My iPhone is running slow, and I feel it might be due to unnecessary files or clutter. I’m looking for advice on reliable iPhone cleaning apps that can help optimize its performance. Any recommendations or tools that you personally use would be appreciated.
Ultimate Guide to iPhone Cleaner Apps: Features, Pros, and Verdicts
In a digital world overflowing with endless pictures and apps, many of us face a common problem: limited storage on our iPhones. To help ease this issue, I personally tested some of the most popular iPhone cleaner applications to figure out which ones genuinely deliver results. Below are my findings, showcasing the best-rated apps, their functionalities, and how they stack up.
The Best iPhone Cleaner Apps
Top Pick: Clever Cleaner
Download Clever Cleaner - Free iPhone Cleaner App
Key Features:
- Removes duplicate and similar photos without hassle.
- Locates and deletes large video files to free up space.
- Compresses Live Photos, optimizing storage without compromising quality.
- Finds and eliminates pointless screenshots to organize your gallery.
Pricing & Paid Features
- Completely Free.
- No advertisements. No paid upgrades.
What I Loved:
Truly Free: Unlike other apps, Clever Cleaner has no paywalls, ads, or usage limits.- Blazing Fast: Scanned my gallery (32GB of photos) in under 3 minutes.
- Efficient AI Categorization: Did a stellar job identifying duplicates and blurry images.
- Instant Results: By the time I finished, my storage had 32GB freed up!
Areas for Improvement:
No Option for Email/Contact Cleanup: Some apps include these functions, but Clever Cleaner focuses solely on photos and videos.- AI Sorting Could Be Better: Occasionally, it selected strange ‘best’ photos, so some manual checks were required.
Final Verdict: 
4.9 / 5
For a completely free app, it’s unmatched—efficient, ad-free, and user-friendly.
Helpful Resources:
- Clever Cleaner App Video Overview
- Review on Insanelymac.com
- Official Clever Cleaner Website
- Macgasm’s iPhone Cleaner Apps Review
Runner-Up: Cleaner Kit (formerly Smart Cleaner)
Key Features (Free Version):
- Basic file cleanup (must watch ads before cleaning).
- Organizes and syncs calendar or contacts.
Advanced Features (Paid Version):
- No ad interruptions.
- Video compression, internet speed tests, and charging animations.
- Secure sensitive files with privacy protection features.
- Pricing: $5.99/week or $29.99/year.
Pros:
- Free users gain full access for seven days to explore PRO features before committing.
- Clean, intuitive layout for effortless usage.
- Its functionality expands beyond cleaning; it offers Wi-Fi safety, web security, and widgets.
- Fewer ads compared to most competitors.
Cons:
- Ads take time to complete in the free version, disrupting workflow.
Final Verdict: 4.6 / 5
Builds upon standard cleaning features, offering additional options like advanced security and video compression. Though the free version runs ads, the 7-day trial strikes a nice balance for users who want to decide before spending.
3rd Place: Cleanup App - Phone Storage Cleaner
Core Features (Free Version):
- Limited cleanup for up to 15 photos/videos per session.
- Secret Space and Contact Manager (requires watching ads).
Premium Options:
- Full access to advanced features like unlimited photo detection, contact management, and charging animations.
- Pricing: $6.99/week or $39.99 for lifetime access.
Benefits:
- Offers trial-worthy functionality in the free version for users to test the app without paying upfront.
- Simple interface ensures a smooth experience without unnecessary confusion.
Drawbacks:
- Mislabels some unrelated photos/videos as “similar.’
- More expensive weekly subscription price when stacked against competitors.
Final Verdict: 4.0 / 5
An all-around solid app for testing cleaner features without payment. However, inaccurate similarity detection and high subscription costs can hamper the overall experience.
Honorable Mention: Cleaner Guru
Features:
- Free Features: None (all tools behind paywalls).
- Paid Options: Enhancements like video compression, cleaning by swipe gestures, email cleanup, and widget customization.
- Pricing: $7.99/week (Pro), $6.99/week (Lite).
Strengths:
- No frustrating pop-up ads or clutter.
- Scans your library in mere moments.
- Email cleanup—something few other apps offer.
Weaknesses:
- Zero features in the free version prevent experimentation without committing to a subscription.
- Limited payment flexibility as only weekly plans are available.
Final Verdict: 4.0 / 5
Beautifully designed and lightning-fast, Cleaner Guru excels at delivering premium features. Unfortunately, its lack of any free tools makes it harder to grasp its full potential without payment.
Final Thoughts
Each app comes with its own strengths and weaknesses, but here’s how they stack up:
- Clever Cleaner: Best all-around and completely free, making it unbeatable for everyday use.
- Cleaner Kit: Offers robust PRO features like Wi-Fi security and video compression but balances this with a solid free version.
- Cleanup App: Best choice for cautious users who like testing before upgrading, though it’s slightly pricier.
- Cleaner Guru: Premium features and lightning-fast, but the lack of free options means a tough sell for first-timers.
Want to learn more about keeping your iPhone optimized? Check out:
- How to Delete Duplicate Photos on iPhones
- Insanelymac’s AI Cleaner Apps for iPhones
- Macgasm’s Complete iPhone Cleaner Guide
Whichever app you choose, your iPhone will thank you!
