The Clean tab in Files by Google is the fastest way to free a couple of gigabytes on an Android phone. It flags junk, duplicates, downloaded media and oversized files, lines them up under a “Review and clean” header, and waits for one tap. That covers most surface-level bloat. It does not touch app caches you cannot see from the file system, leftover folders from apps you uninstalled months ago, or duplicate photos that share content but not a filename. The seven Files by Google alternatives below pick up where that one tap stops.
This is a guide first, a ranking second. We use Files by Google ourselves as the daily cleaner, then run a deeper tool every few weeks to mop up what review-and-clean cannot see.
What “Review and clean” actually deletes
The cards Files by Google surfaces under Clean follow a fixed list. Each one is conservative on purpose: nothing is removed without a tap, and the app refuses to touch system data.
- Junk files. Temporary caches the app has confirmed are safe to drop. This usually means file-system-visible cache directories belonging to apps that exposed them, not the protected caches Android keeps inside each app’s private storage.
- Downloaded files. Anything in
/Downloadplus media saved by chat apps that opted into Android’s MediaStore exposure (WhatsApp images, Telegram downloads where unrestricted, Drive offline copies). Files by Google groups these by app so you can clear one chat history’s worth of photos without losing another. - Large files. Anything over a size threshold (often 10 MB) sorted by size. Good for video left over from a one-off download.
- Duplicate files. Files that share the same hash and size. Two copies of the same APK, two saves of the same PDF.
- Old screenshots and memes. Screenshots older than the cutoff (default 30 days), filtered by aspect ratio and metadata.
- Backed-up media. If Google Photos has confirmed a photo is uploaded, Files by Google offers to remove the local copy.
That covers 80 percent of what most phones need cleared. The 20 percent it skips is where third-party cleaners earn their keep.
What Files by Google cannot see
A handful of categories sit outside Clean’s scope. None of them is dangerous to leave alone, but they pile up.
- App-private caches. Each Android app keeps a private cache directory at
/data/data/<pkg>/cache. Files by Google does not enumerate it. Going to Settings, Apps, [app], Storage, Clear cache still works, but you cannot batch it from Files by Google. - Orphan data from uninstalled apps. When you uninstall an app, Android removes
/data/data/<pkg>but not necessarily the world-readable folder the app may have created in/sdcard/Android/data/<pkg>or in the root of internal storage. Months of these leftover folders add up. - Content-similar duplicates. Files by Google groups by hash. Two near-identical photos taken a second apart, or the same image saved as PNG and JPG, are not flagged because the bytes differ.
- Browser data. Cached video, service-worker caches and download history that Chrome, Brave or Samsung Internet manage internally.
- WhatsApp Statuses and old voice notes. Status media expires from WhatsApp but the cached copy may linger in WhatsApp’s app folder.
- APK installers, ZIP archives, large downloads. Files by Google flags these as large but it does not de-duplicate APKs by package name or version.
A clean-up walkthrough that actually works
This is the routine we run on a Pixel and a Samsung Galaxy every few weeks. It takes about ten minutes and reliably frees 4 to 12 GB.
- Open Files by Google, tap Clean. Work top to bottom. Accept Junk Files. Approve duplicate file removal once you confirm the previews.
- In Large files, sort by size descending. Anything over 200 MB is usually a movie download or a screen recording. Delete what you do not need.
- In Downloads, group by app. Clear the chat-app folders (WhatsApp Images, Telegram Documents) once you have moved the keepers to Photos or Drive.
- Backed-up media. Approve removal only if you trust the Google Photos backup state. Cross-check with Photos before tapping.
- Switch to a deeper cleaner to catch what step 1 to 4 cannot see. The apps below all do at least one of the four extra categories above.
