Files vs Pearltrees
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
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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
Pearltrees
Organize all your digital content, from web pages to files, into visually appealing collections. Enhance your content with AI and discover new resources on topics you love. Access your organized information anytime, anywhere, and collaborate with others.
- Organize all content types
- AI content transformation
- Discover and share resources
- Access collections anywhere
- Collaborate on topics
- Visual content collections
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Pearltrees lets you organize everything effortlessly. Add your content, transform it with Pearltrees AI, and organize it into beautiful collections. Discover and share millions of resources on your favorite topics. With Pearltrees, access all your interests anytime, anywhere! Dedicated versions of Pearltrees also exist for schools and enterprises. What people are saying about Pearltrees: "The most elegant and visual way of collecting and sharing online content" The Next Web "Pearltrees puts a library in your pocket" Digital Trends "This app makes a wonderful experience navigating the collections" Forbes Features: • Have everything you like with you all the time • Access all your collections from anywhere: computers, iPads and iPhones • Keep everything you like: web pages, files, photos and more... • Transform your content and go further with Pearltrees AI • Browse your favorite things blazingly fast • Discover interesting stuff in your areas of interests • Collaborate on your favorite topics • Share all of this Pearltrees is free to download and use. Pearltrees premium adds additional features and is available through an auto-renewing subscription. Pearltrees Premium offers several subscription options: • Personal monthly for $2.99 • Personal annually for $29.99 • Advanced monthly for $4.99 • Advanced annually for $49.99 • Professional monthly for $9.99 • Professional annually for $99.99 Subscriptions will be charged to your credit card through your iTunes account. Your subscription will automatically renew unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You will not be able to cancel a subscription during the active period. Manage your subscriptions in the Account Settings after purchase. Our Terms of Use: http://www.pearltrees.com/info/terms Our Privacy Policy: http://www.pearltrees.com/info/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Files at 4.7 against Pearltrees's 4.2. Files also leads on ratings volume (12K vs 186). Pearltrees's advantage is review sentiment (86% vs 55%) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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 and Pearltrees sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Files holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Files has 12K ratings behind it against 186, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 55% of Files's written reviews are positive against 86% of Pearltrees's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Files ships an update every 4 months, Pearltrees every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Files | Pearltrees |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (12K ratings) — better | 4.2 (186 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 55.3% of reviews | 85.9% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 12K — better | 186 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 3 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 56 MB | 96 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Hian Zin Jong | Broceliand SAS |
Customer experience
Files
Pearltrees
User reviews
Files
From 12K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Easy to collect content
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 💡 Useful for offline access
- 🚀 Quick downloads
- 👍 Reliable app
Room to improve
- 🐛 Crashes/glitches
- 🔒 Security concerns
- 💰 Subscription model issues
- 🔋 Drains battery
- 🐛 Compatibility issues with iOS updates
Pearltrees
From 186 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Visually appealing and intuitive
- 💡 Excellent for organizing and sharing web content
- 👍 Seamless cross-platform experience
- 💡 Collaborative features for sharing and discovering new content
Room to improve
- 🔒 Privacy concerns with public profiles by default
- 🐛 Occasional crashes and performance issues
- 💡 Desire for more customization options (e.g., private trees, custom icons)
- 🐛 Difficulty in navigating large collections of 'pearls'
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
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- Improve video playback controls
Pearltrees
Reported bugs
3 issues- Login and sign-up process can be confusing
- Syncing issues between devices
- Compatibility problems with older devices and operating systems
Requested features
4 requests- Add ability to take notes, annotate, and add context to 'pearls'
- Improve search and organization tools for large collections
- Provide more privacy controls and options for private content
- Integrate with more third-party services and apps
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
Pearltrees
- the Pearltrees Premium Personal plan$1.991 Month
- the Pearltrees Premium Personal plan$2.991 Month
- the Pearltrees Premium Advanced plan$3.991 Month
Show 6 moreShow fewer
- the Pearltrees Premium Advanced plan$4.991 Month
- the Pearltrees Premium Professional plan$9.991 Month
- the Pearltrees Premium Personal plan$19.991 Year
- the Pearltrees Premium Personal plan$29.991 Year
- the Pearltrees Premium Advanced plan$39.991 Year
- the Pearltrees Premium Advanced plan$49.991 Year
- month$1.99









