FullControl vs File Explorer & Player
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
FullControl
Transform your iPhone or iPad into a powerful remote control for your Mac. Effortlessly manage applications, control media playback, navigate files, and even use your device as a keyboard and trackpad. Offers extensive customization for a personalized computing experience.
- Custom commands for each Mac application
- Launch applications and control media
- Remote keyboard and trackpad functionality
- File browser and launcher
- Shutdown, restart, and sleep Mac
- Live screenshots and volume control (in-app purchase)
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FullControl is a fun, and easy-to-use app that turns your iPhone or iPad into a remote control. So you can control your computer with a tap or flick of a finger. Why is FullControl so different? • there are specific commands for each Mac application, for ALL Mac applications! • high commands customization; • launch applications; • volume control; • navigate through Mac filesystem and open files; • remote keyboard and mouse. Do you want to skip to the next track? There is a fast command for this! Do you need to stop the movie? There is a command for this! Want to start a video? Do not look for it with the mouse, FullControl allows you to access the contents of folders on your Mac and launch files with the program of your choice! ### ALL FEATURES ### • Custom command FOR EACH Mac application • Launch applications in the folder "Applications" and in the Dock • Remote keyboard • Remote trackpad • Shutdown, restart, and putting to sleep the Mac • File browser and file launcher • Automatic server detection # In-App Purchases FEATURES # • Numeric pad • Live screenshots of your Mac • Volume control • Brightness control • Music control (play, pause, next, previous) • Prevent device screen lock toggle FullControl just installed, you have already provided the commands to control your music on iTunes, Spotify, the videos play on VLC, QuickTime, manage live TV on EyeTV! Requirements • Mac Intel with Mac OS 10.14 (or higher) • FullControlHelper (3.1.9 or higher) installed on your Mac • Accessibility API enabled for FullControlHelper • Wifi/LAN FullControlHelper is available for free at http://fullcontrol.cescobaz.com/
File Explorer & Player
Access and stream files from your Mac wirelessly on your iPhone or iPad. View photos, documents, and play videos directly from your computer. Transfer files and even use your iOS device as a portable drive.
- Stream video from Mac
- View photos and documents
- Transfer files to iOS
- Use iOS as a drive
- Wireless Mac access
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Turn your iPhone or iPad into the wireless flash drive for your Mac. Have full access to your Mac files – use your iOS device to stream videos, view photos and documents, from anywhere within your home. AT A GLANCE - Stream any video directly from your Mac; - View photos or documents stored on your Mac; - Transfer files between your Mac and your iOS device; - Store anything on your iOS device and take it with you on the go; - Mount your iOS device as drive on your Mac or Windows machine using WebDAV; - Use the Personal Hotspot of your iOS device to control your Mac when you don’t have access to other networks. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS - Mac with macOS 10.10 or above and Helper app installed; - iPhone, iPad or iPod touch with iOS 11 or above; - Shared wireless network connection between your computer and iOS device. TERMS OF USE https://cherpake.com/tos Ratings are like gold for indie developers like me, please give the app a quick rating on the App Store.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: FullControl at none against File Explorer & Player's shown. FullControl also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 18.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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
Both are free to download. FullControl sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and File Explorer & Player sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for FullControl against 4.6 for File Explorer & Player. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 220 and 122 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 82% of FullControl's written reviews are positive against 78% of File Explorer & Player's.
FullControl ships an update every 4 weeks, File Explorer & Player fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | FullControl | File Explorer & Player |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (220 ratings) | 4.6 (122 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 81.9% of reviews — better | 78.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 220 — better | 122 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 28 MB | 85 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Francesco Burelli | Remote Sunrise LTD |
Customer experience
FullControl
File Explorer & Player
User reviews
FullControl
From 220 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Fully functional free app
- 👍 Worth-it pro upgrade
- 👍 Easy to use and very useful
- 👍 Excellent remote app
- 🚀 Comprehensive application
Room to improve
- 🐛 No longer functions with newer OS versions
- 🐛 Laggy trackpad and scrolling
- 🔒 Concerns about security and privacy
- 🐛 Unreliable connection and disconnects
- 🐛 Certain features not working as expected
File Explorer & Player
From 122 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Easy to use and understand
- 🚀 Fast streaming of files
- 👍 Seamless connection across devices
- 👍 Works well on Apple devices (iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Vision Pro)
- 💰 Inexpensive and good value
Room to improve
- 🐛 Free version is limited/useless
- 🐛 Does not work for PC
- 🐛 No external access (from outside home network)
- 🐛 Paid version download issues reported
- 🐛 Lack of clear instructions for new features
Bugs and requests
FullControl
Reported bugs
3 issues- Cursor freezes or behaves unexpectedly
- Compatibility issues with newer OS versions
- Certain commands not working as intended
Requested features
5 requests- Add volume and brightness controls
- Improve mouse/trackpad responsiveness
- Integrate with voice assistants
- Allow remote login and power on/off
- Improve UI and customization options
File Explorer & Player
Reported bugs
3 issues- Paid version download issues reported
- Free version does nothing
- Poor support response to feature inquiries
Requested features
5 requests- Add NAS support
- Enable external access (remote access from outside home network)
- Add Chinese language option
- Allow file renaming
- Improve PC compatibility
In-app purchases
FullControl
- Pro upgrade$1.99
File Explorer & Player
- Upgrade to Pro Version - 1M$1.991 Month
- Upgrade to Pro Version1 Month trial$9.991 Year
- Remove Ads$19.99
- Upgrade to PRO$19.99
Questions
Is FullControl free?
Is File Explorer & Player free?
Which has better reviews, FullControl or File Explorer & Player?
Do FullControl or File Explorer & Player have ads?
Which is updated more often, FullControl or File Explorer & Player?
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