# ES File Explorer vs Hae

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Hae at none against ES File Explorer's 7. Hae also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 3 weeks). ES File Explorer's advantage is device support (4 vs 2) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.4). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

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

ES File Explorer ships an update every 3 weeks, Hae every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ES File Explorer | Hae |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 263 MB | 53 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Beijing Xiaoxiong Bowang Technology Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1435277197) | [Breizhzion](https://appshunter.io/developer/1891339027) |

## 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


### Hae

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hae/id6780178319)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, 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 Hae free?

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

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

Neither ES File Explorer nor Hae shows ads.

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

ES File Explorer ships an update every 3 weeks, and Hae every 4 days. Most recently, ES File Explorer was updated on October 21, 2026 and Hae on October 16, 2026.

---

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