Android's built-in Files app from Google handles basic operations but falls short for power users: no FTP/SMB/WebDAV, no archive creation, no root access, and no TV or watch app. This comparison covers the top file managers for Android phones in 2026, with detailed breakdowns of features, pricing, platform support, and honest assessments of each app's strengths and weaknesses.
Top Android File Managers Compared
| App | Price | Root | Network | Cloud | Wear OS | TV | Archives |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AnExplorer | Free / Pro | ✅ | FTP, SFTP, SMB, WebDAV | Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Box, pCloud, Yandex, MEGA | ✅ | ✅ | ZIP, RAR, 7z, TAR, CBR, ISO |
| Solid Explorer | Paid | ✅ | FTP, SFTP, SMB, WebDAV, NFS | Dropbox, GDrive, OneDrive, Box | ❌ | ❌ | ZIP, 7z, TAR, RAR |
| FX File Explorer | Free + IAP | ✅ (Plus) | FTP, SFTP, SMB, WebDAV | Dropbox, GDrive, OneDrive, Box | ❌ | Partial | ZIP, 7z, TAR |
| MiXplorer | Free (XDA) | ✅ | FTP, SFTP, SMB, WebDAV, NFS | Via plugins | ❌ | ❌ | ZIP, RAR, 7z, TAR |
| X-plore | Free | ✅ | FTP, SFTP, SMB, WebDAV | Dropbox, GDrive, OneDrive, MEGA | ❌ | ✅ | ZIP, RAR, 7z |
| CX File Explorer | Free | ❌ | SMB only | Google Drive | ❌ | ❌ | ZIP only |
| Total Commander | Free | ✅ | FTP, SFTP, SMB, WebDAV (plugins) | Via plugins | ❌ | ❌ | ZIP, RAR, 7z, TAR |
| ES File Explorer | Free | ❌ | FTP, SMB | Dropbox, OneDrive | ❌ | ❌ | ZIP, RAR |
| Files by Google | Free | ❌ | None | GDrive only | ❌ | ❌ | ZIP only |
1. AnExplorer — Best Overall
AnExplorer has the widest device support of any file manager: it works on the same Google account across phone, tablet, Wear OS watch, Android TV, Chromebook, VR headset, AR glasses, Android Automotive, foldable phones, and more. Most competitors are phone-only.
Key strengths:
- Supports 12 Android form factors — more than any competitor
- Wear OS app for Galaxy Watch, Pixel Watch, TicWatch — no other file manager has this
- Android TV / Fire TV purpose-built UI with directional navigation
- Android Automotive for in-car file management
- Meta Quest / VR with controller and hand tracking support
- Device Connect: browse phone storage from a PC browser over Wi-Fi — no cable, no app
- Seven cloud services: Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Box, pCloud, MEGA, Yandex Disk
- APK bundle formats: APKM (APKMirror), APKS (SAI), XAPK (APKPure) — not supported by most competitors
- Archive manager handles ZIP, RAR, RAR5, 7z, TAR, TAR.GZ, TAR.BZ2, ISO, CBR, CBZ
- Built-in PDF viewer, text editor, photo viewer, and music player
- WhatsApp media manager for organising chat media
Honest limitations:
- No dual-pane interface (Solid Explorer, MiXplorer, X-plore, and Total Commander all offer this)
- No scheduled sync between cloud and local storage
- No file encryption vault for password-protected folders
- No AirDrop-style tap-to-share (uses Wi-Fi Share which requires manual connection)
Price: Free with optional Pro upgrade ($29.99 lifetime). Core features including network protocols and cloud access are available free.
2. Solid Explorer — Best for Dual-Pane Power Users
Solid Explorer is a paid app (one-time purchase, no subscription) from NeatBytes. Its dual-pane interface is the reason many power users choose it over free alternatives. The Material You design is among the most polished of any file manager.
Key strengths:
- Dual-pane: side-by-side folder navigation with drag-and-drop
- Excellent visual polish with Material You dynamic theming
- Strong network support: FTP, SFTP, SMB, WebDAV, NFS
- Cloud: Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Box
- Encryption vault for securing sensitive files
Honest limitations:
- Phone/tablet only — no TV app, no Wear OS, no VR support
- No APKM/APKS/XAPK bundle handling
- No Device Connect or browser-based transfer
- Paid (free 14-day trial, then ~$3 one-time)
- No MEGA or pCloud cloud support
Price: ~$2.99 one-time after 14-day trial.
Full comparison: AnExplorer vs Solid Explorer
3. FX File Explorer — Best for Tab Navigation + Root Depth
FX is free for basic use, with FX Plus (~$4.99 one-time) unlocking root access and extra features. It supports Google Drive and has tab-based navigation that power users appreciate.
