Material Files vs AnExplorer — Two Philosophies
Material Files and AnExplorer represent two different approaches to Android file management:
Material Files follows the Unix philosophy: do one thing well. It's a clean, fast, open-source local file manager with beautiful Material You design. No cloud, no NAS client, no TV app — just excellent local file browsing with FTP/SFTP server capabilities.
AnExplorer follows the Swiss Army knife philosophy: one app for everything. Local files, NAS, cloud, archives, wireless transfer, and support across 12 Android form factors. More features, more complexity, closed-source but with local-only transfer.
Neither is objectively "better" — they serve different users with different priorities.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Material Files | AnExplorer (Free) | AnExplorer (Pro) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free (open-source) | Free | $29.99 lifetime |
| Source code | ✅ Open (Apache 2.0) | ❌ Closed | ❌ Closed |
| Local file management | ✅ Excellent | ✅ Excellent | ✅ Excellent |
| Material You design | ✅ Full | ✅ Partial | ✅ Partial |
| Root access | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| FTP/SFTP server | ✅ (phone as server) | ❌ | ❌ |
| SMB client (connect TO NAS) | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| FTP/SFTP client | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| WebDAV client | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Cloud storage (7 services) | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Wireless PC transfer | ✅ (FTP server mode) | ✅ (Device Connect) | ✅ |
| Create ZIP | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Create 7z | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Extract RAR/7z/ISO | ❌ (ZIP/TAR only) | ✅ | ✅ |
| Android TV app | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Wear OS app | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| VR headset app | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Chromebook optimized | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| PDF viewer | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Photo viewer | Basic | ✅ Built-in | ✅ |
| Music player | ❌ | ✅ Built-in | ✅ |
| APK installer (split) | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Memory cleaner | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
When Material Files Is the Better Choice
You prioritize open-source software: Material Files is fully open-source under Apache 2.0. The code is on GitHub, auditable by anyone. If you only use open-source software for privacy/security reasons, Material Files is the clear choice for local file management.
You only need local file management: If you never connect to a NAS, don't use cloud storage through a file manager, and don't need to manage files on a TV or watch — Material Files does local browsing beautifully with less complexity.
You want the cleanest Material You design: Material Files is one of the best-designed Android apps, period. It follows Google's Material You guidelines perfectly — dynamic colors, smooth animations, consistent spacing. It feels like a first-party Google app.
You want to run an FTP/SFTP server on your phone: Material Files can turn your phone into an FTP or SFTP server — other devices connect TO your phone. This is different from AnExplorer's Device Connect (HTTP-based) but serves a similar purpose for users who prefer FTP protocol.
You want root access for free: Material Files includes root file browsing in the free version. AnExplorer requires Pro ($29.99) for root access.
When AnExplorer Is the Better Choice
You need NAS/network storage access: AnExplorer connects TO external servers as a client — SMB for NAS, FTP/SFTP for remote servers, WebDAV for Nextcloud. Material Files can only act as a server (others connect to it), not as a client (it connecting to others).
You need cloud storage management: AnExplorer manages 7 cloud services (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, MEGA, Box, pCloud, Yandex Disk) as file systems. Material Files has no cloud capability.
You use multiple Android devices: AnExplorer works on phone, tablet, Android TV, Wear OS watch, VR headset, Chromebook, Android Auto, and more — 12 form factors. Material Files is phone/tablet only.
You need comprehensive archive support: AnExplorer opens RAR, RAR5, 7z, TAR, ISO, CBR, CBZ and creates ZIP + 7z. Material Files only handles ZIP and TAR.
You want built-in media viewers: AnExplorer includes PDF viewer, image gallery, video player, and music player. Material Files relies on external apps for media viewing.
You need wireless PC transfer without FTP knowledge: AnExplorer's Device Connect is simpler — start it, type the address in a browser, done. Material Files' FTP server requires the user to know how to connect an FTP client (FileZilla, etc.) on the PC side.
You want APK management: AnExplorer installs split APK bundles (APKS, APKM, XAPK) and backs up installed apps. Material Files doesn't handle these.
Privacy Comparison
| Aspect | Material Files | AnExplorer |
|---|---|---|
| Source code | Open (auditable) | Closed |
| Network transfer | FTP/SFTP (local) | HTTP (local, Device Connect) |
| Cloud servers involved | None | None (Device Connect is local) |
| Data collection | None (open-source verified) | Minimal (crash reports) |
| Ads | None | Minimal in free tier (none in Pro) |
Both apps keep file transfers local. Neither routes your files through external servers. The key difference is auditability — Material Files' code is public, so you can verify its privacy claims. AnExplorer's code is closed, but its Device Connect feature is demonstrably local (you can verify with network monitoring).
Performance Comparison
Both apps are fast for local file operations. Differences emerge in specific scenarios:
Large folder browsing (10,000+ files): Both handle this well. Material Files may feel slightly snappier due to its simpler UI with fewer features loaded.
Archive operations: AnExplorer supports more formats and creates 7z (better compression). Material Files is limited to ZIP/TAR.
Network operations: Only AnExplorer can connect to NAS/cloud — no comparison possible. Material Files' FTP server mode is fast for incoming connections.
Memory usage: Material Files uses less RAM (simpler app, fewer features). AnExplorer uses more RAM but provides more functionality.
Can You Use Both?
Yes. Many users install both:
- Material Files for daily local file browsing (clean, fast, beautiful)
- AnExplorer for NAS access, cloud management, TV/watch file management, and archive operations
They don't conflict. Set whichever you prefer as the default file manager.
Switching from Material Files to AnExplorer
If you currently use Material Files and need features it doesn't have:
- Install AnExplorer from Play Store (Material Files stays installed)
- For NAS access: AnExplorer → Network → SMB → add your NAS
- For cloud: AnExplorer → Cloud → add your services
- For TV/watch: Install AnExplorer on those devices from Play Store
- Optionally set AnExplorer as default: Settings → Apps → Default apps → File Manager
You can keep Material Files for quick local browsing and use AnExplorer when you need network, cloud, or multi-device features.
Related Guides
- AnExplorer vs Files by Google — Google's default compared
- AnExplorer vs Solid Explorer — another paid file manager
- AnExplorer vs MiXplorer — XDA community favorite
- Best Android File Manager — full roundup