Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Browser & Offline File Storage vs Documents

Browser & Offline File Storage 4.5★ · Free + IAP 30
Winner Documents
Documents 4.8★ · Free to download 75

Documents (App B) is the better choice for a comprehensive file management and browser experience, despite recent complaints about subscription creep, as Browser & Offline File Storage (App A) is largely unusable in its free version due to incessant ads and limited functionality.

Full reviews: Browser & Offline File Storage · Documents

Browser & Offline File Storage (App A) struggles with its free tier, bombarding users with ads and limiting core functionality like video downloads. Documents (App B), while facing recent criticism for moving features behind a paywall, still offers a more robust and generally well-regarded experience for file management and media playback.

Head to head

Features & Functionality edge: DocumentsR3R4R7R8
Browser & Offline File Storage Users of App A report that the app is supposed to download videos, but it often fails, downloading HTML files instead of MP4s R3R4R18. Some users appreciate the browser and quick download process for audio R7, but others find the UI outdated and difficult to use R8R18R22. Organization features are also lacking, with users unable to move files into folders or rename them .
Documents App B users praise its comprehensive file management, PDF tools, and ability to download and organize files . It's frequently used as a music and video player, with many finding it great for downloading music for free R65R105. However, recent updates have led to issues like videos not playing R88, search functions not working , and the removal of features like AirDrop and advanced video player controls .
Ease of Use edge: DocumentsR8R16R18R22
Browser & Offline File Storage Many users find App A very difficult to use, especially due to constant interruptions from ads R8R16R22. The app's design is described as outdated, further hindering usability R18.
Documents App B is generally considered easy to operate and convenient for managing documents and files . However, some users report difficulties in finding and moving files and a confusing first-time user experience after updates or reinstallation .
Reliability & Performance tieR18R20R34R41
Browser & Offline File Storage App A is frequently criticized for not working at all, failing to download files, or crashing R20R34R41. Some users also report it being laggy R18.
Documents While App B has a long history of being reliable, recent updates have introduced bugs. Users report crashes, especially with heavy PDFs or when playing music . Some also note issues with videos not launching R88 and the app not opening after iOS updates .
Price & Value edge: DocumentsR1R6R10R12
Browser & Offline File Storage App A is heavily criticized for its aggressive monetization strategy. The free version is deemed unusable due to pop-up ads every 5-10 seconds, constantly prompting users to buy a premium subscription R1R6R12R16. Many feel it's a scam and a cash grab, offering no real trial period R10R20.
Documents App B, while free to download, has recently moved many previously free or paid-for features behind a monthly subscription paywall, particularly for PDF editing tools R61R67R79R85. This 'subscription creep' has frustrated long-time users who feel they are being squeezed for features they already had R85. Some users still find it a great app even without purchasing .
Pick Browser & Offline File Storage if

you are looking for a very basic browser and file downloader and are willing to pay for the premium version upfront to avoid constant ads, as the free version is largely unusable R1R6R12.

Pick Documents if

you need a comprehensive file manager, PDF reader, and media player, and are willing to contend with a subscription for advanced features or are satisfied with its robust free offerings R65.

Evidence note: The evidence for App A is heavily skewed towards negative reviews, primarily concerning its aggressive monetization and poor free-tier experience. Positive reviews are often short and lack detail, making it difficult to assess the app's full capabilities when paid. For App B, while there are many positive reviews, recent negative feedback focuses on 'subscription creep' and bugs, indicating a shift in user sentiment.

