When comparing ES File Explorer vs FX File Explorer, the Slant community recommends FX File Explorer for most people. In the question“What are the best file explorers on Android?” FX File Explorer is ranked 8th while ES File Explorer is ranked 10th. The most important reason people chose FX File Explorer is:
FX File Explorer has a [paid Plus add-on](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nextapp.fx.rk) that add more functionality to the app such as network file browsing and a built in text editor. It costs $2.99 and has a 24 hour return policy.
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Pros
Pro Supports SMB
ES File Explorer supports a local Samba connection to browse files on other area connected devices.
Pro Built-in ZIP and RAR support
ES File Explorer supports the .zip and .rar compression formats.
Pro Browse FTP
Pro Builtin audio player
Pro Cleaner
Cleaning cache, temp, junk files.
Pro Image viewer
Pro Inbuilt video player
Pro Root explorer
Explore root files if the phone is rooted.
Pro SFTP client
Access SFTP network shares.
Pro Encrypt files
Encrypt private or sensitive files and folders, set password.
Pro Can set custom ftp server folder location
Pro Builtin text editor with code highlight
Can set text encoding, find and replace, text highlighting for various programming and scripting language.
Pro Install plugins
For additional features.
Pro Share, send and receive files via WiFi
Like shareit.
Pro Create FTP server
Browse files from PC or mobile.
Pro Mediafire
Pro Box Cloud Integration
Pro Sugar Sync
Pro Amazon S3
Pro GoogleDrive file browse
Pro OneDrive file browse
Pro Dropbox file browse
Pro Recycle bin
Pro Download manager
Pro Space analyzer
Pro Integrates with a wide variety of services
The app supports Dropbox, Box.net, Sugarsync, Google Drive, SkyDrive, Amazon S3, Yandex and more.
Pro Plus add-on for network browsing
FX File Explorer has a paid Plus add-on that add more functionality to the app such as network file browsing and a built in text editor. It costs $2.99 and has a 24 hour return policy.
Pro Material Design
FX File Explorer utilizes the Material Design guidelines set forth by Google.
Pro PRO SMB2 support
Pro Supports many compression and uncompression file formats
FX File Explorer features numerous compression file formats such as .zip or .tar as well as a .rar decompression tool.
Pro Root add-on
There is a free root user add-on that allows root file editing and viewing.
Cons
Con Network delete unreliable
Deleting files from network shares is not always reliable, especially when the file is first in the directory list.
Con Click fraud
Removed from Play store after being caught engaged in click fraud.

Con Ugly
Interface is kind of crappy.
Con Connects to an IP in China
For some reason ES File Explorer installs a folder called Baidu of which any app that installs this folder connects to an IP in China for some reason. Sadly it is still not known at this time for what or why.
Con Smart charger is enabled by default
It is annoying, after installing the app, suddenly you see your phone has changed.
Con News feature is enabled by default
Also it is not related to file browser.
Con ES Swipe is enabled by default
It is disturbing.
Con You have to install another app to add plugin/feature
Con Constant notifications
It is always running in the background and monitoring for possible issues. It always pops up with notifications about new files and suggested files for deletion. There is no way to turn it off.
Con Bought by another company and bundled with adware
Con Loads at start up and constantly runs in background
Takes up resources by always running. Performs monitoring you cannot turn off.
Con Changes features often
Features are changed very frequently, with most of the additions/changes being unnecessary.
Con Adds possible malware
This issue appears after the update of Aug, 1, 2016 ver 4.1.2.4.
Con Closed source (proprietary)
The source code for ES File Explorer is closed source.
Con Slow
Con Broken
Con SMB where?
Unable to find the option to connect to an SMB server without upgrading to "pro" version. Can it even be done in the free version?
Con Dreadful interface
A great example of what happens when a developer puts form before function. Pretty to look at but awkward and unintuitive to use.
Con New Material Design look is not that great
FX File Explorer use to have a better design to it before the Material Design overhaul.
