# NAS Explorer vs ES File Explorer

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: NAS Explorer at none against ES File Explorer's 7. NAS Explorer also leads on iOS requirement (8.0 vs 13.0). ES File Explorer's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 5 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ES File Explorer sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. NAS Explorer asks for nothing beyond the download.

NAS Explorer ships an update every 5 months, ES File Explorer every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NAS Explorer | ES File Explorer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.6 (15K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/es-file-explorer/id1441621965/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **15K** |
| Positive reviews | — | 63.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 78 MB | 263 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Wooi Kiang Cheah](https://appshunter.io/developer/826354682) | [Beijing Xiaoxiong Bowang Technology Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1435277197) |

## What reviewers say

### NAS Explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nas-explorer/id826354679)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### 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 NAS Explorer free?

NAS Explorer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is ES File Explorer free?

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

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

Neither NAS Explorer nor ES File Explorer shows ads.

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

NAS Explorer ships an update every 5 months, and ES File Explorer every 3 weeks. Most recently, NAS Explorer was updated on September 29, 2026 and ES File Explorer 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.*