Frequently asked

Is Browser & Offline File Storage (App A) truly free?
No, Browser & Offline File Storage (App A) is not truly free; users report being bombarded with pop-up ads every 5-10 seconds, making the app nearly impossible to use without purchasing a premium subscription R1R6R12R16.
Can Documents (App B) download videos?
Yes, Documents (App B) is used by many users for downloading videos and music, with some calling it the best app for downloading music R65R105. However, some recent reviews indicate issues with video playback and downloading content from webpages R66R88.
Are there hidden fees in Documents (App B)?
Documents (App B) has been criticized for not clearly disclosing that many features, especially PDF editing tools, are now behind a monthly subscription fee after a free trial period, frustrating users who expected a free app or had previously paid for lifetime access to certain features R61R67R79R85.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R3] Browser & Offline File Storage 3/5 · US Run away ⚠️: Awful 🤮 the app will not let you download videos! The file shows up as a large html file but not as a simple direct link from the saved URL !
  2. [R4] Browser & Offline File Storage 1/5 · US Cannot download videos from website: Cannot auto detect and download videos from html, only downloaded html not mp4 files. Has free trial period simply waste of time.
  3. [R7] Browser & Offline File Storage 5/5 · US The browser: I like the browser it is great.
  4. [R8] Browser & Offline File Storage 1/5 · US Very difficult to use: Very difficult to use
  5. [R16] Browser & Offline File Storage 1/5 · US Horrible: App will keep prompting you to purchase the full version of the app, like i don’t know how to use the app because as im navigating it, it keeps interrupting to get me to buy the full version. i know we are all accustomed to such ads with how capitalism is but i have a screen recording of it popping up on its own 4 times in a 31 second clip…. like have some sort of shame
  6. [R18] Browser & Offline File Storage 1/5 · US Awful UI Design, Laggy, & not a good downloaded: 1st off. This app does not sniff and lets you downloadable videos from website you visit. Aloha does a SUPERIOR job, I was actually looking for an Aloha alternative. Only way you can download videos with this browser is by feeding it links - like what year are we in, 2008? Guess now I know why Aloha is the most popular indie 3rd party browser. 2.
  7. [R22] Browser & Offline File Storage 1/5 · US C trop compliqué à utiliser surtout pour télécharger des video: Apres c pas mal comme navigateur privé
  8. [R20] Browser & Offline File Storage 1/5 · US Godawful GARBAGE: Doesn’t work at all, just throws screens at you trying to take your money.
  9. [R34] Browser & Offline File Storage 1/5 · US Letdown: I try to download a video but it didn’t work
  10. [R41] Browser & Offline File Storage 1/5 · US Doesn’t work at all: When I copy a file into the “+” prompt, under the downloads tab, it does nothing. When I click on the files tab, it shows computer code.
  11. [R1] Browser & Offline File Storage 1/5 · US Skip this one: This app would be great if I wasn’t bombarded with ads to upgrade to their full version every 10 seconds. Makes the app unusable.
  12. [R6] Browser & Offline File Storage 2/5 · US Ads every 5 seconds: I don’t know if I want to pay for the full version since I can’t do anything with the free version without being spammed constantly.
  13. [R10] Browser & Offline File Storage 1/5 · US This app is literally the worst: It’s just a bad cash grab that doesn’t do what it’s even supposed to idk who or why it was allowed on the Apple Store but I hope everyone who had a hand in making it and in bringing it onto the Apple Store gets fired from their job and starves to death I literally have 0 respect for the owner and developer team behind this app and think whoever let this get on tho
  14. [R12] Browser & Offline File Storage 1/5 · US Garbage: Just another app that requires you to pay. Every 10 second a screen pops up asking to buy premium. Really…. Every ten second? It’s nearly impossible to use the app.
  15. [R65] Documents 5/5 · US Great app: I have been using this app for years and with confidence I can say this app is one of the greatest apps ever made and it’s perfect for downloading and listening to music for free 10/10 app
  16. [R66] Documents 3/5 · US Saving Links … Downloading Content: The new ability to save links and intact with them like files is quite nifty. But now what’s needed is the ability to download content, particularly videos, from a link/webpage. This needs to work on the same level as Downie on Mac. Documents’ continued refinement and expansion makes it the clearest contender to be downloading videos/files/content. Documents
  17. [R88] Documents 2/5 · US New issues: Great app for many different things. But now my videos I saved in my inbox do not launch anymore. When I try to play a video a white blank page comes up and nothing works. I was working fine couple months ago. Whats the issue?
  18. [R105] Documents 3/5 · GB Great App overall: This is truly the best app for downloading music; it is what I use it mostly for. However I do have a few complaints; such as not being able to order songs in a file in the order I want, the limited colour options when highlighting a folder, and also that downloaded mp3 files cannot be displayed with the album covers instead of a file icon. Nonetheless, this is my favourite app,
  19. [R61] Documents 1/5 · US Undisclosed Fees After First 7 Days!: Listing in AppStore said only “In-App Purchases,” implying that it’s a free app with possibly optional add-ons that would cost extra; standard model I’ve encountered in MANY APPS over years. Instead, when I opened your Documents app, I was summarily informed that I had 7 days free trial period, after which I would be charged monthly fees!! I never agreed to th
  20. [R67] Documents 1/5 · US Did not say they want to charge monthly fee: I do not know if the product works well or not. However, I did not see anything that stated it was a subscription service until after I had downloaded and installed the application. I seldom use ZIP files on my phone and that was the only reason I was looking. Disappointed they “hid the ball” when it comes to a monthly subscription fee - particularly w
  21. [R79] Documents 2/5 · US I don't understand the hype: No folder color coding, no multi instance tab view, not a lot of useful features.. Everything is basically paywalled, built in bowser sucks at grabbing downloads. 🤷
  22. [R85] Documents 1/5 · US Legacy paid users are being squeezed for features they already had: I purchased Documents by Readdle more than 10 years ago and paid for features that were part of the app experience at the time. After years of using the app, I opened the current version. I found that basic PDF tools like rotating and extracting pages, features I previously had access to, are now being pushed behind a subscription

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store