# ES File Explorer vs Zipym Lite

The clearest difference is price: ES File Explorer at Free against Zipym Lite's $0.29. ES File Explorer also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (15K vs 23). Zipym Lite's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 7) and update cadence (every 10 days vs every 3 weeks). On rating, review sentiment, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

ES File Explorer is free to download; Zipym Lite costs $0.29 up front. ES File Explorer sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Zipym Lite asks for nothing beyond the download.

ES File Explorer holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ES File Explorer has 15K ratings behind it against 23, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of ES File Explorer's written reviews are positive against 61% of Zipym Lite's.

ES File Explorer ships an update every 3 weeks, Zipym Lite every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ES File Explorer | Zipym Lite |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $0.29 |
| Rating | **[4.6 (15K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/es-file-explorer/id1441621965/reviews)** | [4.4 (23 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zipym-lite/id6447483394/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **15K** | 23 |
| Positive reviews | **63.7% of reviews** | 60.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Size | 263 MB | 119 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 14.0 |
| 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) | [北京伊码网络科技有限公司](https://appshunter.io/developer/1655494126) |

## 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


### Zipym Lite

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zipym-lite/id6447483394)

This app is a versatile tool for managing files, browsing the web, and playing media. It supports a wide range of archive formats for compression and extraction, includes a built-in music and video player, and offers Wi-Fi file sharing capabilities.

**Highlights:** Archive compression and extraction, Password protection for archives, Multi-part archive support, Built-in music and video player, Web browser with source viewing, Wi-Fi file sharing, IPTV and M3U8 playback

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Safari Extension, Vision Pro support

**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 Zipym Lite free?

Zipym Lite costs $0.29, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, ES File Explorer or Zipym Lite?

ES File Explorer is rated higher. ES File Explorer averages 4.6 out of 5 from 15K ratings, while Zipym Lite averages 4.4 from 23 ratings.

### Do ES File Explorer or Zipym Lite have ads?

Zipym Lite shows ads; ES File Explorer does not.

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

ES File Explorer ships an update every 3 weeks, and Zipym Lite every 10 days. Most recently, ES File Explorer was updated on September 25, 2026 and Zipym Lite on September 22, 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.*