# xkcd: Open Source

> Free, open-source xkcd.com reader for browsing, searching, and favoriting comics. (iPhone/iPad app by Michael Amaral.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xkcd-open-source/id995811425 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Michael Amaral](https://appshunter.io/developer/870682310)
- Category: Entertainment
- Price: Free
- Rating: 4.90/5 from 4,070 App Store ratings · 52 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 17+
- Requires: iOS 9.0 · 35 MB
- Languages: American English, German (Germany), Russian, Chinese (Simplified, China), European Spanish
- Released: 2015-05-30
- Data updated: 2026-06-10
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xkcd-open-source/id995811425/reviews.md

## What is xkcd?

A free, ad-free, and open-source native and universal xkcd.com reader. Browse, search, favorite, enjoy!

Feedback is always appreciated! I listen to my users - if you want features, let me know and I'll do my best to add them!

Attributions:

Thanks to all that have contributed on the official GitHub page for the app!
https://github.com/mamaral/xkcd-Open-Source

Bookmark Icon from http://www.freepik.com www.flaticon.com Licensed by Creative Commons 3.0.

## Key features

- Free and open-source
- Ad-free experience
- Browse comics
- Search comics
- Favorite comics
- User feedback driven development

## What do users think of xkcd?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 👍 Reliable and easy to use
- 🚀 Fast and efficient
- 💡 Helpful features like Alt and Explain
- 🔒 Ad-free and open source

**Cons**

- 🐛 Issues with interactive content and comics not loading
- 🔍 Difficulty searching for specific comics
- 📱 Lack of offline support and local image storage

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Comics not updating for some users
- Crashes when trying to save comics
- Inconsistent behavior with interactive comics

**Most requested features**

- Ability to sort and view unread comics
- Support for more XKCD features like What If and Blag
- Improved comic navigation and bookmarking
- Dark mode option

## Recent user reviews (10 of 52)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xkcd-open-source/id995811425/reviews.md

### 4/5 — Still has problems with interactive features

*2024-04-10*

Like the content, but the app still doesn’t work with interactive content

Also, the content hasn’t updated in nearly a week. The app has yet to catch up to the website.

### 5/5 — Almost perfect

*2023-09-25*

There’s a bunch of XKCD apps in the app store and numerous ways to read it online. This is the version I need, largely because it has Alt and Explain. Handy, but not necessary for me is rolling a die to go to a random strip, and the favorite heart is good for collectors. 

In case you aren’t clued in to the charming extras Alt and Explain, Alt is simply the sub or alternate title you’d see online by hovering over the strip and Explain links to the XKCD wiki. I really felt like I was missing out when I used apps that didn’t include everything, even Alt. 

Before you get your hopes up too high about the wiki, be forewarned that it’s both the wiki and discussion. Unless you’re a rare newbie, you know how well discussions can work, especially when there are, surprisingly, in this forum, members who are dumb as a stump. At least the conversations can be entertaining now and then and get me out of my bubble.

I said this is almost perfect. What’s missing is something I’ve been seeing too often lately and that’s the opportunity to link to anything outside the app.

### 3/5 — Pretty good, could be better

*2022-12-08, version 2.5*

Wish I had a way to sort by old and view all the unread ones from there. Also you can’t swipe between comics unless if you access them from the unread section. Still shows all the xkcds, though, so it’s pretty good

### 5/5 — Most hilarious app ever

*2022-12-07, version 2.5*

Great use of time. Makes my days better. Only app I am willing to take time to review, it’s that good!

### 5/5 — Best XKCD browser

*2022-09-05, version 2.5*

As the title says.

(Comics #827 and #1721 link to the same comic though, Randal changed the former's name after releasing the second because he named them the same, just change #827 to "My business Idea" to fix it)

### 5/5 — Totally works

*2021-11-03, version 2.5*

Works reliably, and includes any features I would want without any ads or nonsense.

### 5/5 — Pure simple joy

*2021-11-01, version 2.5*

I’ve enjoyed this app now for years.  It reliably serves up the XKCD comic in a phone friendly format that’s easy to share.

### 5/5 — So intelligently done

*2021-01-18, version 2.5*

and hilarious.  I Loved Pl having the words “Help!  I’m trapping in a Universe Factory.”  I may have the wording off.  The use of the word factory next should normally be considered an entirely different sport is brilliant and deeply funny.
Thank you!

