Files vs PowerReader
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Files
This app provides a web browser to save documents for offline viewing on your device. It includes a robust file manager with viewers for various document types, a photo browser, PDF reader, and Dropbox integration.
- Web browser for offline viewing
- Built-in file manager
- Advanced PDF reader
- Photo browser
- Dropbox integration
- File transfer via HTTP/FTP
- Passcode lock
Read full descriptionHide full description
Files App (formerly known as Downloads Lite) features a Web browser that lets you save documents to your iPhone or iPod touch so that you can work with them offline. It has a built-in file manager, with robust viewer for all iOS supported document types, powerful photo browser, advanced PDF reader, full Dropbox support, and more. NOTE: This app does not support downloading of audio or video content. FEATURES √ Full portrait & landscape mode support √ Passcode lock √ Web browser - Provides a user experience very similar to Mobile Safari - Tabbed browsing - Tap and hold on an image to download it - Tap and hold to force download - Save web pages with images for offline viewing - Full screen mode - Bookmark manager - History support - Address bar auto-completion - HTTP basic authentication - Form-based authentication - Integrated Google or Yahoo! search - Ability to spoof browser's User-Agent string to display web pages like Firefox - Unified smart search field. Type a URL or search term in the unified smart search field, the browser automatically suggests the closest match to what you’re looking for. √ Download manager - Fast downloading speed - Supports resuming of interrupted downloads reliably - Live download progress bar and speed indicator - Active downloads badge number - Add arbitrary download link - Always download with correct filename √ File manager - Full screen document viewer that supports .pdf, .doc, .xls, .ppt, .txt, .html and .rtf file formats - Folders support - Move, rename and delete files - Search by file name - Extract RAR archives - Unzip ZIP files - Remember document scroll position - Attempt to open file of unrecognized format - Import photos from camera roll √ Dropbox integration - Upload, download and manage files - Sync what you want, keep files on your device √ Advanced PDF viewer - Huge PDF files work flawlessly - Text search - Tap PDF links to jump across the file √ Photo viewer - Tap or swipe to move between images in a folder - Zoom in and out with pinch gesture - Ability to save images to photo album - Thumbnails view √ File transfer - Supports HTTP and FTP protocols - Supports iTunes USB File Sharing - Transfer files to and from computer in Wi-Fi network - Send files as email attachments (size under 15MB) √ Mobile Safari Integration - Bookmarklet for Mobile Safari that lets you open any link in Files app √ Multitasking - Background downloading √ Inter-app document interchange - Other apps can save their files to Files app (e.g. Email app can save attachments to Files app) √ Recovery Mode - If the browser caught in an endless loop of pop-up alerts, go to the iOS built-in "Settings" app, find "Files App", turn on "Recovery Mode", then force-quit and relaunch the app. Terms of Use: https://downloadsapp.info/terms Privacy Policy: https://downloadsapp.info/privacy
PowerReader
Easily view, import, and export files, music, photos, and videos with this app. It integrates seamlessly with external flash drives for iOS devices, allowing quick file transfers and management across Mac, PC, and iOS devices.
- View, import, and export files
- Works with external flash drives
- File management across devices
- Direct import from photo library
- Access from other apps
Read full descriptionHide full description
View,import and export your files, music, photos and videos more easily with PowerReader. The PowerReader app is designed to work with PowerDrive accessories, the world’s leading external flash drive for iOS devices, certified MFi by Apple. Quicker than quicker - Launch the app with the least time, move or copy to another location or another with the least steps. Your jobs are done in a blink. Access PowerDrive accessories from other app without launching the Lite app. - With the full feature extension embedded with PowerReader.Saving a photo to accessories directly from Apple Photos app, fetching files in accessories directly from Microsoft Office apps,saving movies to accessories from third-party app like Thunder can be done without opening the PowerReader App.That’s astonishing! Import photos and videos from your photo library to your PowerDrive Lite directly. - Choose any of your photos or videos and move them to any location you want. You don’t need to copy to a local device and then move to external storage. Manage files easily between Mac, PC and iOS devices. - PowerDrive accessories are compatible with PC, Mac and iOS. Transferring your files from PC/Mac to your iPhone is now a piece of cake, via Lightning connector.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Files at 55% against PowerReader's 13%. Files also leads on rating (4.7 vs 1.4) and ratings volume (12K vs 13). PowerReader's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 4 months). On price and ads 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. Files sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. PowerReader asks for nothing beyond the download.
Files holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 1.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Files has 12K ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 55% of Files's written reviews are positive against 13% of PowerReader's.
Files ships an update every 4 months, PowerReader every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Files | PowerReader |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (12K ratings) — better | 1.4 (13 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 55.3% of reviews — better | 12.5% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 12K — better | 13 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 8.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 56 MB | 11 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Hian Zin Jong | Shenzhen Dianzhui Culture Technology Co., Ltd. |
Customer experience
Files
PowerReader
Bugs and requests
Files
Reported bugs
5 issues- Crashes when opening images/videos
- Download links not working
- Restore purchases not functioning
- App not opening on iOS 13+
- Inconsistent behavior when switching tabs
Requested features
6 requests- Add equalizer
- Improve search functionality
- Enable background downloads
- Integrate with native Files app
- Add playlist management options
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- Improve video playback controls
PowerReader
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Files
- Monthly Subscription$0.991 Month
- Monthly Subscription7 Days trial$0.991 Month
- Yearly Subscription$5.991 Year
- Full Version Upgrade$4.99
PowerReader
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Files free?
Is PowerReader free?
Which has better reviews, Files or PowerReader?
Do Files or PowerReader have ads?
Which is updated more often, Files or PowerReader?
Other comparisons















