# AirDisk vs ES File Explorer

The clearest difference is review sentiment: ES File Explorer at 64% against AirDisk's 12%. ES File Explorer also leads on rating (4.6 vs 4.1) and ratings volume (15K vs 150). AirDisk's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. AirDisk sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and ES File Explorer sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ES File Explorer holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ES File Explorer has 15K ratings behind it against 150, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 12% of AirDisk's written reviews are positive against 64% of ES File Explorer's.

AirDisk ships an update every 9 days, ES File Explorer every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AirDisk | ES File Explorer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (150 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/airdisk-file-transfer/id566530748/reviews) | **[4.6 (15K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/es-file-explorer/id1441621965/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 150 | **15K** |
| Positive reviews | 11.8% of reviews | **63.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 104 MB | 263 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Felix Yew](https://appshunter.io/developer/505904424) | [Beijing Xiaoxiong Bowang Technology Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1435277197) |

## What reviewers say

### AirDisk

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/airdisk-file-transfer/id566530748)

This app transforms your iOS device into a wireless flash drive, enabling easy file transfers between your computer and phone or tablet via a web browser. It supports photos, documents, music, and videos, with robust file management and security features.

**Highlights:** Wireless file transfer, Web browser interface, Photo backup, Document viewer, Music player, Cloud integration, Password protection

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

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Cloud Services | $1.99 | per month |
| Monthly Pro | $1.99 | per month |
| Monthly Photos Transfer | $1.99 | per month |
| Yearly Photos Transfer | $9.99 | per year |
| Yearly Cloud Services | $9.99 | per year |
| Yearly Pro | $12.99 | per year |
| Reset Password | $1.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Pro | $39.99 | one-time |
| Pro Upgrade | $39.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Photos Transfer | $49.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Cloud Services | $49.99 | one-time |


### ES File Explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/es-file-explorer/id1441621965)

Manage local and network files with this comprehensive tool. It offers file transfer, compression, built-in media players, cloud storage integration, and editing capabilities for various document and code formats.

**Highlights:** File management and sorting, WiFi and face-to-face file transfer, ZIP, RAR, 7Z compression/decompression, Built-in audio/video player, Cloud storage aggregation, Remote service access (SMB, FTP, WebDAV), PDF and code editor

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ES Pro(1 month) | $6.99 | per month |
| ES Pro(1 month) | $6.99 | per month |
| ES Pro(1 year) | $29.99 | per year |
| ES Pro(1 year） | $29.99 | per year |
| ES remove ads | $1.99 | one-time |
| ES lifetime vip | $4.99 | one-time |
| ES lifetime vip | $6.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Powerful file management
- 📁 Extensive file format support
- 🔒 Secure folder access
- 🎵 Excellent built-in media player
- 🔗 Seamless network connectivity

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🔍 Search functionality issues
- 🔇 Music playback problems
- 🔌 Connectivity issues with FTP/SFTP

**Reported bugs**

- Deleted all user files after update
- Unable to connect to SMB servers
- Video playback issues with certain file types
- Inconsistent behavior when using VPN

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Improved file compression tools
- More customization options
- Better integration with Apple ecosystem
- Enhanced audio/video playback controls


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AirDisk free?

AirDisk 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, AirDisk or ES File Explorer?

ES File Explorer is rated higher. AirDisk averages 4.1 out of 5 from 150 ratings, while ES File Explorer averages 4.6 from 15K ratings.

### Do AirDisk or ES File Explorer have ads?

Neither AirDisk nor ES File Explorer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, AirDisk or ES File Explorer?

AirDisk ships an update every 9 days, and ES File Explorer every 3 weeks. Most recently, AirDisk was updated on October 21, 2026 and ES File Explorer on October 22, 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.*