An Azure Storage Explorer alternative for business users and partners.
Azure Storage Explorer and the Azure portal are built for Azure administrators. When finance, operations or an external partner needs files from Azure Blob Storage, Blob Web Explorer gives them a browser-based file explorer with controlled, time-bound access.
Keep Storage Explorer for admins. Give everyone else a web explorer.
Azure Storage Explorer is a free, capable desktop application from Microsoft for developers and administrators who manage blobs, file shares, queues and tables. It expects each user to install the application and to hold an Azure role or a storage credential. Blob Web Explorer covers the other side: people who only need to open, upload, download and share files in Azure Blob Storage, from a browser, without Azure administration rights.
| Azure Storage Explorer | Azure portal (Storage browser) | Blob Web Explorer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Desktop application to install (Windows, macOS, Linux) | Web, inside the Azure portal | Web application, nothing to install |
| Built for | Developers and Azure administrators | Azure administrators | Business users, partners and administrators |
| What each user needs | An Azure account with roles, or a key, SAS URL or connection string | Access to the Azure portal and Azure roles | A Blob Web Explorer account, or your Microsoft Entra ID (Enterprise) |
| Storage credentials | Held by each user | Azure roles of each user | Configured once by the container owner, never shown to people you share with |
| Share with an external partner | Send a SAS URL or a key | Generate and send a SAS URL | Share by email with Read or Write access and an end date |
| Search | Inside the container you open | Inside the container you open | One search across all your containers and storage accounts |
| Who did what | Azure Storage logs, if enabled | Azure Monitor logs, if enabled | Built-in activity log per user, with CSV export |
| Storage services | Blob, Files, Queues, Tables, Data Lake Gen2 | All Azure Storage services | Azure Blob Storage, including Data Lake Gen2 through the Blob endpoint |
| Price | Free | Included with Azure | Free plan, Pro €29/month, Enterprise from €249/month |
Azure Storage Explorer and Azure are trademarks of Microsoft. Blob Web Explorer is an independent product and is not affiliated with Microsoft.
Use the right tool for each audience.
Azure Storage Explorer
- You administer storage accounts, queues, tables and file shares
- You manage access policies, SAS tokens and blob properties
- Every user is an Azure-savvy developer or administrator
- Installing a desktop application is not a problem
Blob Web Explorer
- Business teams need reports and exports stored in Azure Blob
- Partners or customers exchange files with you, instead of SFTP
- You do not want to hand out storage keys or SAS URLs by email
- You need to know who opened, uploaded or deleted which file
Azure Storage Explorer or Blob Web Explorer?
Does Blob Web Explorer replace Azure Storage Explorer?
Not for administrators. Azure Storage Explorer remains a great desktop tool for developers and Azure administrators who manage every storage service. Blob Web Explorer is for the people who use the files: business teams and partners who need a browser, controlled access and no Azure administration.
Do users need an Azure account to use Blob Web Explorer?
No. Users sign in to Blob Web Explorer, or with your Microsoft Entra ID in the Enterprise plan. The storage connection is configured once by the container owner and is never shown to the people you share with.
Can I share an Azure Blob container with an external partner without a SAS URL?
Yes. In Blob Web Explorer you share a container with a person by email, with Read or Write access and an end date. Access stops automatically on that date and can be revoked at any time. How sharing works.
Are my files copied to another storage?
No. Blob Web Explorer works directly with your existing Azure Blob containers. Your files stay in your storage accounts. How we protect your data.
Give your teams a web explorer for Azure Blob Storage.
Start free and link your first container in minutes. A question about your scenario? Write to us.