M.2 SSDs in USB-C enclosures are cheap enough now that plugging a terabyte of storage into a phone is a normal way to move large files. The bottleneck stops being the drive and starts being whichever file manager you use. The stock Files app on many Android phones cannot mount an exFAT external drive, and very few default apps handle SMB shares to a NAS. These seven Android file managers solve those problems, with different trade-offs between polish, depth, and price.
What to look for in an Android file manager
The default file picker on most phones is fine for opening a photo. A real file manager needs more:
- Dual-pane mode. Two folders side by side, drag from one to the other. Essential on tablets and useful on landscape phones.
- USB OTG and external storage. The ability to mount and write to exFAT or NTFS drives over USB-C.
- Network protocol support. SMB, FTP, SFTP, WebDAV. Without these, a NAS or VPS is invisible.
- Cloud account integration. Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Box. Increasingly important as cloud is the de facto desktop replacement.
- Root and Shizuku features. For power users, root or Shizuku access opens system folders that are otherwise read-only.
- Archive handling. Read and write ZIP, TAR, 7z, RAR. Required for moving multi-file packages around.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Dual pane | SMB / SFTP | Root mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solid Explorer | All-around premium file manager | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Files by Google | Default replacement | No | No | No |
| Material Files | Clean open-source option | No | Yes | Yes (with Shizuku) |
| FX File Explorer | Power user with broad protocols | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| X-plore | Tablet workflows | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Total Commander | Veteran workflow | Yes | Plugins | Yes |
| Cx File Explorer | Light free option | No | Yes | No |
The 7 best file manager apps for Android in 2026
1. Solid Explorer, best premium all-rounder
Solid Explorer is the file manager most Android power users settle on. The dual-pane layout makes copying between local storage, an SD card, and a network share fast. The protocol coverage is complete: SMB, SFTP, FTP, FTPS, WebDAV, Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, Box, Yandex Disk, Mega, and a built-in Wi-Fi file transfer server. USB OTG drives mount automatically, and exFAT and NTFS read/write are supported on most devices.
The interface is one of the most polished on Android, with material themes, icon packs, and a cleanly organized settings panel. The encrypted vault feature lets you password-protect specific folders with AES-256.
Where it falls short: Paid after a 14-day trial. The cloud add-ons are bundled but the price has crept up slowly over the years. Some niche protocols (NFS, SMBv1) need extra setup.
Pricing:
- 14-day free trial with all features
- Paid, one-time, around $2.99
Platforms: Android only
Bottom line: The default recommendation for users who want a paid, no-ads, fully featured Android file manager.
2. Files by Google, best default replacement
Files by Google is preinstalled on Pixel devices and free on the Play Store. It is built around three jobs: clean up junk files, manage downloads, and back up to Google Drive. The cleanup recommendations are surprisingly aggressive and useful. The offline sharing feature uses local Wi-Fi Direct to push large files between devices without the internet.
There is no SMB, FTP, or SFTP. There is no dual pane. There is no root mode. What there is, is a fast, reliable, ad-free file manager that handles the 80 percent case without setup.
Where it falls short: No network protocols. No dual pane. Limited customization. The “clean up” prompts can be overzealous and have surfaced complaints from users who lost files they meant to keep.
Pricing:
- Free, no ads
Platforms: Android only
Bottom line: Good enough for users whose file management is mostly cleaning up downloads and offloading photos.
3. Material Files, best clean open-source option
Material Files is an open-source Android file manager built to Material Design specs. It handles SMB, FTP, SFTP, WebDAV, archives, and on rooted devices it can browse the system filesystem. Without root, Shizuku can unlock most of the same paths without changing the device boot state.
The interface is the cleanest of any open-source file manager. No ads, no upsells, no telemetry. Active development continues on GitHub.
Where it falls short: No dual pane. No cloud account integration (Drive, Dropbox, etc.). Fewer themes and customization options than Solid Explorer.
Pricing:
- Free and open source
Platforms: Android only
Bottom line: The right pick if you want a clean open-source file manager with network protocol support and no commercial overhead.
4. FX File Explorer, best for power users
FX File Explorer by NextApp has been on Android for over a decade and the depth shows. Dual pane is standard. The plus-key on the toolbar gives you a long menu of every storage location, network share, cloud account, and archive available on the device. A built-in text editor handles syntax highlighting. The optional FX Plus add-on unlocks SMB, FTP, SFTP, cloud accounts, root, and a recycle bin.
For users coming from Windows or macOS, FX is the closest the Android file manager world gets to Explorer or Finder feature parity.
Where it falls short: The free version is deliberately limited; most useful features require the FX Plus add-on. The interface looks somewhat dated compared to Solid Explorer. The settings tree is deep.
