Comparison

Visual File Editor vs PotoHEX

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

Head to head
About

Visual File Editor

Edit various file types, including source code and PDFs, with advanced search and import/export capabilities. Optimized for iPadOS with keyboard support to enhance productivity.

Highlights
  • Source code editing
  • PDF viewing and editing
  • Advanced search by name, type, date
  • Import/export via Share Sheet
  • Create new files
  • iPadOS optimization
  • Keyboard shortcuts
Features
Read full description

Effortlessly edit files using either App Processing or Regular Expressions to suit your needs. Take advantage of Advanced Search to find files by name, type, added date, or modified date. View and edit source code in a variety of file types with ease. Open and explore PDF content directly within the app. Search within documents to quickly find exactly what you’re looking for. Import files easily using the Visual File Editor or the Share Sheet from iOS or iPadOS, even from external locations. Create new files and start editing right away within the app. Share your modified files directly to external locations with just a few taps. Optimized for iPadOS, with full support for Smart/Magic Keyboard and fast keyboard shortcuts to boost your productivity.

About

PotoHEX

This tool allows users to inspect and modify any file on their iOS device at the byte and character level. It supports numerous encodings, offers a wide range of checksum and hash calculations, and includes various encryption, compression, and encoding/decoding functionalities.

Highlights
  • Byte and character level inspection/editing
  • Extensive encoding support
  • Checksum and hash calculations
  • Encryption and decryption
  • Compression and decompression
  • Multi-tab interface
  • Undo/Redo functionality
Features
Read full description

The PotoHEX is an application that is used to create, explore and modify arbitrary files on your iOS device. MAIN FEATURES: • Byte and Character level inspecting and editing • Select any from UTF-7/8/16/32/BE/LE or 100+ other encodings for character-level inspecting & editing • Use predefined encoding groups for simplifying the search for an encoding • Search for the desired encoding by name • Quick view of selected bytes/characters directly in the encoding selection table • Replace or Insert bytes and characters • Inspect and modify integer types at the cursor position • Select a byte or text region for the subsequent actions: • Convert text to another encoding. • Сalculate checksums: Adler-32, BSD checksum, CRC-8, CRC-16, CRC-32, CRC-64, CRC-8/CDMA2000, CRC-8/DARC, CRC-8/DVB-S2, CRC-8/EBU, CRC-8/I-CODE, CRC-8/ITU, CRC-8/MAXIM, CRC-8/ROHC, CRC-8/WCDMA, CRC-16/CCITT_FALSE, CRC-16/AUG_CCITT, CRC-16/BUYPASS, CRC-16/CDMA2000, CRC-16/DDS-110, CRC-16/DECT-R, CRC-16/DECT-X, CRC-16/DNP, CRC-16/EN-13757, CRC-16/GENIBUS, CRC-16/MAXIM, CRC-16/MCRF4XX, CRC-16/RIELLO, CRC-16/T10-DIF, CRC-16/TELEDISK, CRC-16/TMS37157, CRC-16/USB, CRC-A, CRC-16/KERMIT, CRC-16/MODBUS, CRC-16/X-25, CRC-16/XMODEM, CRC-32/BZIP2, CRC-32C, CRC-32D, CRC-32/MPEG-2, CRC-32/POSIX, CRC-32Q, CRC-32/JAMCRC, CRC-32/XFER, CRC-64/WE, and CRC-64/XZ. • Сalculate hashes: BLAKE/BLAKE2, MD2, MD4, MD5, MD6, SHA1, SHA2 (SHA-224, SHA-256, SHA-384, SHA-512, SHA-512/256, SHA-512/224), SHA3-224, SHA3-256, SHA3-384, SHA3-512, SHAKE128, SHAKE256, RIPEMD-128/160/256/320, Tiger/Tiger2, Whirlpool and STREEBOG (Стрибог, ГОСТ 34.11-2018) • Encode or Decode from or to Base16, Base32(RFC 4648, hex, Crockford's, and z-base-32 alphabets), Base58(BITCOIN, RIPPLE, FLICKR, and GMP alphabets), Base64, Ascii85, and Z85(ZeroMQ) encodings • Encrypt or Decrypt using AES 128/192/256, BLOWFISH, DES, 3DES, RC2, and RC4 algorithms • Compress or Extract by Deflate/Inflate, BZIP2, and LZMA/LZMA2 algorithms. • Export the selected region as a QR code. • Fill the region with a given multibyte pattern • Cut the region • Copy and Paste the region • Undo/Redo • Clone or delete files INTERFACE • Multi-tab interface • Tabs can be reordered or removed by long pressing on them and dragging • Change the width of an arbitrary column in the file data table • Jump to arbitrary file offset by tapping on the Offset column • Choose from Decimal or Hexadecimal formats for the file offset values by tapping on the Offset column header • The space occupied by the file data table and the property sheet (or their relative arrangement) can be tuned by dragging (or double-tapping) the delimiter handle between them • Zoom in/out almost every part of the user interface • Light and Dark themes depending on the device settings AUXILIARY • File renaming • Change the size of the file • Select the number of bytes in a row • Find & replace an arbitrary text or byte fragment with an arbitrary text or byte fragment • Access the App's Document folder through a Web Browser LIMITATIONS • Undo/Redo works for modifications up to 16Mb This app by default has restrictions on file content visibility. The visible content of any file is restricted by the first 256 bytes. To remove those restrictions you can start a monthly auto-renewable subscription or buy permanent full access. Privacy Policy: https://apotocki.github.io/potohex/privacy.pdf Terms of Use: https://apotocki.github.io/potohex/terms-of-use.pdf

Screenshots

Visual File Editor4 screens
PotoHEX4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Visual File Editor at 83% against PotoHEX's 33%. Visual File Editor also leads on rating (4.5 vs 3.5). PotoHEX's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 4 weeks). On price, ratings volume, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Visual File Editor sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and PotoHEX sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Visual File Editor holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 25 and 16 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 83% of Visual File Editor's written reviews are positive against 33% of PotoHEX's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Visual File Editor ships an update every 4 weeks, PotoHEX every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Visual File Editor versus PotoHEX: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVisual File EditorPotoHEX
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (25 ratings) — better3.5 (16 ratings)
Positive reviews83.3% of reviews — better33.3% of reviews
Number of ratings25 — better16
Update frequencyEvery 4 weeksEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS14.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB20 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTevon WallaceAlexander Pototskiy

Customer experience

Visual File Editor

All ratings25 ratings
Positive88.0%
Neutral4.0%
Negative8.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%

PotoHEX

All ratings16 ratings
Positive56.3%
Neutral6.3%
Negative37.5%
Written reviews21 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral14.3%
Negative52.4%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Visual File Editor

One-time1
  • Remove Ads$1.99
2 purchases

PotoHEX

Subscriptions1
  • Monthly$0.991 Month
One-time1
  • Permanent$9.99

Questions

Is Visual File Editor free?
Visual File Editor is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PotoHEX free?
PotoHEX is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Visual File Editor or PotoHEX?
Visual File Editor is rated higher. Visual File Editor averages 4.5 out of 5 from 25 ratings, while PotoHEX averages 3.5 from 16 ratings.
Do Visual File Editor or PotoHEX have ads?
Visual File Editor shows ads; PotoHEX does not.
Which is updated more often, Visual File Editor or PotoHEX?
Visual File Editor ships an update every 4 weeks, and PotoHEX every 2 weeks. Most recently, Visual File Editor was updated on October 8, 2026 and PotoHEX on October 14, 2026.

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