# ES File Explorer vs X File Manager

ES File Explorer and X File Manager both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of X File Manager's written reviews are positive against 64% of ES File Explorer's. ES File Explorer's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (15K vs 89). On price, rating, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ES File Explorer sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month and X File Manager sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for ES File Explorer against 4.7 for X File Manager. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ES File Explorer has 15K ratings behind it against 89, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 64% of ES File Explorer's written reviews are positive against 100% of X File Manager's.

ES File Explorer ships an update every 3 weeks, X File Manager fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and August 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ES File Explorer | X File Manager |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (15K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/es-file-explorer/id1441621965/reviews) | **[4.7 (89 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/x-file-manager/id1450712034/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **15K** | 89 |
| Positive reviews | 63.7% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 263 MB | 46 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Beijing Xiaoxiong Bowang Technology Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1435277197) | [Nguyen Luong](https://appshunter.io/developer/1498569189) |

## What reviewers say

### ES File Explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/es-file-explorer/id1441621965)

Manage local and network files with this comprehensive tool. It offers file transfer, compression, built-in media players, cloud storage integration, and editing capabilities for various document and code formats.

**Highlights:** File management and sorting, WiFi and face-to-face file transfer, ZIP, RAR, 7Z compression/decompression, Built-in audio/video player, Cloud storage aggregation, Remote service access (SMB, FTP, WebDAV), PDF and code editor

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ES Pro(1 month) | $6.99 | per month |
| ES Pro(1 month) | $6.99 | per month |
| ES Pro(1 year) | $29.99 | per year |
| ES Pro(1 year） | $29.99 | per year |
| ES remove ads | $1.99 | one-time |
| ES lifetime vip | $4.99 | one-time |
| ES lifetime vip | $6.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Powerful file management
- 📁 Extensive file format support
- 🔒 Secure folder access
- 🎵 Excellent built-in media player
- 🔗 Seamless network connectivity

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🔍 Search functionality issues
- 🔇 Music playback problems
- 🔌 Connectivity issues with FTP/SFTP

**Reported bugs**

- Deleted all user files after update
- Unable to connect to SMB servers
- Video playback issues with certain file types
- Inconsistent behavior when using VPN

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Improved file compression tools
- More customization options
- Better integration with Apple ecosystem
- Enhanced audio/video playback controls


### X File Manager

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/x-file-manager/id1450712034)

Manage your files, photos, videos, and documents with a powerful and intuitive interface. Organize, protect, and share your data easily with features like passcode protection, compression, and cloud integration.

**Highlights:** Smart file organization, Passcode and folder protection, File compression (ZIP), Built-in web browser and downloader, Cloud storage integration (Google Drive, Dropbox), Document scanner, Light and dark themes

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| X-File (Ultimate Upgrade) | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ES File Explorer free?

ES File Explorer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is X File Manager free?

X File Manager is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, ES File Explorer or X File Manager?

X File Manager is rated higher. ES File Explorer averages 4.6 out of 5 from 15K ratings, while X File Manager averages 4.7 from 89 ratings.

### Do ES File Explorer or X File Manager have ads?

X File Manager shows ads; ES File Explorer does not.

### Which is updated more often, ES File Explorer or X File Manager?

ES File Explorer ships an update every 3 weeks, and X File Manager fortnightly. Most recently, ES File Explorer was updated on September 25, 2026 and X File Manager on August 29, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*