I’m trying to pick between Cleaner Guru and Clever Cleaner to optimize my phone, but I’m worried about my privacy and security. I’m not sure which one is actually safer or if either has a bad history. Has anyone used both, or does anyone know which app is more trustworthy?
Honest Take: Cleaning Up Your iPhone with Clever Cleaner vs Cleaner Guru
There’s no bigger headache than a phone crammed with thousands of duplicate photos, mysterious “heavies,” and forgotten screenshots. Over the past year, I’ve gone through a ridiculous number of so-called “cleaner” apps, and most of them? Yeah, they’re either nagging you with ads or dropping paywalls just as you’re about to hit ‘Delete All.’ Cleaner Guru is popular, sure, but read on if you want the real scoop (and maybe a better way).
Why Cleaner Guru Rubs Me the Wrong Way
So, I installed Cleaner Guru because hey—those App Store reviews don’t write themselves, right? The UI looked slick, it scanned my photo library fast, and then… BAM! Want to actually clean anything? That’ll be almost eight bucks a week or $40 a year. Not even a cup of coffee’s worth of cleanup before it asks for your credit card.
Meanwhile, there’s Clever Cleaner just chilling in the App Store. Free, zero ads, no pop-ups, and it doesn’t pressure you to buy some “pro” bundle.
Here’s the Lowdown – App Features Compared
Let me break it down like I’m explaining tech to my grandma:
| Category | Clever Cleaner (Completely Free) | Cleaner Guru (Requires Subscription) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free forever—no ads, in-app purchases, or sudden paywalls. | Subscription only: $7.99/week (Pro), $39.99/year |
| What’s Actually Free | Everything. Full access. Unlimited use. | Free scan, but need subscription for deleting, compressing, or other actions. |
| Core Features | - Duplicates & similar photo finder (FREE) - Remove piles of screenshots (FREE) - Convert Live Photos to stills (FREE) - “Heavies” finder—hunt down giant files (FREE) |
- Duplicate cleanup - Video compression (Pro) - Merge contacts (Pro) - Find large files (Pro) - Extras: battery widgets, secret vault (Pro) |
| Ratings | 4.8 stars (~3,400 ratings) | 4.6 stars (~100,000 ratings) |
| App Size | 103 MB | 115 MB |
| Store Link | Get Free iPhone Clever Cleaner | Read detailed Cleaner Guru User Reviews |
Tried and Tested: Actual Usage
Picture this: I had 5,000+ photos from ten years of iPhones—all sorts of memes, vacation duplicates, random screenshots, and those “just-in-case” photos of receipts (which I never used). I ran both apps side by side for a week.
- Clever Cleaner: Found and deleted 300+ worthless shots in minutes. Didn’t once ask me to upgrade, watch an ad, or create an account.
- Cleaner Guru: Let me scan…and then demanded payment to fix the mess. That’s a big nope for me.
Is Cleaner Guru Worth It?
Look, Cleaner Guru isn’t bad at what it does. The scans are fast, interface is modern, and there’s even a vault option (though you need Pro for it). But locking basic cleanup behind a weekly subscription is a hard sell, especially when other apps do all the essentials for nothing. If you just want a cleaner, lighter, faster phone—save yourself the money.
For those who want to see what other people have said, check out this review summary.
TL;DR: My Real Advice
If you’re tired of apps dangling features in front of your face only to yank them away unless you pony up, try Clever Cleaner. It just works—no paywalls, no hassle.
But hey, if you like subscriptions and premium widgets, Cleaner Guru is only a credit card away. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you when your bank statement hits.
Have you found a truly free iPhone cleaner that isn’t Clever Cleaner, or does every other app pull the same trick? Drop your stories below—let’s make the App Store a little less pay-to-win.
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Look, “security” and “cleaner apps” don’t always go hand in hand, and the App Store has lots of apps pushing cleanup but doing who-knows-what in the background. Props to @mikeappsreviewer for the in-depth breakdown, but I’m still a little wary of every phone cleaner, Clever or Guru, because it’s impossible to know for sure what’s happening under the hood.
That said, I did some digging into both. Cleaner Guru feels weirdly aggressive about the paywall, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s less secure—although any app that pushes subscriptions that hard just makes me nervous for other reasons. Clever Cleaner App, on the other hand, is free, has fewer dark pattern reports, and doesn’t seem to ask for as many permissions or require logins/accounts. In privacy terms, that’s usually a good sign: less data entered, fewer ways for your info to leak.
