Best SMB apps for iPhone (2026): file managers, players and backup
By Isaac Griffiths, developer of SMBDrop ·
"Best SMB app" depends entirely on what you want to do with the share. Browsing and opening files, watching films from a NAS, and backing up a camera roll are three different jobs, and the apps that are best at one are rarely best at the others. So this list is grouped by job.
Every app here supports SMB, the protocol behind a Synology, QNAP, UGREEN, Unraid or TrueNAS NAS, a Windows or Mac shared folder, or a Raspberry Pi running Samba. Clients can behave differently with the same server, though. If nothing connects at all, check the server settings first with the can't connect to server guide, then trying another app can help narrow down whether it's the server or the client.
Disclosure up front: I make SMBDrop, one of the apps below. I've tried to place it honestly, which means it isn't top of most categories. Prices are from the UK App Store, prices checked 15 October 2026. They change, and several apps list more than one in-app purchase, so I've written "from" where that applies.
At a glance
UK App Store prices, checked 15 October 2026.
| App | UK price | Protocols | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Files (Apple) | Free, built in | SMB | Occasional copying and opening files |
| FE File Explorer Pro | £4.99 | SMB, WebDAV, FTP, SFTP, cloud | Browsing and streaming |
| Owlfiles | Free; Pro from £1.99/month, £29.99 lifetime | SMB, NFS, WebDAV, FTP, SFTP, S3, cloud | The widest protocol list |
| Documents by Readdle | Free; Documents Plus from £9.99 | SMB and others | PDFs, archives and media in one app |
| FileBrowser | £7.99 | SMB, WebDAV, FTP, SFTP, cloud | Multi-tab browsing, edit in place |
| PhotoSync | Free; Premium from £0.79/month | SMB, FTP, WebDAV, SFTP, cloud | Automatic, rule-based photo backup |
| VLC | Free | SMB, FTP, SFTP, NFS, UPnP | Playing almost any video format |
| Infuse | Free; Pro from £1.99/month | SMB, NFS, FTP, SFTP, WebDAV, UPnP/DLNA | A polished video library |
| SMBDrop | £9.99 one-off | SMB2/3 only | Sending original photos and files, with a retry queue |
The free option: Apple's Files app
Before you pay for anything: Files → Browse → ⋯ → Connect to Server, enter the server address, sign in as a Registered User, and the share appears in Files. For opening the odd document or saving a few files, it's all you need. It isn't automatic, there's no queue, and since iOS 18 some people find shares open read only until the server is adjusted. What Connect to Server can and can't do goes into the detail.
Best for browsing and managing files
FE File Explorer Pro (£4.99)
Skyjos's long-running file manager. It speaks SMB, WebDAV, FTP and SFTP, and connects to cloud services. Its listing says it can automatically discover computers, NAS and servers on your network, so you may not need to type an address. One caution: Skyjos is now pushing Owlfiles as its successor, so FE's future is uncertain.
Owlfiles (free; Pro £1.99/month, £12.99/year or £29.99 lifetime)
FE's successor, with the broadest protocol list here, adding NFS and S3. It also discovers servers automatically and has a Live Photo viewer. Pro adds photo backup to your computer or NAS. A UK review says the free version only allows one network share, and some reviewers weren't happy about FE users being moved towards a subscription.
FileBrowser (£7.99)
From Stratospherix, a UK developer. Tabs, editing files in place, and a Files-app extension so other apps can reach your shares through it. There's also a free FileBrowserGO and a Professional version; I didn't check UK prices for those. On the Raspberry Pi forum, someone whose Files app couldn't create folders on a Samba share found FileBrowser GO worked.
Documents by Readdle (free; Documents Plus in-app purchases from £9.99)
A file manager wrapped around a PDF editor, archive tool and media player. Add an SMB connection under Add Connection. Good if you'd use the PDF side anyway.
