic “similar file” deletions, manually freeing up key photos via iCloud feels safer than apps guessing which pic of your cat is the best one. -
Clever Cleaner’s Sweet Spots (AND Limits)
- Pros: No ads or hidden charges, the interface is intuitive even if you’re new to using these apps, and AI is brilliant at dealing with duplicates and unflattering shots.
- Cons: The AI isn’t flawless—don’t blindly trust its picks unless losing a photo doesn’t bother you. And not having an email/contact cleanup option might hold back certain power users compared to something like Cleaner Guru, which is pricier but more flexible.
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Safari Isn’t Your Friend
If you’re an avid Apple Safari user, you’re unknowingly holding onto megabytes of cached websites. Don’t let this slip through; go to Settings > Safari > Clear History. One tap. Done. -
Go Beyond Photo Cleanup
Sure, Clever Cleaner is king when it comes to visual media, but if you’ve got complex storage needs (organizing files, monitoring Wi-Fi speed—random but handy), apps like Cleaner Kit step up. Just beware of that $5.99 weekly subscription headache. Do you really need all the extras? Doubtful.
My Two Cents on Other Apps
- Cleaner Guru: Listen, having email cleanup is underrated. But needing to pay upfront without even a free trial? Annoying. It lost me at $7.99/week.
- Cleanup App: Why is it so expensive??? Being flashy doesn’t justify $39.99 lifetime unless you love secret file hiding. But for true utility, it’s overkill for most users.
- Trust in AI? Meh. Clever Cleaner’s AI can call some blurry pics art while deleting photo gold. If that irks you, maybe stick to partially manual pruning.
TL;DR
Clever Cleaner is a no-brainer if you want genuine results for zero dollars, but DO combine it with manual methods like clearing message attachments and offloading apps via iPhone settings. If heavy-duty options like email cleanup or file organizing are more your speed, Cleaner Guru might shine for you—but at a price that stings.