Cleanup vs Files by Google: what 6,726 reviews say

Cleanup vs Files by Google: the numbers side by side

Where do Cleanup and Files by Google differ most?

• Billing, trials and cancelling is a bigger issue for Cleanup (51.5% of low ratings) than for Files by Google (3.5%).
• On slowness, crashes and bugs, Files by Google draws 22.7% of its 1–2★ reviews, while Cleanup draws 5.8%.
• The app not working or doing little is a bigger issue for Files by Google (26.9% of low ratings) than for Cleanup (14%).
• On a paywall before the app does anything useful, Cleanup draws 11.4% of its 1–2★ reviews, while Files by Google draws 1%.
• Calling the app a scam or rip-off is a bigger issue for Cleanup (10.5% of low ratings) than for Files by Google (0.6%).

Both are compared on Android, where both have enough reviews. Cleanup deletes duplicate photos and videos and similar screenshots, merges duplicate contacts and compresses videos; Files by Google browses and shares files and suggests old chat-app photos, duplicate files and other items to delete.

Are Cleanup and Files by Google improving?

Cleanup went from 2.45 stars in 2026-Q2 to 3.15 in 2026-Q4, with billing at 42.8% of its latest 1–2★ reviews. Files by Google went from 3.26 stars in 2026-Q2 to 4.34 in 2026-Q4, with billing at 4.1% of its latest 1–2★ reviews. On Google Play, Files by Google's developer answers more unhappy reviewers (57.6% against 0.1%).

Where are Cleanup and Files by Google alike?

There is no complaint theme where the two apps are within two points of each other, which is unusual. 45.3% of Cleanup's reviews are 1★ and 40.4% are 5★; for Files by Google the split is 18.4% and 58.8%, so Cleanup has noticeably more very angry reviewers.

What do happy users praise in each?

17.3% of Cleanup's 4–5★ reviews say it is easy to use, compared with 11.2% for Files by Google. 10% of Cleanup's 4–5★ reviews say it is fast, compared with 4.2% for Files by Google. 24.4% of Cleanup's 4–5★ reviews say it works, compared with 19.1% for Files by Google.

Which is cheaper, Cleanup or Files by Google?

Cleanup: App Store (US) in-app purchases from $5.95 to $29.99; Google Play (US) $6.99 to $39.99 per item, with ads. Files by Google: no prices listed. Files by Google costs nothing to use. Billing makes up 51.5% of Cleanup's 1–2★ reviews and 3.5% of Files by Google's.

What reviewers say about Cleanup and Files by Google

• Cleanup: "not free! $10 A WEEK! Cancel my trial subscription and the regular one that starts in 7 days!!! What a scam!" (1★, Google Play, US, Jul 2026)
• Cleanup: "it only worked for one email address. it takes forever to load and it stays stuck on the screen it's not worth the money" (2★, Google Play, US, Sep 2026)
• Files by Google: "12.$ per week.....need I say more! ugh" (1★, Google Play, US, Oct 2026)
• Files by Google: "In clean section :- junk files is not working in any phone .... please fixed this bug and glitch 🙏🏻 thankyou." (2★, Google Play, US, Jul 2026)

Picked from the billing, trials and cancelling and slowness, crashes and bugs themes, where the two differ most.

Should you choose Cleanup or Files by Google?

On ratings alone, pick Files by Google first: it is free, and nothing in Cleanup's reviews suggests it does the basic clean better. If billing, trials and cancelling is what worries you most, Files by Google has the better record on it.