Cleaner Kit: Free up Storage

What it does

Cleaner Kit is a utility app for iOS that helps users reclaim storage space on their devices. Its primary functions include scanning for and deleting duplicate or similar photos, cleaning up videos, and managing contacts. The app presents itself as a simple, one-tap solution to declutter a user's phone and optimize its performance.

Where it shines

The app excels at quickly communicating its value through clear, animated demonstrations. During onboarding, it visually shows how it identifies and removes redundant photos (00:08) and helps organize files, which is far more compelling than text descriptions. The main dashboard is also well-organized, providing a clear overview of storage usage and easy access to core features like "Photo Cleaning" and "Manage Contacts" (01:05). The contact management feature, in particular, is robust, offering backups and simple deletion functionality (01:15, 01:52).

UX highlights

Animated Feature Showcase: The onboarding carousel uses fluid animations to demonstrate exactly how the cleaning process works for photos and videos, setting clear expectations (00:06 - 00:17).
Urgency Through Animation: Before presenting its subscription offer, the app runs a quick animation of a storage bar filling up, creating a sense of urgency to act (00:21).
Clear Dashboard: The main screen provides a simple, at-a-glance view of current storage with large, tappable cards for each major cleaning tool (01:05).
In-App Rating Prompt: The app uses a custom, friendly prompt to ask for a rating (00:40) before triggering the official system dialog, which is a good practice for gathering positive reviews.
Robust Contact Management: The app goes beyond photo cleaning, offering features to backup and organize contacts, including a clear interface for viewing duplicates and incomplete entries (01:12).
Security Options: Settings include options to lock a private folder with a PIN or Face ID, adding a layer of privacy for users (03:03).

Monetization & growth

Cleaner Kit employs an aggressive, conversion-focused monetization strategy. The entire onboarding flow funnels users directly to a paywall (00:21) before they can access the app's main interface. The paywall itself offers three subscription tiers (weekly, monthly, yearly) and highlights a "Save 60%" discount on the annual plan to anchor the price (00:48). However, it uses a notable dark pattern: if a user cancels the purchase or tries to close the screen, they are often looped back into the paywall animation instead of proceeding to the app (00:32, 00:59), creating significant friction for non-paying users.

Who it’s for

This app is for iPhone users who are running low on storage space and feel overwhelmed by the task of manually cleaning their photo library and contacts. It targets non-technical users looking for a simple, automated solution to declutter their device. The clear visuals and straightforward tools are designed for people who value convenience and are willing to pay for a tool that saves them time.

Notes & opportunities

The primary friction point is the deceptive paywall loop. While it may secure some conversions through user frustration, it creates a poor user experience that likely leads to high churn and negative App Store reviews. A more transparent approach would be to allow users to access the free version of the app after dismissing the paywall. Additionally, the app could benefit from showing a preview of how much space could be saved before asking the user to subscribe, which would make the value proposition more concrete.