# File Explorer vs ES file explorer

The clearest difference is review sentiment: File Explorer at 65% against ES file explorer's 0%. File Explorer also leads on rating (3.9 vs 1.7) and ratings volume (79 vs 11). ES file explorer's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. File Explorer sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and ES file explorer sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

File Explorer holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 1.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: File Explorer has 79 ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 65% of File Explorer's written reviews are positive against 0% of ES file explorer's.

File Explorer ships an update every 3 months, ES file explorer every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | File Explorer | ES file explorer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.9 (79 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/file-explorer-file-manager-zip/id954838257/reviews)** | [1.7 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/es-file-explorer/id1620305556/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **79** | 11 |
| Positive reviews | **65.0% of reviews** | 0.0% 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 | 21 MB | 44 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [农 葛](https://appshunter.io/developer/591089697) | [alkesh dudhat](https://appshunter.io/developer/1599434938) |

## 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 |


### ES file explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/es-file-explorer/id1620305556)

This app helps you organize and manage all files on your device. It allows you to view images, videos, audio, and documents, and sorts them into categories for easy access. Quickly find recently opened files and analyze your storage usage.

**Highlights:** Built-in viewers and players for various file types, Quick browsing by file type, downloads, recent, and large files, Storage usage analysis dashboard, Search photos by date, size, and creation/open dates, Multiple selection and sorting support

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Yearly Premium Access | $9.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is File Explorer free?

File Explorer 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, File Explorer or ES file explorer?

File Explorer is rated higher. File Explorer averages 3.9 out of 5 from 79 ratings, while ES file explorer averages 1.7 from 11 ratings.

### Do File Explorer or ES file explorer have ads?

Both File Explorer and ES file explorer show ads.

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

File Explorer ships an update every 3 months, and ES file explorer every 2 weeks. Most recently, File Explorer was updated on October 24, 2026 and ES file explorer on October 24, 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.*