iOS doesn’t have a user-accessible file system like Windows or Android. But that doesn’t mean you can’t use your iPhone or iPad as a file manager. If your business revolves around files and documents that you need to download, edit, and share on a regular basis, you’ll need to use a third-party file manager app on iOS.
Thankfully, there are quite a few awesome options.
What Makes for a Good File Manager App?
A good file manager needs to get three functions right:
- Import: It should be easy to import files and documents into the app. The more import options, the better.
- Manage: A good file manager gives you total control over the organization of your data. You should be able to create nested folders, tag and color-code files, archive folders, and more.
- Export: A file manager app where you can’t get anything out is useless. You should be able to export any file to a third-party app to view and edit it. And we’ll offer bonus points if the app offers file conversion options.
Our top recommendation meets all the three requirements and more. But all these features might be overkill for some users, so we’ve outlined simpler alternatives as well.
1. Documents 6 by Readdle
Documents 6 is the best third-party document and file manager app on iPhone and iPad. It’s completely free and packed with every productivity feature you can imagine.
The app soars through our file manager checklist. Documents makes it really easy to import (from a computer, cloud storage, Wi-Fi transfer, web pages, and other apps) and manage files (drag and drop, sharing, archive features, tags, and similar).
Documents 6 plays well with all file formats, including text, audio, and video. You can read books in the app, listen to music, watch videos, share files, showcase PDFs, and more.
In a world of cloud syncing, Documents gives you the confidence that you need by storing and managing all your data locally on the device. This means no surprises when iCloud Photo Libary decides to delete old but important photos because you’re running out of storage. There’s no need to worry if Dropbox sync will work reliably when you’re in a remote area. Everything is available when you need it.
Download: Documents by Readdle (Free)
2. Apple’s Files App
iOS 11 gave us the brand new Apple Files app, which replaces the older iCloud Drive app. Mac users will find the Files app similar to Finder. Files is built into iOS and you can connect multiple cloud sources right inside the app. If you’re using different cloud services like iCloud, Dropbox, and OneDrive but need a central place to organize and manage everything in them, the Files app is the best option.
What Files lacks in superior import options (there’s no Wi-Fi transfer or web download), it makes up in its stellar organization and sharing features.
Files app embraces every iOS convention. Not only does it have stellar drag and drop support inside the app (you can use it to assign tags and favorites, as well as moving files and folders), but you can also drag files to and from the Files app with ease. This interaction is incredibly natural and now you aren’t forced to set up your sharing options in a particular way.
Download: Files (Free)
3. Dropbox
If all your documents and files are stored in Dropbox, the official app for iPhone and iPad will be enough for you. When you have an active internet connection, you’ll have access to your entire Dropbox library.
You can open a file, preview it in Dropbox, and use the Share menu to quickly open it in a supported app. For example, if someone shares a Pages document with you through Dropbox, you can open it right into the Pages app using the Share sheet. You can even edit Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files right inside the Dropbox app. This removes any need to jump between apps.
Dropbox also has an offline feature. In the free plan, you can only save individual files for offline access. If you’re a Dropbox Plus user, you can save entire folders offline as well.
Download: Dropbox (Free)
4. GoodReader
If you often deal with PDFs on your iPhone or iPad, GoodReader is a must-have. You can import PDFs from cloud services, local servers, or from your computer. Then, you can use GoodReader to organize your files in folders.
GoodReader has a superb PDF rendering engine which makes scrolling through PDFs a joy on the iPad (it’s something simple, but many apps don’t get it right). It’s one of the few apps that won’t break a sweat when you throw PDFs with hundreds of pages at it.
The app also makes it easy to annotate PDFs. You can markup a PDF using text boxes or you can go freehand with your Apple Pencil. There’s also a callout comments feature which lets you attach classic sticky notes to PDF pages.
Download: GoodReader ($ 5)
5. File Manager & Browser
Documents 6 can be a bit too overwhelming for new users (the complicated UI isn’t exactly welcoming). The File Manager & Browser app is a good alternative to this. It has a simpler, more visual UI that helps you accomplish many of the same tasks. You can import files from a PC using Wi-Fi transfer, arrange and organize files, and share them with third-party apps.
The app’s UI is playful and it displays all important options at the bottom of the screen instead of hiding them away in a menu (which is what most productivity apps do).
Download: File Manager & Browser (Free)
Your iPad Is a Productivity Machine
We’ve been hearing for years now that the iPad is a device for consumption, not creation. Well, that’s a flawed narrative. You can get almost everything done on the iPad these days. Yes, it won’t be as straightforward as using a Mac and you’ll need to change your workflows, but you can totally pull it off.
Combine these great apps with the new iOS 11 dock for multitasking and the keyboard shortcuts on the new Smart Keyboards for supercharged productivity!
