Cleanup by Codeway is one of the most established names in the category, with roughly 667K App Store ratings and a 4.7-star average — pick it if you want a popular, broad, large-scale bundle backed by a big team. Cleanor is the better fit if your phone is media-heavy and your priority is on-device privacy, where nothing you scan is ever uploaded.
TL;DR
- Cleanup (by Codeway) is a proven, high-volume bundle: ~667K ratings, 4.7 stars, around #4 in Utilities, 50M+ downloads and 100M+ photos cleaned.
- Cleanor focuses tightly on media-heavy phones with free Smart Cleanup, storage analysis, and Swipe Mode.
- Cleanor processes everything on-device and uploads nothing — its defining promise.
- Cleanor Premium adds Deep Analysis (visually similar photos), unlimited cleanup, video compression, a protected Vault, and contacts/calendar/device-health.
- Choose Cleanup for scale and familiarity; choose Cleanor for privacy-first depth on photo-heavy iPhones.
Cleanup vs Cleanor at a glance
| Criteria | Cleanup (by Codeway) | Cleanor |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Broad, large-scale cleaning bundle | Media-heavy iPhones, deep photo analysis |
| Privacy / on-device | Established large-scale app | On-device, nothing uploaded |
| Free tier | Popular, widely downloaded | Free Smart Cleanup, storage analysis, Swipe Mode |
| Standout features | Massive adoption, 100M+ photos cleaned | Deep Analysis, Vault, video compression, Swipe Mode |
| Best for | Anyone wanting a trusted, popular bundle | Privacy-conscious, photo-heavy users |
What does Cleanup by Codeway do well?
Cleanup's track record is its strongest asset. With around 667K ratings at 4.7 stars and a position near #4 in Utilities, it has earned trust at a scale almost no competitor matches. More than 50M downloads and 100M+ photos cleaned mean the workflows have been battle-tested by an enormous user base, and the polish that comes from that kind of volume is real. If you want a widely recommended cleaner from a large team with obvious staying power, Cleanup is a safe, sensible choice.
Where does Cleanor fit better?
Cleanor takes a narrower, deliberately deeper approach to the problem most people actually have: a camera roll that has quietly eaten their storage. Its free tier includes Smart Cleanup, storage analysis, and Swipe Mode — a fast, Tinder-style way to clear photos one swipe at a time. Premium then adds Deep Analysis, which finds visually similar shots (not just exact duplicates), plus unlimited cleanup, video compression, a protected Vault for sensitive media, and contacts, calendar, and device-health tools. If your storage problem is mostly photos and videos, that depth is the point.
How important is on-device privacy to you?
This is the clearest line between the two. Cleanor runs its analysis on-device and uploads nothing — your library never leaves your phone. For people who are uneasy handing a media library to any cloud service, that single design decision can be the deciding factor. Cleanup is a trusted, popular app, but Cleanor makes the on-device, privacy-first guarantee its headline. If you care deeply about where your photos are processed, it's worth weighing carefully. It's also worth understanding the hidden cost of free phone cleaners before you commit to any tool.
Where each one wins
Cleanup wins on scale, familiarity, and a long, proven track record — if you want the popular, well-known bundle, it delivers. Cleanor wins on privacy-first, on-device processing and on depth for media-heavy phones, with Deep Analysis and a Vault that target the photo-clutter problem directly. Neither is a bad choice; they're built for different priorities.
If you're mostly trying to reclaim space, our guide on what's actually using your iPhone storage and the free up iPhone space walkthrough both help regardless of which app you pick.
FAQ
Is Cleanup by Codeway a good iPhone cleaner?
Yes. With roughly 667K ratings at 4.7 stars, a top-five Utilities position, and over 100M photos cleaned, Cleanup is a well-established, broadly trusted bundle. It's a strong pick if you want a popular, large-scale app.
How is Cleanor different from Cleanup?
Cleanor is narrower and deeper: it focuses on media-heavy phones with on-device processing that uploads nothing, plus Deep Analysis for visually similar photos and a protected Vault. Cleanup is a broader, higher-volume bundle.
Does Cleanor cost money?
Cleanor's Smart Cleanup, storage analysis, and Swipe Mode are free. Premium — adding Deep Analysis, unlimited cleanup, video compression, the Vault, and contacts/calendar/device-health — is $49.99/year or $7.99/week.
Ready to try the privacy-first option? Get Cleanor for iPhone or see pricing.