# ES File Explorer vs Activator

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Activator at none against ES File Explorer's 7. ES File Explorer's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, ads, device support 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. Activator asks for nothing beyond the download.

ES File Explorer ships an update every 3 weeks, Activator every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ES File Explorer | Activator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (15K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/es-file-explorer/id1441621965/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **15K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 63.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 263 MB | 126 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 14.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Beijing Xiaoxiong Bowang Technology Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1435277197) | [Viloc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1556643391) |

## 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


### Activator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/activator/id1577816060)

**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 Activator free?

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

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

Neither ES File Explorer nor Activator shows ads.

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

ES File Explorer ships an update every 3 weeks, and Activator every 2 months. Most recently, ES File Explorer was updated on October 18, 2026 and Activator on October 1, 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.*