What it does
AI Cleaner is a comprehensive utility designed to free up storage and optimize an iPhone's performance. Its primary functions include detecting and deleting similar or duplicate photos, videos, and contacts. Beyond simple cleaning, the app offers media compression to reduce file sizes, a 'Secret Space' to act as a PIN-protected vault for private files, and a series of guided 'Challenges' to help users improve their phone's battery life and overall health through system settings.
Where it shines
AI Cleaner excels by bundling multiple utility functions into a single, cohesive experience. The 'Smart Clean Now' feature (01:00) provides a one-tap solution that gives users an immediate sense of progress. The app's true strength, however, lies in its educational 'Challenges' section (02:53). Instead of just listing features, it guides users through system-level optimizations with clear, illustrated tutorials, like the one for managing battery usage (02:57). This positions the app not just as a tool, but as a helpful guide for maintaining device health.
UX highlights
- Quantified Benefits: The onboarding (00:04) uses animated graphs and large percentages to make the app's value immediately clear and compelling.
- Categorized Cleaning: The main dashboard (00:55) neatly organizes cleaning tasks by file type (Photos, Videos) and then sub-categories (Similar, Duplicate, Blurry), making the process easy to navigate.
- Granular Control: While 'Smart Clean' is available, users can also manually review and select files, such as choosing which similar photos to delete (02:11), offering both convenience and control.
- Multi-Functional Tabs: The main screen uses simple 'Photos' and 'Videos' tabs (02:45) to switch context, keeping the interface uncluttered despite the number of features.
- Integrated Tutorials: The app embeds step-by-step visual guides (03:30) for tasks it can't automate, like managing the 'Recently Deleted' album, which builds trust and empowers the user.
Monetization & growth
The app uses a hard paywall strategy. After a brief, benefit-focused onboarding carousel, the user is immediately presented with a subscription screen (00:27) that gates all functionality. The offer is a single weekly plan with a 3-day free trial, simplified with a 'Free trial enabled' toggle. After cleaning, the app prompts for an App Store rating (02:02), a common tactic to boost visibility. The settings menu also includes options to 'Change Plan' (07:51) and 'Cancel Subscription' (07:57), providing clear subscription management paths.
Who it’s for
This app is for iPhone users who feel overwhelmed by managing their device's storage and performance. It targets individuals who want a simple, all-in-one solution to clean up clutter without having to manually sift through thousands of files. The educational 'Challenges' also appeal to users who want to learn how to better maintain their phone but don't know where to start. The 'Secret Space' feature extends its appeal to privacy-conscious users looking for a simple way to secure sensitive media.
Notes & opportunities
The app is feature-rich, but the initial 'Smart Clean Now' scan (00:55) shows 'Analyzing...' in empty states, which could be an opportunity to display tips or reinforce value while the user waits. The multiple permission requests back-to-back (00:53 - 01:12) after subscribing create a moment of high friction; spacing these out or providing more context could smooth out the setup experience. Finally, the contact management section has separate entries for merging duplicates and deleting all contacts (06:42), which could potentially be combined for a more streamlined workflow.