# FE File Explorer vs iFiles

The clearest difference is price: iFiles at Free against FE File Explorer's $4.99. FE File Explorer's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). On rating, ratings volume, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

iFiles is free to download; FE File Explorer costs $4.99 up front. iFiles sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. FE File Explorer asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for FE File Explorer against 4.7 for iFiles. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5.8K and 3.2K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 67% of FE File Explorer's written reviews are positive against 45% of iFiles's.

FE File Explorer ships an update every 5 weeks, iFiles every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | FE File Explorer | iFiles |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.7 (5.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fe-file-explorer/id499470113/reviews) | [4.7 (3.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ifiles-file-manager-browser/id908003044/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **5.8K** | 3.2K |
| Positive reviews | **67.2% of reviews** | 45.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#45** | — |
| Size | 103 MB | 98 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Skyjos Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/499470116) | [Yajing Qian](https://appshunter.io/developer/566517066) |

## What reviewers say

### FE File Explorer

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

**Currently charting:** #45 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


### iFiles

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ifiles-file-manager-browser/id908003044)

Organize, view, convert, and secure all your files in one powerful app. Includes a document scanner, PDF reader, media players, and file conversion tools. Manage files from cloud storage and network servers with ease.

**Highlights:** File management and organization, Document scanning and PDF editing, File conversion for documents and media, Built-in music and video players, Web browser with file downloader, ZIP/RAR extraction and archiving, Cloud storage and network server integration

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Weekly Subscription | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Pro Monthly Subscription | $3.99 | per month |
| Pro Upgrade | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💻 Useful file management
- 🔗 Good for file sharing
- 👍 User-friendly interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive
- 🌐 Connectivity issues
- 🐛 Bugs and crashes
- 📢 Excessive ads/pop-ups

**Reported bugs**

- Compatibility issues with older devices
- Freezing and crashing on login
- Inability to unzip files properly

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Improved file transfer and sharing
- Better compatibility with external devices


## Frequently asked questions

### Is FE File Explorer free?

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

### Is iFiles free?

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

### Which has better reviews, FE File Explorer or iFiles?

FE File Explorer and iFiles are both rated 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store, from 5.8K and 3.2K ratings respectively.

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

iFiles shows ads; FE File Explorer does not.

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

FE File Explorer ships an update every 5 weeks, and iFiles every 3 weeks. Most recently, FE File Explorer was updated on September 22, 2026 and iFiles on September 21, 2026.

---

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