# 4shared Mobile vs ES File Explorer

The clearest difference is ads: ES File Explorer at none against 4shared Mobile's shown. ES File Explorer also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (15K vs 1.1K). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. 4shared Mobile sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days 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 — 4.5 for 4shared Mobile 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 1.1K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 54% of 4shared Mobile's written reviews are positive against 64% of ES File Explorer's.

4shared Mobile ships an update every 2 months, ES File Explorer every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | 4shared Mobile | ES File Explorer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/4shared-mobile/id444426162/reviews) | **[4.6 (15K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/es-file-explorer/id1441621965/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1.1K | **15K** |
| Positive reviews | 53.6% of reviews | **63.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 57 MB | 263 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [New IT Solutions Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/444426165) | [Beijing Xiaoxiong Bowang Technology Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1435277197) |

## What reviewers say

### 4shared Mobile

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/4shared-mobile/id444426162)

Access and manage your files securely in the cloud with 15GB of free storage. Stream music, watch videos, read documents, and share files easily from your mobile device.

**Highlights:** Cloud file access and management, 15GB free storage, Offline file access, File sharing via email and social media, Data backup, Music player with playlists, Video and document viewing

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 4shared PRO | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| 4shared PRO | $13.99 | per 6 months |
| 4shared PRO | $19.99 | per year |
| Ad Free Version | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Convenient file storage and sharing
- 👍 Easy to use app
- 💯 Excellent for music and media
- 🌟 Great app overall

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 🔒 Account and login issues
- 🚫 Inability to download or access files
- 📵 Requires internet connection for basic functionality

**Reported bugs**

- White screen on launch
- Incompatibility with iOS 14
- Deleted files not saving properly
- Ads causing disruption

**Requested features**

- Add search function
- Improve offline capabilities
- Implement playlists and better music management
- Support for Face ID and Touch ID


### 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 4shared Mobile free?

4shared Mobile is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is ES File Explorer free?

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

### Which has better reviews, 4shared Mobile or ES File Explorer?

ES File Explorer is rated higher. 4shared Mobile averages 4.5 out of 5 from 1.1K ratings, while ES File Explorer averages 4.6 from 15K ratings.

### Do 4shared Mobile or ES File Explorer have ads?

4shared Mobile shows ads; ES File Explorer does not.

### Which is updated more often, 4shared Mobile or ES File Explorer?

4shared Mobile ships an update every 2 months, and ES File Explorer every 3 weeks. Most recently, 4shared Mobile was updated on September 24, 2026 and ES File Explorer on September 25, 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.*