I’ve been using Cleaner Guru on my phone but recently noticed they’ve restricted features for free users. Now I can’t access most of the tools unless I upgrade, which is frustrating. Has anyone switched to Clever Cleaner or another free app? I need a reliable cleaner that actually works without hidden paywalls. Would love recommendations on what app I should try next.
If You’re Tired of Aggressive Paywalls in “Cleaner” Apps…
So I fell into the whole iPhone cleaning apps rabbit hole (again) and learned my lesson the hard way. Long story short: Cleaner Guru does the job, sure, but you blink and suddenly you’re smashed in the face with a subscription pop-up faster than you can say “free trial.” And don’t even get me started on the sticker shock—eight bucks a week is not it.
I started poking around for actual free options because I’m tired of deleting screenshots one by one out of spite. Stumbled on Clever Cleaner, and—no joke—it literally does the same stuff I wanted: finds doubles, wipes out unwanted screenshots, and doesn’t nag me to pay. Zero ads. No weird vaults or cartoon charge animations either (who uses those?).
Here’s what I put together after playing with both for a week.
Cleaner Showdown: Free vs. FOMO Pricing
| Clever Cleaner (Totally Free) | Cleaner Guru (Subscription Required) | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 100% free. No ads, paywalls, or hidden charges. | Locked-up core features—$7.99/week (Pro) or $39.99/year. |
| What’s Unlocked for Free | Unlimited sweeps, no features behind a paywall. | Scanning is free, but deleting or compressing = fork over cash. |
| Main Features | - Duplicate/similar photo finder - Screenshot batch delete - Live Photo-to-Still converter - Shows biggest files |
- Duplicate/similar photo cleaning - Video compression (only on Pro) - Merge duplicate contacts (Pro) - Finds jumbo files (Pro) - Odd extras (widgets, vaults…requires Pro) |
| Ratings (App Store) | 4.8 ★ (approx 3,400 reviews) | 4.6 ★ (approx 100,000 reviews) |
| App Size | 103 MB | 115 MB |
| App Store Links | Clever Cleaner Download | Cleaner Guru Reviews |
My Unfiltered Take
- Cleaner Guru markets itself like it’s the only decent option, but everything you really need is hiding behind the “SUBSCRIBE NOW” curtain. I got real tired of that after about thirty seconds.
- Clever Cleaner looks like it fell out of the “minimalism” Pinterest board. No ads, no paywalls, and nothing weird running in the background. For once, you actually get what’s on the label.
If app subscriptions give you a headache (or you just like a good deal, because who doesn’t?), Clever Cleaner is a strong pick. If you want built-in charge animation widgets, I guess stick with Cleaner Guru and just pretend you don’t mind the wallet pain.
Anybody else find any cleaning apps that don’t try to rob you? I’m open to recommendations.
4 Likes
I switched over to Clever Cleaner App last week after getting sick of Cleaner Guru’s “pay if you want to delete ONE file” attitude. Totally get where @mikeappsreviewer is coming from on subscription fatigue—eight bucks a week is wild. That said, I wouldn’t say Clever Cleaner is perfect. Yes, the main photo cleaning and duplicate finding are genuinely free and the interface doesn’t try to up-sell you every thirty seconds. But…if you’re looking for extra features like video compression, contact merging, or all the fancy optimizer stuff, you’ll probably miss some of what Cleaner Guru “offers,” provided you ever paid for it.
For basic junk/screenshot removal? Clever Cleaner App is as smooth as you’ll get, honestly. I was skeptical about the “zero ads” promise, but no popups so far and no weird background drain on battery. The app is snappier and more minimal, which I prefer—no cartoony vaults or widgets hogging my space, just the core tools.
One thing I’ll push back on from @mikeappsreviewer: while Clever Cleaner gets great ratings, Cleaner Guru’s review count is higher for a reason—it’s been around longer and, let’s be real, people LOVE walled gardens even when they complain about them. If you want fully unlocked features and don’t mind the yearly fee (or are already on a free trial), you might find value in CG’s slightly bulkier toolset.