Key strengths:
- Tab navigation for quick switching between locations
- Root access with detailed mount and permission controls (FX Plus)
- FTP, SFTP, SMB, WebDAV support
- Cloud: Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Box
- Partial Android TV compatibility (not purpose-built)
Honest limitations:
- Network and cloud features locked behind IAP
- No Wear OS or VR support
- No APKM/APKS/XAPK bundle installation
- No Device Connect
- TV version is not optimised (phone UI on TV)
Price: Free base + FX Plus IAP (~$4.99).
Full comparison: AnExplorer vs FX File Explorer
4. MiXplorer — Best for Customisation
MiXplorer from XDA is free and distributed via XDA Labs. A Silver version ($4.99) is on Google Play. It uses a plugin system for protocols and media — NFS, hash, audio/video plugins available separately. The level of customisation is unmatched.
Key strengths:
- Plugin ecosystem: extend functionality with NFS, hash checker, media players
- Dual-pane with tab navigation — information-dense interface
- Extensive archive support (ZIP, RAR, 7z, TAR, ISO)
- Highly customisable themes and layout options
- Free version available (from XDA)
Honest limitations:
- Free version requires sideloading from XDA (not on Play Store)
- No Android TV, Wear OS, or VR support
- No Device Connect feature
- Plugin setup adds complexity for casual users
- No official store distribution for enterprise deployments
Price: Free (XDA) or $4.99 (Silver on Play Store).
Full comparison: AnExplorer vs MiXplorer
5. X-plore File Manager — Best Tree-View Dual Pane
X-plore has a unique tree-style dual-panel interface that shows directory hierarchies rather than flat file lists. It also has genuine Android TV support.
Key strengths:
- Unique tree-view dual panels for deep folder navigation
- Android TV version with D-pad support
- FTP, SFTP, SMB, WebDAV support
- Free with optional donate version
Honest limitations:
- Dated visual aesthetic compared to modern Material Design apps
- No Wear OS or VR support
- No APKM/APKS/XAPK bundle installation
- No Device Connect
- No FTPS support
Price: Free (donate version removes nag screen).
Full comparison: AnExplorer vs X-plore
6. Total Commander — Best for Windows TC Veterans
Total Commander for Android is a port of the legendary Windows file manager. It's free, uses the familiar dual-pane layout, and has a rich plugin ecosystem borrowed from the Windows version's concept.
Key strengths:
- Dual-pane interface familiar to Windows TC users
- Plugin system for FTP, SFTP, SMB, cloud services
- Free with no ads or IAP
- Extremely capable once configured
Honest limitations:
- Requires manual plugin installation for most features
- No Android TV, Wear OS, or VR support
- UI feels dated compared to modern alternatives
- Slower development cadence than newer apps
- Steep learning curve for users unfamiliar with TC
Price: Completely free.
Full comparison: AnExplorer vs Total Commander
7. CX File Explorer — Lightweight and Simple
CX File Explorer is a clean, minimal file manager with basic SMB support. Good for users who want simplicity.
Key strengths:
- Clean, minimal interface
- Basic SMB/LAN browsing works out of the box
- Free with no ads
- Small APK size
Honest limitations:
- No FTP, SFTP, or WebDAV
- No root access
- ZIP only for archives
- No TV, watch, or VR support
- Very limited cloud support
Price: Free.
Full comparison: AnExplorer vs CX File Explorer
8. Files by Google — Simplest Default
Files by Google is the built-in file manager on most Android phones. It covers basic browsing, Google Drive integration, and storage cleanup.
Key strengths:
- Pre-installed on most Android phones
- Clean, simple Google design
- Storage cleanup suggestions
- Nearby Share integration
Honest limitations:
- No FTP, SMB, SFTP, or WebDAV
- No archive creation (ZIP extract only)
- No root access
- No TV, watch, or VR app
- Google Drive only for cloud
Price: Free (pre-installed).
What Makes a File Manager the "Best"?
The best file manager depends on what you need. There's no single app that wins every category:
| Need | Best choice |
|---|---|
| Cross-device (phone + TV + watch + XR + car) | AnExplorer |
| Dual-pane workspace | Solid Explorer or MiXplorer |
| Free with all network protocols | AnExplorer or Total Commander |
| Lightweight phone manager | CX File Explorer |
| Maximum customisation | MiXplorer |
| Simple, fast, and free | Files by Google |
| Tree-view navigation | X-plore |
| Windows TC muscle memory | Total Commander |
| Tab-based workflow with root depth | FX File Explorer |
| File encryption vault | Solid Explorer |
Platform Support Summary
| App | Phone | Tablet | TV | Wear OS | VR/XR | AAOS | Chromebook | Foldable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AnExplorer | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Solid Explorer | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| FX File Explorer | ✅ | ✅ | Partial | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| MiXplorer | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| X-plore | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Total Commander | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| CX File Explorer | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Files by Google | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |