# eBookRenta — user reviews

> 54 indexed App Store user reviews of eBookRenta by Papyless, rated 1.78/5 from 117 ratings.

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ebookrenta/id1124256349/reviews
- App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ebookrenta/id1124256349.md
- Rating breakdown: 5★ 12 · 4★ 3 · 3★ 11 · 2★ 12 · 1★ 79

## Newest reviews (14 of 54)

### 1/5 — 0/5

*2021-05-17, version 1.0.4*

TLDR at the bottom

If 0/5 were possible, that’s what I’d give this app as a rating.

Don’t get me wrong, I like the content that they offer.

I don’t want to read content on my phone’s browser, so I have to go to my PC. If there were a download button on each chapter, I still wouldn’t even use the app.

What they need is to look at the Amazon Kindle as a model, or if you want a similar site, look at WebNovel. You can purchase books on Amazon that have a seemless transition to the app because of the account login. WebNovel doesn’t have the typical book style, but you don’t need to leave every chapter to go and read the next. If you scroll down with WebNovel, it takes you to the next chapter directly after loading.

Not only can you not download anything to the app (which is similar to the Kindle app), but there’s no login feature allowing you to access your purchased content. 

One of the other commenters mentioned it being like a school project, but I disagree. This is worse than an infant’s performance when trying to sing better than Stevie Nicks or Paul Simon.

TLDR: the app is pointless and a waste of virtual space and your time.

### 2/5 — App needs help

*2021-04-20, version 1.0.4*

This is an extremely basic app. For as much money as I spend on my manga to read, I would love to have an app that has more functionality. Case in point: BOOK WALKER’s app, allows you to create and browse different bookshelves from one screen. You can also decide if you want to start a book/chapter from where you left off or from the beginning. The full title is also displayed with the number of the book/chapter and if you’ve already read it so you don’t lose your place. You can download your books directly from the app so you don’t have to go back to the main store to do so. 

There are a LOT of things that can and should be better. The reason I am giving it 3 stars is because it works and I can read my books. But that’s all I can say about this app. 

Please, developers, can you please update?

### 2/5 — App needs work

*2021-03-31, version 1.0.4*

I’ve had to delete and redownload the app multiple times to try and load my books and it still doesn’t want to open my books. It keeps trying to load them after I’ve already opened them before. Please fix.

### 2/5 — Currently best for offline use only

*2020-12-12*

Things I noticed:

1) There's no option for you to search for anything in general. You can only look at the titles they provide in the 'Previews' tab.

2) You can only manually arrange books in your 'Bookshelf' tab, there's no sorting feature yet.

3) Once you open a manga for reading, you need to tap the screen with two-fingers to find the 'Close' and 'Help' options.

I keep the app for offline viewing, but I really hope the developers add more features and improve the bland UI soon. There's so much potential with the app, considering that Renta offers English-licenced manga that I can't find on other digital manga/comics platforms.

### 1/5 — Useless

*2020-10-29, version 1.0.3*

Apparently they made some changes on their website 
There aren’t any download tab anywhere anymore
No idea how you are supposed to get your purchases into the app

### 1/5 — Neglected Antique

*2020-08-08, version 1.0.3*

The app is old and it shows its age. This is the type of clunky and bare layout and user interface that I would expect from a free app which was much older/fan-made rather than an app which was made by a current company. Furthermore, the app seems to have been abandoned as it has not been updated in nearly 3 years. (This is especially upsetting in light of the bad reviews.)

To access your manga on the app is a patched together multi-step process which involves leaving the app. I cannot speak to EXACTLY how frustrating this is because for some reason the website (accessed through Safari on the iPad) doesn’t even give me the option to download my items.

A better option would have been to allow the app to connect directly to your account, and possibly even the store portion of the website to allow you to also make purchases through it. Allowing the user to refresh their list of books, read their books via ‘streaming,’ and also download their books to read offline. Adding a notification system to the app would also allow users to stay up-to-date with their series (and encourage more sales.)

As it stands this app reminds me of college programming assignments and I can practically hear my instructors asking “Yeah, but will users want to go through all of those steps when they can get a more streamlined experience elsewhere?” And “One of the goals in creating this app should be to give users the feeling that they do not have to or want to leave because they can get everything they want in one place.”

The app looks, feels, and runs as though it desperately needs an overhaul or to be scrapped and made completely from scratch. I really expected better.

### 1/5 — Is there a way to give negative stars?

*2020-08-02, version 1.0.3*

Have been buying manga from Renta for years. This application was always clunky, but it worked. At best was 3 stars in past. Currently zero stars, because you can longer download book to the application to read off line. Maybe there is some new secret way to do it, but I don’t know how. The website is still telling you to press the download button next to the book you want to download in the “my books” section. However, There is no longer a download button on any of the books. They should pull this application as it does nothing at all.

