Need to clean your iPhone storage but don’t want to spend hours manually sorting through files? Looking for an app that can do it all for you? AI continues to automate everyday tasks, and iPhone cleaner apps are no exception. Many of these tools now use artificial intelligence to detect waste, remove duplicate photos, and free up space in seconds. If you don’t want to spend too much time on AI cleaner app reviews, we’ve gathered the 5 best AI iPhone cleaner apps that, in our opinion, stand out in 2025.
1. Clever Cleaner for iPhone: Free AI Cleaner App
If you’re searching for the best iPhone cleaning app free of hidden fees and paywalls, Clever Cleaner is probably it. The app promises to help you free up storage using AI-powered tools – without ads, subscriptions, or in-app purchases. With so many iPhone cleaner apps charging for even basic features, Clever Cleaner takes a different approach. Developed by CleverFiles, it’s a relatively new app, but in our opinion, it’s already a top contender in the AI cleanup market.
Main Features:
- AI-powered duplicate and similar photo cleanup – Unlike Apple’s built-in Photos app and many other non-AI cleaners, which only find exact duplicates, the “Similars” feature detects near-identical images captured in burst mode or from slightly different angles.
- Screenshots cleanup – It automatically locates screenshots and groups them for bulk deletion.
- Large file finder (“Heavies”) – The app sorts videos and other large files by size, so it’s easy to identify what’s eating up your storage.
- Live Photo compression – If you have a ton of Live Photos, Clever Cleaner can convert them into still images and save a significant amount of storage without losing any photos.
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Why It’s Great:
- Unlike most cleaner apps that lock features behind a paywall, Clever Cleaner provides full access to all tools at no cost.
- In our tests, the app correctly grouped 94% of duplicate and similar photos, also the “Best Shot” selection is usually quite good.
- Scans finish in seconds, and results are clearly displayed. There’s no guesswork about what’s getting deleted or how much storage you’re reclaiming.
- Many “free” cleaner apps bombard users with ads – Clever Cleaner doesn’t show a single one.
- The app lets you preview everything before deletion, so you stay in control of your files.
- As stated on Clever Cleaner’s official website, “Early users will never be asked to pay for upgrades or new features,” so it appears that more tools could be added, and they should remain free for users who already have the app installed.
What Are the Downsides:
- Doesn’t offer tools for merging duplicate contacts or clearing old calendar events.
2. Phone Cleaner・AI Clean Storage
Phone Cleaner・AI Clean Storage is one of the most popular iPhone cleaner apps on the App Store, with over 105,000 ratings and a 4.6-star score. Developed by Smart Tool Studio, it is a capable AI-powered cleaner app that helps users free up space with minimal effort.
Main features:
- Duplicate and similar photo detection – Scans the gallery to find and remove duplicate and near-identical images.
- Similar video finder – Identifies nearly identical videos so you can delete redundant clips.
- Contact manager – Merges duplicate contacts and removes empty or incomplete entries.
- Video compression – Reduces file sizes while maintaining quality.
- Private photo gallery – A secure space to store personal media.
- Battery charging animation – Adds custom charging effects for a more visually engaging experience.
Why it’s great:
- Modern, well-designed interface. The app looks clean and polished, with smooth navigation and an intuitive layout.
- With over 100,000 reviews and a 4.6-star rating, it’s clear that many users find it helpful.
- It has automatic cleanup. The app takes care of the process for you.
- Photo grouping by category – Separates duplicates, similar images, screenshots, and other clutter for easier review.
- Contact management and private photo storage add versatility.
What are the downsides:
- Photo detection accuracy is inconsistent, some unrelated images may be grouped together.
- The AI often picks lower-quality shots instead of the best version.
- The app blends ads into the interface, making them easy to tap accidentally. The free version also requires watching ads to delete files.
- The app is heavily restricted in free mode, pushing users toward a subscription that starts at $3.99 per week or $29.99 per year – a steep price for what it offers.
3. AI Cleaner: Clean Up Storage
AI Cleaner: Clean Up Storage is an iPhone cleaning app developed by GRIMLAX TRADE, S.L., boasting a 4.6-star rating from over 72,900 users on the App Store. It uses AI-powered algorithms to detect and remove duplicate photos, merge contacts, and clean calendar events. With a high rating and a #13 ranking in the Utilities category, it’s a very popular choice.
Main features:
- AI smart cleaner – Scans your device for unnecessary files and recommends cleanup options.
- Duplicate and similar photo cleanup – Finds and removes duplicate and near-identical images.
- Duplicate video cleaner – Identifies and deletes redundant video clips.
- Contact cleanup – Merges duplicate contacts and removes incomplete entries.
- Event remover – Detects and removes old calendar events.
- Secret storage – A private vault for storing photos, videos, and contacts with password protection.
- Photo and video compression – Shrinks file sizes while preserving quality to free up space.
Why it’s great:
- Covers a broader range of cleaning tasks than most competitors.
- Allows users to switch between light and dark themes, a nice touch for usability.
- Photo grouping layout is well-designed. Makes it easy to see all detected groups at a glance.
- Automatic cleanup available. The app can delete duplicate photos and videos with a single tap.
