# ES file explorer vs File Manager

The clearest difference is rating: File Manager at 4.2 against ES file explorer's 1.8. File Manager also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (17% vs 0%). ES file explorer's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs monthly). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ES file explorer sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per year and File Manager sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

File Manager holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 1.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: File Manager has 55 ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of ES file explorer's written reviews are positive against 17% of File Manager's.

ES file explorer ships an update every 2 weeks, File Manager monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ES file explorer | File Manager |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.8 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/es-file-explorer/id1620305556/reviews) | **[4.2 (55 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/file-manager-documents-viewer/id1630811049/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 10 | **55** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **16.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 44 MB | 26 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | +4 |
| Developer | [alkesh dudhat](https://appshunter.io/developer/1599434938) | [Sunshine Software Labs](https://appshunter.io/developer/1788219451) |

## What reviewers say

### ES file explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/es-file-explorer/id1620305556)

This app helps you organize and manage all files on your device. It allows you to view images, videos, audio, and documents, and sorts them into categories for easy access. Quickly find recently opened files and analyze your storage usage.

**Highlights:** Built-in viewers and players for various file types, Quick browsing by file type, downloads, recent, and large files, Storage usage analysis dashboard, Search photos by date, size, and creation/open dates, Multiple selection and sorting support

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Yearly Premium Access | $9.99 | per year |


### File Manager

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/file-manager-documents-viewer/id1630811049)

Manage and organize all your local and cloud-stored files with this comprehensive utility. Access documents, media, and recordings, and secure your data with biometric protection. Offers robust file manipulation and cloud integration.

**Highlights:** Multiple cloud service integration, PDF reader and image viewer, Audio recorder and rich text editor, Uncompression tool for Zip, Rar, 7z, Biometric file protection (Touch ID/Face ID), Offline file access, URL downloader

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 3 Days Free Trial Weekly VIP | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Get Premium Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| 7 Day Free Then Get Premium | $19.99 | per year |
| Annual VIP | $49.99 | per year |
| Get Premium One Time Purchase | $99.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ES file explorer free?

ES file explorer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is File Manager free?

File Manager is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, ES file explorer or File Manager?

File Manager is rated higher. ES file explorer averages 1.8 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while File Manager averages 4.2 from 55 ratings.

### Do ES file explorer or File Manager have ads?

ES file explorer shows ads; File Manager does not.

### Which is updated more often, ES file explorer or File Manager?

ES file explorer ships an update every 2 weeks, and File Manager monthly. Most recently, ES file explorer was updated on September 24, 2026 and File Manager on September 27, 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.*