App Showcase: Cleaner Pro

What it does

Cleaner Pro is a mobile utility designed to help users free up storage space on their iPhones. The app scans the device to identify and categorize unnecessary files, including similar or duplicate photos, screenshots, large videos, old calendar events, and completed reminders. Users can then review these categorized items and delete them in batches to reclaim storage.

Where it shines

Cleaner Pro's strength lies in its comprehensive approach to cleaning. While many apps focus solely on photos, this app expands its utility to other data types that often clutter a device. The ability to clean out old calendar events (01:49) and completed reminders (02:06) is a thoughtful touch that addresses less obvious sources of digital clutter. Furthermore, the main dashboard provides a clear, at-a-glance view of storage usage (00:30), immediately orienting the user to the core problem the app solves.

UX highlights

• Clear Categorization: The main screen neatly divides cleaning tasks into 'Library' (Photos, Videos) and 'Events' (Calendar, Reminders), making it easy for users to target specific areas.
• Batch Selection: The app allows for easy multi-selection of items for deletion, such as tapping on multiple duplicate photos (00:49), which speeds up the cleaning process.
• Permission on Demand: The app requests permissions for photos, calendar, and reminders only when the user first enters that specific section, rather than asking for everything at the start.
• Educational Guides: A 'Guides' section (02:20) provides tutorials for manual, system-level optimizations, empowering users and building trust by teaching them about their device.
• Direct Feedback: After deleting items, the app provides clear confirmation, and the user can see the updated element count on the subsequent screen (e.g., 'Similar photos' count drops at 01:02).

Monetization & growth

Monetization is aggressive and front-loaded. The user is presented with a paywall (00:09) immediately after the initial app tracking prompt. The offer is a 3-day free trial that converts to a weekly subscription. The app relies on the standard Apple payment flow to handle the transaction. A confusing element appears after subscribing: a banner that says the trial has not been claimed (00:29), which, when tapped, leads back to the paywall. This appears to be a bug or a dark pattern that could frustrate new users.

Who it’s for

This app is for iPhone users who are running low on storage and feel overwhelmed by the process of manually cleaning their device. It's particularly useful for those who take many photos and screenshots and want a quick way to find and remove duplicates or unnecessary images. The additional tools for cleaning calendars and reminders appeal to users who want a more thorough, holistic cleanup of their digital life.

Notes & opportunities

A significant friction point is the confusing 'unclaimed trial' banner shown to subscribed users (00:29). Resolving this would improve trust. The cleaning process could be enhanced with a 'select all' or 'smart select' feature in each category to reduce the number of taps required for large cleanups. For example, in the 'Similar photos' view, the user has to tap each photo individually (00:49), which can be tedious for hundreds of images.