# File Manager & Browser vs ES file explorer

The clearest difference is review sentiment: File Manager & Browser at 48% against ES file explorer's 0%. File Manager & Browser also leads on rating (4.5 vs 1.8) and ratings volume (54K vs 10). ES file explorer's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. File Manager & Browser sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and ES file explorer sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

File Manager & Browser holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 1.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: File Manager & Browser has 54K ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 48% of File Manager & Browser's written reviews are positive against 0% of ES file explorer's.

File Manager & Browser ships an update every 2 months, ES file explorer every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | File Manager & Browser | ES file explorer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (54K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/file-manager-and-browser/id479295290/reviews)** | [1.8 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/es-file-explorer/id1620305556/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **54K** | 10 |
| Positive reviews | **48.4% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 87 MB | 44 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [TapMedia Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/359632753) | [alkesh dudhat](https://appshunter.io/developer/1599434938) |

## What reviewers say

### File Manager & Browser

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/file-manager-and-browser/id479295290)

This app acts as a virtual USB drive and file manager for your iPhone and iPad. It allows you to easily view, organize, and share various document types, including Office and iWorks files, as well as media. It also offers cloud integration and secure file protection.

**Highlights:** Integrated PDF Reader, Microsoft Office & Apple iWorks support, Multiple cloud integrations, Passcode file protection, Wi-Fi file transfer, Create and extract ZIP files

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| TapMedia PRO - 1 Month | $4.99 | per month |
| Upgrade | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Compatible with older devices
- 🚀 Great file organization
- 📁 Useful for storing and managing files
- 🔒 Secure file storage

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs not fixed
- 🐛 Issues with file management features
- 🔍 Difficulty finding/accessing files
- 💰 Subscription model changes
- 🔍 Lack of intuitive interface

**Reported bugs**

- Images changing to last uploaded image
- Inability to see files on device
- Wifi sync feature crashing after update
- Note feature not working properly

**Requested features**

- Add option to move files within the app
- Improve search functionality
- Enhance audio playback controls
- Provide a 'delete' folder option


### ES file explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/es-file-explorer/id1620305556)

This app helps you organize and manage all files on your device. It allows you to view images, videos, audio, and documents, and sorts them into categories for easy access. Quickly find recently opened files and analyze your storage usage.

**Highlights:** Built-in viewers and players for various file types, Quick browsing by file type, downloads, recent, and large files, Storage usage analysis dashboard, Search photos by date, size, and creation/open dates, Multiple selection and sorting support

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Yearly Premium Access | $9.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is File Manager & Browser free?

File Manager & Browser 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, File Manager & Browser or ES file explorer?

File Manager & Browser is rated higher. File Manager & Browser averages 4.5 out of 5 from 54K ratings, while ES file explorer averages 1.8 from 10 ratings.

### Do File Manager & Browser or ES file explorer have ads?

Both File Manager & Browser and ES file explorer show ads.

### Which is updated more often, File Manager & Browser or ES file explorer?

File Manager & Browser ships an update every 2 months, and ES file explorer every 2 weeks. Most recently, File Manager & Browser was updated on September 27, 2026 and ES file explorer on September 8, 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.*