Stock file pickers on Android hide your real folder tree and often lack network or archive tools. These six file managers are still maintained as of September 2026 and cover everything from lightweight browsing to dual-pane power use.
1. Mixplorer
Best overall
MiXplorer is the most feature-complete Android file manager: dual panels, tabbed browsing, root access, 19 cloud providers, SMB/FTP/SFTP/WebDAV, built-in archive support for dozens of formats, and a media player. It has no ads and stays free.
The catch: it is not on Google Play. Download the APK from mixplorer.com and install it yourself. Power users who want one app for local, cloud, and network storage should start here. Pair it with our Android customization guide if you are already tweaking your phone setup.
2. Solid Explorer
Play Store
Solid Explorer uses a clean dual-pane layout with drag-and-drop between panels. It connects to Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, Box, and network shares over SMB, SFTP, and FTP. Built-in tools include AES-256 encryption, archive creation, storage analysis, and duplicate finding.
The base app is free with ads. A one-time unlock (about $1 on Play Store) removes ads and enables the Mega cloud add-on. Best for users who want a polished Play Store file manager without sideloading.
3. Material Files
Open source
Material Files follows Material Design with breadcrumb navigation, root access, archive browsing, and FTP/SFTP/SMB/WebDAV support. It is open source, lightweight, and shows the real filesystem without virtual category screens.
No cloud provider integrations beyond network protocols, and no recycle bin. Ideal if you want a straightforward, privacy-respecting manager that stays out of the way. Free on Play Store.
4. Amaze File Manager
Open source
Amaze is another open-source option with tabs, root browsing, SMB/SFTP/FTP clients, AES encryption, and an FTP server built in. Themes and icon packs are customizable, and there are no ads.
Some users report slow SD card transfers and occasional crashes on newer devices. Still a solid free choice if you want open source with more features than Material Files. Optional donations support development but unlock nothing extra.
5. FX File Explorer
Privacy
FX has no ads and no user tracking. The free base includes dual windows, archive support, a built-in text editor, and media playback. The optional FX+ add-on unlocks cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive), encrypted zip creation, and network browsing over SMB and WebDAV.
The UI looks dated compared to Solid Explorer, but the privacy stance and feature depth keep it popular. Buy FX+ once if you need cloud and network tools.
6. Files by Google
Simple
Files by Google (formerly Files Go) is the lightest option here. It browses local storage, finds junk to delete, shares files offline, and backs up to Google Drive. No root access, no network protocols, no dual panes.
Install it when you just need to free space or move files without learning a complex UI. It also appears in our Android Lite apps list for low-RAM phones.
If you are willing to pay for polished tools, our top paid Android apps roundup covers other worth-buying utilities beyond file management.
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Sumit
ContributorHi, I'm Sumit, Being an introvert I have always been obsessed with technology-computers and reading dozens of posts to learn, find answers out of my curiosity. I love to write as I explore more.
