6 Alternatives to iExplorer

If you’ve got a smartphone, you’ll eventually need to move files from your phone to a computer. Sometimes you want to back files up; sometimes you want to use or modify them.

Many of us have lived through the frustration of using iTunes to move files. It’s frustrating! Now, with Apple discontinuing iTunes, we need to look for other tools to manage files on our iPhones. Thankfully, there are many phone managers out there.

iExplorer is a wonderful tool, probably the most popular app available for iPhone file transfers. But there are many other options available. Let’s look at some other tools and see how they compare.

Why Do You Need An Alternative to iExplorer?

If iExplorer is such a magnificent tool, why use anything else? If you find that iExplorer does what you need, maybe you don’t. But no phone manager is perfect— and that includes iExplorer.

There might be a phone manager out there with more features, lower cost, faster interface, or greater ease-of-use. While most software companies continually update their products with new and better versions, they don’t always hit the features you’re concerned about. Software ebbs and flows; it makes sense to periodically take a look at alternative tools and see what they offer.

So what’s wrong with iExplorer? First of all, its cost might be a factor. You can get a basic license for $39, a universal 2-machine license for $49, and a Family license (5 machines) for $69. Most phone managers have a similar price point, but there are a few free alternatives.

Some other common user complaints: it’s slow when scanning iOS devices. It cannot transfer files from PC to iOS. For some, the app freezes and crashes. Finally, iExplorer connects to devices only via USB. That might not be a problem for most people, but it would be nice to have a wireless option.

Overall, iExplorer is an excellent phone manager. If you want to read more about it, take a look at our article, Best iPhone Transfer Software. 

Quick Summary

• If you are looking to manage your iPhone or other iOS devices from a PC only, then CopyTrans is fantastic.
• iMazing and Waltr Pro will let you manage iOS devices from either a Mac or a PC.
• If you need a tool that allows you to manage iOS and Android devices from a Mac or a PC, try AnyTrans or SynciOS.
• If you want a free open source alternative, take a look at iPhoneBrowser.

The Best Alternatives to iExplorer

1. iMazing

iMazing is really “amazing.” It makes managing the files on your iOS devices quick, simple, and straightforward—no more fumbling through and trying to figure out how to make iTunes work the way you want it. This phone manager makes backing up and transferring data on your iOS devices a breeze.

The ability to schedule backups and do them wirelessly provides a true “set it and forget it” backup solution. One particularly impressive feature is customizable restoration. You don’t have to restore everything from the backup; you choose what you want. Find out more about this app from our detailed iMazing review.

Pros

• Works on both Mac and PC
• Scheduled, automated backup
• Ability to choose what data you want to be restored
• Quick file transfers between computers and iOS devices
• Free trial version available
• Wireless connection

Cons

• Doesn’t work with Android phones
• The free version does not let you restore from backups

2. AnyTrans

As the name indicates, AnyTrans covers all platforms and just about “any” type of file. AnyTrans works on PC or Mac, with iOS and Android. They even have a version for cloud drives. AnyTrans provides data management and transfer between all of your devices.

AnyTrans does almost anything you would expect from a phone manager. You can easily copy files between devices and organize them, create backups, and restore. The software also lets you use your phone like a thumb drive to save data to your computer. AnyTrans is loaded with features, here’s a quick review.

Pros

• Manages both iOS and Android devices
• Works on PC or Mac
• Transfers files wirelessly
• Easy-to-use interface
• Free trial available
• Use your phone as a flash drive
• Download video from the web directly to your phone

Cons

• Must purchase different apps for iOS and Android
• Single licenses are for only one year. You must get a bundle to get a lifetime license

3. Waltr Pro

Waltr Pro is an easy-to-use tool that lets you drag-and-drop media files to and from your iOS devices. The application runs on both PC and Mac. It even converts unsupported formats on the fly, so there is no need to worry about file compatibility.

This app is simple to use and focuses solely on transferring files. It provides quick data transfers; there is no need to plug your phone in as it connects wirelessly. Waltr Pro costs about the same as most other phone managers. Download its 24-hour trial if you want to see how it works before purchasing.

You can read our detailed review to learn more about this app.

Pros

• Transfers any music, video, ringtones, and PDF files to iOS devices
• Fast transfers
• Easy drag-and-drop interface
• Wireless connectivity
• Doesn’t require iTunes
• Converts unsupported formats on the fly
• Free 24-hour trial
• Works on Mac and Windows

Cons

• Does not work on Android devices
• Provides only file transfer—no other utilities

4. CopyTrans

CopyTrans moves files from your phone to your PC and performs backups. Although it’s a Windows-only app, CopyTrans makes copying files to and from your iPhone much simpler than using iTunes.

CopyTrans has separate applications for contacts, documents, photos, apps, music, backup, and restoration. CopyTrans Control center is the main app that lets you run all the individual apps.

Music (CopyTrans Manager), Apps (CopyTrans Apps), and the HEIC converter (CopyTrans HEIC) are free. Each of the other paid apps can be purchased separately or in a bundle. The total cost for the bundle is much cheaper than iExplorer, making this app a bargain.

Pros

• Allows data transfers for contacts, documents, photos, music, and apps
• Easy backup and restoration
• CopyTrans Manager (for music), CopyTrans Apps, and CopyTrans HEIC are free
• Purchase all 7 paid apps in a bundle for only $29.99

Cons

• Only available for PC
• Only available for iPhone

5. SynciOS Data Transfer

This all-in-one data transfer tool makes it easy to copy files from phone to phone. SynciOS lets you transfer contacts, photos, video, music, documents, and more from your old phone to your new one—15 different types of data in all.

SynciOS has apps for both Windows and Mac and supports both Android and iOS. It even allows you to transfer data between iOS and Android devices. This phone manager also gives you a painless way to do backups and restores.

Pros

• Transfer contacts, messages, call history, calendar, photos, music, videos, bookmarks, ebooks, notes, and apps
• Applications for both PC and Mac
• Supports 3500+ devices
• Transfer content between iOS and Android
• iTunes/iCloud backup to Android or iOS
• The new version offers wireless connection
• Free trial available

Cons

• Used to be free, but now only offers a free trial
• The user interface is simple but has limited features

6. iPhoneBrowser

iPhoneBrowser is a free and open-source phone manager. It works with iOS only but is available on both PC and Mac. iPhoneBrowser lets you look at your iPhone just like you would a drive in Windows Explorer. You can use it to transfer, backup, preview, and delete files from your phone.

This is a simple, open-source tool. However, the developers have not kept it up to date for a while, so there is no guarantee it will work with your devices.

Pros

• Drag and drop file transfers
• Automatic and manual backups
• Preview files
• Use your phone as a flash drive
• It’s open-source, so if you are a developer you can modify it to fit your needs
• It’s free

Cons

• It’s open-source, so it may not be as reliable as other tools
• The available open-source code has not been updated since 2009, so compatibility with new devices may be questionable
• Works best with Jailbroken phones
• Not available for Android devices
• You need to have iTunes on your computer to run it

Final Words

While iExplorer is a terrific phone manager, there are areas where it does not perform as well as others. If you have been using iExplorer, or are unhappy with it, there are many alternatives available. Questions? Leave us a comment below!