I need help finding the best free app to clean up my iPhone storage. It’s running out of space, and I’m overwhelmed by all the app options. I’m looking for something free, reliable, and easy to use. Any recommendations?
Exploring iPhone Cleaner Apps: Which Ones Are Truly Worth Your Time?
After testing a variety of iPhone cleaning apps for performance, features, and usability, I’ve narrowed down the ones that actually deliver on their promises. This guide is designed to help you understand the highlights, limitations, and overall value of each app. Here’s what I discovered.
Top Choice: Clever Cleaner
Check out Clever Cleaner - Best iPhone Cleaner App
Features:
- Removes similar and duplicate photos
- Identifies and deletes large videos
- Compresses Live Photos to save space
- Cleans up unused screenshots
Is There a Paid Version?
This app is entirely free—no ads, no premium tiers, no hidden fees.
Advantages:
Truly Free: Unlike many apps that lock useful features behind paywalls or bombard you with ads, Clever Cleaner is completely free with no usage limits.
Efficient Scanning: Cleared my photo gallery of redundancies in just 3 minutes.
Great AI Sorting: The AI successfully flagged duplicate and blurry images for deletion.
Massive Space Gain: Freed up a solid 32GB of storage, improving organization without much effort.
Areas for Improvement:
No Email or Contact Cleaning: Some competing apps offer this functionality.
AI Quirks: At times, it selected unexpected photos as the ‘best’ ones, which required manual review.
Final Opinion: 
4.9/5
Clever Cleaner’s robust free offering makes it undeniably the top iPhone cleaner app. Its ease of use and impressive storage optimization capacity make it indispensable for iPhone users.
Learn more:
- Free Clever Cleaner App video on YouTube
- Clever Cleaner app official page
- How to delete duplicate photos on iPhone (Reddit)
Runner-Up: Cleaner Kit (Formerly Smart Cleaner)
Free Version:
- Limited photo and file cleanup that requires watching ads
- Contact and calendar organization
Paid Version Features (Starting at $5.99 per week):
- Unlimited storage cleanup and video compression
- Security features (web and Wi-Fi protection)
- Charging animations and device widgets
- Internet speed tests
- Ad-free use
What Makes It Stand Out:
Trial Opportunity: A 7-day free trial allows users to explore premium features without commitment.
Multifunctionality: As well as cleaning, the app offers security enhancements and media management tools.
User-Friendly Layout: Organizing files is seamless due to its intuitive design.
Protective Features: Includes Wi-Fi, web, and device security tools.
Limitations:
Ad Dependency: Ads are minimal but unavoidable in the free version.
Pricey Subscription: Subscription can feel steep compared to alternatives.
Final Opinion: 4.6/5
Cleaner Kit caters to users looking for extra functionality beyond just cleaning. While ads aren’t too intrusive, spending upfront for the feature-rich premium version may feel worthwhile.
Third Place: Cleanup App – Phone Storage Cleaner
Free Version Details:
- Cleanup limit of 15 photos/videos
- Access to features like secret storage and contact manager after watching ads
Paid Version (From $6.99 per week):
- Unlimited usage without ads
- Advanced cleaning of similar photos
- Secret storage and email cleaner
Benefits:
Feature Accessibility: Unlike other apps, most features are available in the free version to let you assess capabilities beforehand.
Wide Range of Functions: Cleaning, storage protection, and more—all conveniently implemented.
New User-Friendly Interface: Simple, sleek, and effective navigation.
Challenges:
Inconsistent Accuracy: Some images labeled as duplicates were, in fact, distinctly different.
Higher Costs: The weekly subscription plan price is higher compared to others.
Final Opinion: 4.0/5
A solid option with excellent accessibility for free users, though some flaws in labeling and pricing hold it back slightly.
Honorable Mention: Cleaner Guru
Free Version:
None. No gratis features are available for testing.
Paid Version Features (Starting at $6.99 per week):
- Smart photo/video cleaning
- Swipe-to-clean functionality
- Contact and email cleaning
- Hidden storage and widget tools
Pros:
No Ads: A cleaner, distraction-free user experience.
Stylish Interface: Modern, appealing design paired with rapid scans.
Email Cleaner: A unique feature rarely found in competing apps.
Cons:
No Trial Features: Free users don’t get to test its offerings before signing up.
Rigid Pricing: Only offers weekly payment plans, which might not suit everyone.
Final Opinion: 4.0/5
Cleaner Guru caters to users ready to commit to a premium plan. While the interface and functionality are outstanding, its pricing model and lack of free testing make it less approachable.