Pricing:
- Free with limited features
- FX Plus add-on, one-time, around $2.99
Platforms: Android only
Bottom line: Choose FX when you want a desktop-class workflow with text editing, archive handling, and protocol support in one app.
5. X-plore File Manager, best for tablets
X-plore uses a tree view that scales naturally to tablet-sized screens. Two trees can be open side by side, and any tree node can be a local folder, an SD card root, a USB drive, a network share, or a cloud account. For tablets and foldables specifically, X-plore is the most efficient way to navigate deep folder structures.
Cloud account support is broad, including Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Yandex Disk, MagentaCLOUD, Mega, and Box. SFTP, SMB, FTP, FTPS, and WebDAV are all supported.
Where it falls short: The interface is utilitarian and looks like a 2014 Android app. Some features (USB OTG, root) require accepting permission prompts on every restart. The Pro version is needed to remove ads.
Pricing:
- Free with ads
- Pro, in-app purchase, around $3.99
Platforms: Android only
Bottom line: The right pick for tablet and foldable users who navigate deep folder trees and want both panes always visible.
6. Total Commander, best for veterans of the desktop original
Total Commander on Android is from the same developer as the long-running Windows file manager. The keyboard-first dual-pane workflow is intact, the plugin system unlocks SMB, FTP, SFTP, and WebDAV, and a built-in text editor and archive tool round it out. Power users from the Windows version will recognize most of the keybindings.
The app is free with no ads and no in-app purchases. It is one of the few feature-rich file managers on Android that costs nothing.
Where it falls short: Network protocols ship as separate plugins from the Play Store. The UI is uncompromising and unfamiliar to users without the Windows background. No cloud account integration in the core app.
Pricing:
- Free, ad-free, no in-app purchases
Platforms: Android, Windows
Bottom line: A natural fit for anyone who knows Total Commander on Windows and wants the same muscle memory on Android.
7. Cx File Explorer, best free option without compromises
Cx File Explorer is free, ad-free, and includes SMB, FTP, SFTP, WebDAV, and cloud account support (Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox). It does not have dual pane or root mode, but for users who do not need those features, it sits well above the typical “free file manager” tier.
The interface is closer to modern material design than X-plore or Total Commander. Archive support handles ZIP, RAR, and 7z. USB OTG works without setup.
Where it falls short: No dual pane. No root or Shizuku integration. The lack of a paid tier means slower bug fixes than the commercial alternatives.
Pricing:
- Free, ad-free
Platforms: Android only
Bottom line: The best free file manager that still handles network shares. Pick Cx if you want zero cost and no ads.
How to pick the right one
- If you want one paid app that covers every workflow: Solid Explorer.
- If you only manage downloads and photos: Files by Google.
- If you prioritize open source and no telemetry: Material Files.
- If you want desktop-class depth with text editing and protocols: FX File Explorer.
- If you work mostly on a tablet or foldable: X-plore.
- If you know Total Commander from Windows: Total Commander.
- If you want a free file manager with SMB and SFTP: Cx File Explorer.
Most readers will be served by Solid Explorer (paid) or Cx File Explorer (free).
Frequently asked questions
Can Android file managers mount external SSDs over USB-C?
Yes. Solid Explorer, FX, X-plore, Total Commander, and Cx all mount exFAT and NTFS drives over USB-C OTG on modern Android. The default Files by Google app supports basic external drive browsing on most Pixel devices. For NTFS write support, the device must include the appropriate kernel driver, which most flagships do.
Which file manager supports SMB and NAS shares?
Solid Explorer, Material Files, FX File Explorer, X-plore, Total Commander (with the SMB plugin), and Cx File Explorer all support SMB. Files by Google does not. For a NAS-heavy workflow, Solid Explorer and FX have the most reliable SMBv2 and SMBv3 implementations.
What is the best free file manager for Android?
Cx File Explorer is the best free file manager that still includes SMB, FTP, and cloud support. Material Files is the best free open-source option. Files by Google is the easiest free pick for users who do not need network protocols.
Do I need root for a good file manager?
No. Modern Android exposes enough storage via the Storage Access Framework that root is unnecessary for most workflows. Shizuku has further closed the gap by exposing system paths without rooting. Solid Explorer, Material Files, FX, and X-plore all support Shizuku or root for users who want it, but none require it.
Can I copy files directly between a NAS and an external SSD?
Yes, if your file manager supports both endpoints. Solid Explorer, FX, X-plore, and Total Commander all let you open the NAS share in one pane and the USB drive in the other, then drag between them. Total throughput depends on Wi-Fi speed and USB-C bus performance.
