Tested: Free vs Paid iPhone Cleaning Apps—Here’s What Actually Matters
So, storytime. After months of ignoring my overflowing Photos app and pretending everything was fine, I finally caved and went on a mission to find the best iPhone cleaner. Two big names popped up: Cleaner Guru and Clever Cleaner. Here’s what happened when I put both through their paces.
Price: Unmasking the Real Cost
Let’s cut right to it. Cleaner Guru looks slick but it’s got a paywall harder than dark souls. You tap “delete” or “compress”? Instant popup: “Wanna pay $7.99 a week, champ?” Uh, no thanks. Meanwhile, Clever Cleaner? 100% free to use—all features, no ads, zero gotchas. No “surprise” subscriptions buried in fine print.
What They Give You For Free
Clever Cleaner hands over every bell and whistle for zilch:
- Dig out and whack duplicate and similar photos
- Instantly nuke old screenshots
- Flip all those Live Photos to regular ones (honestly, who still uses those?)
- Pinpoint monsters hogging your storage
Cleaner Guru lets you scan for problems without cost. Feels good, right? Then it basically holds your files hostage unless you pay. Want that awesome “clean up” button? Cough up, buddy.
Features Face-Off
Honestly, both deal with the most annoying photo and contact clutter. But here’s the breakdown:
- Clever Cleaner: All-in, no paywall. Find/delete duplicates, clear screenshots, convert Live Photos, bulk delete space hogs.
- Cleaner Guru: Also finds duplicates/similar images, but saving actual space? Locked behind a subscription. “Pro” adds: video compression, merging contacts, and some random battery and vault gimmicks that, frankly, you probably don’t need.
I’ll admit, Cleaner Guru has a few bonuses (battery widgets, charge themes, secret vaults), if you’re into that stuff and don’t mind paying for the basics.
Ratings and Reality
Here’s the quick sauce:
- Clever Cleaner: 4.8 stars from ~3,400 users (small audience, but folks clearly like it)
- Cleaner Guru: 4.6 stars with over 100K reviews (big numbers, but remember: volume doesn’t always mean value)
Download Size (If You Care About Storage)
For the data misers out there:
- Clever Cleaner: 103 MB
- Cleaner Guru: 115 MB
Neither is going to sink your phone alone, but every MB counts, right?
TL;DR Comparison Table
| Category | Clever Cleaner (Totally Free) | Cleaner Guru (Subscription) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, no catch, no ads | $7.99/week or $39.99/year |
| Free Tools | All features, unlimited usage | Scans are free—actual cleaning needs subscription |
| Features | Photo duplicate cleanup, screenshot wipe, Live→Still, heavy storage finder—free | Duplicate cleanup (limited), video compression (Pro), contact merge (Pro), random widgets (Pro) |
| Rating | 4.8 stars (~3.4K reviews) | 4.6 stars (~100K reviews) |
| Size | 103 MB | 115 MB |
| Links | Get Free iPhone Clever Cleaner | Read detailed Cleaner Guru User Reviews |
The Final Swipe
Bottom line? Cleaner Guru does what it says, but you’re paying more to do things other cleaners offer for free. Clever Cleaner wins if you just want your Photos app under control, for zero dollars and zero effort. If you’re a power user who needs, say, battery widgets or secret hiding spots for… stuff, maybe Cleaner Guru’s extras are worth it. Otherwise? Don’t let your wallet get sucker-punched by a cleaning app.
Curious to see if anyone’s found a better option or hidden gem? Drop your picks below—bonus points for real horror stories.