# FileBrowser vs File Explorer & Manager

The clearest difference is review sentiment: FileBrowser at 82% against File Explorer & Manager's 25%. FileBrowser also leads on rating (4.7 vs 2.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). File Explorer & Manager's advantage is price (Free vs $7.99) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.6). On update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

File Explorer & Manager is free to download; FileBrowser costs $7.99 up front. File Explorer & Manager sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. FileBrowser asks for nothing beyond the download.

FileBrowser holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: FileBrowser has 5.6K ratings behind it against 5, 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 25% of File Explorer & Manager's.

FileBrowser ships an update every 5 weeks, File Explorer & Manager every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and August 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | FileBrowser | File Explorer & Manager |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $7.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.7 (5.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/filebrowser-documents-manager/id364738545/reviews)** | [2.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/file-explorer-and-manager/id1458961571/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **5.6K** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | **82.1% of reviews** | 25.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#144** | — |
| Size | 70 MB | 23 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Stratospherix Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/323133606) | [Nalin Savaliya](https://appshunter.io/developer/1248252947) |

## What reviewers say

### FileBrowser

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

**Currently charting:** #144 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


### File Explorer & Manager

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/file-explorer-and-manager/id1458961571)

Easily find, manage, and share files on your device. This secure tool offers features like quick search, renaming, unzipping, and bulk operations. Create new folders and add various media types like photos, videos, and voice memos.

**Highlights:** Quick file search, Zip/Unzip compression, Bulk copy and move, File sharing, Create new folders, Add photos, videos, and voice memos

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| File Explorer for iOS | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is FileBrowser free?

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

### Is File Explorer & Manager free?

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

### Which has better reviews, FileBrowser or File Explorer & Manager?

FileBrowser is rated higher. FileBrowser averages 4.7 out of 5 from 5.6K ratings, while File Explorer & Manager averages 2.0 from 5 ratings.

### Do FileBrowser or File Explorer & Manager have ads?

File Explorer & Manager shows ads; FileBrowser does not.

### Which is updated more often, FileBrowser or File Explorer & Manager?

FileBrowser ships an update every 5 weeks, and File Explorer & Manager every 2 months. Most recently, FileBrowser was updated on September 24, 2026 and File Explorer & Manager on August 21, 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.*