Managing iPhone storage can be a daunting task depending on how long you’ve been in Apple’s ecosystem. If you’ve been through a couple of devices already, it’s pretty likely that you have hundreds if not thousands of excess photos and videos. Even if it’s your first iPhone, hi-res photos can still eat up space – especially when you’re trying to get the perfect shot.
No matter how frequently you take photos, they’re going to build up over time, and quickly. That’s why I want to take a look at the five best apps for deleting duplicate photos on your iPhone.Â
1. Cleaver Cleaner by CleverFiles
Built specifically for iPhone users to help them target and remove duplicate or similar photos, Clever Cleaner by CleverFiles focuses on comprehensive gallery cleanup with a heavy emphasis on removing duplicates and photos that are visually similar. Repeated shots, nearly identical images, and old screenshots are easy to remove with Clever Cleaner. Best of all, it’s free without ads or in-app purchases.
As a free iPhone cleaning app, Clever Cleaner scans your Photos library and bundles identifiable photos for you to review. Easy to use, designed for accessibility, and incredibly straightforward, users can rely on Clever Cleaner with its features like Smart Cleanup, which removes similar photos from an iPhone gallery and keeps only the ones the app believes are the best shots from a group. You can also review them yourself, allowing you to keep only what you like while discarding the rest.
For those looking into iPhone cleaner apps that actually work for free, Clever Cleaner takes an approach that makes it easy to remove duplicate photos. There’s even options that can help compress overly large videos and other media — something iOS can’t do natively — and Swipe Mode can be a fun way to eliminate duplicates. With a clean layout and a focus on functionality and privacy, Clever Cleaner gives users the ability to recover their iPhone storage space in just a few taps.
2. CleanerGuru: Free Up Storage
One of the cooler aspects of Cleaner Guru: Free Up Storage is that along with duplicate photo detection, CleanGuru also has a focus on contact management – it offers the ability to scan for duplicate contacts as well as contacts with missing or outdated information. It offers a comprehensive approach to storage maintenance on an iPhone, and the app is even capable of compressing videos and searching for larger files.Â
Along with the ability to reclaim your iPhone space, there’s even the ability to create secret folders for your more private photos and videos. The folder is only accessible to you, and it can be password-protected. There’s also options for personalizing your device, such as adding animations to your charging screen
Comprehensive as this approach may be, many of the services that it offers are paywalled behind a subscription. There are options for managing subscriptions, including the option for auto-renew, and there’s also a free trial if you want to check it out through the Apple App Store. While this one can have a modern look that feels polished, it may focus a bit too heavily on subscriptions for someone that’s looking for a truly free app. Â
3. Boost Cleaner – Clean Up Smart
Sitting at the number three spot is Boost Cleaner – Clean Up Smart, which provides a variety of tools for iPhone storage management, including the ability to filter and search for images either by data or location for a more refined experience. Along with being able to delete duplicate photos, Boost Cleaner also targets unnecessary selfies along with animated GIFs and live photos.Â
This one also includes contact management options, such as deleting duplicate contacts or removing multiples in one simple process. Boost Cleaner is also able to backup and restore contacts should you need it, and there’s also options for merging contacts. The app itself is easy to navigate, and has a polished look that makes finding the right tools rather easy.Â
While this one is free and holds a solid 4.5-star rating in the Apple App Store, this one also focuses on a subscription. If you want all the features and everything Boost Cleaner offers, you’ll need a weekly subscription. However, it does also offer a free trial period so you can check it out before investing. The tools may do the job and the presentation is slick, but some may be turned off by the weekly subscription for access to every feature.
4. CleanMyPhone: Cleanup Storage
Developed by MacPaw (who folks may know as the creators of CleanMyMac), CleanMyPhone: Cleanup Storage holds a 4.6-star rating in the Apple App Store. This app is powered by artificial intelligence for cleaning out your duplicate photos, offering a photo management service that can help eliminate the clutter on your iPhone. Regardless of how you may feel about AI these days, CleanMyPhone offers a good number of solutions for freeing up space on your device.
One way in which AI helps is through grouping photos into several different categories, such as Pets and Food. Like other apps, you’re able to choose which photos you want to keep or remove, and there’s options for video compression as well as turning live photos into still images to really get the most from your space. MacPaw even included the ability to run network speed tests, which is great for checking how fast your internet is running. Â
Like other apps, this one also comes with a free trial and subscription options, though you’ll pay yearly for this one. The free trial is good for three days before you’re charged, and there are options for managing or canceling your subscription. CleanMyPhone has the tools, but some users may want more customization options.
5. Remo Duplicate Photos Remover
Promising an interface that’s friendly and simple for users, Remo Duplicate Photos Remover also aims for accurate and powerful scanning through its algorithms. This one also includes iPad compatibility, which is another Apple device where users can frequently worry about storage. You can find this one in through the Apple App Store.
What may help this app stand out is the fact that it takes a rather focused approach to storage management. Targeting photos that look exactly the same or rather similar, users can easily mark their duplicates within an image group while automatically saving the ones they think are worth keeping. One cool aspect about the app is that it also takes one it deems best from a selection of photos and preserves it for safe keeping.Â
With drag and drop options, folks may find this one rather easy to use. This one is also available without a subscription, though users may find themselves wanting an app that offers more features. For those that are looking for something rather straight forward, Remo is certainly worth checking out, but don’t be surprised if you find yourself longing for something more.
Conclusion – Choosing the App That’s Right for You
With a nearly endless amount of apps available in the Apple App Store, finding the right cleaning tool — or any app, for that matter — can be a real challenge. While there’s a wide variety of cleaning apps available, only a few are going to offer a tool that functions well and is available for free. For us Clever Cleaner is the best app available currently for deleting duplicate folders and other junk media on an iPhone.
Even after reviewing the list, there’s a reason Clever Cleaner by CleverFiles ranks at the top, as few can offer the same amount of features and functionality while providing a free experience without ads. In terms of storage, an iPhone is still capable of filling up incredibly quickly — especially if you like to take a lot of photos. Fortunately, there are tools available that can help you reclaim your space.
