What it does
Cleaner is a comprehensive utility designed to help users reclaim storage space and organize their digital life. Its primary function is to scan for and remove duplicate or similar photos and videos. However, it extends its cleaning capabilities to managing contacts by merging duplicates, clearing unnecessary calendar events, and even unsubscribing from junk email directly within the app. The app also bundles several other tools, including a network speed test, media compression, and a secure vault for private files.
Where it shines
Cleaner stands out with its dynamic and engaging onboarding. Instead of static text, it uses animated visualizations like growing bar charts and moving speedometers to make its benefits feel tangible from the very first seconds (00:05). The app also excels by offering multiple ways to approach the same problem. For example, users can analyze similar photos in a detailed grid view (00:55) or make rapid decisions using a fun, swipe-based interface (04:14), catering to different user preferences. The inclusion of an email unsubscriber tool (02:47) is a particularly strong value-add that elevates it beyond a simple photo cleaner.
UX highlights
- The onboarding carousel uses animated data visualizations to powerfully communicate value before asking for any commitment.
- In the 'Similar Photos' view, the app pre-selects a 'Best' photo, reducing the user's cognitive load when deciding which duplicates to keep (00:56).
- The swipe-to-sort interface for photos offers a fast and almost game-like way to clean the camera roll, making a tedious task more enjoyable.
- The email cleaner provides granular control, allowing users to automatically delete past emails from an unsubscribed sender, delivering immediate results (03:21).
- The 'Secure Vault' is a well-integrated privacy feature, allowing users to hide photos, create a private address book, and secure it all with a passcode (04:42).
- The app consistently uses clear, satisfying loading and completion animations, such as the circular progress meter during media compression (06:03), which provides good user feedback.
Monetization & growth
The app uses a free-trial subscription model, presented very early in the user journey. A paywall appears at 00:28, immediately after the value-proposition carousel. It offers a single weekly plan with a 7-day free trial, simplifying the user's choice. The user subscribes via the standard Apple payment flow. The app also employs in-app rating prompts at moments of accomplishment, such as after cleaning up emails (03:27) or photos (04:11), to encourage positive App Store reviews.
Who it’s for
This app is ideal for iPhone users who consistently struggle with storage limitations, especially those with large, disorganized photo and video libraries. It also caters to individuals who feel overwhelmed by digital clutter in general, including a messy inbox or duplicate contacts. Its all-in-one nature appeals to users looking for a single toolkit to manage and optimize their device rather than downloading multiple single-purpose apps.
Notes & opportunities
While comprehensive, the app's feature set requires a significant number of permissions, including tracking, photos, calendar, and contacts, all requested early on. This could be a point of friction for privacy-conscious users. The sheer number of utilities, from media compression to battery animations, might also risk feature bloat, potentially overwhelming a user who only wanted a simple duplicate photo finder. Streamlining the main dashboard to focus on the core cleaning jobs could provide a more focused initial experience.