### 1/5 — Not working

*2020-07-08, version 1.0.3*

I don’t know what’s going on, but I tried three different ways to log into eRenta thru Safari so I can download my purchased manga, and no matter where I go I cannot find the download button. So it’s basically useless to me

### 1/5 — Go online instead

*2020-07-04, version 1.0.3*

Terrible app, but if you go online to Renta, then you find a bigger variety of mangas and can do soooo much more! I love using Renta online

### 1/5 — Unusable

*2020-06-25, version 1.0.3*

There’s no filter feature to find what you want, and there’s not even a search bar to look up specific titles. From the looks of it, they don’t have enough titles to even justify having a filter feature...

### 1/5 — Needs an update

*2020-06-10, version 1.0.3*

Can’t log in to my Renta account, the UI acts like it’s on an older version of iOS. Can’t even search for manga. Smh

### 1/5 — Absolutely Horrible

*2020-04-14*

The app is absolutely horrible. You can’t search for manga and all the manga is “suggested” but they all look outdated and old. There’s no genre option either. You can also only download a “preview” of the manga they provide. I’m not sure if you have to pay to read the rest but I’d say there’s no point in even trying to download the app. Just stick to other manga reading apps with good star ratings. Always read other people’s reviews & star ratings before downloading an app.

### 1/5 — wouldn’t recommend

*2020-03-14, version 1.0.3*

it’s really hard to use and you can’t search for things

### 1/5 — App Formatting and Limited Selection

*2020-01-11*

Formatting is awful and I can’t search for anything. It’s just a bunch of suggested comics that I can download but it’s limited and I can’t search for the ones I want to read. I don’t even know if there’s anywhere I can sign into my eRenta account and even if there is they’ve made it difficult to find.

## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated)

### 1/5 — Shame

*2023-06-21*

I loved this app and used it for ages, but one day I was booted out of my account and when I logged in all the books I’d bought were gone. I emailed customer support but was just told that my library was empty and there was nothing I could do. It’s a shame because I was wanting to read the rest of the books and now there’s nothing :’(

### 1/5 — Doesn’t work

*2022-07-22, version 1.0.4*

It completely stopped working and hasn’t been updated in a year. It’s a waste of time. Honestly even when it did “work” it was buggy and frustrating.

### 1/5 — Useless

*2021-10-14, version 1.0.4*

App completely useless. Wanted to read Hana and the Beast and the app just has a bunch of previews and no search function. Why put ads up for a story people can’t find. Have to use the website.

### 1/5 — Why can’t I access my account

*2021-10-09*

I have a Renta account but I can’t log in with this app.

### 1/5 — App Updates

*2021-09-28, version 1.0.4*

I really love Renta! online but if they had an app that would be even better! The current version of the app isn’t user friendly, doesn’t allow you to sign in, look at new books, or anything else. Having to go to my browser all the time can be a hassle so please update the app soon! 😭

### 1/5 — Worst manga/webtoon app

*2021-09-12, version 1.0.4*

This app leaves so much to be desired. It simply is for reading manga you download but honestly, you might as well go on the website via the browser on your phone. I wish I could just buy and rent manga with this apt cause then it’d have utility but I cannot

### 1/5 — STOLE MY MONEY AND CANT REPORT ISSUE

*2021-07-31, version 1.0.4*

I payed for some manga and once I was ready to read I couldn’t because it said I still needed to check out. But my card history said I spent money recently. I tried to see if I could report or refund but there was no such button. RENTA IS A SCAM!

### 1/5 — Extremely hard to use

*2021-07-29, version 1.0.4*

Very roundabout and confusing to use. To buy stuff you gotta go on pc or mobile, but you can’t download via pc only mobile, you have to download one at a time, the chapters don’t get sorted in the app, it’s very hard to close out of a chapter. All just terrible to use, makes me not even want to use the app anymore and just read via pc but that is trash too. And to top it all off the books won’t load half of the time.

### 1/5 — This needs to be banned

*2021-06-25, version 1.0.4*

I need my money back

### 1/5 — Can’t download manga

*2021-05-28, version 1.0.4*

This app has an awful interface. It says on there that you can download manga that you bought, but that isn’t even an option on the website. How come you can’t access everything on the app? You should make it so you login to your account on the app and see everything. It should be like other manga apps. I’m gonna try to find another way to download the manga I bought ‘cause it’s ridiculous that I have to only read it on the web browser..

## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated)

### 5/5 — Easy To Use

*2020-01-29, version 1.0.3*

I haven’t had any problems with the app. Just go to your bookshelf on Renta’s website in a web browser and download directly from there to the app (make sure it’s installed on your device first). My ipad mini is perfect for reading the manga I’ve purchased this way. :D

### 5/5 — Great!

*2019-07-04*

It’s pretty much only useful if you bought any of their manga. So if you purchased any of their manga on their website, you can view them offline on this app.