- Reboot. A reboot flushes RAM caches and lets Android compact its
/datapartition, which sometimes recovers another 100 to 500 MB.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Free plan | Starting price/mo | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Files by Google | Everyday cleanup on stock Android | Full, no ads | n/a (free) | Google Photos backup awareness |
| SD Maid 2/SE | Orphan-file removal | Limited | About 5 USD one-time Pro | Finds leftover folders from uninstalled apps |
| CCleaner | One-tap junk + RAM | Yes, ad-supported | 2.49 USD Premium | Bundles file analyzer, app manager, contact cleaner |
| AVG Cleaner | Photo dedup by content | Yes, ad-supported | 1.99 USD Premium | Detects bad photos (blurry, dark) and similar shots |
| 1Tap Cleaner | Per-app cache clearing | Yes, ad-supported | 1.49 USD Pro | Clears each app’s private cache individually |
| Norton Cleaner | Battery + storage in one | Free, ad-supported | Free | App lifetime / battery drain view |
| Droid Optimizer | Scheduled cleanups | Free | Free | Set-and-forget weekly cleanups |
Prices are starting points; check the store for current regional pricing. None of these apps requires root.
The deeper cleaners we keep installed
1. SD Maid 2/SE — Best for orphan files from uninstalled apps
SD Maid 2/SE (the rewrite by darken, successor to SD Maid 1/Legacy) is the only app on this list that finds the folders Android leaves behind when you uninstall something. Its CorpseFinder tool walks /sdcard and /Android/data, matches what it finds against your installed app list, and offers to delete what no longer has a parent app. SystemCleaner adds rule-based sweeps (empty folders, thumbnail caches, log files), and AppCleaner clears expendable per-app data.
The Deduplicator finds near-identical photos by content, not just hash, which is the single feature Files by Google misses most often.
Where it falls short: The interface is information-dense. Casual users may bounce off the first time they open it. Some features (AppCleaner deep mode, automation) need the paid upgrade.
Pricing:
- Free: CorpseFinder, SystemCleaner, StorageAnalyzer, basic AppCleaner.
- Paid: Pro upgrade around 5 USD one-time for AppCleaner deep mode, scheduling, and the swiper.
Platforms: Android only. Newer versions only support Android 8 and above.
Download: Aptoide · Google Play · F-Droid
Bottom line: Install it. Run CorpseFinder once a month. This is the single most useful complement to Files by Google.
2. CCleaner for Android — Best one-tap follow-up
CCleaner is the Android port of the Piriform classic. The Quick Clean view bundles a junk cleaner, an app manager, a storage analyzer and a battery analyzer in one screen. It clears more cache than Files by Google because it reads from each app’s settings and asks Android to clear caches per package, rather than scanning the file system. The photo analyzer can also find low-quality shots (blurry, dark, overexposed).
Where it falls short: The free tier has ads. The “boost RAM” framing is mostly cosmetic on modern Android, where the OS already manages memory. The Accessibility-API auto-stop feature is the only optional permission worth granting.
Pricing:
- Free: Junk cleaner, app manager, storage analyzer, photo cleaner basics.
- Paid: Premium at 2.49 USD per month or about 16 USD per year removes ads and adds deeper photo compression.
Platforms: Android, with a separate Windows desktop product.
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: Good Files by Google complement if you want a one-tap routine and do not mind ads.
3. AVG Cleaner — Best for finding similar photos
AVG Cleaner is the strongest photo-dedup engine in this list. Its “Bad photo” filter flags shots that are blurry, dark, identical or too similar, and clusters them so you can pick the keeper without scrolling. The junk cleaner and storage analyzer are competent but not unique.
Where it falls short: The free tier shows full-screen ads and pushes the AVG antivirus brand hard. The “Photo Optimizer” compression feature is the main paywall.
Pricing:
- Free: Junk cleaner, app analyzer, photo analyzer.
- Paid: Premium at about 2 USD per month removes ads and unlocks deeper photo optimization.
Platforms: Android, and a separate iOS Cleaner app from the same company.
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: Worth installing if your gallery has more than 5,000 photos and you cannot face manual triage.
4. 1Tap Cleaner — Best for per-app cache clearing
1Tap Cleaner by Sam Lu does one thing well: clear the protected cache directory inside every installed app, in order, with one tap. Android removed the system-level “Clear All Cache” button in API 23, which is why this app exists. It also clears history, call logs, clipboard and search history, each on its own tab.
