# FE File Explorer vs GL

The clearest difference is price: GL at Free against FE File Explorer's $4.99. GL also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). FE File Explorer's advantage is update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 4 months) and chart position (#23 vs unranked). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

GL is free to download; FE File Explorer costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

FE File Explorer ships an update every 5 weeks, GL every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and May 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | FE File Explorer | GL |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.7 (5.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fe-file-explorer/id499470113/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **5.8K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 67.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Best chart rank | **#23** | — |
| Size | 103 MB | 39 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Skyjos Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/499470116) | [GL Technologies (HK) Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1490828301) |

## What reviewers say

### FE File Explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fe-file-explorer/id499470113)

**Currently charting:** #23 Top Paid · Utilities (US App Store)

Manage files across your devices and cloud storage. Access and transfer documents, photos, and media from computers, NAS, and cloud services directly on your iPhone or iPad without downloading.

**Highlights:** Access network shares (SMB/CIFS), Connect to WebDAV, FTP, SFTP servers, Integrate with Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Box, Stream media from network/cloud, Transfer files between devices, Direct file management on remote storage

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent file management
- 🔒 Secure access to files
- 👍 Versatile connectivity options
- 👍 Seamless integration with iOS Files app
- 👍 Reliable performance

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and stability issues
- 🐛 Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions
- 🔒 Privacy concerns with password protection
- 🔋 High battery consumption during use

**Reported bugs**

- Video playback issues, including audio-video sync problems
- Inability to transfer files from local storage to external drives
- Unreliable SMB and FTP connectivity
- Recent update breaking existing functionality

**Requested features**

- Ability to password-protect individual folders
- Improved navigation for large file/folder lists
- Sync functionality between devices
- Chromecast support
- Integrated PDF annotation tools


### GL

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gl-s20-tool/id6499392074)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is FE File Explorer free?

FE File Explorer costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is GL free?

GL is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do FE File Explorer or GL have ads?

Neither FE File Explorer nor GL shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, FE File Explorer or GL?

FE File Explorer ships an update every 5 weeks, and GL every 4 months. Most recently, FE File Explorer was updated on September 25, 2026 and GL on May 18, 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.*