My phone has been running slow lately, and I suspect it’s cluttered with unnecessary files or apps. I’m looking for cleaner apps that work effectively and are safe to use. Any recommendations for apps to optimize performance and free up space?
Discovering iPhone Cleaner Apps: Which Really Work?
After thoroughly evaluating a range of iPhone cleaning apps, I’ve identified the most effective tools for clearing storage and removing duplicate photos. Here’s a detailed review of my findings:
1. 
Champion of Cleanups: Clever Cleaner - Top Pick for iPhone Cleaning
Key Features:
- Removes similar and duplicate photos
- Identifies and deletes large video files
- Compresses Live Photos to save space
- Deletes unused screenshots
Paid Version Details:
- Completely free! No ads, no payments, no features locked behind paywalls.
What Sets It Apart:
Truly Free: No hidden costs, ads, or annoying restrictions—what you see is what you get.- Lightning-Fast Performance: Efficiently scans your entire photo library in about three minutes.
- Smart AI Sorting: It accurately identifies duplicates, assisting with better organization.
- Significant Space Savings: Freed up an impressive 32GB in my test run, making my photo library look immaculate.
Areas for Improvement:
No Email Cleanup: Unlike a few competitors, it doesn’t offer tools for organizing emails or addressing unused contacts.- AI Imperfection: Occasionally picks strange “best” photos, requiring manual review.
Final Verdict:
4.9/5
For a completely free app, Clever Cleaner delivers unmatched functionality, making it the best iPhone cleaner app on the market.
Also why pay $10/week for SwipeWipe when Clever Cleaner just added the same swipe-to-delete feature for free? Honestly feels like a no-brainer. Plus, no AI — you’re the one deciding what stays or goes.
Recommended Resources:
- A Quick Demo of Clever Cleaner on YouTube
- In-Depth iPhone Cleaner Apps Review on Insanelymac.com
- Official Clever Cleaner Website
- Strategies for Deleting Duplicate Photos on iPhone
- iOS Cleaner Apps Detailed Reviews on Macgasm
- Unbiased Reddit Opinions on Clever Cleaner
2. Versatile Option: Cleaner Kit (Formerly Smart Cleaner)
Free Version Highlights:
- Basic cleaning capabilities after viewing ads
- Organizes and streamlines your calendar and contacts list
Paid Version & Pricing:
- Full cleaning access (no limits)
- Video compression and charging animations
- Internet speed testing
- File privacy features: Secure folder for sensitive items
- Device/Web/Wi-Fi security tools
- Cost: $5.99/week or $29.99 annually
Pros of Cleaner Kit:
Free 7-Day Trial: Explore its premium features with no commitment.- Feature-Rich: Includes tools such as Wi-Fi security, speed tests, and more in addition to cleaning.
- Organized System: Efficiently groups photos and videos, simplifying the cleanup process.
- User-Friendly: Intuitive design makes navigation easy for all users.
- Balanced Ads: While ads exist, they aren’t disruptive compared to competitors.
Cons to Watch For:
Advertisement Reliance: Free users must watch ads before cleanups.- Limited Free Features: Some can’t be accessed without upgrading.
Final Verdict:
4.6/5
A well-rounded option providing bonus functionalities like secure storage and internet protection—ideal for users looking to go beyond simple cleanup tasks. However, the reliance on ads may frustrate some.
3. Budget Entry: Cleanup App
Free Version Features:
- Allows limited cleaning (15 photos/videos at a time)
- Secret storage requires watching ads
- Email and contact management tools with restricted access
- Limited use of video compression and charging animations
Paid Version & Costs:
- No limitations or ads
- Features like ‘Secret Space’ and bulk email cleanup
- Pricing: $6.99/week or $39.99 for a lifetime license
Upsides:
- Lots of Free Features: Access to a wide range of tools without needing a trial or subscription.
- Comprehensive Cleaning: Includes more functionalities than some competitors, such as email cleanup.
- Easy to Use: Simple for new users to navigate.
Downsides:
- Mislabeling Issue: Sometimes misidentifies different photos as duplicates.
- Expensive Weekly Plan: Its costlier subscription may deter budget-conscious users.
