# File Manager vs File Manager Document Explorer

The clearest difference is rating: File Manager Document Explorer at 4.7 against File Manager's 4.1. File Manager's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. File Manager sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and File Manager Document Explorer sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

File Manager Document Explorer holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 36 and 32 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 60% of File Manager's written reviews are positive against 48% of File Manager Document Explorer's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

File Manager ships an update monthly, File Manager Document Explorer every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | File Manager | File Manager Document Explorer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (36 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/file-manager-folder-plus-lite/id558758182/reviews) | **[4.7 (32 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/file-manager-document-explorer/id1382742626/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **36** | 32 |
| Positive reviews | **59.6% of reviews** | 47.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 33 MB | 65 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.2** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [The Very Games](https://appshunter.io/developer/446357089) | [颖欣 李](https://appshunter.io/developer/1265860370) |

## What reviewers say

### File Manager

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/file-manager-folder-plus-lite/id558758182)

This app is a powerful file manager offering multitasking capabilities with intuitive 3-finger swipes. It supports a wide range of file types, cloud storage integration, and secure file sharing. Edit documents, record audio, and manage files efficiently.

**Highlights:** 3-Finger Task Switching, Cloud Storage Integration, FTP/HTTP/WebDAV Sharing, Document Reader & Text Editor, Zip Archiver with Password Encryption, Passcode Security

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Upgrade to Full Version | $4.99 | one-time |


### File Manager Document Explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/file-manager-document-explorer/id1382742626)

Browse, manage, and protect your files and documents on your iPhone or iPad. Organize files into folders, edit various document types, and secure your private data with a password. Supports a wide range of file formats and video playback.

**Highlights:** File and document browsing, Private file locking and management, Edit and organize files in folders, Extract zip archives (rar & 7z), Support for 100+ document formats, Password protection for files, Import files via Wi-Fi and iTunes

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro | $1.49 | per month |
| Folder Manager Pro | $1.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is File Manager free?

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

### Is File Manager Document Explorer free?

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

### Which has better reviews, File Manager or File Manager Document Explorer?

File Manager Document Explorer is rated higher. File Manager averages 4.1 out of 5 from 36 ratings, while File Manager Document Explorer averages 4.7 from 32 ratings.

### Do File Manager or File Manager Document Explorer have ads?

File Manager Document Explorer shows ads; File Manager does not.

### Which is updated more often, File Manager or File Manager Document Explorer?

File Manager ships an update monthly, and File Manager Document Explorer every 3 months. Most recently, File Manager was updated on October 8, 2026 and File Manager Document Explorer on October 7, 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.*