# FileMaster vs FileMate

The clearest difference is update cadence: FileMate at every 2 weeks against FileMaster's every 3 months. FileMaster's advantage is ratings volume (4.9K vs 378) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 13.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. FileMaster sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and FileMate sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

FileMate holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: FileMaster has 4.9K ratings behind it against 378, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 81% of FileMaster's written reviews are positive against 75% of FileMate's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

FileMaster ships an update every 3 months, FileMate every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | FileMaster | FileMate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (4.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/filemaster-privacy-protection/id582219355/reviews) | **[4.6 (378 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/filemate/id983467956/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **4.9K** | 378 |
| Positive reviews | **81.3% of reviews** | 75.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 40 MB | 94 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Shenzhen Youmi Information Technology Co. Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/463991539) | [JUNBO JIA](https://appshunter.io/developer/1893935666) |

## What reviewers say

### FileMaster

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/filemaster-privacy-protection/id582219355)

Manage, view, and play all your files securely on your iOS device. Transfer files from your computer, protect them with passwords, and access them remotely. Supports a wide range of media and document formats.

**Highlights:** File management (copy, cut, paste, delete), Password protection for app and folders, Remote file access, Media playback (video/audio), Document viewing (PDF, Word, Excel, etc.), Cloud storage integration, File transfer

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ADS free | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 🚀 Efficient file management
- 🔒 Secure file storage
- 💡 Versatile file support
- 🎨 Intuitive organization

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Compatibility issues with newer devices
- 💸 Aggressive advertising
- 🔍 Difficult navigation
- 🔌 Unreliable download/transfer functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Locked out of account due to password issues
- Inability to download certain file types
- Inconsistent browser performance

**Requested features**

- Improved cloud storage integration
- Enhanced music player functionality
- Drag-and-drop file management
- Dark mode option


### FileMate

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/filemate/id983467956)

This app is a powerful local file manager that allows you to browse, organize, and protect your documents, photos, and videos. It offers robust privacy features like file hiding and password protection, along with convenient file transfer and archive management.

**Highlights:** Local file management, Photo and video vault, File hiding and password protection, WiFi and iTunes file transfer, Archive and extract (7z, rar, zip), File search and marking, Customizable themes

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| All Access, Removing Ad | $3.99 | per month |
| All Access, Removing Ad | $34.99 | per year |
| Removing Ad | $9.99 | one-time |
| Theme, Folder and Night Mode | $9.99 | one-time |
| Passcode Lock | $9.99 | one-time |
| Super Hidden | $9.99 | one-time |
| All Features & Removing Ad | $149.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 All projects in one place
- 👍 Few ads, good folder app
- 👍 Good customization options
- 👍 Real-time video playback
- 👍 Easy to use and access

**What reviewers complain about**

- 👎 Too many prompts
- 👎 Limited file viewers
- 👎 Videos don’t play audio
- 👎 Ads are annoying
- 👎 Full-screen ads

**Reported bugs**

- Videos don’t play audio
- Files can be accessed by other apps
- Videos play without sound
- MKV files not playable
- MP4 file play without sound

**Requested features**

- Provide multiple purchase options
- Add Face ID and Touch ID for hidden files
- Improve file viewer features (thumbnails, playlists, adjustments)
- Add folder locking to prevent accidental deletion
- Implement folder download from PC


## Frequently asked questions

### Is FileMaster free?

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

### Is FileMate free?

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

### Which has better reviews, FileMaster or FileMate?

FileMate is rated higher. FileMaster averages 4.4 out of 5 from 4.9K ratings, while FileMate averages 4.6 from 378 ratings.

### Do FileMaster or FileMate have ads?

Both FileMaster and FileMate show ads.

### Which is updated more often, FileMaster or FileMate?

FileMaster ships an update every 3 months, and FileMate every 2 weeks. Most recently, FileMaster was updated on October 21, 2026 and FileMate on October 19, 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.*