CX File Explorer (by Cxinventor) has carved out a niche as a simple, clean, free file manager with basic LAN file sharing. It's popular because of its clean interface and one notable feature: browsing network shares (SMB) without needing an account on some local networks. But it falls well short of AnExplorer for power users or anyone with multiple devices.
This comparison is direct and honest about what CX does well and where it hits its ceiling.
What CX File Explorer Does
CX is a lightweight local file manager with a focused feature set:
- Basic local browsing (phone storage + SD card)
- LAN (SMB) browsing for network shares
- Basic ZIP/archive extraction
- Simple clean Material Design interface
- Cloud: Google Drive and OneDrive (basic integration)
- No ads in the free version
- Small APK size (under 10 MB)
- Low memory usage — works well on budget phones
It's a fine app for someone who just needs a basic file browser with a clean UI and occasional SMB browsing on a home network.
CX vs AnExplorer — Full Feature Comparison
| Feature | AnExplorer | CX File Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| FTP client | ✅ | ❌ |
| FTP Server (phone as server) | ✅ | ❌ |
| FTPS (encrypted FTP) | ✅ | ❌ |
| SMB client (LAN) | ✅ | ✅ |
| SFTP | ✅ | ❌ |
| WebDAV | ✅ | ❌ |
| NAS support | ✅ (SMB + FTP + SFTP) | ✅ (SMB only) |
| Root file access | ✅ | ❌ |
| ZIP create/extract | ✅ | ✅ (basic extract) |
| RAR / RAR5 | ✅ | ❌ |
| 7z | ✅ | ❌ |
| TAR / TAR.GZ / TAR.BZ2 | ✅ | ❌ |
| ISO | ✅ | ❌ |
| CBR / CBZ (comics) | ✅ | ❌ |
| APK (bundles APKM/APKS/XAPK) | ✅ | ❌ |
| Cloud: Dropbox | ✅ | ❌ |
| Cloud: OneDrive | ✅ | ✅ |
| Cloud: Google Drive | ✅ | ✅ |
| Cloud: MEGA | ✅ | ❌ |
| Cloud: Box | ✅ | ❌ |
| Cloud: pCloud | ✅ | ❌ |
| Cloud: Yandex Disk | ✅ | ❌ |
| Android TV native | ✅ | ❌ |
| Wear OS | ✅ | ❌ |
| Meta Quest / XR | ✅ | ❌ |
| Android Automotive | ✅ | ❌ |
| Device Connect (HTTP browser) | ✅ | ❌ |
| Wi-Fi Share (offline) | ✅ | ❌ |
| WhatsApp Manager | ✅ | ❌ |
| PDF viewer | ✅ | ❌ |
| Text editor | ✅ | ❌ |
| Photo viewer | ✅ | ✅ (basic) |
| Built-in music player | ✅ | ❌ |
| Dual-pane | ❌ | ❌ |
| File encryption | ❌ | ❌ |
What CX File Explorer Cannot Do — Detailed Breakdown
No FTP or SFTP
CX cannot connect to an FTP server or expose an FTP server. If you have a home server, a NAS with FTP enabled (Synology, QNAP, WD), a VPS with SFTP, or a web hosting account — CX is not compatible. AnExplorer connects to all of these.
This alone disqualifies CX for anyone with network storage beyond basic Windows/Mac shares.
No Archive Formats Beyond ZIP
RAR archives are extremely common — downloaded files, email attachments, forum distributions. 7z archives are used for compressed backups. TAR.GZ is standard for Linux files. CX doesn't open any of these. AnExplorer handles ZIP, RAR, RAR5, 7z, TAR, TAR.GZ, TAR.BZ2, ISO, CBR, and CBZ.
No Root Access
You cannot access /system, /data, or other protected Android directories with CX. Developers, custom ROM users, and power users who need to modify system files require root file manager support. AnExplorer provides this; CX does not.
No Multi-Device Support
CX works on one phone. It has no Android TV app (can't manage TV storage or sideload), no Wear OS version (can't browse watch files), no VR/XR version (can't manage headset storage), and no Android Automotive build (can't browse car USB drives).
AnExplorer supports 12 distinct Android form factors with purpose-built interfaces for each.
