# File Explorer vs File Manager & Documents

The clearest difference is rating: File Manager & Documents at 4.4 against File Explorer's 3.9. File Manager & Documents also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (4.8K vs 79). File Explorer's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and review sentiment (65% vs 52%). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. File Explorer sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and File Manager & Documents sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

File Manager & Documents holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: File Manager & Documents has 4.8K ratings behind it against 79, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 65% of File Explorer's written reviews are positive against 52% of File Manager & Documents's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

File Explorer ships an update every 3 months, File Manager & Documents every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | File Explorer | File Manager & Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.9 (79 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/file-explorer-file-manager-zip/id954838257/reviews) | **[4.4 (4.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/file-manager-and-documents/id1478159954/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 79 | **4.8K** |
| Positive reviews | **65.0% of reviews** | 52.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 21 MB | 88 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [农 葛](https://appshunter.io/developer/591089697) | [Giant Brains](https://appshunter.io/developer/1475947964) |

## What reviewers say

### 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 |


### File Manager & Documents

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/file-manager-and-documents/id1478159954)

Organize and manage your downloaded files and documents conveniently on your iPhone or iPad. Create folders, store files in the cloud to save space, and use the built-in browser for direct downloads. Sort files by various criteria for easy access.

**Highlights:** Manage downloads, Create folders, Cloud storage, Built-in browser, Direct downloads, Sort files

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Subscription | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Subscription | $9.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription | $49.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 User-friendly
- 🚀 Fast and efficient
- 💡 Innovative features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes
- 🔒 Security and privacy concerns
- 💰 Expensive subscription model

**Reported bugs**

- Login screen freezes
- Incompatible with newer iOS versions
- Download issues

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Improved file management capabilities
- Better integration with other apps


## Frequently asked questions

### Is File Explorer free?

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

### Is File Manager & Documents free?

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

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

File Manager & Documents is rated higher. File Explorer averages 3.9 out of 5 from 79 ratings, while File Manager & Documents averages 4.4 from 4.8K ratings.

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

File Explorer shows ads; File Manager & Documents does not.

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

File Explorer ships an update every 3 months, and File Manager & Documents every 4 weeks. Most recently, File Explorer was updated on October 24, 2026 and File Manager & Documents on November 2, 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.*