Best File Management App for Android
File managers on Android may be a dime a dozen, but Solid Explorer stands alone. With advanced features to manage and view files both on your phone and remotely, this is our new favorite file manager.
Update: Recently, our previous pick ES File Explorer started adding shadow adware to its free version . The paid version ( $ 2.99 ) is reportedly still safe, but we’ve decided to update our top pick to reflect this new development.
Solid explorer
Platform: Android Price: $ 1.99 after 14-day free trial Download page
Functions
- Basic file management functions: copy, paste, cut, create, delete, rename, share and send files stored on your SD card or internal storage.
- Select multiple files at once
- Browse collections of photos, music and videos in one place
- Manage, install and uninstall applications, and explore the file structure in applications
- Open, read, extract and decrypt ZIP, 7ZIP, RAR and TAR files
- Manage cloud files in Dropbox, Box, OneDrive, Google Drive, Sugarsync, Copy, Mediafire, Owncloud and Yandex
- Add more storage options with plugins for Amazo, Mega and more
- Block access to network resources with a password
- Use root access to perform root actions only
- Batch rename large groups of files at once using regular expressions or variables
- Remote file access using FTP, SFTP, WebDav and SMB / CIFS clients
- Folder bookmarks for quick access later
- View images and listen to audio with the built-in media player
- Stream media to your Chromecast
- Customize the main and accent color scheme
- Choose between light, dark and black background themes.
- Material design interface
Where is it best
Solid Explorer almost flawlessly covers almost all the capabilities of a file manager. Collections lets you view all of your photos, music and videos in one place. You can connect your cloud storage accounts like Dropbox for remote file management. It also supports remote access protocols like FTP and you can even use it as a root file manager. Even for advanced users, it is impressive.
On top of that, it’s also great . While the designs of most file managers are stuck somewhere between 2009 and the Stone Age, Solid Explorer prioritizes adherence to the Google Material Design specification . You can also customize your themes and colors, and even choose between light and dark themes, because there really is no reason why a file manager should dazzle you.
Where it fails
While we prefer to opt for a free app whenever possible, Solid Explorer doesn’t fall into this camp. You can try it for free for two weeks, but after that you’ll have to shell out $ 2 to keep using it. On top of that, the company also charges fees for some plugins like Mega and even offers additional icon packs for big bucks. It’s annoying, but most add-ons are either free or optional. The good news is that you at least know where Solid Explorer gets its money from. Since our last choice was for the addition of sketchy adware, we will refer to this as a mixed boon and not outright negative.
Competition
The free version of ES File Explorer may have lost our recommendation, but if you don’t feel like saying goodbye, you should at least give ES File Explorer Pro a try. For $ 2.99, all built-in app “suggestions” and unwanted software are removed and there are no ads. It still has all the bells and whistles we loved, including remote file access, ZIP support, and an application manager. Of course, most of these features are available in Solid Explorer for $ 1 less.
FX File Explorer is also a great option for users who like the design of ES File Explorer but don’t want the clutter. The free version covers the basics of local file management, and you can pay $ 2.99 to unlock advanced features like cloud or network storage and an app manager. For basic users, the free version gives it an edge over Solid Explorer, but advanced users will end up paying a little more for the bigger guns. Although at the time of this writing, FX File Explorer is on a sale that has brought the price down to $ 1.99, specifically aimed at catering to ES File Explorer users.
It’s also worth noting that if you don’t need a lot from your file manager, Android N will take care of you as well . Google began to build a basic file manager into the system itself. You can copy and move files, rename files and folders, and create new folders within the system itself. That’s a far cry from the advanced features of the other apps on this list, and Android N hasn’t even been released yet, but if you’re one of the few using Preview N, or reading this in the future from an Android N. device, you may not need a full-fledged file manager.