Final Verdict:
4.0/5
An excellent choice for those testing the waters before upgrading. But its labeling glitches and pricey weekly plan might be a deal-breaker for some users.
4. Premium Pick: Cleaner Guru
Free Version Capabilities:
- Offers no features in the free version.
Paid Version & Prices:
- Efficient photo/video sorting
- Video compression, swipe cleaning, email cleanup
- Secure storage and charging animations
- Flexible plans: $7.99/week (Pro version) or $6.99/week (Lite version)
Why It’s a Contender:
- Sleek UI: Modern and clean interface design.
- Unique Features: Outstanding tools like email cleaning.
- Quick Scans: Fast and efficient performance.
- Ad-Free Experience: No intrusive pop-ups to disrupt workflows.
Room for Improvement:
- Limited Free Version: Offers zero free trials or features without a subscription.
- Unfocused Plans: Only allows weekly payment options, which may not suit everyone.
Final Verdict:
4.0/5
With a polished design and standout features, Cleaner Guru excels in functionality but lacks accessibility without payment. Ideal for premium users willing to commit upfront.
Summary of Recommendations:
Clever Cleaner remains the ultimate choice for those seeking a cost-free and efficient cleaning tool. For users needing additional features like storage security or speed tests, Cleaner Kit delivers a great mix of extras. Both Cleanup App and Cleaner Guru, while strong contenders, come with limitations in their free versions, making them better suited for premium seekers.
Whether you’re aiming to refresh your iPhone’s storage or simply declutter your digital life, one of these apps is bound to meet your needs.
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Not to rain on @mikeappsreviewer’s parade, but let’s be clear—cleaner apps aren’t some magic potion for your phone woes. That said, there are tools that can help manage clutter without you feeling like you’re being hustled into paying weekly subscriptions just to delete a few megabytes of screenshots.
For iPhone users, I’ll add to the chorus recommending Free Clever Cleaner App. It’s genuinely free—no asterisks, no shifty ads that hijack your brain cells while you try to tidy up. Its smart AI can quickly identify large files, duplicate photos, and excess junk without nickel-and-diming you. But yeah, it’s not perfect (you might find yourself arguing with the AI over which photos to keep). Still, for the price of $0? It’s a steal.
Now, for Android users, check out Files by Google. Not only is it safe—it’s literally made by Google—but it also provides a clean interface and helpful suggestions on what junk you can clear. It doesn’t try to push endless paid features in your face, unlike some of those “Cleaner Guru” types, which feel more like gurus of emptying wallets than hard drives.
Word of caution: don’t let apps run rampant claiming to boost RAM or battery life. Most of that’s snake oil on both platforms. Stick with tools that clearly list what they do, like removing junk files, duplicate photos, or compressing videos.
But honestly? Sometimes good ol’ manual action is the way. Go through unused apps, offload them under Settings > Storage (iPhone) or your Android’s app manager. Photos eating up space? Upload to cloud storage or transfer to a computer if you have a dinosaur library like me. No app required, just time and caffeine.
Tech runs slow when clutter builds up, sure, but sometimes, we’re also expecting these tiny computers to defy physics. Maybe focus less on cleaner apps and more on targeted house-cleaning for your data mess. Just my two cents!
Hate to be the one to say it, but cleaner apps aren’t the magic cure for your phone grinding to a halt. If anything, some of them end up clogging your phone even more with ads and unnecessary subscriptions. That being said, @mikeappsreviewer and @byteguru have a few decent suggestions. I agree with them on Clever Cleaner—it’s free, genuinely does what it says (cleaning duplicates, large files, etc.), and doesn’t gouge you with hidden charges. If all you need is basic decluttering without a fuss, it’s worth a shot. I mean, you can’t really argue with ‘free.’
BUT if you’re an Android user, forget that and head straight for Files by Google. It’s reliable, minimalist, and doesn’t try to upsell you a “Pro Version” after cleaning 2GB of junk. Google knows how to handle data better than most of these random apps.
