ES File Explorer vs Documents
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ES File Explorer
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.
- 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
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ES File Explorer is a local and network file management tool that can help you manage files easily. 【The main function】 -File management You can create new directories, rename, move, delete files, etc. Support file sorting by name, date, size The iPad version supports features such as split screen, picture-in-picture, and drag-and-drop operations between apps - file transfer WiFi transmission function: support the transfer of files between the mobile terminal and the computer terminal Face-to-face fast transfer function: support for transferring files between mobile phones -Compress and decompress Support the compression and decompression of ZIP, RAR, 7Z format files Support Chinese password -Built-in audio and video player Support functions: double-speed playback (0.5~2.0), background playback, small window playback, etc. Can directly play audio and video resources in the network disk, local area, and local area network -Netdisk aggregation No need to download, you can access and use the files in the network disk Support simultaneous login with multiple accounts on the same network disk Support mainstream network disks such as Baidu network disk, google drive, OneDrive, dropbox, etc. -Remote service access: SMB, FTP, WebDAV -Built-in PDF editor Support PDF file browsing PDF file editing: supports highlight, underline, strikethrough, pen and other functions -Built-in novel reader Support TXT, EPUB format, continuous optimization -Built-in code editor Supports browsing and editing of 47 code formats such as json, js, log, java, php, swift, xml, net, etc. Support code theme switching, font size adjustment, encoding format adjustment -Other functions Automatic backup function: support incremental backup of system albums and ES local files to Baidu network disk, SMB, FTP, WebDAV Recycle bin function: support ES local files to be temporarily stored in the ES recycle bin after deletion to prevent file loss Browser: Support web browsing Application lock: protect user privacy and safety ES PRO - When you purchase ES PRO, you will Unlock all premium features. - ES PRO is billed monthly or annually at the rate corresponding to the selected plan. - Payment will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase. - According to the Apple Store policy, your subscription will be automatically renewed after the free trial ends. - Subscriptions will automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of current period. - Your account will be charged according to your plan for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage or turn off auto-renew in your Apple ID account settings at any time after purchase. Terms of Service: http://esfile.do-global.com/h5/user_manual.html Privacy Policy: http://www.estrongs.com/privacyStatement/en/index.htm Email: esfileexplorerfeedback@outlook.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialESFileExplorer/ YouTube: https://goo.gl/YVXXV3
Documents
This app acts as a central hub for managing all your files and media on your iOS device. It offers robust features for organizing, viewing, and sharing various file types, including documents, videos, and music, all within a single, intuitive interface.
- Quick file search and organization
- File moving, deletion, and renaming
- Unzipping and copy-pasting
- Support for over 100 file formats
- Built-in web browser with private browsing
- VLC-powered video and audio player
- PDF reader and editor
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Documents: Media File Browser is a free and secure tool that allows you to find files faster, manage them easily, and share them with others offline. It includes a plethora of useful features such as quick search, file moving, deletion, opening, and sharing, as well as renaming, unzipping, and copy-pasting. The Documents - Media File Browser also supports a variety of file formats, including music, videos, images, documents, and zip files. The ultimate iPhone and iPad app. On your iPad and iPhone, you can read, listen, watch, and annotate almost anything. Files, documents, books, and any other type of content can be found in Documents - Media File Browser. It's the iOS Finder you've been waiting for. Documents are unlike any other app on the iPhone or iPad because of their incredible attention to detail, unrivaled stability, and design. Every day, you will use it at home, at the office, at university, or on the road. Take a look at the list of things Documents allows you to do. It's an app that makes your iPad and iPhone valuable! The Documents app is the most powerful app on your iOS device. It's the central location for all your files, as it replaces a document viewer, PDF reader, read it later, music and video player, file downloader, cloud integrator, and a slew of other apps in a single elegant app. => A WEB BROWSER LIKE SAFARI WITH BOOKMARKS. - Private browsing by default. - Multiple tabs custom search engine and user-agent, favorites grid. => FILE MANAGER - Edit files and organize files in folders. - Extract ZIP archives. - Work with a doc, Xls, pdf, ppt, txt, HTML, RTF, and 100+ formats. => VIDEO PLAYER - Built-in VLC video playback engine supports almost all audio and video formats, supports up to 4 times speed playback, rich audio, and video configuration - Minimal playback interface, help high-quality entertainment, Support live broadcast of global network TV stations: M3U, M3UA, RSTP, HTTP, HLS, MMS => IMPORT and SAVE FILES - Import files from your computer - Save web pages to read them later => MANAGE FILES - Search and share files - Manage your files and create folders - Zip/ unzip, rename, sort, show file information, etc => LISTEN and WATCH - Listen to music online and offline. - Watch movies by importing them from your computer or online sources - Great and easy access to your photo library => READ AND EDIT PDFs - Open Office files and eBooks, XLS, Doc, PPT, PDF - View and mark up PDFs XLS, Doc, PPT, PDF - Manage pages in your PDFs
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: ES File Explorer at none against Documents's shown. ES File Explorer also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 50 months) and ratings volume (15K vs 286). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. ES File Explorer sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month and Documents 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 4.5 for Documents. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ES File Explorer has 15K ratings behind it against 286, 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 43% of Documents's.
ES File Explorer ships an update every 3 weeks, Documents every 50 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ES File Explorer | Documents |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (15K ratings) — better | 4.5 (286 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 63.7% of reviews — better | 42.9% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 15K — better | 286 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 50 months |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 263 MB | 37 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Beijing Xiaoxiong Bowang Technology Co., Ltd. | Stephan Cullmann |
Customer experience
ES File Explorer
Documents
Bugs and requests
ES File Explorer
Reported bugs
4 issues- 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
5 requests- Dark mode option
- Improved file compression tools
- More customization options
- Better integration with Apple ecosystem
- Enhanced audio/video playback controls
Documents
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
ES File Explorer
- ES Pro(1 month)7 Days trial$6.991 Month
- ES Pro(1 month)$6.991 Month
- ES Pro(1 year)7 Days trial$29.991 Year
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- ES Pro(1 year)$29.991 Year
- ES remove ads$1.99
- ES lifetime vip$4.99
- ES lifetime vip$6.99
Documents
- Remove Ads$0.99








