# File Manager vs File Explorer

The clearest difference is ads: File Manager at none against File Explorer's shown. File Manager also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 12.0). File Explorer's advantage is review sentiment (65% vs 56%). On price, rating, ratings volume and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. File Manager sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and File Explorer sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.0 for File Manager against 3.9 for File Explorer. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 30 and 79 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 56% of File Manager's written reviews are positive against 65% of File Explorer's.

File Manager ships an update every 3 weeks, File Explorer every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | File Manager | File Explorer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.0 (30 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/file-manager-network-explorer/id926125877/reviews)** | [3.9 (79 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/file-explorer-file-manager-zip/id954838257/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 30 | **79** |
| Positive reviews | 55.7% of reviews | **65.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 147 MB | 21 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [LTD DevelSoftware](https://appshunter.io/developer/717594986) | [农 葛](https://appshunter.io/developer/591089697) |

## What reviewers say

### File Manager

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/file-manager-network-explorer/id926125877)

Manage files across cloud services, network drives, and your device. Supports numerous archive formats, media playback, and secure folder protection. Offers Wi-Fi and FTP transfer capabilities for seamless data management.

**Highlights:** Cloud service integration (GoogleDrive, Dropbox, etc.), Network service support (SMB, FTP, SFTP, WebDAV), Archive format support (Zip, Rar, 7z, tar, gz, bz2), Media playback for video and audio, Password protection for folders and files, Wi-Fi and FTP file transfer, File and folder management (copy, move, rename, compress)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Thank the Developer | $0.99 | one-time |
| Appearance Customization | $1.99 | one-time |
| Pro Version | $4.99 | one-time |


### File Explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/file-explorer-file-manager-zip/id954838257)

Organize, view, and protect your important files on your iPhone or iPad. Easily transfer files via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or iCloud, and preview various document types. Secure your data with passcode protection.

**Highlights:** Wi-Fi file transfer, Bluetooth file exchange, iCloud file management, Multi-format file preview, Passcode protection, File compression

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove advertisement | $0.99 | one-time |
| Vedio Player | $1.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is File Manager free?

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

### Is File Explorer free?

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

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

File Manager is rated higher. File Manager averages 4.0 out of 5 from 30 ratings, while File Explorer averages 3.9 from 79 ratings.

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

File Explorer shows ads; File Manager does not.

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

File Manager ships an update every 3 weeks, and File Explorer every 3 months. Most recently, File Manager was updated on October 14, 2026 and File Explorer on September 29, 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.*