# ES File Explorer vs GBA

The clearest difference is rating: ES File Explorer at 4.6 against GBA's 1.0. ES File Explorer also leads on ratings volume (15K vs 1) and device support (4 vs 2). GBA's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 7). On price, update cadence, ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ES File Explorer sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. GBA asks for nothing beyond the download.

ES File Explorer holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ES File Explorer has 15K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

ES File Explorer ships an update every 3 weeks, GBA fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ES File Explorer | GBA |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (15K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/es-file-explorer/id1441621965/reviews)** | [1.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gba/id1531942494/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **15K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 63.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 263 MB | 35 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Beijing Xiaoxiong Bowang Technology Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1435277197) | [David Ramos Moreira](https://appshunter.io/developer/1453617946) |

## 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


### GBA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gba/id1531942494)

Manage your aircraft's operational, financial, budgetary, and technical aspects easily from your phone. Track flight hours, fuel, expenses, documents, and budgets. Generate PDF reports and set alerts for expiring items.

**Highlights:** Aircraft operational control, Financial and budgetary management, Technical component tracking, PDF report generation and sharing, Alerts for expiring documents and components, Support for shared aircraft ownership

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ES File Explorer free?

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

### Is GBA free?

GBA is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, ES File Explorer or GBA?

ES File Explorer is rated higher. ES File Explorer averages 4.6 out of 5 from 15K ratings, while GBA averages 1.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do ES File Explorer or GBA have ads?

Neither ES File Explorer nor GBA shows ads.

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

ES File Explorer ships an update every 3 weeks, and GBA fortnightly. Most recently, ES File Explorer was updated on October 20, 2026 and GBA on October 6, 2026.

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