The Apple Files app for iOS and iPadOS is far from perfect. It lacks many features, and its ergonomics leave much to be desired. Here are the best alternatives.
Apple’s announcement of the Files app for iPhone and iPad was very well received. We all thought Finder would find its way to the iPhone, but the Files app is very different. In truth, this is far from a simple and effective file manager. If you have been using the Files for a long time and/or have tried to perform rather complex operations, you understand what we are talking about.
The Files app is hard to use and even harder to master. It also lacks many features such as its own download manager, support for many video formats and codes, widget options, PC wireless transfer, PDF editing, etc. If you’re fed up with the Files app, here are the best alternatives:
Documents by Readdle: the best file manager for iPhone
Documents is the file manager that files should have been. Unlike this app, it offers a user-friendly design. But the best, by far, is its menu system. Select files and use the menu button to see all possible actions. The application also simplifies operations such as unpacking, renaming, moving multiple files or folders, etc.
Here is a (partial) list of the Documents app’s features:
- browser and download manager to download something from the web or cloud storage
- music, audiobook and video playback options
- drag
- basic file editing including PDF
- playback from cloud storage or local network
- wireless transfer from Mac or PC
- support for multiple widgets
File Manager & Browser: Minimalistic but rich in features
If the Documents app seems too complicated for you, try File Manager and Browser. This app is ad-supported but offers all the basic features for free.
You can use the browser to download files or connect to cloud services such as Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, or iCloud Drive. You can transfer files from a remote computer or use local servers.
Browser and document manager: like files, only better
If you like the design of the Files app but want it to work better, try Browser and Document Manager. The app offers three simple tabs: Folders, Browser, and Downloads. Download, transfer, watch, move, so many very easy operations with this app.
The only downside, ultimately, is the presence of full page ads. And there is no paid version to make these ads disappear.
Total Files: Reliable File Manager
If you are looking for a reliable and visual file manager, Total Files might be for you.
The app doesn’t distract you with third party features like VPN or PDF editing. She gets straight to the point. It opens the Local Archive, you can add new folders there and import files. You can also go to the Cloud section to link Dropbox, Google Drive, and another account.
While you can’t link an iCloud Drive account, the app offers an import feature to move any file from the Files app (either locally or in iCloud Drive) to the Total Files manager. The app also offers banner ads, but you can remove them by purchasing the full version for €4.99.
GoodReader: The best one for organizing your PDFs
If you work with a lot of PDFs on a daily basis, you should consider a separate application for your PDFs, GoodReader is a good option.
The application offers a file management system for your PDFs, allowing you to organize them into folders and easily move them around. You can connect a cloud service such as Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive, and more. This allows you to download, send and sync the slightest changes made to your PDFs without having to change applications.
GoodReader is a paid app ($5.99), but it’s a one-time purchase. You can view PDF files, annotate and edit them.
Microsoft OneDrive: Your Windows PC files with you
If you use a Windows PC for work or home, chances are your files are already in Microsoft OneDrive. After all, you get 1TB of cloud storage with a Microsoft 365 subscription.
But if you have an iPhone or iPad, using OneDrive in the Files app is far from ideal. That’s why you might prefer to use the OneDrive app itself. It is quite successful and supports many useful features. You can easily import, move, export, unpack files.