# FE File Explorer vs R2 Explorer

The clearest difference is price: FE File Explorer at $4.99 against R2 Explorer's $8.99. FE File Explorer also leads on chart position (#29 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.4). R2 Explorer's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 weeks). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

FE File Explorer costs $4.99 and R2 Explorer $8.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

FE File Explorer ships an update every 5 weeks, R2 Explorer fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | FE File Explorer | R2 Explorer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$4.99** | $8.99 |
| Rating | **[4.7 (5.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fe-file-explorer/id499470113/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **5.8K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 67.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Best chart rank | **#29** | — |
| Size | 103 MB | 13 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Skyjos Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/499470116) | [Jose Leal](https://appshunter.io/developer/1441468562) |

## What reviewers say

### FE File Explorer

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

**Currently charting:** #29 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


### R2 Explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/r2-explorer/id6738603920)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is FE File Explorer free?

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

### Is R2 Explorer free?

R2 Explorer costs $8.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Do FE File Explorer or R2 Explorer have ads?

Neither FE File Explorer nor R2 Explorer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, FE File Explorer or R2 Explorer?

FE File Explorer ships an update every 5 weeks, and R2 Explorer fortnightly. Most recently, FE File Explorer was updated on October 23, 2026 and R2 Explorer on October 13, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*