Comparison

File Manager & Documents vs CX File Explorer & Manager

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

File Manager & Documents

Organize and manage your downloaded files and documents conveniently on your iPhone or iPad. Create folders, store files in the cloud to save space, and use the built-in browser for direct downloads. Sort files by various criteria for easy access.

Highlights
  • Manage downloads
  • Create folders
  • Cloud storage
  • Built-in browser
  • Direct downloads
  • Sort files
Features
Read full description

Manage your downloads conveniently from your iPhone or iPad, Download, browse and organize your files like you would on a PC. Don’t worry about loosing space on your internal memory. - Get all your files stored directly on one convenient location. - Create folders to organize all your date on an intuitive way. - Store your files on the cloud and save valuable internal memory. - Download images or video with special search options to get focused results. - Specialize build in browser so you can do direct downloads while using the app. - Sort your files by name, date, size or type. Download Manager Subscription options:

 1. Title of publication or service: Download Manager. 2. Length of subscription & Price of subscription, and price per unit if appropriate: - Weekly (First 3 day free trial) 3. Price of subscription: - 3 day free trial then $2.99 per week - 3 days free trial then $9.99 per month - 3 days free trial then $49.99 per year 4. Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase 
 5. Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. You can turn of the auto-renew subscription from iPhone setting
 6. Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal 7. Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase.
 8. Privacy Policy: https://giantbrainsllc.wordpress.com/privacy-policy/ 9. Terms of use: https://giantbrainsllc.wordpress.com/terms-of-use/ 10. Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication where applicable 
11. Download Manager adds new features above and are available through an auto-renewing subscription. Subscriptions will be charged to your credit card through your iTunes account. Your subscription will automatically renew unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of your current subscription, and you can cancel anytime a subscription during the active period. You can manage your subscription, either by viewing your account in iTunes from your Mac or PC, or Account Settings on your device after purchase.

About

CX File Explorer & Manager

This app helps you organize, sort, search, and manage all your files, including documents, photos, and videos. It also supports extracting multiple archive file formats like ZIP, RAR, and 7-Zip.

Highlights
  • Manage device storage
  • Extract archive files (ZIP, RAR, 7z)
  • Browse photos and videos
  • Transfer files via Wi-Fi
  • Quickly search for files
  • Delete, share, and rename files
Features
Read full description

CX File Explorer & Manager is your go-to file manager app to help you easily organize your files. Whether you need to sort, search, or manage your documents, photos, and videos. CX provides a seamless experience. Additionally, it supports extracting multiple archive file formats, including ZIP, RAR, 7-Zip, and 7z, ensuring you can handle all your decompression needs in one convenient place. — MAIN FEATURES — - Manage device storage - Extract archive files (ZIP, RAR and More...) - Browse your photos and videos - Transfer files remotely via Wi-Fi from laptop to iPhone - Quickly search for files - Delete files effortlessly - Share files with ease - Rename files quickly - Copy/Move and paste files seamlessly — FORMATS SUPPORTED — Supports various file formats: Archive, Video, Image, Document, and Audio files. — EASY TO USE — Easy-to-use and powerful file manager for iOS devices with a simple & clear user interface for file management. — SUPPORT — If you have any questions or suggestions regarding CX, feel free to reach out to us at: support@cxmanager.app — LINKS — - Privacy Policy: https://cxmanager.app/privacy - Terms of Use: https://cxmanager.app/terms

Screenshots

File Manager & Documents4 screens
CX File Explorer & Manager4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: CX File Explorer & Manager at free with in-app purchases against File Manager & Documents's subscription. CX File Explorer & Manager also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). File Manager & Documents's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (52% vs 26%). On price, rating, update cadence and in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. File Manager & Documents sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and CX File Explorer & Manager sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for File Manager & Documents against 4.5 for CX File Explorer & Manager. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: File Manager & Documents has 4.8K ratings behind it against 337, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 52% of File Manager & Documents's written reviews are positive against 26% of CX File Explorer & Manager's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

File Manager & Documents ships an update every 4 weeks, CX File Explorer & Manager every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
File Manager & Documents versus CX File Explorer & Manager: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFile Manager & DocumentsCX File Explorer & Manager
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (4.8K ratings)4.5 (337 ratings)
Positive reviews52.0% of reviews — better25.9% of reviews
Number of ratings4.8K — better337
Update frequencyEvery 4 weeks — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscriptionFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size88 MB40 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperGiant BrainsFatiha Badag

Customer experience

File Manager & Documents

All ratings4,751 ratings
Positive85.6%
Neutral4.0%
Negative10.4%
Written reviews200 reviews
Positive52.0%
Neutral5.5%
Negative42.5%

CX File Explorer & Manager

All ratings337 ratings
Positive86.9%
Neutral2.7%
Negative10.4%
Written reviews27 reviews
Positive25.9%
Neutral3.7%
Negative70.4%

Bugs and requests

File Manager & Documents

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Login screen freezes
  • Incompatible with newer iOS versions
  • Download issues

Requested features

3 requests
  • Dark mode option
  • Improved file management capabilities
  • Better integration with other apps

CX File Explorer & Manager

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

4 purchases

File Manager & Documents

Subscriptions4
  • Weekly Subscription3 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • Monthly Subscription1 Month trial$9.991 Month
  • Yearly3 Days trial$29.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Yearly Subscription3 Days trial$49.991 Year
3 purchases

CX File Explorer & Manager

Subscriptions2
  • Weekly Plan$1.997 Days
  • Monthly Plan$4.991 Month
One-time1
  • Lifetime Plan$14.99

Questions

Is File Manager & Documents free?
File Manager & Documents is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is CX File Explorer & Manager free?
CX File Explorer & Manager is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, File Manager & Documents or CX File Explorer & Manager?
File Manager & Documents and CX File Explorer & Manager are both rated 4.5 out of 5 on the App Store, from 4.8K and 337 ratings respectively.
Do File Manager & Documents or CX File Explorer & Manager have ads?
CX File Explorer & Manager shows ads; File Manager & Documents does not.
Which is updated more often, File Manager & Documents or CX File Explorer & Manager?
File Manager & Documents ships an update every 4 weeks, and CX File Explorer & Manager every 6 weeks. Most recently, File Manager & Documents was updated on September 29, 2026 and CX File Explorer & Manager on September 26, 2026.

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