Your 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.

Not 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.

Hi, 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.

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.

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.