Article Updated: 09 June 2021
We present several completely ad-free File Manager apps for Android devices, either as an alternative to a built-in file manager app or once famous and widely used advanced ES File Explorer. All listed apps are free, do not contain advertisement and most of them do not track you and collect any analytics data*.
* Disclaimer: this is/was correct at the time of publishing this article. Developers are, of course, free to enable monetization (ads) and inject analytics data collection / tracking in their apps at any given point in time (e.g. with the very next app update), and this may no longer be true. Please, if you find out about important changes or if you have any suggestions for new apps that you wish to be included in this list, submit them in the comments section below. Thanks!
Best File Explorer / File Managers for Android – No ADS!
Android File Managers
Click below on app titles or images to open their respective Google Play Store locations and install them.
1. Files by Google
- key features: extremely easy & user friendly, dark mode, media player
- downside: lacks few common file manager functions (for now, it gets regularly improved)
Files by Google
2. Cx File Explorer
EDITOR’S CHOICE ✔
- key features: extremely capable and useful file manager, built-in file search, analysis & cleanup, supports cloud storage services (Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, OneDrive), network services (FTP/SFTP/FTPS/WebDAV/LAN/SMB) and more!
Cx File Explorer
This amazing file manager covers 99% functions of ES File Explorer, and some missing ones can be achieved with other free apps. Not to mention that implementation of some features surpass ES File Explorer’s counter-parts by their simplicity, functionality and quality.
It comes with an easy no-gimmicks large and junk files analyzer and cleaner (be careful with this feature! clearing cache files of some games will render them non-functional and you may end up losing levels and points progress!), beautiful UI (user interface), app info and backup tool, cloud and local network drives support, built-in simple media player, FTP server – you can explore your phone’s both internal and external (SD card) storage from you PC’s web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Opera…) or FTP client (WinSCP, FileZilla, Total Commander…) and more! By comparison, in ES File Explorer’s built-in FTP/WEB file server, you could only access phone’s internal storage, but not the SD card. No the case with Cx File Explorer, though, as both storage locations are accessible through (S)FTP server!
This app does not track you e.g. it does not send any usage analytics data to Google or it’s own nor others 3rd party tracking services to the best of my knowledge (confirmed with a monitoring firewall app), but it will on a rare occasion contact 1e100.net Google’s domain [172.217.169.148:443 (sof02s32-in-f20.1e100.net)], most probably for periodical update checks (unconfirmed/unsure).
⚠️ Update (January 2021): Cx File Explorer is no longer connecting to Google’s 1e100.net domain.
⚠️ Update (June 2021): And it’s back to it again in version 1.5. We noticed several similar requests by Cx File Explorer to Google’s 1e100.net domain [216.58.214.202:443 (bud02s32-in-f202.1e100.net)] after recent app update. However, it used to be a rare occurrence before, but now it contacts Google domain regularly e.g. every time you start using the app! If you are concerned with this behavior, you may restrict its outside world internet access using a firewall app. In addition, here’s the link to Cx File Explorer Privacy Policy, you should definitely read it!
Cx File Explorer Privacy Policy
Do third parties see and/or have access to information obtained by the Application?
Yes. We will share your information with third parties only in the ways that are described in this privacy statement.
Does the Application collect precise real time location information of the device?
This Application does not collect precise information about the location of your mobile device.
Cx File Explorer is currently (update: it still is in 2021!) our highly recommended app and the best file manager for Android, however, beware of upcoming changes!
3. OI File Manager
OI File Manager
4. File Manager by Seven Horses
App is no longer available.
File Manager by Seven Horses
5. FX File Explorer
- key features: privacy / no analytics tracking
6. Explorer by Speed Software
- key features: supports cloud services (e.g. Dropbox, Google Drive, Box), SMB Local Network / NAS Drives / Local Network Cloud
Explorer by Speed Software
7. File Manager FS Storage Space
- key features: privacy / no analytics tracking
File Manager FS Storage Space
8. File Manager (Material) by AndroLd
- key features: no ads, easy of use, custom sorting, advanced search, day/night (dark) theme
- planned features: Cloud Storage (Google, OneDrive…), root access, Wi-Fi file sharing
File Manager (Material) by AndroLd
9. Amaze File Manager
- key features: open source, donation/in-app unlock, apk/zip/rar/txt reader, cloud services support
