# ZipManager vs File Explorer

The clearest difference is price: File Explorer at Free against ZipManager's $0.99. File Explorer also leads on rating (3.9 vs 3.0) and ratings volume (79 vs 2). ZipManager's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ads (none vs shown). On update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

File Explorer is free to download; ZipManager costs $0.99 up front. File Explorer sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. ZipManager asks for nothing beyond the download.

File Explorer holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: File Explorer has 79 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 83% of ZipManager's written reviews are positive against 65% of File Explorer's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

ZipManager ships an update every 2 months, File Explorer every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 4, 2026 and June 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ZipManager | File Explorer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zipmanager-zipunzip-tool/id475212810/reviews) | **[3.9 (79 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/file-explorer-file-manager-zip/id954838257/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **79** |
| Positive reviews | **83.3% of reviews** | 65.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 6 MB | 21 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [冠兰 姜](https://appshunter.io/developer/413920142) | [农 葛](https://appshunter.io/developer/591089697) |

## What reviewers say

### ZipManager

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zipmanager-zipunzip-tool/id475212810)

Easily manage and extract compressed files from various sources like email and web browsers. Supports password-protected archives, multiple folder levels, and a wide range of document and media formats.

**Highlights:** Create and manage folders, Zip and unzip files, Password protected zip support, File search functionality, Open-in feature for external apps, View multiple file formats, Print and sort files

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### File Explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/file-explorer-file-manager-zip/id954838257)

Organize, view, and protect your important files on your iPhone or iPad. Easily transfer files via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or iCloud, and preview various document types. Secure your data with passcode protection.

**Highlights:** Wi-Fi file transfer, Bluetooth file exchange, iCloud file management, Multi-format file preview, Passcode protection, File compression

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove advertisement | $0.99 | one-time |
| Vedio Player | $1.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ZipManager free?

ZipManager costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is File Explorer free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ZipManager or File Explorer?

File Explorer is rated higher. ZipManager averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while File Explorer averages 3.9 from 79 ratings.

### Do ZipManager or File Explorer have ads?

File Explorer shows ads; ZipManager does not.

### Which is updated more often, ZipManager or File Explorer?

ZipManager ships an update every 2 months, and File Explorer every 3 months. Most recently, ZipManager was updated on September 4, 2026 and File Explorer on June 11, 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.*