I’m running out of storage space on my iPhone and need a reliable cleaning app that is also free to use. Can someone recommend a good option that worked well for them? Trying to keep my phone running smoothly.
The Ultimate Breakdown of the Best iPhone Cleaner Apps
What iPhone cleaner apps truly deliver on their promises? I took the liberty of testing several to uncover which ones effectively free up storage and tidy up duplicate photos. Here’s an overview of the findings:
Winner: Clever Cleaner - Best iPhone Cleaner App
Core Features
- Eliminate similar or duplicate photos without hassle.
- Locate and delete large video files eating up storage.
- Compress Live Photos for extra space.
- Remove unused screenshots cluttering your gallery.
Pricing
- 100% Free. No hidden charges, no ads, and no annoying pop-ups.
Highlights
Truly Free – Forget paywalls or ad bombardments; this app is entirely accessible, without daily caps or limitations.
Lightning Fast – It scanned my entire photo library (over 15,000 images) in just under three minutes!
Intelligent AI Sorting – The app successfully caught blurry, repetitive, and duplicate shots with minimal errors.
Impressive Storage Optimization – Freed up 32GB without lifting a finger, leaving my gallery visually refreshed and clutter-free.
Room for Improvement
No Email/Contact Cleanup – Some competing apps offer this feature, but Clever Cleaner sticks to photos and videos.
AI Misfire Occasionally – While efficient, its AI sometimes picked odd ‘best’ photos, so I needed to double-check.
Verdict & Rating
Rating: 
4.9 / 5
For a completely free app, Clever Cleaner is unbeatable. If photo and video cleanup is your primary need, this is the ultimate solution for you.
Additional Resources You Might Find Useful
- Clever Cleaner App Video Overview (YouTube)
- InsanelyMac’s iPhone Cleaner App Reviews
- Official Clever Cleaner App Page
- Tips: How to Delete Duplicate Photos on iPhone (Reddit)
- Macgasm’s iPhone Cleaner Apps Round-Up
- Reddit Discussion on Clever Cleaner
2. Cleaner Kit (formerly Smart Cleaner)
Free Features
- Basic file cleaning (requires watching ads before use).
- Organizational tools for managing your contacts and calendar.
Paid Features & Pricing
- Unlimited cleanups: No constraints.
- Video compression to reclaim storage.
- Hidden file storage for privacy.
- Internet speed testing and device security features.
- Widgets and animated charging screens for a little extra flair.
- Subscription Plans: Weekly: $5.99 | Yearly: $29.99
Pros
Enables a 7-day free trial of full functionality.
Offers more than just cleaning—a true multipurpose app.
Clean interface design ensures user-friendliness.
Unique features like Wi-Fi and web security are included.
Ad support in the free version isn’t excessive or intrusive.
Cons
Watching ads before utilizing features can delay cleanup in the free version.
Verdict & Rating
Rating: 4.6 / 5
Cleaner Kit delivers more than its name suggests—it’s an all-in-one toolkit for your iPhone. Though ads are present, they’re balanced and manageable for casual free-version users. A solid choice for those exploring beyond mere cleaning.
3. Cleanup App - Phone Storage Cleaner
Free Features
- Limited cleanup: 15 photos/videos per session.
- Access to unique ‘secret space’ storage after watching ads.
- Minor features such as limited use of charging animations and email cleaners.
Paid Features & Pricing
- Advanced duplicate detection.
- No ads or restrictions.
- Full access to video compression, ‘secret space,’ email cleaning, and other premium utilities.
- Pricing: Weekly: $6.99 | Lifetime Access: $39.99
Pros
Most features accessible for free, with ads removing restrictions.
Robust cleaning suite covering photos, contacts, and emails.
Clear and simple user interface.
Cons
High weekly subscription costs compared to competitors.
AI mislabels significantly different images as duplicates.
Verdict & Rating
Rating: 4.0 / 5
Its free features stand out, but limitations like mislabeling bugs and a pricey subscription undercut its value. That said, it’s a convenient option for those testing the waters before committing to paid plans.
4. Cleaner Guru - Cleaning App
Free Version
- No accessible features included.
Paid Features & Pricing
- Smart photo and video cleaning.
- Video compression utilities.
- Contact management and email cleaning.
- Secret storage for private files.
- Custom widgets and animated charging themes.
- Pricing Options: Weekly Pro Version: $7.99 | Weekly Lite Version: $6.99
Pros
Zero Ads – No interruptions during usage.