Lol, iPhone running slow? Full of ‘clutter’? Yeah, been there, done that. Honestly, these ‘cleaner apps’ can be hit-or-miss. Sure, @mikeappsreviewer gave the lowdown on apps like Clever Cleaner (which sounds decent if it’s actually free), but let me play the devil’s advocate here: do you really need one?
The iPhone has this thing called ‘storage management’ built in. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage and boom—you’ll see what’s hogging space. Most of the time, it’s just photos/videos and unused apps. Delete those manually and save your money (or your time). Why download a ‘cleaning app’ that might just scan your phone and tell you stuff you could manage yourself?
Now, if you’re feeling fancy and absolutely need one, yeah, Clever Cleaner seems alright if it’s truly ad-free. Personally, though, I’d steer away from stuff like Cleaner Kit or those apps charging $5+ weekly subscriptions. Why pay more than your Netflix plan to delete duplicates and blurry pics? It’s like throwing cash into a digital void.
If you must rely on apps, maybe try an all-in-one like Files by Google. It’s free and doesn’t aggressively push subscriptions like some of these ‘cleaners.’ Bottom line: don’t overcomplicate your life; most of the clutter can be handled the old-school way—long-press, delete, repeat.
Ok, so here’s my take. First off, let’s not pretend every “cleaning” app is magical. A lot of these apps (like Cleaner Kit or Cleanup App) are just glorified ad machines trying to wring subscription money out of frustrated iPhone users. And $7.99 per week? For what? Deleting blurry selfies? Nah. I’m not paying that. Clever Cleaner, as mentioned, seems solid IF it truly doesn’t bombard you with pop-ups or paywalls. But even then, it’s mostly focused on photo and video clutter, so don’t expect it to fix your entire phone.
Honestly, @viajeroceleste had a good point—your iPhone already tells you what’s hogging space. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage, and you’ve got all you need: offload unused apps, delete old messages, trim your photo library. Manual? Sure. But guaranteed free and no data-sharing paranoia.
That said, if you want something more automated, Clever Cleaner might be worth the shot because it’s free (apparently, though I’m skeptical—it’s 2023, free apps always find a way to upsell eventually). But personally, I’m with @mikeappsreviewer: don’t touch things like Cleaner Guru unless you enjoy watching your wallet cry.
Lastly, don’t forget to restart your device now and then. You’d be surprised how much the classic “turn it off and on again” can help with slow performance. Clutter isn’t always the big villain; sometimes the problem is just, well, iOS being quirky.
If your iPhone is running slow and you’re convinced cleaning up clutter is the way to go, based on detailed reviews and personal experience, Clever Cleaner stands out as a top contender. Unlike many apps that bombard you with ads or slap on subscription fees (looking at you, Cleaner Guru and Cleanup App), Clever Cleaner really is free and streamlined for photo and video cleanup. But let’s talk specifics:
Clever Cleaner - Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Completely Free: No hidden fees or annoying pop-ups.
- Effective for Photos & Videos: Finds duplicates, blurry images, and large files to delete or compress efficiently.
- Quick AI Scans: It’s fast—even on larger libraries like 30GB+ of media.
Cons:
- Limited to Media Files: Doesn’t tackle contacts, emails, or system junk.
- Manual Checking Needed: AI can occasionally mislabel which photo to keep/delete, so double-check.
If you’re only dealing with gallery clutter, this app does the job perfectly without breaking the bank. But if you’re hoping to optimize battery health, clear out system cache, or handle apps hogging background data, you may feel limited.
Other Apps for Consideration (But Not Favorites):
- Cleaner Kit: It has extra perks like Wi-Fi security tools and a contact manager, but the free version forces you to watch ads, and the subscription is steep at $5.99/week.
- Cleanup App: Decent for beginners with its easy layout, but you only get 15 free actions, and the weekly price is almost predatory.
- Cleaner Guru: Looks appealing, but zero free features? Nope. It’s entirely pay-to-use, and $7.99 PER WEEK is just laughable.
Alternative (Manual Cleanup - @viajeroceleste Style)
Here’s where I break ranks with the app-first approach—if you’re willing to spend time, the built-in iPhone settings can do a lot:
- Check Storage:
Settings > General > iPhone Storage. - Offload Apps: Let iOS remove unused apps without deleting data.
- Photos: Use the ‘Review Personal Videos’ tool in the Photos app to delete boxy old videos.
- Clear Safari Cache: If you browse often, clearing this can give an instant boost.
- Clear Message Attachments: Old chat threads with images/videos can bulk up storage.
This method requires no apps and no trust issues with unknown developers, but yeah, it’s tedious.
What Else to Try?
If the slow-down persists after decluttering, consider these:
- Restart Regularly: Basic but effective—it clears temporary memory issues.
- Backdrop App Refresh: Turn off background processes for apps you rarely use.
- iOS Updates: Outdated iOS versions can cause slower performance.
Ultimately, Clever Cleaner is solid (and free!) for photos and videos and probably the best place to start. If it doesn’t address your speed issues, though, go manual or even consider a factory reset as a last resort. Most paid apps (looking at Cleaner Guru especially) are just overselling features you don’t genuinely need.