When comparing FX File Explorer vs A Photo Manager, 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 6th while A Photo Manager is ranked 15th. 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.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
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.
Pro Incremental photo backup to zipfile
i.e. all photos that where added/modified since last backup can be added to a zip file on an attached usbstick
Pro Support for virtual albums
... that are independant of locaton in the physical-filesystem.
Pro Powerful geotagging/openstreetmap integration
A map shows where photos where taken. if you zoom in you see more details. Geotagging: select one or more photos + "set geo" + pick a point in the map ==> the selected images get that point. Filter images through the map: after selecting an area in the map (i.e. North Germany), the gallery will only show images from North Germany.
Pro It is free
Open-source, no ads, no user tracking.
Pro Can handle big image collections
15000+ images in 1000+ folders.
Pro Find photos by tags (aka keywords)
Pro Build in Vault mode
If enabled only selected/filtered Images can be seen. This allows you to savley hand over your android phone to someone else and allow him/her to view only those images in Gallery-View, Geographic-Map and Image-View that you have chosen before.
Pro Exif-Tag support (Edit and Find)
Pro Quick hirarchical folder navigation
Only folders that contain pictures are shown.
Cons
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.
Con It is not available on the Google Play Store
You have to download it via f-droid.org store.
Con Only support for local photos