- downside: Android Kit-Kat limited support / frequent crashing
Amaze File Manager
10. FE File Explorer by Skyjos Co.
EDITOR’S CHOICE ✔
Excellent file manager / file explorer app with unique and simple design (there is always a room for improvement, though), that comes with all essential features plus massive extras! There’s also a Pro version available if you wish to support the developers, but given how “little” extra features it offers (certainly not useless!), it’s unreal; hard to believe it even exists. App does not seem to contact outside servers, so it can be safe* to assume it does not use any analytics / tracking, either. What could you possibly want more for free? Definitely a keeper!
* we tested free version for Android only
FE File Explorer by Skyjos
- key features: simple clean design with some customization available, built-in quick Easy file sharing, FTP server, SFTP server, SMB / NAS network drive access, Redfish SMB for Windows by Skyjos, WebDAV, Windows/MacOS/Linux file sharing templates (this is practically same as SMB/NAS, kind of redundant TBH, but icons are nice LOL), Cloud Drive / Storage access for numerous services (DropBox, Google Drive, OneDrive, Box, ownCloud), built-in Media player (photo/video/audio) and more! Supports Android, iOS (iPhone, iPad), tvOS and MacOS devices (we also found Windows versions on 3rd party apps website, strangely no mention of it on official one), so you can unify your file managers across different platforms.
- downsides: Level of appearance customization should be better (e.g. offer even smaller line spacing / icon size preset with optional number of files display per each folder – currently it does not). Built-in audio player comes with a non-persistent widget (closes when you exit main app), and does not have playlists support, not even “add to playing” of individual songs to the current play session. No multi tab support ala ES File Explorer, this should definitely be considered in the future, given the vast amount of services this app supports, although, it has “CONNECTIONS” section in the sidebar drawer menu, to be fair. Number of connections to remote / network services is limited to 2 in free version (should be enough for ordinary users, but pros will have to pay a reasonable price for more). According to older reviews @ Google Play Store, app was asking users to upgrade (2018), and was ad-supported (2020 AUG). Well, given the amount of features, it is most likely developers need to find ways to attract users to upgrade or financially support its continuous development via alternate means.
11. MK Explorer (File manager)
Another interesting file explorer app, and the only one which shows you Android’s root location view/access out-of-the-box! Of course, it will be in read-only mode on non-rooted android devices. MK Explorer comes with all basic file related functions, plus some extras. It’s definitely a good app with unique features and great clean design worth considering, especially for novice users looking for a simple and ultra-clean design!
MK Explorer
- key features: Modern material design that you can completely customize by icons/rows size, displayed level of details and general appearance, file search engine, file sorting, optional 2 windows (panels), direct access shortcuts, built-in basic music player, gallery viewer and text editor, no analytics / tracking.
- downsides: Audio music player does not support background activity when you exit the app, and it does not show music player widget during playback in curtain / notification drawer area. Unfortunately, no local network (NAS, SMB) features, FTP and Cloud drives support either.
ES File Explorer IS NOW HISTORY! – OR IS IT?
ES File Explorer app was removed from Google Play Store long time ago — in fact, it happened just two weeks after we had published this article! This was a pure coincidence! You can no longer find it in the largest and official Android Marketplace.
DO Global Statement
Earlier this year, according to forum posts and various online news sources, Baptiste Robert (alias Elliot Alderson on Twitter) discovered that ES File Explorer incorporates a hidden web server with open port that exposed all users on the same local WiFi network to HTTP web server vulnerability and potential unauthorized file access and download breach. ES Global announced a fix on January 18th (version 4.1.9.9), apologizing for the issue.
ES File Explorer – Hidden HTTP Web Server – Open Port 59777
In above screenshot you can see how access to the open port looks like using vulnerable ES File Explorer version 4.1.9.5.2 and desktop version of Google Chrome browser. Directory listing is prohibited by default, so ordinary users will not be able to exploit it without some extra work e.g. server responds to unauthenticated application/json commands over HTTP.
And, as we’ve already written about it 2 years ago, ES File Explorer already had a lengthy record of wrong decisions and unethical practices, annoying users with obscure features and hidden ads.
