Owlfiles
skyjos.com
What it is
Owlfiles is a file manager for browsing, managing, and transferring files among devices, computers, NAS, servers, and cloud storage. It supports common file operations such as renaming, sorting, deleting, copying, moving, and organizing files into folders. Connections include WebDAV, NFS, FTP, SFTP, OneDrive, Dropbox, Box, and S3, and files can be copied directly between supported locations. Documents can be opened or edited with Acrobat, Office, or iWork, with changes saved to their original location. The app streams popular video and music formats without downloading them first and supports CUE and M3U playlists. It can back up photos from iOS and Android devices and schedule folder synchronization in either or both directions. Basic costs nothing and allows up to three connections. Pro costs $1.99 a month, billed monthly, or $29.99, paid once for the lifetime plan; both paid options include unlimited connections, photo backup, and file sync. Supported platforms include iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, tvOS, and Android TV.
Spec sheet
- What it does
- Owlfiles is a file manager for local devices, computers, NAS devices, servers, and cloud storage, with file viewing, management, transfer, streaming, backup, and synchronization.Read 15 Oct 2026 · owlfiles.skyjos.com
- Purpose
- Owlfiles is a file manager that connects devices, computers, NAS, servers, and cloud storage to browse, manage, and transfer files.Read 12 Oct 2026 · skyjos.com
- Free plan
- YesRead 21 Sep 2026 · skyjos.com
- Privacy
- The maker says it does not collect files, documents, or media content and does not use analytics services in Owlfiles.Read 12 Oct 2026 · skyjos.com
- Support
- The maker provides step-by-step user guides for server and NAS setup, file transfer, folder sync, and photo backup.Read 12 Oct 2026 · skyjos.com
- AlternativeTo review coverage
- AlternativeTo lists Owlfiles as freemium and proprietary and says the page has no user comments or reviews.Read 15 Oct 2026 · alternativeto.net
- Built-in servers
- The mobile apps provide built-in FTP and HTTP servers for transferring files.Read 15 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- CLI
- The macOS application includes a command-line interface for listing, searching, copying, moving, deleting, and creating folders across local disks, SMB, FTP, SFTP, WebDAV, NFS, and supported cloud services.Read 15 Oct 2026 · owlfiles.skyjos.com
- Cloud integrations
- Supported cloud and object-storage connections include OneDrive, Dropbox, Box, Amazon S3 and S3-compatible storage, MEGA, pCloud, Google Drive, and OwnCloud.Read 15 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Company background
- Skyjos describes its apps as having more than 15 years on the market and over 5 million downloads.Read 12 Oct 2026 · skyjos.com
- Company scale indicator
- Skyjos’s homepage states that its apps have more than 5 million downloads and have been on the market for more than 15 years.Read 15 Oct 2026 · skyjos.com
- Connection data
- Connection settings are synchronized to the maker's server only when Sync Connections is enabled, which is disabled by default.Read 12 Oct 2026 · skyjos.com
- Connection sync
- Encrypted connection settings can be saved to a Skyjos account and synchronized across devices; the setting can be turned off for local-only settings.Read 12 Oct 2026 · skyjos.com
- Connection synchronization
- Encrypted connection settings can be synchronized through a Skyjos account across devices, and the feature can be disabled for local-only settings.Read 15 Oct 2026 · owlfiles.skyjos.com
- Cross-location transfers
- Files can be copied directly between mobile devices, computers, NAS, servers, and cloud drives.Read 12 Oct 2026 · skyjos.com
- Document editing
- Documents can be opened in Owlfiles or edited in Acrobat, Microsoft Office, or iWork with changes saved back to the original location.Read 15 Oct 2026 · owlfiles.skyjos.com
- Documentation
- The user guide is organized by iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows, with 20, 16, 13, and 10 articles respectively on the guide index.Read 15 Oct 2026 · owlfiles.skyjos.com
- Documents
- Documents can be opened in Owlfiles or edited using Acrobat, Office, or iWork, with changes saved back to their original location.Read 12 Oct 2026 · skyjos.com
- Encryption and analytics
- Skyjos says stored sign-in and OAuth data are encrypted and that Owlfiles uses no analytics services.Read 15 Oct 2026 · owlfiles.skyjos.com
- File operations
- It supports renaming, sorting, deleting, copying, moving, and organizing files into folders and subfolders.Read 12 Oct 2026 · skyjos.com
- File transfers
- Files can be copied directly between mobile devices, computers, NAS devices, servers, and cloud drives, including transfers between two remote locations.Read 15 Oct 2026 · owlfiles.skyjos.com
- Folder synchronization
- Sync tasks support remote-to-local, local-to-remote, and two-way synchronization, with optional automatic scheduling.Read 15 Oct 2026 · skyjos.com
- Google Play data safety
- Google Play states that no data is shared with third parties, personal information may be collected, data is encrypted in transit, and deletion requests are supported.Read 15 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Licence
- AlternativeTo classifies Owlfiles as proprietary and freemium rather than open source.Read 15 Oct 2026 · alternativeto.net
- Limit: Google Drive history
- The Apple listing’s version history says Google Drive support was removed because Skyjos had not passed Google’s CASA assessment for full access.Read 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Limit: legacy purchases