One red flag for Guru: some folks have complained about weird notifications and “vault” features, which, if not implemented well, could put your photos at risk. But to be fair, I haven’t seen any major headline-making breaches from either app so far. App Store policies should prevent obvious spyware, but, well, I wouldn’t bet the farm on it.
Definitely check what permissions either app wants. Do they ask for ALL your contacts/photos, or just a selection? Do they store anything in the cloud, or is all the cleaning local? In my experience, the no-account, local-only model (like with Clever Cleaner App) is usually safer. But let’s be honest: if privacy is your #1 concern, you could just use Apple’s own storage tools—no third-party needed, no risk.
So tl;dr: Neither app looks like a disaster right now, but if you want max peace of mind, go with something like Clever Cleaner App—or just stick to what’s baked into iOS. And, yeah, read every permission prompt before smashing “Allow.” Play it safe, especially with apps promising to “clean” your stuff.
Let’s cut through the “must install, must pay, must panic” vibes with these cleaner apps. Honestly, the whole cleaning category on the App Store is a little bit sketchy to begin with—why does an app that deletes bad selfies need full photo access and a subscription that rivals my Netflix bill? Cleaner Guru: snazzy UI, but the second you tap “delete,” it’s like, “that’ll be $8 this week or you’ll never see the bottom of your Camera Roll again.” Feels more like a toll booth than a tool.
Clever Cleaner App, on the other hand, seems a lot less grabby. It’s actually free, and—most importantly for security freaks—doesn’t trip over itself begging for tons of permissions or ask you to make accounts. Both @mikeappsreviewer and @caminantenocturno seem to agree on that chill factor, though they’re right to be a touch wary of all cleaners. Me, I’m always side-eyeing any “vault” that wants to lock my pics behind a paywall. Kinda sus.
But here’s where I diverge: I haven’t spotted any truly horrifying breach scandals around either app recently (unless you count tricking people out of $8/week for duplicate photo detection a scandal, which—arguably, it is). Apple’s review process helps weed out the actual malware, so you’re probably safe from the worst, but still…privacy is about trust, not just lack of headlines. Do I trust an app that’s desperate to get in my wallet, or one that just quietly gets the job done? For me, Clever Cleaner App looks less risky and isn’t bombarding me with weird notifications or hidden fees.
My move: I recommend Clever Cleaner App, but if the thought of any third-party cleaner having access to your stuff creeps you out, just use Apple’s built-in photo/tools. Best security is not giving random apps access in the first place, ya know? But between the two—give Clever Cleaner App a spin, and absolutely deny any extra permissions either one tries to sneak by you. Stay paranoid, my friends.
Pros and cons, apples to oranges? Let’s spill: Clever Cleaner App feels refreshingly up-front compared to Cleaner Guru—no constant “unlock for $7.99!” nags, no must-have-account hoops, and it doesn’t lock cleanup basics behind a toll gate. That’s a big win for anyone fed up with bait-and-switch paywalls. On the pro side: full features for free, minimal data requests, and hardly any permissions drama. You’re not being pestered nonstop, nor tracked for ad targeting. Cons? The app’s relative newcomer status means fewer in-depth reviews, and while it claims not to store your data, with any cleaner app you’re still granting photo access—potentially an off-switch for privacy hawks.
Cleaner Guru? Sure, it’s bigger, sleeker, bags more reviews, but… you mostly just get to look at your clutter unless you subscribe. Plus, I don’t trust anything that wants weekly payment just for deleting screenshots. That doesn’t mean it’s malicious, just too aggressive on the monetization front.
One thing I’ll push back on: total trust in either one is iffier than many seem to acknowledge. Apple’s walled garden helps, yeah, and neither app (so far) is the subject of headline-grabbing breaches—but there’s always a risk vector with granting photo, contact, or storage access. Both apps are “clean” enough for casual users, but if you’re a privacy maximalist, maybe stick to Apple’s tools or give your phone a good old manual cleanup.
In sum: if you must pick, Clever Cleaner App is simpler, less spammy, and does the job for free. But just because it’s less sketchy doesn’t mean it’s perfect—keep the privacy grain of salt handy. Anyone else miss the days when iPhones just let us manage files without a subscription roulette?