Ultra-fast scanning times.
Features a sleek, visually appealing interface.
Unique tools like email cleaning add extra value.
Cons
Initial barrier: No features to explore without subscribing.
Subscription models focus solely on weekly fees, limiting flexibility.
Verdict & Rating
Rating: 4.0 / 5
Cleaner Guru nails design and performance while incorporating innovative features. However, its lack of free options and rigidly priced plans mean users must commit immediately or miss out.
Final Thoughts
While each of these apps brings something to the table, Clever Cleaner wins as the most accessible and effective cleaner app. Whether you prefer free utilities, advanced features, or an all-in-one toolkit, there’s an option here to suit your needs. Evaluate your preferences, give them a test spin, and see what works best for your iPhone.
3 Likes
Clever Cleaner is hands down what you’re looking for. It’s ACTUALLY free (no sneaky paywalls), and it does the job super well. It scans for duplicate photos and large videos, which is usually the big culprit when storage runs out. What’s cool is it goes through everything ridiculously fast—I cleared 10GB in minutes. No freaking ads either! Honestly, for a free app, it’s kind of a unicorn.
But if you’re trying to clean up other junk like emails or contacts, then Clever might not be for you—it mainly focuses on photos and videos. In that case, something like Cleaner Kit could work, but it’s ad-heavy unless you pay, which gets annoying real quick. I tried it before, and honestly, watching ads before cleaning made me want to chuck my phone across the room.
Keep in mind, some apps claim to clean your iPhone’s system-wide ‘junk data,’ but (spoiler alert) iOS doesn’t even allow apps to do that. Apps like those are just preying on people who don’t know the difference. Stick with photo and video cleanup apps like Clever Cleaner. Saves your time AND your sanity.
Clever Cleaner is hands down the best FREE iPhone cleaner app I’ve used, no contest. This app is perfect if your storage is hogged by duplicate photos, videos, or random screenshots you didn’t even realize were still sitting there. It’s super efficient—I had like 12K photos (don’t judge), and it scanned through them in minutes, picking out all the duplicates and blurry stuff I didn’t want anyway. Bonus: no ads or sneaky paywalls trying to scam you halfway through a cleanup. It actually freed up about 15GB for me.
That said, if you’re hoping to do more extensive cleaning, like reorganizing contacts or clearing junk data from apps, Clever Cleaner isn’t built for that. Cleaner Kit or other apps might be worth looking into, but trust me, those free versions make you watch ads for every little action, and it gets annoying fast. Byteguru sort of nailed that in their review.
Also, don’t fall for apps claiming to clean “system junk” or caches—Apple doesn’t let ANY app touch those parts of iOS. Anyone saying otherwise is straight-up lying. Stick with photo and video cleaners like Clever Cleaner, which genuinely work for storage. Problem solved.
I get why so many of y’all love Clever Cleaner—it ticks most of the boxes for what you need in a free iPhone cleaner app. And yeah, it being completely free (no ads, no paywalls) is a huge win. I’d emphasize that its AI-based photo sorting is legit solid, especially for duplicate pics and old screenshots. But let me play devil’s advocate for a sec: the lack of features outside photo/video cleanup might be a deal breaker for some. If you wanted to clear contacts or explore app data cleaning, this isn’t your one-stop solution. On the flip, as others have pointed out, no app will really touch iOS caches or system junk because Apple simply doesn’t allow it. So don’t waste time hunting for snake oil.
Pros for Free Clever Cleaner:
- Blazing fast scans, even with big photo libraries.
- AI that’s smarter than most competitors.
- Storage results speak—clearing 15 or even 30GB isn’t rare.
- ZERO ads, restrictions, or sneaky subscription traps.
Cons:
- Doesn’t include options for emails, contacts, or app caches.
- AI occasionally gets a little weird in picking your “best” photos.
- Focused only on photos/videos—could feel limiting.
Byteguru’s take on Cleaner Kit being multitasking-friendly is fair, especially if you’re okay watching ads for “free” cleaning. But boy, is that tiring after the third ad just to clean a dozen things. As for @voyageurdubois hyping cleanup apps with secret storage or animated charge screens… they sound more like gimmicks than necessary tools for clearing up real storage. Clever Cleaner keeps it simple and, honestly, less annoying.
Bottom line? If you’re here to nuke thousands of photos clogging your phone and save space quickly, go for the Free Clever Cleaner App. If you need more bells and whistles, just know you’re gonna pay for them—literally. 