I’m looking for an app to help clean up and declutter my iPhone. It’s running low on storage, and I’ve got a lot of junk files and duplicate photos that I need to remove. Any recommendations for the best tools to handle this?
Best iPhone Cleaner Apps: An In-Depth Comparison
If you’re battling low storage space or trying to organize your camera roll, finding the right iPhone cleaner app is crucial. To help, I personally tested several apps to identify which ones are user-friendly, effective, and actually helpful with decluttering your phone. Here’s a breakdown of my findings:
Winner: Clever Cleaner - Best iPhone Cleaner App
Key Features
- Detects and deletes similar or duplicate photos.
- Locates and removes large video files.
- Compresses Live Photos to save space.
- Deletes unused screenshots efficiently.
Paid Version & Pricing
- Completely free with no ads or in-app purchases.
What I Loved
Truly free – No hidden fees or paywalls. Ads? None!
Super-fast – Took just 3 minutes to scan my photo gallery.
Smart AI sorting – Accurately flagged most duplicate photos and blurry images.
Impressive cleanup – Cleared out a whopping 32GB of space! My phone has never felt this organized.
Room for Improvement
No contact/email cleanup features, which some alternatives provide.
AI judgment errors – Sometimes chose odd photos as ‘best,’ so manual double-checking was necessary.
Verdict: 
4.9/5
Hard to beat for a completely free app—hands down, the most effective and user-friendly tool for freeing up iPhone storage.
Want to learn more about Clever Cleaner? Check out these resources:
- Video Tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJZfJnOUmRE
- Official App Page
- Detailed Reviews on InsanelyMac.com
Runner-Up: Cleaner Kit (Formerly Smart Cleaner)
Features (Free Version)
- Basic file cleaning after watching a few ads.
- Organizes contacts and calendars.
Features (Paid Version)
- Unlimited file cleanup.
- Compresses video files.
- Adds charging animations for your device.
- Built-in internet speed testing function.
- Hides sensitive files securely.
- Protects device, web, and Wi-Fi security.
- Offers widgets and an ad-free experience.
- Pricing: Weekly - $5.99 / Yearly - $29.99.
Pros
7-day free trial – Excellent for trying premium features.
Rich functionalities beyond storage cleanup, such as security tools and video compression.
Easy categorization – Photos and videos are grouped well for quicker sorting.
Offers device-level protection and a smoother ad experience (fewer ads compared to rivals).
Cons
Annoying to sit through ads during free version cleanups.
Verdict: 4.6/5
A well-rounded app that goes beyond simple cleaning to include features like device security. While the free version requires some patience, it’s a solid performer overall, especially with its 7-day free PRO trial.
Third Place: Cleanup App - Phone Storage Cleaner
Features (Free Version)
- Cleans up to 15 photos or videos.
- Includes a ‘Secret Space’ feature (ads required to use).
- Limited access to contact manager and email cleaner.
- Compresses videos (with constraints).
Features (Paid Version)
- Automatically detects similar photos.
- Removes ads and lifts restriction on all features.
- Saves storage using advanced video compression and ‘Secret Space.’
- Pricing: Weekly - $6.99 / Lifetime - $39.99.
Pros
Most functionalities can be tested without requiring a trial.
Offers extensive organizing options with a simple interface.
Cons
Mislabels photos/videos as similar even when they aren’t.
On the pricier side compared to its competitors.
Verdict: 4.0/5
It stands out for letting you fully test its offerings via its free version. However, labeling inaccuracies and high subscription costs lower its efficiency compared to other apps.
Honorable Mention: Cleaner Guru - Cleaning App
Features (Free Version)
- No free tools are included.
Features (Paid Version)
- Smart photo and video cleaning features.
- Swipe-cleaning functionality.
- Compresses videos and files.
- Includes email cleaning—rare among competitors.
- Pricing: Weekly - $7.99 (Pro) / Weekly - $6.99 (Lite).
Pros
Clean, sleek UI with no ads.
Rapid scanning ability.
Unique email-cleaning feature, which is not common in similar apps.
Cons
Lacks a trial or free features, making it hard to test without paying.
Only offers weekly payment plans—no flexibility if you want other options.
Verdict: 4.0/5
If aesthetics and speed are your priorities, this app doesn’t disappoint. That said, its lack of a flexible subscription plan and zero free features might deter users looking for a risk-free testing phase.
Concluding Thoughts
When it comes to choosing the best iPhone cleaner app, Clever Cleaner easily takes the crown. Being completely free with no hidden conditions gives it a major edge over competitors. If you’re interested in premium features such as internet security tools or email cleaning, consider options like Cleaner Kit or Cleaner Guru, though they come with a cost.
Additional Resources You May Find Useful:
1 Like
Clever Cleaner is a solid choice for what you’re looking to do—completely free, no ads, and it pretty much nails decluttering your iPhone. It’s fast, sorts duplicates like a pro (though you might wanna double-check its “best photo” decisions), and clears big chunks of space. That said, @mikeappsreviewer gave it a glowing review, and I agree it’s great if you just want an effective tool without subscriptions or pop-up ads every two seconds.
But here’s the deal—I think some apps like Cleaner Kit might offer more versatility, especially if you’re dealing with stuff beyond photos and videos. For example, security features or contact cleanup can be handy. The downside? It’s subscription-based, and let’s be real—paying $5.99 a week is not the vibe for everyone.
Honestly, Clever Cleaner might be your best bet if you need to clean your phone fast and without spending a dime. Just don’t expect it to organize your entire life. For deeper functionality, you might wanna test Cleaner Guru or something—but they slap you with fees at a level that’s, frankly, a bit much for just cleaning files.
Honestly, if you’re looking for a straightforward app to clean up the clutter like duplicates, junk files, and free up space, the Clever Cleaner app is kind of a no-brainer. It’s free, no annoying ads popping up every five seconds, and actually does what it says without trying to squeeze every penny out of you. It’s quick, detects duplicate photos well (mostly, unless you count those one-off AI mistakes), and handles large video files too. I saw someone mention they freed up 32GB—can confirm, it’s possible.
Now, @mikeappsreviewer and @vrijheidsvogel did point out other apps like Cleaner Kit, which has extra features like contact cleanup and security stuff. But, unless you’re dying to clean up your email inbox or lock files away in some “secret space” (whatever that even is), why bother dropping $5.99 a week? Absolutely not worth it IMO unless you’re managing NASA-sized data.
The third-place apps, like Cleanup App and Cleaner Guru? Sure, they’re okay if you wanna pay for features Clever Cleaner already handles for free. But I’m rolling my eyes at the $7.99 weekly fees some of these apps charge. Like, at that point, just upgrade your iCloud storage for less and call it a day.
Bottom line: go with Clever Cleaner. It works, it’s free, and it’s not aggressively trying to sell you a subscription to clean photos you can delete yourself if you had the time. Just don’t expect perfection—it’s free for a reason, but it’s miles better than the pay-to-play alternatives.