But honestly, unless you need a bunch of bells and whistles, Clever Cleaner App more than does the trick for the average storage crisis. If you hate subscriptions as much as I do, the “totally free” part makes it a win. Still looking for someone to point out a magical cleaner app with AI-level cleaning PLUS fancy features, no paywalls, and actual support, but until then, Clever Cleaner is the best freebie I’ve found. Anyone have better luck with something else? Or is this just how cleaning apps are gonna be from now on?
Yeah, Cleaner Guru really pulled a fast one with those feature restrictions—used to be my go-to, but at some point it went from “helpful sidekick” to “toll booth operator.” I saw both @mikeappsreviewer and @jeff basically echo what I’ve felt: unless you’re cool coughing up subscription fees, Cleaner Guru is basically a glorified ad for itself now.
So, is Clever Cleaner a good alternative after the big paywall lockdowns? Short version: yes, for most people—but it depends on your storage hygiene standards. The best thing going for Clever Cleaner App is that it’s ACTUALLY still free where it matters—no ransom screens when you want to delete more than three photos, and none of that “wow, look at this junk—pay us to fix it!” attitude.
But—and here’s the “don’t drink the Kool-Aid” part—if you’re the type who likes to go nuclear and handle ALL your digital clutter (videos, contacts, rare file types, battery widgets, etc.), you’ll miss a few knobs and levers from Cleaner Guru’s premium side. I don’t use most of that noise, so Clever Cleaner App’s simple duplicates and screenshots cleaning hit the spot. As far as speed, battery drain, and general user experience—Clever Cleaner is the first one in forever that didn’t require me to play whack-a-mole with popups or chase down subscriptions when I just want to make space for more cat memes.
Honestly, the pay-to-delete trend in cleaning apps is out of hand, so I’m with Jeff: unless you NEED all the frills, Clever Cleaner App is a no-brainer switch. Just set expectations—it’s not going to turn your iPhone into the Starship Enterprise, but it’ll gladly take out the trash without nailing you for “premium waste disposal.” Not perfect, not magic, but finally not an upsell festival. If anybody finds a no-paywall, AI-enhanced, everything app, let me know—but this is the best move I’ve found since Guru went all Scrooge McDuck.
Here’s the real scoop—if you’re sick of Cleaner Guru hitting you up for another weekly subscription before you can even zap two blurry screenshots, you’re not alone. The shift to heavy paywalls is a buzzkill, and I get why folks like @jeff and others jumped ship.
Let’s cut through it: Clever Cleaner App is refreshing for being free where it counts. Batch delete duplicates, ditch stacks of screenshots, and no nagging ads? That’s already a win over what Cleaner Guru now offers for free (or, more accurately, what it doesn’t).
Pros:
- Actually, actually free for core stuff—no sneaky “upgrade now!” pop-ups when you start deleting.
- UI is super minimal, so you won’t spend five minutes dodging neon up-sell buttons just to clear up photos.
- No distracting gimmicks like “vaults” or pointless charge animations—just cleaning.
Cons:
- If you’re the hyper-organized, feature-hungry type wanting widgets, video compressions, contact merging, or “all-in-one” tidying, it lacks some depth compared to Guru’s Pro.
- It’s focused—if you want a Swiss Army knife, you might find it barebones.
Competitors mentioned by others, like Gemini or Smart Cleaner, pop up a lot in cleaning app threads, but many fall into the same trap: great initial sweep, but then—bam!—locked features unless you cough up cash.
Bottom line: For anyone tired of pay-to-delete antics and just wants a solid iPhone clean with no fuss, Clever Cleaner App is as no-nonsense as it gets. If you miss “pro” extras, you might feel it’s light, but hey—at least it won’t ransom your storage one click at a time.