### 5/5 — Great

*2020-06-13, version 2.5*

I would like to see certain comics given support for, specifically 1608 (Hoverboard), 1975 (Right Click) and 1110 (Click and Drag), but aside from that, this app works a charm on my iPhone 7.

### 5/5 — Great app!

*2020-06-07, version 2.5*

This is a great app that I use almost every day.  Everything is very well done and all the features are spot-on.  The only thing I would like fixed would be zooming into a comic, it cuts out the bottom. Maybe you could allow a tap to hide the ribbon? Other than that, well done!

## Frequently asked questions about xkcd

### What does this app do?

This app is a free, ad-free, and open-source reader for the xkcd.com webcomic. It allows users to browse through all available comics, search for specific ones, and mark their favorites for easy access.

### Is this app free to use?

Yes, the app is completely free to use. It is also ad-free and open-source, meaning there are no costs associated with downloading or using it, and its source code is publicly available.

### How can I find specific xkcd comics?

The app features a search functionality that allows you to find specific xkcd comics. You can typically search by keywords related to the comic's title or content.

### Can I save my favorite comics?

Yes, the app allows you to favorite comics. This feature lets you easily bookmark and access the comics you enjoy the most without having to search for them again.

### Is this app available on multiple platforms?

The description mentions it is a 'universal' reader, suggesting it is designed to work across different platforms or screen sizes, likely including both mobile and potentially desktop environments.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.5 — 2017-12-04

This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon.

I've enjoyed so much reading all of your great feedback! Keep it coming! This version of the app introduces a few awesome improvements I've been dying to add for a while now:

• iPhone X support
• Support for German, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, and Russian localizations
• 3D-touch previewing of comics from main list

We conducted a full accessibility audit to make the app more accessible for the visually impaired, and also threw in some minor bug fixes and improvements as well.

I hope you all enjoy it!!

### 2.4 — 2017-03-01

Thank you SO MUCH for all the excellent feedback! Please keep the reviews coming! I read the reviews almost daily, and have tried to incorporate as many feature requests as I can! 

Some of the new features include:

1) Bookmarking comics - If you enjoy reading all the comics in order, you can bookmark a comic from the comic screen and we've provided an option from the main comic list to be taken back to where you left off at any time.
2) The "alt" view now includes the comic number as well as a "Explain" button that will take you to the explainXKCD site for that comic, in case you'd like a little more context.

We've added a menu on the main comic list with some new options:

3) View All Unread - quickly filter out all viewed comics, seeing only unread comics in the list.
4) Clear Cache - deletes all comics, resets all saved information including 
5) View Bookmarked Comic - As previously mentioned, when you select this menu option you will be taken back to the comic you bookmarked and can continue browsing in-order.
6) View All Comics - this option will return to the unfiltered list if any of the above filters were applied.

I have a bunch more usability improvements coming in the future, and am hoping to provide localization into a few languages and accessibility improvements as well. Keep the recommendations coming!

### 2.3 — 2016-12-13

Thank you SO MUCH for all the excellent feedback! Please keep the reviews coming!

This update includes a few improvements:

1) Added an xkcd:OS Today Widget so you can now see a preview of the latest comic on your home screen.
2) Fixed annoying behavior that scrolled your favorites list to the top every time you view a comic and come back.
3) Fixed an weird bug causing comics to be zoomed way out after you zoom in, view the alt text, and navigate to another comic.

### 2.2 — 2016-09-02

This version includes a number of requested updates including:

1) The "alt" button has been moved from the nav bar to the bottom in order to be more easily reachable on larger devices.
2) The sharing buttons have been replaced with a share button in the nav bar.
3) You can now view a random comic from the comic screen, to quickly browse random comics for as long as you please.
4) Tapping on the comic number on a comic in the list will now show the alt text for that comic, so users on larger devices that can read the full comic in the list don't need to navigate into the comic itself to view the alt text.
5) You can now swipe left and right on the comic screen to more easily navigate between comics.
6) Users are now prompted once (and only once) to leave a review - which would be really helpful to get feedback and further improve the app.
7) Comics that are known to be interactive on the web are now displayed in a web view to help increase usability.

### 2.1.1 — 2015-10-02

This version fixes an issue on iOS 9 devices causing comics to not be loaded properly. Sorry 'bout that folks!

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## More apps by Michael Amaral

- [The Perfect Shot](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-perfect-shot/id647219699)

All apps by Michael Amaral: https://appshunter.io/developer/870682310

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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.*