# Zip File Viewer vs File Manager

The clearest difference is rating: File Manager at 4.3 against Zip File Viewer's 3.2. File Manager also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 months) and ratings volume (122 vs 5). Zip File Viewer's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and review sentiment (47% vs 22%). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. File Manager sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Zip File Viewer asks for nothing beyond the download.

File Manager holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: File Manager has 122 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 47% of Zip File Viewer's written reviews are positive against 22% of File Manager's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Zip File Viewer ships an update every 6 months, File Manager every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Zip File Viewer | File Manager |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.2 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zip-file-viewer/id352308329/reviews) | **[4.3 (122 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/file-manager-zip-and-unzip/id1296085015/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **122** |
| Positive reviews | **46.8% of reviews** | 22.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 14 MB | 197 MB |
| Requires iOS | **7.0** | 13.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [BYTO](https://appshunter.io/developer/352308332) | [Mirarobot Science & Technology Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1143715486) |

## What reviewers say

### Zip File Viewer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zip-file-viewer/id352308329)

Easily open and play various file formats directly from compressed archives without needing to decompress them. Supports numerous media and document types, offering a simple interface for file management and access.

**Highlights:** Open zip files directly, Play/view files without uncompressing, Supports various file formats (audio, video, docs), Easy file management, Transfer files via WiFi or Email

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and easy to use
- 👍 Works as expected
- 🔒 Secure file viewing
- 💡 Convenient for email attachments

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes or freezes
- 🔒 Cannot save or share files
- 🔋 Drains battery
- 👎 Limited functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Cannot open first file or folder in a list
- Ads prevent access to content
- Inconsistent performance across devices

**Requested features**

- Add ability to save or share files
- Improve compatibility with newer iOS versions
- Provide more file format support
- Optimize for larger screen sizes


### File Manager

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/file-manager-zip-and-unzip/id1296085015)

This app provides comprehensive file management capabilities, including viewing images, editing text, and previewing office documents. It also offers robust compression/decompression, media playback, scanning, cloud storage integration, and secure file transfer options.

**Highlights:** Image browser, Text and source code editor, Office document and PDF reader, Compression and decompression, Universal audio/video player, Cloud storage management, Network file transfer

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Update to Pro | $2.99 | one-time |
| Premium | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Zip File Viewer free?

Zip File Viewer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is File Manager free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Zip File Viewer or File Manager?

File Manager is rated higher. Zip File Viewer averages 3.2 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while File Manager averages 4.3 from 122 ratings.

### Do Zip File Viewer or File Manager have ads?

Neither Zip File Viewer nor File Manager shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Zip File Viewer or File Manager?

Zip File Viewer ships an update every 6 months, and File Manager every 3 weeks. Most recently, Zip File Viewer was updated on November 1, 2026 and File Manager on November 3, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*