- An Apple reviewer complained that older in-app purchases could not be restored and that a prior Apple TV purchase did not unlock the current app.Read 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Limit: remote text editing
- A Google Play reviewer reported that saving remote text files sometimes produced an empty file and lost the original data.Read 15 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Limit: video playback
- An Apple reviewer reported that long, lightly compressed and 4K video playback struggled and appeared limited to about 1 Mbps.Read 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Maker headquarters address
- Google Play lists the developer address as 183 Yingshan Road, Building 10, Room 502, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, China 200136.Read 15 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Maker identity
- The app is published by Skyjos Ltd.; Google Play identifies the Chinese legal entity as 上海欧丸信息科技有限公司.Read 15 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- MCP extensibility
- Owlfiles for macOS includes a local Model Context Protocol server exposing connection listing, directory listing, metadata, search, read, write, folder creation, copy, move, and delete tools.Read 15 Oct 2026 · owlfiles.skyjos.com
- MCP integrations
- The MCP server offers guided installation for Claude Desktop, Claude Code, and Codex, while other MCP-compatible agents can use its stdio configuration.Read 15 Oct 2026 · owlfiles.skyjos.com
- MCP security
- The MCP server runs locally, opens no network port, does not send passwords or tokens to the agent, and is constrained by the macOS App Sandbox for local folders.Read 15 Oct 2026 · owlfiles.skyjos.com
- Media
- Owlfiles streams popular video and music formats without downloading first and supports CUE and M3U playlists.Read 12 Oct 2026 · skyjos.com
- Media playback
- The app streams common video and music formats without downloading first and supports CUE and M3U playlists.Read 15 Oct 2026 · owlfiles.skyjos.com
- Network protocols
- It connects through SMB, WebDAV, NFS, FTP, and SFTP services.Read 15 Oct 2026 · owlfiles.skyjos.com
- Network tools
- Network utilities include host ping, open-port listing, LAN device discovery, and Wake-on-LAN.Read 15 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Photo backup
- Automatic photo backup can copy photos from iOS and Android to a computer, NAS, or cloud storage when the app is opened.Read 15 Oct 2026 · owlfiles.skyjos.com
- Photo backup and sync
- It can back up iOS and Android photos to a computer, NAS, or cloud storage when the app is opened, and supports scheduled folder sync in either direction or both directions.Read 12 Oct 2026 · skyjos.com
- Platform availability
- The product page lists iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, tvOS, and Android TV support.Read 12 Oct 2026 · skyjos.com
- Praise: NAS and media access
- An Apple reviewer praised NAS thumbnails, music search, and streaming pictures to an iPad or television.Read 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Praise: network transfer
- A Google Play reviewer praised the app’s network transfer speed, while noting its interface is less polished than some competitors.Read 15 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Privacy collection
- Skyjos says it collects account email, nickname, and avatar, synchronizes connection settings only when enabled, and does not collect files, documents, or media.Read 15 Oct 2026 · owlfiles.skyjos.com
- Privacy sharing
- The privacy policy says Owlfiles does not share, transfer, or disclose personal information to other people or organizations.Read 15 Oct 2026 · owlfiles.skyjos.com
- Protocols and storage
- The connection list includes computers, servers, NAS, WebDAV, NFS, FTP, SFTP, OneDrive, Dropbox, Box, and S3.Read 12 Oct 2026 · skyjos.com
- Rating on Apple App Store
- 4.6 out of 5 from 7.2K ratingsRead 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Rating on AppWereld
- 4.4 out of 5 from 39 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · appwereld.nl
- Rating on Google Play
- 4.5 out of 5 from 13.6K reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Recent release
- The Apple version history lists version 14.5.1 with SMB 3.1.1 support, GSS authentication, and SMB fixes.Read 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Sensitive data
- The privacy policy says sign-in and OAuth data stored in the app are encrypted.Read 12 Oct 2026 · skyjos.com
- System compatibility
- The iOS app listing supports iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV; the official download page offers Android, Android TV, and Windows installers.Read 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Windows download
- The official download page lists Android and Android TV version 14.5.2 APKs and Windows version 14.5.1 EXE, with a Microsoft Store option.Read 15 Oct 2026 · skyjos.com
Plans and prices
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Connects to NAS, servers, and cloud storage
- Copies files directly between locations
- Supports scheduled folder synchronization
- Streams media without downloading first
- Basic plan permits three connections
Limits
- Basic plan is limited to three connections
- Pro costs $1.99 a month
- Connection syncing is disabled by default
Who it suits
Owlfiles suits people who need to manage or transfer files across devices, network storage, servers, and cloud drives. It also fits users seeking photo backup or scheduled folder synchronization.
