# AirForShare vs ES File Explorer

The clearest difference is update cadence: ES File Explorer at every 3 weeks against AirForShare's every 17 months. ES File Explorer also leads on ratings volume (15K vs 4). AirForShare's advantage is review sentiment (85% vs 64%) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 13.0). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. AirForShare sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 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 — 4.8 for AirForShare 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 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 85% of AirForShare's written reviews are positive against 64% of ES File Explorer's.

AirForShare ships an update every 17 months, ES File Explorer every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AirForShare | ES File Explorer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/airforshare/id475158919/reviews)** | [4.6 (15K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/es-file-explorer/id1441621965/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **15K** |
| Positive reviews | **84.6% of reviews** | 63.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 17 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 15 MB | 263 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [BirdsCorp.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/458967347) | [Beijing Xiaoxiong Bowang Technology Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1435277197) |

## What reviewers say

### AirForShare

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/airforshare/id475158919)

Instantly share text, links, and files between devices on the same Wi-Fi network without passwords or cables. Upload content from your computer or phone and access it on any other device connected to your network. Supports file previews and offers premium upgrades for unlimited sharing.

**Highlights:** Instant text, link, and file sharing, Cross-device Wi-Fi connectivity, No passwords or cables required, File upload and preview support, Optional premium upgrades, Private Mode for sensitive data

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium | $0.99 | per month |
| Premium | $9.99 | per year |
| Upgrade to Extended Version | $1.99 | one-time |


### 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 AirForShare free?

AirForShare 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, AirForShare or ES File Explorer?

AirForShare is rated higher. AirForShare averages 4.8 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while ES File Explorer averages 4.6 from 15K ratings.

### Do AirForShare or ES File Explorer have ads?

Neither AirForShare nor ES File Explorer shows ads.

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

AirForShare ships an update every 17 months, and ES File Explorer every 3 weeks. Most recently, AirForShare was updated on November 6, 2026 and ES File Explorer on November 7, 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.*