# USB Disk vs ES File Explorer

The clearest difference is price: ES File Explorer at Free against USB Disk's $0.99. ES File Explorer also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (15K vs 160). On rating, review sentiment, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

ES File Explorer is free to download; USB Disk costs $0.99 up front. USB Disk sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and ES File Explorer sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for USB Disk against 4.6 for ES File Explorer. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ES File Explorer has 15K ratings behind it against 160, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 71% of USB Disk's written reviews are positive against 64% of ES File Explorer's.

USB Disk ships an update every 3 months, ES File Explorer every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | USB Disk | ES File Explorer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.6 (160 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/usb-disk/id385275533/reviews) | [4.6 (15K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/es-file-explorer/id1441621965/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 160 | **15K** |
| Positive reviews | **70.8% of reviews** | 63.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 170 MB | 263 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Imesart S.a.r.l.](https://appshunter.io/developer/290160983) | [Beijing Xiaoxiong Bowang Technology Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1435277197) |

## What reviewers say

### USB Disk

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/usb-disk/id385275533)

Manage and view documents on your iPhone or iPad with this intuitive file manager. Access cloud storage, open various file types, and transfer files via iTunes. Advanced features like photo library access and PDF annotation are available via subscription.

**Highlights:** Cloud storage integration (Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, Box), Built-in document viewer for various file types, File transfer via iTunes, Create and open zip files, Swipe navigation and file previews, Email documents and download attachments

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| USB Disk Pro Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Audio Player + | $0.99 | one-time |
| Zip files support | $0.99 | one-time |
| Dropbox access | $0.99 | one-time |
| Lock code | $0.99 | one-time |
| Text editor | $0.99 | one-time |
| Evernote access | $0.99 | one-time |
| Google Drive access | $0.99 | one-time |
| OneDrive access | $0.99 | one-time |
| WebDAV access | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Efficient file management
- 💡 Useful for storing and accessing documents
- 👍 Convenient for transferring files between devices

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 💰 Expensive paid features
- 🔒 Concerns about security and privacy
- 🤔 Misleading app description

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to open certain file types
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions
- Syncing problems between devices

**Requested features**

- Support for more file types
- Improved integration with cloud storage services
- Ability to edit and annotate files
- Better organization and folder management


### ES File Explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/es-file-explorer/id1441621965)

Manage local and network files with this comprehensive tool. It offers file transfer, compression, built-in media players, cloud storage integration, and editing capabilities for various document and code formats.

**Highlights:** File management and sorting, WiFi and face-to-face file transfer, ZIP, RAR, 7Z compression/decompression, Built-in audio/video player, Cloud storage aggregation, Remote service access (SMB, FTP, WebDAV), PDF and code editor

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ES Pro(1 month) | $6.99 | per month |
| ES Pro(1 month) | $6.99 | per month |
| ES Pro(1 year) | $29.99 | per year |
| ES Pro(1 year） | $29.99 | per year |
| ES remove ads | $1.99 | one-time |
| ES lifetime vip | $4.99 | one-time |
| ES lifetime vip | $6.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Powerful file management
- 📁 Extensive file format support
- 🔒 Secure folder access
- 🎵 Excellent built-in media player
- 🔗 Seamless network connectivity

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🔍 Search functionality issues
- 🔇 Music playback problems
- 🔌 Connectivity issues with FTP/SFTP

**Reported bugs**

- Deleted all user files after update
- Unable to connect to SMB servers
- Video playback issues with certain file types
- Inconsistent behavior when using VPN

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Improved file compression tools
- More customization options
- Better integration with Apple ecosystem
- Enhanced audio/video playback controls


## Frequently asked questions

### Is USB Disk free?

USB Disk costs $0.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is ES File Explorer free?

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

### Which has better reviews, USB Disk or ES File Explorer?

USB Disk and ES File Explorer are both rated 4.6 out of 5 on the App Store, from 160 and 15K ratings respectively.

### Do USB Disk or ES File Explorer have ads?

USB Disk shows ads; ES File Explorer does not.

### Which is updated more often, USB Disk or ES File Explorer?

USB Disk ships an update every 3 months, and ES File Explorer every 3 weeks. Most recently, USB Disk was updated on September 23, 2026 and ES File Explorer on September 24, 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.*