# FileBrowser vs Loader (Media Player)

The clearest difference is review sentiment: FileBrowser at 82% against Loader (Media Player)'s 17%. FileBrowser also leads on rating (4.7 vs 2.3) and in-app purchases (none vs 7). Loader (Media Player)'s advantage is price (Free vs $7.99) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 5 weeks). On device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Loader (Media Player) is free to download; FileBrowser costs $7.99 up front. Loader (Media Player) sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. FileBrowser asks for nothing beyond the download.

FileBrowser holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: FileBrowser has 5.6K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 82% of FileBrowser's written reviews are positive against 17% of Loader (Media Player)'s.

FileBrowser ships an update every 5 weeks, Loader (Media Player) every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and July 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | FileBrowser | Loader (Media Player) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $7.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.7 (5.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/filebrowser-documents-manager/id364738545/reviews)** | [2.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/loader-media-player/id1442498151/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **5.6K** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | **82.1% of reviews** | 16.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#64** | — |
| Size | 70 MB | 94 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Stratospherix Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/323133606) | [Jafrin Begum Chowdhury](https://appshunter.io/developer/1442498148) |

## What reviewers say

### FileBrowser

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/filebrowser-documents-manager/id364738545)

**Currently charting:** #64 Top Paid · Utilities (US App Store)

Access and manage files across your home computers, network drives, and cloud storage. Upload, download, copy, and edit documents directly from your device, with built-in viewers for various file types and streaming capabilities.

**Highlights:** Connect to computers, NAS, and cloud storage, Upload, download, copy, and move files, Multi-tabbed browsing and split-screen support, Edit documents in-place, Built-in viewers for documents, photos, and media, Stream movies and music with AirPlay/Chromecast, Annotate PDFs and images

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great file manager
- 🚀 Powerful and versatile
- 🔒 Secure access to files
- 💡 Excellent integration with iOS Files app
- 👍 Reliable and stable

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 SMB connection issues
- 🐛 Misleading directory caching
- 🐛 Video playback problems
- 🐛 Buggy UI changes
- 🐛 Inability to rename photos

**Reported bugs**

- Copy and paste functionality broken after update
- Inability to access iCloud files
- Crashes when accessing large files
- Thumbnails not generating properly

**Requested features**

- Add support for AV1 video codec
- Improve audio playback controls
- Implement a recycle bin/trash feature
- Add option to loop video playback
- Improve video scrubbing and seeking


### Loader (Media Player)

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/loader-media-player/id1442498151)

Manage and store documents on your phone with this efficient app. It allows easy sharing via iTunes file sharing and provides seamless playback of various media files directly within the application. Enjoy a world of entertainment on your device.

**Highlights:** Document management and storage, iTunes file sharing, Seamless media playback, Import various video/audio formats, File sharing capabilities

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $0.99 | per month |
| Plan 2 Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Quarterly | $2.49 | per 3 months |
| Plan 2 Quarterly | $4.99 | per 3 months |
| Yearly | $6.99 | per year |
| Plan 2 Bi-annually | $9.99 | per 6 months |
| Plan 2 Yearly | $14.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is FileBrowser free?

FileBrowser costs $7.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Loader (Media Player) free?

Loader (Media Player) is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, FileBrowser or Loader (Media Player)?

FileBrowser is rated higher. FileBrowser averages 4.7 out of 5 from 5.6K ratings, while Loader (Media Player) averages 2.3 from 3 ratings.

### Do FileBrowser or Loader (Media Player) have ads?

Loader (Media Player) shows ads; FileBrowser does not.

### Which is updated more often, FileBrowser or Loader (Media Player)?

FileBrowser ships an update every 5 weeks, and Loader (Media Player) every 5 days. Most recently, FileBrowser was updated on September 25, 2026 and Loader (Media Player) on July 18, 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.*