# File Manager vs Sidenote

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Sidenote at none against File Manager's 5. Sidenote also leads on update cadence (every 8 days vs monthly). File Manager's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. File Manager sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per 7 days. Sidenote asks for nothing beyond the download.

File Manager ships an update monthly, Sidenote every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | File Manager | Sidenote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.2 (55 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/file-manager-documents-viewer/id1630811049/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **55** | — |
| Positive reviews | 16.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 26 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | +4 | 4+ |
| Developer | [Sunshine Software Labs](https://appshunter.io/developer/1788219451) | [Alexander James Walters](https://appshunter.io/developer/1837723515) |

## What reviewers say

### 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 |


### Sidenote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sidenote-easy-notes/id6804848208)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is File Manager free?

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

### Is Sidenote free?

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

### Do File Manager or Sidenote have ads?

Neither File Manager nor Sidenote shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, File Manager or Sidenote?

File Manager ships an update monthly, and Sidenote every 8 days. Most recently, File Manager was updated on October 13, 2026 and Sidenote on October 20, 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.*