What it does
AI Photo Cleaner is a utility designed to help users free up storage space on their phones. The app uses AI to identify and remove unnecessary files, including similar photos, duplicate videos, old screenshots, and incomplete contacts. It offers both guided, daily cleanup plans and manual tools for more specific tasks.
Where it shines
The app excels at making the potentially tedious task of phone cleanup feel manageable and even rewarding. The "Daily Cleanup Plan" (01:11) is a great example. It breaks the process into a simple, three-step checklist, guiding the user through cleaning photos, videos, and screenshots. This structured approach, complete with satisfying checkmarks and success screens (01:28), transforms a chore into a quick, productive daily habit. Another clever moment is on the paywall (00:26), where animated counters visually demonstrate storage being cleared, effectively showing the app's value at the critical point of conversion.
UX highlights
- The onboarding carousel (00:06) cleverly uses an animated mockup of the app's UI, providing a dynamic preview of the core functionality rather than relying on static images.
- The main dashboard prominently displays a storage usage gauge (00:58), giving users an immediate, quantifiable measure of their phone's health.
- The app provides clear, specific delete confirmation buttons, showing the number of files and the amount of space that will be saved (e.g., "Delete 34 photos -6.5 MB" at 01:14).
- Success screens after each cleanup action (01:28, 01:41, 01:55) use confetti and positive language ("WooHoo!") to provide rewarding feedback.
- The app intelligently groups similar photos and pre-selects the non-best versions for deletion (01:13), simplifying the user's decision-making process.
- Contact management is well-organized, with separate tools for merging duplicates and cleaning incomplete entries (02:49).
Monetization & growth
The app employs a soft paywall strategy, gating all cleanup functionality behind a subscription. During onboarding, the user is presented with a paywall (00:25) that offers a 3-day free trial for a weekly plan or a heavily discounted annual plan. The call-to-action focuses on the free trial, lowering the initial barrier to entry. After a successful cleanup, the app prompts the user for a rating (01:42), a smart tactic to capture positive sentiment and improve App Store visibility.
Who it’s for
This app is for anyone who feels overwhelmed by the clutter on their phone and wants a simple, guided way to reclaim storage space. It's particularly useful for users who take many photos and videos and struggle with duplicates. The straightforward UI and automated suggestions make it accessible even for non-technical users who want to optimize their device without manually sifting through thousands of files.
Notes & opportunities
The app forces users to grant tracking and notification permissions at the very start of the onboarding (00:03), which is a high-friction experience that may cause some users to drop off immediately. Delaying these requests until their value is clearer could improve activation. Additionally, while the AI assistant (03:41) is a nice feature, its capabilities aren't fully demonstrated in the flow; showcasing a more powerful interaction could further justify the premium subscription.