Owlfiles in depth
Read the full write-up
Owlfiles is a file manager for browsing and moving files among devices, network storage, servers, and cloud drives. It suits people who manage files across several locations, particularly mobile users who also want photo backup or folder sync. The core trade-off is a three-connection limit on Basic; Pro removes it and adds backup and sync.
Overview
Owlfiles combines everyday file operations—copying, moving, renaming, sorting, deleting, and organizing files—with direct transfers between connected locations. That makes it useful when files need to move between a phone, computer, NAS, server, or cloud drive without separate download and upload steps.
Its connections cover computers, servers and NAS, plus WebDAV, NFS, FTP, SFTP, OneDrive, Dropbox, Box, and S3. This range suits mixed storage setups, but Basic's three-connection cap can rule it out as a free hub for users with more destinations.
Key features
Transfers, documents, and media
Documents can be opened in Owlfiles or edited with Acrobat, Office, or iWork, with changes saved back to their original location. Owlfiles also streams popular video and music formats without downloading them first and supports CUE and M3U playlists. Together, these functions make it more than a file-transfer utility for people who also work with documents or browse remote media.
Backup, sync, and connection settings
Photo backup sends iOS and Android photos to a computer, NAS, or cloud storage when the app is opened. Scheduled folder sync can run in one direction or both, which is useful for recurring transfers but differs from the stated photo-backup trigger. Pro includes both functions.
Connection settings can be encrypted and synced across devices through a Skyjos account, or kept local by turning that option off. Connection syncing is disabled by default. The maker says it does not collect files, documents, or media content and does not use analytics in Owlfiles; sign-in and OAuth data stored in the app are encrypted. Step-by-step guides cover server and NAS setup, transfers, sync, and photo backup.
Pricing
PlanPriceWhat it includesBasicfreeUp to 3 connections, file management, document and photo viewing, music and video playback, and file transferPro$1.99 a monthUnlimited connections, photo backup, file sync, PDF annotation, photo editing, mobile and desktop use, and connection syncing across devicesPro Lifetime$29.99, paid onceThe same stated features as Pro, with lifetime billingBasic covers core browsing, file operations, transfers, and media playback, but its three-connection ceiling is a meaningful constraint for anyone with a larger setup. Pro at $1.99 a month removes that cap and adds backup, sync, PDF annotation, photo editing, and cross-device connection syncing. Pro Lifetime costs $29.99, paid once for the same stated feature set, a better fit for readers who prefer a single payment to monthly billing.
Platforms
Owlfiles supports iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, tvOS, and Android TV. Mobile and desktop use are included with Pro, which makes the paid tier relevant to people who want the same tool across both kinds of device. The maker says its apps have been on the market for more than 15 years and have over 5 million downloads.
Who it's for
Choose Owlfiles if you want one file manager for a mix of network protocols, cloud services, and local devices, especially when direct transfers, remote media playback, or mobile photo backup matter. It is less compelling if you need more than three connections but want to stay free, or if your needs do not extend beyond basic file operations and a simpler tool would suffice.
Pros and cons
Pros: Broad support for protocols and cloud drives makes it suitable for varied storage setups.
Pros: Direct cross-location transfers, document editing with save-back, and media streaming cover several workflows in one app.
Pros: Pro combines unlimited connections with photo backup and scheduled folder sync.
Cons: Basic is capped at three connections, limiting its usefulness for larger collections of storage locations.
Cons: Photo backup runs when the app is opened, rather than being described as a scheduled background task.
Alternatives
For a broader comparison, see File Manager Software or WebDAV Client Software.
CloudDrive2 is another freemium option, with support for Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, self-hosted, web, and Windows environments; its Basic plan allows up to two cloud drives and one local mount.
rclone is a free, open-source project for readers who want a free option across Android, Linux, macOS, self-hosted, web, and Windows platforms.
RaiDrive is a freemium alternative for Linux and Windows users, with a free Standard plan and a free education plan for accredited institutions.
FolderSync is a freemium alternative with Android and desktop platform support.
NetDrive is a paid alternative with a free trial and support for Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows.
Cyberduck is a freemium, GPL-licensed option for macOS and Windows.
Air Explorer is a freemium choice for Android, macOS, and Windows; its Free BASIC plan limits cloud accounts and concurrent transfers.
Air Live Drive is a freemium option for macOS and Windows; its Basic plan is limited to three drives maximum.
Verdict
Owlfiles is a strong choice for people who need one cross-platform app to manage a varied set of storage locations and want transfers, media playback, photo backup, and folder sync together. Its broad connections are the main reason to choose it; look elsewhere if the three-connection Basic cap is too restrictive and Pro does not fit your budget.
Verdict
Owlfiles combines broad file connections with transfers, media playback, photo backup, and folder sync. Basic is limited to three connections; Pro removes that stated cap and adds the listed backup and sync functions.
Where Specifiction places it
- File Manager Software#2 of 1009.3
- WebDAV Client Software#4 of 268.9