All this is more than enough to seek a healthy alternative.
It’s available on their estrongs.com site, APKPure and APKMirror (a very convoluted download experience) and Amazon App Store.
Amazon offers only the older last free version (from late December 2019), but you can get newest .apk file versions directly from APKPure and APKMirror sites and install it independently w/o their APK managers IF you (1) enable apps from unknown sources on your phone first and (2) (at least in my case) I had to restart my phone and then disable both Wi-Fi and Mobile Data internet access, because for some reason my phone was not allowing me to install it otherwise (“Install” button was not reacting at all – Play Protect?).
However, if you wish to go official route with apps available only from Google Play exclusively, then continue to read on.
7 Comments
Add Your CommentThanx for the analysis. It was a great help
July 1st, 2020Thanks for the above suggested alternatives with pros and cons. Basis above, I installed CX file explorer and this is working very efficiently. Although I’ve noticed it does not have a duplicate file finder feature, but it does the other basic file manager operations much better than other alternates like FX explorer ( which did a nice job as duplicate file finder / remover but failed in basic search results).
July 24th, 2020Keep up the good work.
Thanks, ES File Explorer is still available from other sources (read updated intro), but for those who wish to install approved apps only from Google Play store, these are the best alternatives, indeed. I personally still have and use a copy of ES File Explorer, but all outside world internet activities are blocked with firewall app.
July 24th, 2020I was looking at FE File Explorer by Skyjos Co. independently when I came across your site. Great alternatives to look at.
I was having a difficult time trying to find the company’s country of origin for Skyjos, and while some servers are hosted in the US, it seems like it might be a Chinese company if I’m not mistaken.
One thing I look at (especially for any app I enter sensitive information like internal network and storage location/login passwords into), is the development country or origin. While this may or may not be more than a matter of circumstances, I tend to learn towards avoiding certain countries for such sensitive information in apps like this. Even when it’s just a possibility that my credentials, account information and possibly data may end up in the hands of someone who has different motives than providing a just a helpful app for the masses. Something to also consider in reviews or when choosing such an app.
December 31st, 2020Hi, I cannot neither confirm nor deny their HQ location. I spoke with one representative of Skyjos few days ago in order to clear few things about free version during the writing of the article update, and he did have an Asian-like family name, assuming it was the real one, and if that matters to you or anyone else, but it doesn’t really prove anything.
Regarding privacy and analytics data collection: We did consider this in our review (have you read it?), and I think every app listed above does not use analytics or spying of any kind (disclaimer: it was true at the moment of initial writing, we do not keep all the apps installed continuously checking app’s every single update!). Exception was an older version of CX File Explorer, which tried to connect to Google’s 1e100.net (presumably) for updates, however, in newest version it does not appear to be doing it anymore.
So far, the app is being monitored through a firewall application we wrote in the similar article about ES File Explorer’s abuse.
FE File Explorer does not appear to connect to outside world at all (at least, the current latest version). Every request is captured through a VPN connection, so there is no escape e.g. app cannot secretly bypass VPN.
If you are concerned about this, I suggest you install a firewall app to have better control of everything, and apply local filter, as shown in the image at the above firewall-related article.
December 31st, 2020Not sure how you can’t find the Skyjos country of origin when you can google it. It’s a Chinese based company that has direct links to the Chinese government. Before you say, “They all do..” being part of a communist regime and working with it’s technology bureau are two totally different things. Cons you don’t discuss are the lack of direct file migration between devices using internal storage and SD cards and it doesn’t refresh real time. A user has to either close the app or exit to a new menu then return to the previous menu for items to refresh. This is in the free and the Pro versions.
April 1st, 2021Your concerns are understandable. ES File Explorer acted up like the “good guys” until it reached momentum and then things went south, this article exists for that very reason, after all. It’s possible this app will become like that eventually, but it is unfair to judge upfront. For several weeks that we tested it, it did not make a single call to the outside world, so at that time it was safe to mark it “safe” regarding analytics / data collection. We do not use it anymore, but we plan to repeat monitoring session e.g. in the next 6 ~ 12 months again. Now, the best thing we can do (without rooting the phone and what not) is to install a firewall app with bogus VPN connection as previously mentioned. It works.
April 2nd, 2021