Conclusion
Each app on this list caters to different needs and budgets. If you’re looking for a completely free tool with zero compromises, Clever Cleaner is the clear frontrunner. For those willing to pay for additional features like security or email cleaning, Cleaner Kit and Cleaner Guru are worthy contenders. When choosing the right app, consider your priorities—whether it’s cost, functionality, or ease of use—and pick the one that aligns best with your goals.
Don’t forget to explore more resources for insights:
2 Likes
Honestly, I think the Clever Cleaner App is probably your best option for cleaning up your iPhone storage without spending a dime. It’s straightforward, actually free (no sneaky ads or paid tiers), and does its job well. Duplicate photos, random screenshots, or huge video files clogging up your phone? Gone in minutes. The AI it uses to group similar photos isn’t perfect—sometimes it might misjudge what to keep or delete, but it’s easy enough to double-check.
I saw @mikeappsreviewer broke down a lot of options and gave Clever Cleaner the top spot, which I completely agree with, but I honestly think its biggest appeal is how much it doesn’t annoy you compared to competitors. Apps like Cleaner Kit or Cleanup App might look fancy, but they either limit features or bombard you with ads unless you fork over cash. And $6.99 a week? Really? At that point, I might as well buy a new phone for extra storage.
Clever Cleaner’s only downside is that it doesn’t touch your contacts or email cleanup if that’s your thing, but eh, for most people, clearing up photos and videos is really all you need. It freed up over 20GB for me in no time, so unless you want to pay for bells and whistles you probably don’t need, this one’s a total win.
Clever Cleaner seems to be the gold standard for free iPhone cleaning, and honestly, I’d back that up. No ads, zero paywalls, plus it clears out duplicates and big files like a pro. But real talk—does ANY iPhone cleaner app actually do everything? Nah, they all miss something. Clever Cleaner nails photos and videos, but if you’re hoping for that magical all-in-one solution that also organizes contacts and emails, you’re outta luck here.
As for @mikeappsreviewer and @mike34 hyping other apps like Cleaner Kit or Cleanup App—I get it. They’ve got some extras like secret storage or internet speed tests, but let’s be real: either you deal with annoying ads or pay weekly fees that could buy you coffee for a month. Clever Cleaner keeps it simple: no gimmicks, just cleaning. If your main pain point is pictures and videos eating up space, it’s the way to go.
The only thing I’d say watch out for is checking what their AI flags before deleting. It’s not perfect, and you don’t wanna lose good memories because your phone thinks a blurry sunset is “redundant.” Still, this is the best bet if you’re trying to dodge subscriptions or paywalls.
Alright, here’s the deal—if you’re overwhelmed by the myriad of apps claiming to “clean” your iPhone, just cut through the noise. Let’s break it down without the fluff.
Best Free App: Free Clever Cleaner App
Why? It’s free. Legitimately no paywalls, subscriptions, or ads waving for attention in your face. It’s got some solid features:
Pros:
- Identifies and deletes duplicate/blurry photos.
- Compresses Live Photos (huge space saver).
- Clears unused screenshots and large videos.
- Lightning-fast scans, super user-friendly setup.
- Saved me around 30GB—yea, that’s massive.
Cons:
- AI can occasionally screw up (it thought my dog’s blurry pic wasn’t worth keeping—AI, seriously?).
- Doesn’t touch contacts/emails—Cleaner Kit (@mike34 favorite) shines there, but it’s not free.
If all you care about is getting rid of photo and video clutter, this app nails it. Just double-check its recommendations before smashing the “delete” button—better safe than sorry.
Why not Cleaner Kit?
Cleaner Kit isn’t terrible, but the free version? Meh. You’ll watch ads just to delete your junk. Ok, cool—ads feed app developers, but it gets old quickly. If Wi-Fi security and widgets matter to you, then splurge—and by “splurge,” I mean those fees… yikes. Same goes for Cleanup App (yes, @mikeappsreviewer, I see you hyping it), which gets pricey for what it offers.
My Pro Tip:
Stick with Clever Cleaner for photos/videos, then manually clear app caches from your iPhone settings for apps like Spotify or TikTok since no “cleaner app” tackles that. If you’re bold, enable Optimize iPhone Storage for your iCloud to further save space.
TL;DR: Free Clever Cleaner App wins for simplicity and zero-dollar operation. Don’t over-complicate; leave the extras (like secret storage or internet speed tests) for pay-to-play apps. Keeping it simple equals more space and less stress—what we care about most, right?