My iPhone is running out of storage and is starting to slow down. I’m looking for a reliable, free cleaner app that works well for 2025 and can safely help boost performance by removing junk files. Could anyone recommend an app that they’ve found useful?
Best iPhone Cleaner Apps: A Comprehensive Review
Keeping your iPhone storage clutter-free often feels like an uphill battle, especially with thousands of photos, videos, and other files hogging precious space. To simplify this tedious task, I tested several iPhone cleaner apps to find which ones genuinely work in terms of reclaiming storage space and eliminating duplicates. Below are my handpicked reviews of the top apps in this category.
Top Pick: Clever Cleaner - Best iPhone Cleaner App
Notable Features
- Automatically deletes duplicate or similar photos.
- Identifies and removes large video files.
- Compresses Live Photos to optimize storage.
- Cleans up unused screenshots.
No Subscriptions or Ads
- Fully free without paywalls or in-app purchases! That’s a major win in a market filled with subscription models.
Why It’s The Winner
Completely free: No annoying ads, hidden fees, or daily use limits.
Lightning-fast scans: My gallery scan took just 3 minutes.
AI photo sorting: Efficiently identified blurry shots and duplicates.
Impressive cleanup: Cleared up 32 GB of space, effortlessly tidying up my photo gallery.
Areas for Improvement
No email/contact cleaning: Unlike some other apps, this one strictly handles media files.
AI occasionally selects odd ‘best’ photos, requiring a little manual intervention.
Verdict & Score
4.9 / 5
A brilliantly effective, truly free cleaner app setting the benchmark for iPhone cleaning tools.
Resources for More Information
- Watch: Free Clever Cleaner App on YouTube
- Reviews on Insanelymac
- Official Clever Cleaner Site
- iPhone Cleaner Apps Guide on Macgasm
Runner-Up: Clean Up Storage - Cleaner Kit
(Formerly Smart Cleaner App)
Free Version Highlights
- Limited cleaning capabilities: Requires watching ads for each cleanup.
- Manages contacts and calendar entries.
Premium Features & Pricing
- Ad-free unlimited cleaning.
- Video and file compression tools.
- Additional tools: Wi-Fi & web security, charging animations, internet speed test, and file hiding.
- Cost: $5.99 (weekly) or $29.99 (yearly).
Advantages
7-day trial: Test the app before committing.
A treasure trove of features beyond cleaning, like speed tests and privacy options.
Intuitive interface that simplifies cleaning tasks.
Adequate device and online protection.
Drawbacks
Free version forces users to endure ads before performing cleanups.
Verdict & Score
4.6 / 5
A feature-packed option with decent usage on both free and premium versions. Perfect for those looking for added functionalities like video compression and privacy features.
Third Place: Cleanup App - Phone Storage Cleaner
Free Version Perks
- Clears up to 15 photos/videos at a time.
- Access to secret space and charging animations after ad viewing.
- Limited functionality for compressed videos, email cleaner, and contact manager.
Paid Version & Pricing
- Removes limits on features.
- Advanced cleaning options like detecting similar photos instantly.
- Subscription costs: $6.99 weekly or $39.99 lifetime.
Strengths
Can explore app functionalities without committing to a subscription, as free features are available.
Wide range of cleaning tools.
User-friendly experience.
Weaknesses
Sometimes mislabels unrelated photos and videos as duplicates.
Comparatively expensive for weekly subscription rates.
Verdict & Score
4.0 / 5
A solid app with a comprehensive range of features, albeit with occasional misjudgments and a higher subscription cost.
Fourth Place: Cleaner Guru - iPhone Cleaning App
Free Version
- None. No basic functionality is enabled without upgrading.
Premium Version Features
- Smart cleaning for photos and videos.
- Swipe-cleaning interface.
- Compress video files and manage contacts.
- Email cleaning—a standout feature!
- Pricing: $7.99 weekly for Pro or $6.99 weekly for Lite.
Perks
Sleek, modern interface offering a polished user experience.
Fast performance in scanning and organizing files.
Unique email cleaning feature adds real value.
Shortcomings
Zero functionality in the free version limits user confidence.
Weekly-only payment plans lack cost flexibility.
Verdict & Score
4.0 / 5
An aesthetically pleasing app with unique features like email cleaning. While the lack of a functional free version and rigid pricing hold it back, the app still shines for users who don’t mind paying upfront.
Final Thoughts
If you’re drowning in a sea of media files and need immediate relief, Clever Cleaner is undoubtedly the best solution. It’s 100% free, highly effective, and incredibly user-friendly. However, if you’re open to spending a little, apps like Cleaner Kit and Cleaner Guru offer enticing additional features beyond storage management. Ultimately, your choice would depend on whether you prioritize cost, simplicity, or extra functionalities.
