# FileBrowser vs File manager

The clearest difference is review sentiment: FileBrowser at 82% against File manager's 30%. FileBrowser also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ads (none vs shown). File manager's advantage is price (Free vs $7.99). On device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

File manager is free to download; FileBrowser costs $7.99 up front. File manager sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. FileBrowser asks for nothing beyond the download.

FileBrowser holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: FileBrowser has 5.6K ratings behind it against 720, 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 30% of File manager's.

FileBrowser ships an update every 5 weeks, File manager every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and August 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | FileBrowser | File manager |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $7.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.7 (5.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/filebrowser-documents-manager/id364738545/reviews)** | [4.5 (720 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/file-manager-document-editor/id1498297596/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **5.6K** | 720 |
| Positive reviews | **82.1% of reviews** | 30.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 70 MB | 107 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Stratospherix Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/323133606) | [Bhalala Hiren Bharatbai](https://appshunter.io/developer/1438302804) |

## What reviewers say

### FileBrowser

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

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 manager

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/file-manager-document-editor/id1498297596)

Easily manage all files and folders on your device, including internal storage and cloud services. Browse by category, perform essential file actions, and analyze storage usage. Includes bonus process and backup managers.

**Highlights:** File and folder management, Cloud storage integration, Storage analysis, Internal media viewers, Dual-pane interface, File compression/decompression

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| File Manager Pro - Weekly | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| File Manager Pro - Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| File Manager Pro - Annual | $14.99 | per year |
| File Manager - Remove Ads | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Perfekter File Manager
- 👍 Good app
- 👍 Video recording

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes on startup
- 🐛 Crashes when browsing files
- 🔋 High battery consumption due to ads
- 🚫 Useless, doesn't work
- 🚫 No access to local folders

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when searching for music files
- Deletes all photos, even unselected ones
- Closes automatically when opening
- Doesn't work on iPhone 13 Pro Max

**Requested features**

- Add search option
- Improve file management capabilities


## Frequently asked questions

### Is FileBrowser free?

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

### Is File manager free?

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

### Which has better reviews, FileBrowser or File manager?

FileBrowser is rated higher. FileBrowser averages 4.7 out of 5 from 5.6K ratings, while File manager averages 4.5 from 720 ratings.

### Do FileBrowser or File manager have ads?

File manager shows ads; FileBrowser does not.

### Which is updated more often, FileBrowser or File manager?

FileBrowser ships an update every 5 weeks, and File manager every 3 months. Most recently, FileBrowser was updated on September 24, 2026 and File manager on August 31, 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.*