---
title: "iPhone Photo Cleaner Apps Head-to-Head 2026"
description: "Head-to-head comparison of the top iPhone photo cleaner apps in 2026: Swype, Gemini Photos, Slidebox, Cleanup, and more. Features and pricing."
url: https://dblabsapps.com/compare/iphone-photo-cleaner-apps-head-to-head/
date: 2026-04-07
---

Updated April 7, 2026

By [Jack Smith](https://dblabsapps.com/about/jack-smith/), iOS Developer at DB Labs

# iPhone Photo Cleaner Apps Head-to-Head 2026

We tested the top iPhone photo cleaner apps — Swype, Gemini Photos, Slidebox, Cleanup, and Smart Cleaner — so you can pick the right one.

April 7, 2026  ·  7 min read

## The Quick Verdict

For most users, **Swype Photo Cleaner** wins — it's free, 100% on-device, and uses the swipe-to-clean interface that's fastest for manual review. **Gemini Photos** is the best AI-assisted option for automatic duplicate and blurry detection, but it's paid. **Slidebox** shines at organizing into folders while cleaning. **Cleanup: Phone Storage Cleaner** is the best for bulk video deletion and contact cleanup. **Smart Cleaner** offers the widest scan scope but has more ads. All five are safe — they use standard iOS Photos permissions and none upload photos to cloud servers.

## Feature Comparison

| App | Price | On-Device | AI Detection | Best For |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **Swype Photo Cleaner** | Free | 100% | No | Fast manual swipe |
| **Gemini Photos** | $11.99/yr | Yes | Yes (blur, dupes) | AI auto-cleanup |
| **Slidebox** | Free / $4.99 | Yes | Partial | Sorting into albums |
| **Cleanup** | $4.99 | Yes | Yes | Video + contacts |
| **Smart Cleaner** | $3.99/week | Yes | Yes | Broad scan |

## Swype Photo Cleaner

**Best free swipe-to-clean.** Tinder-style interface: swipe left to delete, right to keep. The photo appears one at a time so you can make fast keep/delete decisions. 100% on-device processing, zero uploads, no account required. Best for users who want manual control over every deletion. Free with optional in-app upgrade. [Learn more about Swype Photo Cleaner](https://dblabsapps.com/apps/swype-photo-cleaner/).

## Gemini Photos

**Best AI-assisted cleanup.** MacPaw's on-device AI scans your library and automatically groups duplicates, similar shots, blurry photos, and large videos. You review each group and tap to delete. Fast but paid — $11.99/year subscription. Best for users with huge libraries who don't want to manually review every photo.

## Slidebox

**Best for organizing while cleaning.** Swipe up to organize into a folder, down to delete. Lets you sort photos into albums as part of the cleanup workflow. Free tier includes basic features; $4.99 unlocks unlimited boxes. Best for users who want to clean AND organize in one pass.

## Cleanup: Phone Storage Cleaner

**Best for video-heavy libraries.** Groups videos by size, duplicates by AI, and also handles contact duplicates. Great at freeing up the biggest space wasters fast. $4.99 one-time. Best for users whose storage is dominated by videos, not photos.

## Smart Cleaner

**Broadest scan scope.** Detects similar photos, screenshots, large videos, and contact duplicates. Weekly subscription model ($3.99/week) is aggressive — avoid unless you only need one cleanup session.

## Which Should You Choose?

- **Want free + fast manual control:** Swype Photo Cleaner

- **Want AI to find blurry photos for you:** Gemini Photos

- **Want to organize + clean in one pass:** Slidebox

- **Have huge video library:** Cleanup

- **Need one-shot deep scan:** Smart Cleaner

For more guides, see our [best iPhone photo cleaner apps 2026](https://dblabsapps.com/compare/best-iphone-photo-cleaner-apps-2026/), [Swype vs Google Photos](https://dblabsapps.com/compare/swype-vs-google-photos/), and [best app to clean photos FAQ](https://dblabsapps.com/compare/best-iphone-photo-cleaner-apps-2026/).

## Try the Free Option First

Swype Photo Cleaner is free and the fastest way to test whether manual swipe-to-clean works for you.

Free · iPhone · iOS 16+ · 100% on-device

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What's the best iPhone photo cleaner app in 2026?

For manual, Swype Photo Cleaner (free, on-device). For AI-assisted cleanup, Gemini Photos. Slidebox for organizing while cleaning.

### Are iPhone photo cleaner apps safe?

Reputable apps process on-device without uploads. Swype, Gemini, and Slidebox use iOS Photos permissions and never transmit photos.

### Do photo cleaner apps actually free up space?

Yes, but you must empty Recently Deleted after. Go to Photos > Albums > Recently Deleted > Delete All.