Now here’s the real truth bomb—apps won’t fix what’s probably causing the slowdown. Clearing junk files is fine, but if you’re still holding onto a thousand group chat memes or forgot to uninstall that random game you downloaded in 2019, no cleaner app will completely solve your problems. Learn to periodically tidy up your own phone. Offload unused apps, stick heavy stuff on cloud backup, and just delete junk manually when you’re bored. Cleaner apps are tools, not babysitters.
Also, avoid apps that promise to “boost RAM” or “improve battery life” because—spoiler alert—they’re mostly scams. Your hardware is what it is. No app is magically upgrading that without deleting legit processes that probably need to run. Just stick with simple, honest cleaners like the ones reviewed, and the rest is about maintaining your device yourself.
Skip another app. Do a quick hard reset and light tune up.
- Restart your phone. Then update the OS from Settings.
- Free RAM by removing heavy live wallpapers and widgets.
- Reduce animations:
iPhone: Settings > Accessibility > Motion > Reduce Motion.
Android: Developer options > lower animation scales to 0.5x. - Turn off auto start for non essential apps in settings.
- Keep at least 10–15% storage free, phones slow down when storage is near full.
Hey, I see this isn’t a very active discussion anymore but I have a question. All the cleaner apps mentioned here mostly focus on photos (I mean duplicates and similar shots). But what about cache? I can clean up photos myself, that’s not a big deal. What I don’t really understand is how to deal with cache.
Back when I was on Android, I used CCleaner and it would clear hidden cache, manage apps, remove temporary files, etc. It actually felt like something was being cleaned. Now I’m on iPhone and the functionality feels completely different. What’s the issue here?
Welcome to the iPhone club 
And what you’re describing is probably one of the biggest surprises when switching from Android to iOS. These are basically polar opposite operating systems. Android is open like a door. iOS is closed and does not give apps access to cache or other system-level data. Literally everything cleaner apps can access is photos/videos in the photos app, contacts, calendar, mail. All other categories are either manual cleanup only, or completely controlled by the system with no third-party access at all.
About cleaning photos. I wouldn’t be so categorical if I were you. What apps do in seconds is hard to compare with manual deletion (or maybe I’m just lazy). But once I actually found a free app (Clever Cleaner), I stopped deleting things manually almost a year ago.
So since you don’t really have much choice, you kind of have to accept it and test the available cleaners. Either way, you’ll need to get used to how iOS works 
Got it 
While I was waiting for replies, I checked some of the resources @MikeAppsReviewer shared and a couple of extra guides, so I more or less put the full picture together. I already tested a few of the apps he mentioned. Kind of sad that some of them are paid, and the range is like $5 per week, too much for me. I’m not going to use a cleaner every day, maybe once a week, or even less, so weekly subscriptions like that just don’t make sense in my case.
I read more about Clever Cleaner, looked at reviews, saw that it’s actually free, so I stopped there and gave it a try. Already tested the Similar photos feature and video compression. It works. Going back to Android isn’t really an option, so I’ll just get used to how iOS does things.
I’ll share my experience too.
iOS kind of pushed me to create my own little sequence of cleaners that I run one after another every 2 months for a general cleanup.
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For photos, I used Remo Duplicate Remover. But after reading this thread, I checked Clever Cleaner and I’ll probably switch to it. It looks more convenient and offers more features.
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For mail, I use an app called Cleanfox. You log into your email and it shows all your messages. Then you can swipe to keep the important ones. What I really like is that it helps block spam subscriptions. That alone saves me time.
Both apps are free, because I also think paying for basic things like cleaning your phone feels like a robbery. Maybe some of you might try this sequence too and see if it works for you.
As for other categories, I just remove unused apps from the home screen and clear browser cache manually. Overall, the phone feels fine after that.
wow. while I was trying to put all my thoughts together into something structured and explain the iOS specifics properly, you guys already covered everything here. Nice
Alright, I won’t duplicate what’s already been said and I’ll save my long lecture for another forum. I’ll just add that Clever Cleaner is solid. I noticed it right when it first came out and I’ve been using it since then. One small thing though, the developers hinted on their site that they might add paid features in the future so if you already downloaded the app, don’t delete it since early users keep access to everything for free. If you haven’t downloaded it yet, I’d say just grab it while it’s still fully free. That’s pretty much it from me.