No Device Connect
There's no way to browse CX from a PC browser without additional software installed on the PC. AnExplorer's Device Connect feature exposes phone storage via HTTP — any browser on any device on the same network can access files without installing anything.
No Wireless Transfer
CX has no built-in mechanism for transferring files wirelessly between devices. No FTP server, no HTTP server, no Wi-Fi Share. If you want to move a file from phone to laptop without a USB cable, CX offers no solution. AnExplorer provides Device Connect, FTP Server, and Wi-Fi Share for this purpose.
No Built-In Viewers
CX lacks built-in viewers for PDFs, text files, and documents. When you tap a file, it relies on external apps to open them. AnExplorer includes a PDF viewer, text editor, photo viewer, and music player — reducing dependence on third-party apps.
CX's SMB Implementation — What It Actually Does
CX File Explorer's SMB implementation is its primary differentiator from completely basic file managers. It handles:
- Discovering SMB shares on the local network (auto-discovery)
- Connecting to Windows shares with username/password
- Browsing and copying files from SMB shares to local storage
- Basic read/write operations on shares
For simple home network setups where you have a Windows PC sharing a folder or a NAS with a basic SMB share, CX works adequately. It's when you need more robust features — specific SMB versions, guest access configuration, or handling connection drops — that CX's implementation shows its limits compared to AnExplorer's more mature SMB client.
When CX Is a Reasonable Choice
Simple browsing on a single phone: If you just need a local file explorer with a clean UI that doesn't bombard you with ads, CX does the job respectably.
Basic SMB browsing on home network: CX's SMB client is functional for browsing shared folders on a simple home network where auto-discovery works.
Very lightweight installs: CX has a smaller APK with minimal permissions for users who want minimal device footprint. On budget phones with 2-3 GB RAM, this matters.
First-time Android users: The interface is simple enough that anyone can use it without a tutorial. There's nothing confusing or overwhelming.
Temporary quick-access need: If you just need to grab a file from a network share once and don't want a full-featured app permanently installed, CX is adequate for that single task.
When You Need AnExplorer Instead
Any of these requirements push you beyond CX's capabilities to AnExplorer:
- FTP access to a home server, NAS, or any FTP-capable device
- SFTP for secure remote file access (VPS, web hosting, server)
- WebDAV for enterprise storage or self-hosted cloud (Nextcloud, ownCloud)
- RAR, 7z, TAR, ISO, CBR, or CBZ archives — any format beyond ZIP
- Android TV or Fire TV file management and APK sideloading
- Wear OS file management on Samsung Galaxy Watch or Pixel Watch
- VR headset storage management on Meta Quest, Pico 4, or HTC Vive XR
- Android Automotive for in-car USB drive browsing
- Sideloading APKM/APKS/XAPK bundles for app distribution
- Wireless file browsing from any PC browser via Device Connect
- Root file access for system directories
- Cloud storage beyond Google Drive and OneDrive (Dropbox, Box, MEGA, pCloud, Yandex)
- Built-in PDF viewing and text editing without external apps
Pricing Comparison
| AnExplorer | CX File Explorer | |
|---|---|---|
| Base price | Free | Free |
| Ads | Minimal (removable) | None |
| Premium tier | $29.99 lifetime Pro | None (fully free) |
| What's free | All protocols, cloud, archives, viewers | Local + SMB + basic ZIP |
CX is entirely free with no premium tier. AnExplorer's free version includes far more functionality (all network protocols, cloud services, archive formats) with an optional Pro upgrade for additional features.
AnExplorer Limitations (Honest Assessment)
AnExplorer is the more capable app, but it's fair to note its weaknesses:
- No dual-pane interface for side-by-side browsing
- Larger APK size than CX (more features means more code)
- More complex interface — not as immediately simple as CX
- No scheduled sync between cloud and local storage
- No file encryption vault
- No AirDrop-style tap-to-share
Summary
CX File Explorer is a basic, clean, free app for simple local browsing and SMB access. AnExplorer is a full-featured file manager covering every network protocol, every major archive format, every Android form factor, and unique tools like Device Connect and WhatsApp Manager.
If your needs are simple — browse downloads, occasionally grab a file from a network share — CX is fine. The moment you outgrow it (and most people do once they discover what's possible), AnExplorer is the natural next step.