Cleanup vs Phone Cleaner – Junk Files: what 6,476 reviews say

Cleanup vs Phone Cleaner – Junk Files: the numbers side by side

Where do Cleanup and Phone Cleaner – Junk Files differ most?

• Cleanup's unhappy reviewers mention billing, trials and cancelling about 40 times as often as Phone Cleaner – Junk Files's: 51.5% against 1.3% of 1–2★ reviews.
• On a paywall before the app does anything useful, Cleanup draws 11.4% of its 1–2★ reviews, while Phone Cleaner – Junk Files draws 0.5%.
• Calling the app a scam or rip-off is a bigger issue for Cleanup (10.5% of low ratings) than for Phone Cleaner – Junk Files (1.3%).
• On ads, pop-ups and pushy screens, Phone Cleaner – Junk Files draws 13% of its 1–2★ reviews, while Cleanup draws 6.8%.
• Cleanup's unhappy reviewers mention an ad or listing that promised something else more often as Phone Cleaner – Junk Files's: 5.1% against 0% of 1–2★ reviews.

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; Phone Cleaner – Junk Files cleans junk files and app caches and bundles an app manager, battery and CPU monitor, image compressor and duplicate file remover.

Are Cleanup and Phone Cleaner – Junk Files 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. Phone Cleaner – Junk Files went from 4.42 stars in 2025-Q3 to 4.15 in 2026-Q4, with billing at 0% of its latest 1–2★ reviews. On Google Play, Phone Cleaner – Junk Files's developer answers more unhappy reviewers (0.5% against 0.1%).

Where are Cleanup and Phone Cleaner – Junk Files 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 Phone Cleaner – Junk Files the split is 10.8% and 63.5%, 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 3.9% for Phone Cleaner – Junk Files. 24.4% of Cleanup's 4–5★ reviews say it works, compared with 17.8% for Phone Cleaner – Junk Files. 10% of Cleanup's 4–5★ reviews say it is fast, compared with 3.9% for Phone Cleaner – Junk Files.

Which is cheaper, Cleanup or Phone Cleaner – Junk Files?

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. Phone Cleaner – Junk Files: Google Play (US) $0.99 to $49.99 per item, with ads. Phone Cleaner – Junk Files starts lower, at $0.99 against $5.95. Billing makes up 51.5% of Cleanup's 1–2★ reviews and 1.3% of Phone Cleaner – Junk Files's.

What reviewers say about Cleanup and Phone Cleaner – Junk Files

• Cleanup: "I just opened the app and its asking for credit card info altho there is a 7 day fre trail" (1★, Google Play, US, Aug 2026)
• Cleanup: "It wouldn't scan past 21%. I waited to hours. And it's not free!! 7 day trial. False advertisement" (1★, Google Play, US, Jun 2026)
• Phone Cleaner – Junk Files: "phone clerk is good and fine website and useful to the subscriber such services good for individuals. thanks for providing such services." (1★, Google Play, US, Oct 2025)
• Phone Cleaner – Junk Files: "Completely free and no ads, premium required, perfect app" (5★, Google Play, US, Sep 2025)

Picked from the billing, trials and cancelling and a paywall before the app does anything useful themes, where the two differ most.

Should you choose Cleanup or Phone Cleaner – Junk Files?

On ratings alone, Phone Cleaner – Junk Files is the safer bet on the evidence here, with 36.3% fewer 1–2★ reviews. If billing, trials and cancelling is what worries you most, Phone Cleaner – Junk Files has the better record on it.