Where it falls short: No photo or duplicate handling. The interface is dated. Newer Android versions restrict some of the deeper actions unless you enable the Accessibility service.
Pricing:
- Free: All core cleanup actions, ad-supported.
- Paid: Pro at about 1.49 USD one-time removes ads.
Platforms: Android.
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: Install it for the one feature: emptying every app’s hidden cache without opening Settings 50 times.
5. Norton Cleaner — Best free combo for storage + battery
Norton Cleaner (formerly Norton Clean) is one of the rare cleaners with no in-app purchases. It groups junk, duplicate photos, large files and app usage in one view, and adds a battery and app-drain analyzer for free. The polish is closer to a paid app than to most free cleaners.
Where it falls short: Norton ships only on Google Play in many regions. The privacy posture is Norton-flavoured, which means a long permissions screen on first launch. There is no deeper, paid-only mode, which is unusual.
Pricing:
- Free: All features, no in-app purchases listed.
Platforms: Android only.
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: Best free pick if you do not want to subscribe to anything and you also want a battery analyzer in the same app.
6. Droid Optimizer — Best for scheduled cleanups
Droid Optimizer by Ashampoo is built around three buttons (rate, clean, reboot) and a scheduler. Set it to run weekly and it clears caches, empties the trash bin, and stops idle background apps without prompting. It is the closest thing to “set it and forget it” on this list.
Where it falls short: The cleaner itself is shallower than SD Maid or CCleaner. The interface optimises for visible-progress bars over precision controls. No photo dedup.
Pricing:
- Free: Full feature set with optional ads.
Platforms: Android.
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: Set up the schedule once, then ignore it. Pairs well with Files by Google as your manual driver.
How to pick
- You only want one app: Stay on Files by Google and trigger Clean weekly. It will keep most phones healthy.
- You uninstall apps often: Add SD Maid 2/SE for the CorpseFinder leftover sweep.
- You have a big photo library: Add AVG Cleaner for similar-photo detection.
- You hate Settings and want to clear every app’s cache fast: Add 1Tap Cleaner.
- You refuse to subscribe to anything: Use Norton Cleaner as your only third-party tool.
- You want cleanup to happen on its own: Use Droid Optimizer on a weekly schedule.
If you want a wider field, our Clean Master alternatives ranks ad-free cleaners for replacing Clean Master, and our storage analyzer comparison digs into pure size-mapping apps. Samsung owners should also read how to clean junk files on a Samsung Galaxy, because Device Care changes the equation.
FAQ
What is the best junk file cleaner for Android?
Files by Google is the best default because it is free, has no ads, and Google ships safety guardrails by design. For anything Files by Google misses (orphan folders, content-similar photo duplicates, per-app caches), pair it with SD Maid 2/SE.
Is Files by Google a good app?
Yes. It has more than 2 billion downloads on Google Play, a 4.6+ average rating, and it is published by Google itself. The Clean tab is its main draw and it does not contain ads or in-app purchases.
What is the best way to clean up Google storage?
Google account storage and on-device storage are two different problems. For on-device, use Files by Google’s Clean tab. For Google account storage (Drive, Gmail, Photos), use the Storage manager at one.google.com/storage to find oversized emails, large Drive files, and uploaded photos you can delete.
Does “Review and clean” delete photos I have not backed up?
It only suggests removing photos that Google Photos has confirmed are uploaded to the cloud. The card explicitly labels them as backed up. If you have not signed in to Google Photos or backup is paused, that card will not appear.
Should I use a RAM booster?
No. Modern Android manages RAM itself, and freeing memory aggressively makes apps slower to reopen, not faster. Skip any app whose main pitch is “boost RAM”.
Are these cleaners safe?
Every app in this article is malware-ranked TRUSTED on Aptoide and published by an identifiable developer (Google, AVG, Piriform, Sam Lu, Symantec, Ashampoo, darken). Stick to those sources or to Google Play. Avoid “super cleaner” apps with anonymous publishers and aggressive ads.
