How we compared them

We looked only at things you can verify on each app's public App Store listing and privacy label, plus what we know about our own app. No app was benchmarked for speed or accuracy, so this page does not claim one finds more duplicates than another.

  • Approach: swipe review or automatic scan.
  • Pricing model: free to download, what is limited, and whether it is a subscription or a one-time unlock. Amounts are not quoted.
  • Devices: which Apple devices the listing names.
  • Privacy label: which data types the developer declares, and whether any are used for tracking.

Android is not part of this comparison. GoSwipe also has an Android build; we did not check the other apps on Android.

Six iPhone photo cleaners side by side

AppApproachPricing modelApple devicesPrivacy label (tracking)
GoSwipeSwipe review, free Duplicates, Tidy Shelf gameFree swipe allowance and free Duplicates; Pro is weekly or yearlyiPhoneIdentifiers used for tracking only if you allow the iOS prompt; photos never uploaded
SwipewipeSwipe review by month, On This Day, photo mapFree download with in-app subscriptionsiPhone, iPad, VisionIdentifiers, Usage Data, Other Data; lists advertising
SlideboxSwipe to sort into albums, compare similar photosFree download; subscriptions or a one-time unlockiPhone, iPad, Mac, VisionNone declared; lists advertising
CleanMy®PhoneAutomatic scan, swipe mode, contacts, video compressionFree download; subscription with a 3-day trialiPhone, iPadIdentifiers, Usage Data
CleanupAutomatic scan, email and contacts cleaner, compressionFree download; weekly, yearly and lifetime options, 7-day trialiPhonePurchases, Identifiers, Usage Data
Clever CleanerAutomatic scan with free daily limits, compressionFree daily limits; weekly and lifetime optionsiPhone, Mac, VisionIdentifiers

Most cleaners declare some tracking-related data on their privacy labels, and a label says what an app may collect, not what it does with your photos. For the photo question, read the developer's statement on whether media stays on the device, then see our safety checklist.

Which one is best for what

  • GoSwipe: broadest everyday use. You review photos and videos one at a time, deletes are queued in a Bin and confirmed again by iOS, Duplicates is free, and Videos mode plays clips with sound. Read GoSwipe vs Swipewipe, GoSwipe vs Slidebox and GoSwipe vs CleanMy®Phone.
  • Swipewipe: people who enjoy browsing memories. Its listing leads with month-by-month cleaning, On This Day, streaks and a photo map.
  • Slidebox: people who want albums, not just deletions. Its listing centres on sorting photos into albums with a swipe, and mentions a one-time unlock.
  • CleanMy®Phone: people who want a thorough automatic scan. Its listing covers duplicates, blurry shots, large videos, similar contacts and video compression.
  • Cleanup: people who want one app for photos, contacts and email. Its listing adds an email cleaner, contacts cleanup and a PIN-protected space.
  • Clever Cleaner: people who want generous free limits. Its listing promises free daily limits and no ads.

Where GoSwipe is weaker

A comparison from the maker of one of the apps should say this plainly:

  • Sign-in is required. GoSwipe asks you to sign in with Apple (Google may also be offered) to track your swipe allowance and subscription.
  • The free swipe allowance runs out. After that, unlimited swipes need GoSwipe Pro, billed weekly or yearly by Apple. Duplicates stays free.
  • It does less than the all-in-one cleaners. GoSwipe does not compress videos, merge contacts or clean email.
  • Duplicates and Tidy Shelf are iPhone only.
  • Ad measurement is opt-in. If you tap Allow in the iOS tracking prompt, installs, sign-ups and subscriptions are shared with Meta to measure our ads. Photos never are.

How to choose in five minutes

  1. Decide how you want to clean. If scrolling a queue sounds like a chore, pick an automatic scanner. If handing the decision to an app makes you nervous, pick a swipe app.
  2. Open the free tier before paying. Every app here limits something in the free version. Do one real session and see whether the limit suits you.
  3. Read the privacy label and the developer's photo statement. Look for a clear sentence that your photos stay on the device, and check which data types are listed.
  4. Confirm how deletes work. Items you delete should land in Recently Deleted for 30 days. Learn how to recover them before you need to.
  5. Start with duplicates and screenshots. They are the safest wins. See how to delete duplicate and similar photos and how to delete all screenshots.

Try it free

See every photo, delete nothing by accident.

GoSwipe is free to start on iPhone. Swipe to keep or queue, review the Bin, and confirm through iOS.

Get GoSwipe on the App Store

Frequently asked questions

What is the best free photo cleaner for iPhone?

Every app compared here is free to download and limits something in its free tier. GoSwipe gives a free swipe allowance and a free Duplicates view; Clever Cleaner's listing promises free daily limits. Try one real session in each before you pay for anything.

Are swipe apps or scanning apps better?

Neither is better for everyone. Swipe apps such as GoSwipe, Swipewipe and Slidebox keep you in control of each photo. Scanners such as CleanMy®Phone, Cleanup and Clever Cleaner are faster for large, repetitive clutter like duplicates and screenshots.

Do photo cleaner apps upload my photos?

Some state that they work on the device only, and GoSwipe does: photos, videos, faces and location data stay on your iPhone. Do not rely on a label alone. Use our safety checklist to check any app yourself.

Will a photo cleaner free up iCloud storage?

If you use iCloud Photos, a photo deleted on the iPhone is deleted from iCloud too once it leaves Recently Deleted. See the iPhone and iCloud storage guide for the numbers.

Why does this page list GoSwipe first?

We wrote it, so we put our app first and say so in the disclosure. The comparison criteria and sources are public, so you can check each claim against the listings linked below.

Sources and further reading

Features, plans and privacy labels change often. This page reflects the listings as they read on 31 October 2026. Prices are left out on purpose because they differ by country; the App Store shows the current one.