SharePoint File Explorer Alternative

SPExplorer vs. SharePoint's document library

SharePoint's built-in document library is functional — but it's not designed for end users. Here's what you get with SPExplorer instead.

SharePoint Document Library

SharePoint
Documents > Projects > 2026 Plans
+ New↑ UploadShareCopy link
Name ↕ModifiedSize
Q1 Safety Audit.pdfFeb 2026
Bridge Design Specs.docxFeb 2026
Project Budget.xlsxFeb 2026
Site Survey PhotosFeb 2026
Structural Analysis.pdfFeb 2026
No tree view. No branding. No bulk actions.

SPExplorer

A
Acme Engineering — File Explorer
+ New Folder↑ Upload⚡ Bulk🔍 Search files...
Folders
📁 Documents
📁 Projects
📂 2026 Plans
📁 2025 Archive
📁 Templates
📁 HR Policies
NameModifiedSize
Q1 Safety Audit.pdfFeb 262.4 MB
Bridge Design.docxFeb 262.4 MB
Budget 2026.xlsxFeb 262.4 MB
Site PhotosFeb 262.4 MB
Acme EngineeringAcme ProjectsAcme HR

6 reasons SharePoint's document library frustrates your users

😤

Endless nested folders with no tree view

SharePoint's document library shows a flat list of folders. There's no sidebar tree view — users click in, get lost, click back, repeat. IT gets the tickets.

🎨

It looks like Microsoft, not your company

SharePoint's default UI is Microsoft blue and white. There's no way to add your company logo or brand colors to the document library without expensive custom development.

🗂️

One site at a time

Managing files across multiple SharePoint sites means juggling browser tabs. There's no unified view — every site is its own silo.

📤

Upload feels like 2005

Drag and drop works inconsistently. Bulk operations are buried in menus. Users resort to emailing files instead.

🔍

Search that doesn't search

SharePoint's search is powerful but hidden. The document library has no real-time filter bar — users have to know exactly what they're looking for.

📱

Unusable on mobile

The SharePoint document library on mobile is a frustrating, zoomed-in table. File management on phone or tablet is essentially abandoned.

Feature comparison

Side by side — what you get with SharePoint's built-in library vs. SPExplorer.

Feature
SharePoint (native)
SPExplorer
File tree navigation

Flat list only; no tree sidebar

Full folder tree with expand/collapse

Drag & drop upload
⚠️

Limited; unreliable across browsers

Bulk drag & drop with progress tracking

Custom company branding

Microsoft branding only

Your logo, colors, and company name

Multi-site management

One site per browser tab

Switch between sites from one page

Inline document preview
⚠️

Opens new tab or requires Office Online

Preview PDFs, Office docs, images in-browser

Advanced search & filtering
⚠️

Basic search, no real-time filtering

Real-time search across all files

Bulk operations (move, copy, delete)
⚠️

Limited; clunky multi-select

Bulk copy, move, rename, delete

Activity analytics & heatmaps

No built-in usage analytics

File activity timeline and dashboards

Favourites & recent files
⚠️

Only via OneDrive 'Recent' — unreliable

Star files, access recents one click away

Mobile-friendly UI
⚠️

Poor mobile experience

Fully responsive for phone and tablet

Deployment complexity

Built-in, nothing to deploy

Upload one .aspx file — 5 minutes

Pricing
Included with M365
£99 one-time

No subscription, no per-user fees

Data stays in your tenant

Deployed within your SharePoint — no SaaS

Who replaces their document library with SPExplorer?

SharePoint Administrators

You maintain the SharePoint environment and get blamed when users can't find their files. SPExplorer gives you a tool to hand off that actually works.

IT Managers

You need to reduce intranet support tickets and improve adoption. A familiar file explorer interface means less training and fewer complaints.

Intranet / Digital Workplace Managers

You want a professional, branded file experience that looks like it belongs to your company — not a generic Microsoft portal.

How SPExplorer compares to third-party alternatives

Other tools exist, but they come with trade-offs SPExplorer avoids.

Feature
SPExplorer
MacroView DMS
Bamboo Tree View
Pricing model
£99 one-time
Annual subscription (10+ seats)
$1,382/year
Per-user fees
None — unlimited users
Per-seat pricing
Per-subscription
Deployment
Upload 1 file (5 min)
Desktop app install
SPFx web part
Custom branding
Full (logo, colors, name)
Limited
Theme-based only
Tree view navigation
Built-in
Built-in
Built-in
Multi-site switching
One-click
Supported
Not supported
Azure / app registration
Not required
Required
Not required
Data residency
100% in your tenant
Desktop sync
In your tenant

Comparison based on publicly available information as of March 2026. Pricing and features may vary.

Frequently asked questions

What is SPExplorer and how does it compare to SharePoint's document library?

SPExplorer is a Windows Explorer-style file manager that deploys as a single .aspx page on your SharePoint site. Unlike the native document library, it provides a tree view sidebar, drag & drop uploads, custom branding, multi-site management, and real-time search — all in a familiar interface.

How does SPExplorer compare to other SharePoint file explorer tools like fileTrooper or MacroView?

SPExplorer is a one-time purchase (£99) with no subscription or per-user fees. Competitors like MacroView require annual subscriptions with minimum 10 seats, and Bamboo Tree View costs $1,382/year. fileTrooper is free for under 250 users but lacks custom branding. SPExplorer offers custom branding, instant deployment, and no user limits.

Do I need Azure or any app registration to use SPExplorer?

No. SPExplorer runs entirely within your SharePoint environment using the built-in REST API. There's no Azure app registration, no external service, and no data leaves your tenant. Just enable custom scripts and upload one file.

Can SPExplorer manage files across multiple SharePoint sites?

Yes. SPExplorer lets you switch between multiple SharePoint sites from a single page. No more juggling browser tabs — all your document libraries are accessible from one interface.

Is SPExplorer a subscription or one-time purchase?

SPExplorer is a one-time purchase of £99 (approximately $129 USD). There are no monthly fees, no per-user licensing, and no recurring charges. You own it forever.

Ready to replace the document library?

One-time payment. Deploy in 5 minutes. Your branding, your SharePoint.

30-day money-back guarantee · No subscription · Works with SharePoint Online & 2019+