Changing to 4.5 stars — I was wrong about the cause of my issues
I also want to note there was a delay in the developer’s response, but they did follow up.
The app actually does what it promises. If you’re running into similar issues, check your iCloud settings first — disabling Optimize Storage before scanning made all the difference. Giving credit where it’s due.
Response from developer
Thank you for taking the time to investigate and update your review. That genuinely means a lot, and apologies again for the slow initial reply. You've identified the issue precisely: with iCloud's Optimize Storage active, the system's file provider has to fetch files on demand and can stall, which the app can't speed up on its end. Your tip about disabling it before scanning is solid advice and will help others. I'm looking into detecting cloud-only files so I can warn users up front. Glad it's working well for you now.
Excellent
Response from developer
Thank you for the review — I’m glad you’re finding the app useful. I appreciate the support!
Don’t Waste Your Money - Forced Purchase, Non-Functional App
The Forced Purchase Scheme:
The “free trial” is designed to always find more duplicates than the limit allows, forcing you to purchase either a subscription or lifetime license just to test whether the app actually works. I tried scanning just my Downloads folder - it still exceeded the free limit. This is manipulative, not legitimate business practice.
Complete Failure with iCloud Files:
After being forced to buy the lifetime license, the app became completely unusable when working with iCloud Drive:
∙ Ran for 3+ hours with NO progress bar or status indicator
∙ Stuck on “reading iCloud files” with no indication of progress
∙ No way to know if it was actually working or frozen
∙ Eventually had to force-quit because nothing was happening
The Real Problem:
This app fundamentally doesn’t work with iCloud Drive on iPad/iPhone. It can’t handle cloud-synced files, which is exactly what iOS/iPadOS users need it for. Without a progress bar, you can’t even tell if it’s working or crashed.
My Recommendation:
Don’t fall for the forced-purchase trap. If you need duplicate file management with iCloud, this app cannot deliver. The lack of any progress indicator makes it unusable even if it theoretically works.
I’ve am requesting a refund from Apple. Save yourself the money and frustration.
Response from developer
Thank you for your feedback. For the sake of accuracy, I’d like to clarify several factual points for other readers. Scanning is unlimited and always free. You can scan as many files and folders as you want at no cost. A purchase is only required if you choose to delete more than 1 GB of duplicate data. This is clearly stated in the app, the App Store description, and on the website. There is no mechanism that forces a purchase before testing whether the app works. The claim that the app is "designed to always exceed the free limit" is incorrect. The app simply analyzes and reports the duplicate data it finds. If more than 1 GB of duplicate data exists, the reported result reflects that reality. It is not artificially inflated or manipulated in any way. Regarding iCloud Drive, the app supports iCloud files. During large iCloud scans, the app displays its progress. Depending on Apple’s file provider behavior and network conditions, this step can take longer. Progress indicators are present, but some stages cannot provide granular progress due to platform limitations. I responded to the support email directly to request additional details so that the issue could be properly investigated, but that information was not provided. Performance and progress visibility improvements are already in development. If the app does not meet your expectations, Apple provides a straightforward refund process. I am committed to transparency and continuous improvement.