- Duplicate video detection – many iPhone cleaners focus only on images, so this is a welcome addition.
What are the downsides:
- The app may misgroup similar photos, which makes automatic cleanup risky.
- The app sometimes crashes.
- The free version is extremely limited – the app caps how many files you can delete per day.
- Subscription pricing is on the higher side at $9.99 per week or $39.99 per year, it’s not the cheapest cleaner on the market.
4. CleanMy®Phone: Storage Cleaner
CleanMy®Phone: Storage Cleaner, developed by MacPaw, holds a 4.6-star rating with over 20,900 reviews on the App Store. While this AI cleaner app doesn’t have the largest number of ratings compared to some competitors, it’s still a respectable number – especially considering that this AI-powered cleaner is relatively new.
By the way, MacPaw previously had an app called Gemini Photos, but its App Store page now redirects to CleanMy®Phone. So, it’s likely that some of the previous app carries over.
Main features:
- Duplicate and similar photo finder – Detects identical and similar images and allows users to remove extras while keeping the best shot.
- Blurred image and screenshot cleanup – Identifies and removes blurry photos and unnecessary screenshots.
- AI-powered photo organization – Groups images into categories like location, time, or event for easier management.
- Sensitive file protection – Lets users label specific photos as sensitive to prevent accidental deletion.
- Internet speed test – Measures Wi-Fi and mobile data speeds.
Why it’s great:
- One of the best-designed AI storage cleaners you can find. The interface feels polished, modern, well-optimized.
- Large icons, clear labels, and smooth transitions make it easy to use.
- Displays photo metadata and thumbnails, which really helps you review the files before deletion.
- Users can drag thumbnails to switch previews, similar to Apple Photos.
What are the downsides:
- The app doesn’t display a total cleanup estimate, which forces you to check different sections manually.
- Some similar photo groups contain different people or poses.
- While one-tap cleaning is available, not all clutter can be removed automatically.
- Lacks video compression, Live Photo conversion, or contact cleanup.
- Internet speed test feels unnecessary and doesn’t contribute to storage optimization.
5. Mighty Cleaner: AI Clean Up
Mighty Cleaner: AI Clean Up is an AI-powered iPhone cleaner that automates storage cleanup with smart duplicate detection, large file compression, and private storage for sensitive media. Unlike some competitors, it also includes real-time storage monitoring widgets and a unique swipe-to-organize feature for sorting photos.
With a 4.6-star rating from over 2,100 reviews, it has received positive feedback for its intuitive interface and AI-powered cleaning features.
Main features:
- Smart cleaning for duplicates and junk files – Uses AI to detect and remove duplicate photos, unnecessary screenshots, and redundant files.
- Video and screenshot cleanup – Identifies similar videos and unwanted Live Photos.
- Large file compression and sorting – Finds large media files, allows compression, and provides sorting options by size and date.
- Secret space for private media – A built-in privacy vault to store and encrypt sensitive photos and videos.
- Home screen widgets – Real-time storage and battery monitoring for easy tracking.
- Swipe-to-organize photos – A Tinder-style swipe feature for sorting through the photo library.
Why it’s great:
- AI-powered detection works well for cleaning up photos and screenshots.
- Useful compression tool.
- The app is well-designed with a smooth, easy-to-use interface.
- Real-time storage and battery widgets help users monitor their device at a glance.
- Private storage for sensitive photos and videos.
What are the downsides:
- Some users report that multiple scans are needed for thorough cleanup.
- Video compression is very slow for large files.
- Requires a paid plan for full functionality, though a three-day free trial is available.
- Swipe-to-organize, while unique, doesn’t add much value compared to traditional photo sorting.
Are Cleanup Apps Safe?
If the question “Is this cleanup app safe?” prevents you from downloading one, you’re not alone, it’s natural to be cautious – especially when some request access to photos, contacts, or private files.
Generally, reputable iPhone cleaner apps from trusted developers are safe to use. Apps like Clever Cleaner and others on this list follow Apple’s strict App Store guidelines on user privacy and data security. However, some lesser-known apps may overpromise results, push aggressive ads, or require unnecessary permissions.
To stay safe, always check App Store reviews, developer credibility, and privacy policies. Usually, most developers state on the app’s official page that it processes data locally on your device, so your files aren’t uploaded to any external servers.
What Is the Best iPhone Cleaner App You Can Try for Free?
If you’re looking for the best iPhone cleaner app free of hidden paywalls, Clever Cleaner is the best one we have found. Unlike most other cleaner apps that push subscriptions – usually around $4 to $6 per month – Clever Cleaner provides full functionality at no cost and doesn’t even show ads.
Most other apps, like Phone Cleaner・AI Clean Storage and AI Cleaner: Clean Up Storage, offer free versions but with limitations. Typically, you can only clean a small number of files per day or must watch ads to unlock additional cleaning actions. If you just need a basic cleanup occasionally, these apps work great – but for unlimited access without interruptions, Clever Cleaner is the best free option.
About Author
Roman Demian
https://www.linkedin.com/in/roman-demian/
Roman Demian is a writer and content creator with a focus on technology and software. He crafts clear, engaging articles, reviews, and guides, making complex topics easy to understand.
