# S3 Explorer vs Real Image Compressor

The clearest difference is update cadence: Real Image Compressor at every 3 months against S3 Explorer's every 8 months. S3 Explorer's advantage is device support (4 vs 2). On price, ads, in-app purchases and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. S3 Explorer sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $6.99 per month and Real Image Compressor sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

S3 Explorer ships an update every 8 months, Real Image Compressor every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | S3 Explorer | Real Image Compressor |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Size | 12 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jose Leal](https://appshunter.io/developer/1441468562) | [Michael Welzel](https://appshunter.io/developer/1636424419) |

## What reviewers say

### S3 Explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/s3-explorer/id1452893031)

Access and manage your AWS S3 cloud storage directly from your device. Stream compatible media files without needing to download them first. Preview and share files and images securely, leveraging Amazon's certified security.

**Highlights:** Browse AWS S3 cloud storage, Stream compatible media files, Preview and share files, Amazon certified security, Supports multiple devices

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| All Access | $6.99 | per month |


### Real Image Compressor

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/real-image-compressor/id6760685783)

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Real Image Compressor Pro | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is S3 Explorer free?

S3 Explorer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Real Image Compressor free?

Real Image Compressor is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do S3 Explorer or Real Image Compressor have ads?

Neither S3 Explorer nor Real Image Compressor shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, S3 Explorer or Real Image Compressor?

S3 Explorer ships an update every 8 months, and Real Image Compressor every 3 months. Most recently, S3 Explorer was updated on November 2, 2026 and Real Image Compressor on November 13, 2026.

---

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