### 4/5 — A little confusing but works

*2022-05-16*

Does what it’s suppose to do. It’s not an app to browse the website but to read your books you have bought from the site, which then adds them to your bookshelf for your phone. But you need to use the website to add your books to the app :)

### 4/5 — Unique app with nice selection of comics

*2017-03-26, version 1.0.1*

*Updated review*I was discouraged from using this app because the titles I wanted wouldn't download, but I learned a trick to make it work. If you're downloading the app outside of Japan, then a comic will take forever to download. What you need to do is download TunnelBear. It's another app that's free that will change your IP address to any country. I changed mine to Japan, downloaded a comic,and opened it in the app. It actually worked. So far, the selection is sweet. It has comics you can't find anywhere else in English.
I have purchased a comic from here. It was one of the ones where they charge a $1 per chapter. The story was okay. Not really romantic, but you get what you pay for. I think you'll get a comic with a more engaging plot if you purchase the comics that charge more per chapter. Overall, this is a good app for romance manga.

### 4/5 — Fix the app soon

*2016-11-15, version 1.0*

This app has a lot of work to be done

### 3/5 — Very Basic, But Does the Job

*2024-01-18*

The transfer of books from their internet website, too the app, is seamless, and quick (however, you have to wait on the app until the book has fully downloaded, as the download will freeze if you leave). I like how the books are displayed on the bookshelves - it's visually appealing.
Improvements I would like to see are an ability to search for books by title or author, as there currently isn't a search option, and it can take a while to find a particular title, if you have a lot of books. A "tags" option could be good as well, as I often have books that fall into multiple categories, but I can only put them on one bookshelf. Tags would make it easier for me to find books of a certain theme or genre. I'd want to be able to create my own tags, for the most efficient sorting of my stories.
Lastly, of course, please make VertiComics available to download to the app! I'm put off buying them at the minute, as I hardly read anything that's not on my app!

In summary, this app in a handy and quick way to access your books, but is lacking a lot of features. It has been fast operating, and glitch-free, which is good 🙂

### 3/5 — Hmmm

*2021-09-20, version 1.0.4*

Are y’all serious or am I being pranked?

So once you get to a certain number you can’t even change put the old books for new ones. Now it’s just full of old books and useless. 

It was ok when it was working.

### 3/5 — Bare bones but works

*2018-08-02, version 1.0.3*

NOTE: This is a review purely based on what the app provides and not on Renta! as a service. I think their website is much better and as a publisher they have great releases.

I only use this app to have the manga available offline. It’s tedious to get your purchased manga onto the app since you have to log in to the Renta website in a browser on your device and go to your books and select ‘download’ from there, which will open the app and download what you’ve selected. The real tedium comes in because of the fact that Renta does releases by the chapter. This means you have to go back and forth between your browser and the app and individually download each chapter to the app. Each download also auto opens when it’s downloaded which isn’t bad when your downloading one thing but is annoying when you’re just trying to load up a bunch of purchases to the app.

Since other reviews were confused, to close out of a manga and go back to the bookshelf, you have to tap the middle of the screen and some options will appear at the bottom of the screen. You have to be careful not to tap too close to the edges of the screen or you’ll just turn the page.

### 2/5 — App needs serious revamp update

*2024-05-12*

I love Renta, I read on there all the time. I also use this app. HOWEVER, recently the app has been crashing frequently whenever creating a new bookshelf… and I hate to compare apps but I really think Renta should consider revamping their ancient app into something similar to BookWalker’s app. I’m sure if Renta can release a much needed 2.0 version, it should look into BookWalker’s UI where it will be easier to view books bought and can download to their app straight from the app’s purchased library.

### 2/5 — I can’t get this app to work (updated)

*2022-06-19*

Update: after all that, I finally got chapters to download by using Firefox on iOS, in the Firefox menu “request mobile site”, which somehow brought up a notice that I was now switched into desktop mode instead, then I switched it back to mobile mode. Then the download buttons finally appeared. For Safari, to get it to work, I went into the settings and toggled off “request desktop site”. The Renta website should add something to its help text about this because if it won’t work with common browser settings people need to know how to make it work.
For the app itself, is there a way to set the view by series, not have the whole shelf cluttered with individual chapters? That would be nice.
//
I bought manga from the Renta website (which was already a frustrating experience because it wouldn’t accept my credit card and I had to refill the entire form every time that happened, why not make it easier by accepting Apple Pay?), and following the directions I’m using the latest iOS and latest Renta app, using Safari, but there’s no download button visible in my library on the website, not in list or gallery view or by chapter or by series. I can’t find the option to download anywhere. If it’s not possible because of location issues or for specific titles then the help text should say that. It’s frustrating to waste time trying to figure out something that won’t ever work.

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*