Best for watching video from a NAS
VLC (free)
Open source, free, and plays nearly anything. It streams from SMB, FTP, SFTP, NFS and UPnP. It's a player, not a backup tool.
Infuse (free; Pro £1.99/month, £17.99/year or £99.99 lifetime)
The polished option: a proper video library, HDR and Dolby Vision support, and downloads to the phone. If your NAS is mostly a media server, it's the nicest way to browse it.
Best for backing up photos
PhotoSync (free; Pro lifetime £5.99; Premium from £0.79/month)
The established choice for automatic photo backup. It sends to SMB and lots of other destinations, and Premium's Autotransfer can trigger backups by location or when you plug in to charge, with folder rules for where things go. Watch the free tier: its listing says it transfers "in low quality" and converts RAW and HEIC to JPEG. If you want hands-off backup to several destinations, PhotoSync Premium is the one to beat. SMBDrop vs PhotoSync compares them in depth, and PhotoSync alternatives covers the rest of the field.
Your NAS maker's app
Synology Photos and QNAP's apps back up into their own photo libraries and are free with the hardware. See SMBDrop vs Synology Photos.
Where SMBDrop fits
Disclosure: I make SMBDrop. Its case is narrower than most of the apps above, on purpose:
- £9.99 once. No subscription, no account.
- SMB only. No FTP, WebDAV or cloud. If you need those, pick something else.
- Originals. It sends the original files, and Live Photos keep both halves.
- Background transfers with a retry queue, so a big send can run while you do something else, and failures wait to be retried.
- Imports back from the share without overwriting files on the phone.
- No network discovery. Unlike FE and Owlfiles, you enter the server address and sign-in, then Find Shares lists the shares. Custom ports and VPNs such as Tailscale work.
It isn't a file browser for everyday use, a media player or a photo gallery, and it's iPhone only (iOS 17 or later). If you want rules and triggers across many protocols, PhotoSync Premium does more. If you want a simple, one-off-price way to get original photos and files onto your own SMB share, that's what SMBDrop is for.
Quick picks
- Occasional files: the Files app.
- Browsing a NAS: FE File Explorer Pro, Owlfiles or FileBrowser.
- Films and TV: Infuse, or VLC for free.
- Automatic photo backup to many places: PhotoSync Premium.
- Original photos to an SMB share, one-off price: SMBDrop.
If transfers in any of them feel slow, it's usually the network, not the app: see why iPhone SMB transfers are slow.
FAQ
Is there a free SMB app for iPhone?
Yes. Apple's Files app has a built-in SMB client under Browse, More, Connect to Server. VLC is free for video, and Owlfiles, PhotoSync, Documents and Infuse all have free versions with limits.
What is the best SMB app for iPhone photo backup?
For automatic, rule-based backup to SMB and many other destinations, PhotoSync Premium is the established choice. For sending original photos to an SMB share for a one-off price, SMBDrop is an option. Avoid PhotoSync's free tier for originals, since it converts HEIC and RAW to JPEG.
What is the best SMB app for watching videos from a NAS on iPhone?
Infuse is the most polished, with a proper library and HDR support. VLC is free and plays nearly any format.
Which iPhone SMB apps find my NAS automatically?
FE File Explorer and Owlfiles list automatic discovery of computers, NAS and servers. The Files app and SMBDrop need you to enter the server's address.
More guides
- Best ways to back up iPhone photos to a NAS (2026)
- PhotoSync alternatives for backing up iPhone photos to a NAS (2026)
- SMBDrop vs PhotoSync
- SMBDrop vs the iPhone Files app
- The iPhone Files app's Connect to Server: what it can and can't do
- Why iPhone SMB transfers are slow, and how to speed them up
- iPhone Files app can't connect to server (smb://): every fix
Try SMBDrop
Send original photos, videos and files from your iPhone straight to your own SMB share. One purchase, no account, no subscription.
£9.99 once · no subscription · iOS 17+