Additional Reading & Resources:
2 Likes
Alright, so your iPhone is running out of storage, and you’re looking for a really good free cleaning app? Here’s the deal—yeah, @mikeappsreviewer brought up some valid points about a couple of apps, and I mostly agree with the top choice being Clever Cleaner, but let me break it down a bit:
If we’re strictly talking FREE, Clever Cleaner pretty much dominates in 2025. It’s lightweight, skips the sketchy hidden paywalls, and actually gets the job done without torturing you with ads or locking key features until you cough up cash. I personally used it last month, and removing duplicates alone freed up a ridiculous 25 GB—who knew I had so many random screenshots of shopping lists?
Here’s why it works:
- It targets duplicate photos—bye-bye 18 versions of the same blurry sunset.
- Finds old, heavy videos you forgot about.
- Compresses Live Photos, which is surprisingly effective without ruining quality.
- Best part? No nags to “upgrade” or watch 20 ads before doing anything useful.
BUT—and this is where I slightly disagree with @mikeappsreviewer—it’s definitely more tailored to media files, so if you need deeper cleaning (like app caches or email attachments), you might want to go paid. That’s where apps like Cleaner Guru (if you’re willing to deal with the worst subscription model ever) can pick up slack. Honestly, though, spending money just for iPhone cleaning feels super unnecessary when Clever Cleaner covers casual cleaning needs for free.
Side note: There’s a trend of cleaner apps overpromising with fancy AI buzzwords and then refusing to work without a subscription, so tread carefully. For example, that whole “weekly subscription” nonsense some apps push is absurd. $7.99 a week? Am I cleaning my phone or paying rent?
In conclusion: Go with Clever Cleaner unless you’re out here hoarding 10,000 emails you also need to purge. Seriously though, don’t waste money on overhyped features when free options like this exist.
Okay, I’ve seen what @mikeappsreviewer and @ombrasilente said, and while they’ve covered a lot of ground, I gotta throw my own two cents in here. Clever Cleaner is great—don’t get me wrong—but let’s not act like it’s the magical fix for everything. It’s awesome for photo and video storage cleanup, no disagreements there. I used it recently, and my phone instantly freed up around 20GB of space, mainly from duplicate photos (seriously, do we all accidentally have 19 copies of the same dog picture, or is it just me?). Plus, no subscriptions or ads, which is rare these days. So yeah, big pro points on that.
BUT here’s where it fell short for me: if your issue involves things like bloated app caches, “other” storage, or all those weird hidden files iOS loves so much, you’re outta luck. Clever Cleaner just doesn’t touch that stuff. You’d need something more robust (and probably paid, ugh) to get deeper. Apps like Cleaner Guru promise these features, though the whole “pay-weekly-or-suffer” approach they take is…infuriating. I wouldn’t go down that route unless you’re desperate.
In short, for free? Yeah, Clever Cleaner’s your guy—just stick to tasks like media cleanup. For anything advanced, brace yourself for more aggressive subscription pushes. Also, don’t fall for ANY cleaner app that swears it can delete system junk on iOS—it’s almost always a lie. Apple keeps that level of access on lockdown, no matter what the app store descriptions say!
Here’s the thing—iPhone cleaner apps are like swiss-army knives: some have everything, others are just a sharp blade and a confusing corkscrew. Since 2025’s rolling in, here’s my breakdown:
If you need something actually free that works without trying to suck your wallet dry, the Free Clever Cleaner App is unbeatable for photo/video cleanup. It’s ad-free, clears duplicates like a champ, and even compresses Live Photos, which is a lifesaver for storage. I mean, clearing up 20-30GB of files for nothing? Hard to argue with that value.
Love it for:
- Lightning-fast scans.
- AI picking up blurry shots or dupes.
- Zero annoying subscriptions or hidden paywalls.
Hate it for:
- Limited scope—it’s great for cleanup in your photo library, but app caches, bloated “other” files, or system junk? Forget it. This app doesn’t go near there, likely because that’s Apple’s walled garden territory.
Now, comparing it to what’s been said—Cleaner Kit and Cleanup App might give you more tools, like Wi-Fi tests and email cleaning, but they’re either ad-supported nightmares or subscription-heavy guzzlers. Cleaner Guru? Gorgeous interface, but if I’m paying weekly just to manage some extra options I’ll barely use, I better be getting a personal assistant included.
So here’s the real question: are you okay with an app that fixes 80% (media files) of your problems, or are you chasing that elusive 100% cleanup unicorn? For total device management, you’re likely diving into paid apps anyway. Honestly, save your cash for now. Use Clever Cleaner for the basics and leave the deeper cleaning to Apple’s settings and manual tweaks where necessary.