# xkcd

> xkcd comic reader with faster loading and alt text access. (iPhone/iPad app by Paul Rehkugler, III.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xkcd/id303688284 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Paul Rehkugler, III](https://appshunter.io/developer/913818021)
- Category: Entertainment, Utilities
- Price: Free
- Rating: 4.49/5 from 59 App Store ratings · 258 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 17+
- Requires: iOS 12.0 · 11 MB
- Languages: English
- Released: 2009-07-07
- Data updated: 2026-06-10
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xkcd/id303688284/reviews.md

## What is xkcd?

Read xkcd comics. Faster to load than the website, easier to navigate, and you can touch and hold to read the alt text!

## Key features

- Read entire xkcd archive
- Faster loading than website
- Easier navigation
- Touch and hold for alt text

## What do users think of xkcd?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 👍 Simple and effective
- 🚀 Fast and smooth
- 🔒 No ads or unnecessary features
- 💾 Offline access to comics
- 📂 Download all comics option
- 🔍 Useful search functionality
- 🎨 Clean and intuitive design

**Cons**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or bugs
- 📚 No read/unread or favorites system
- 🖼️ Lower resolution for some large comics
- 🔍 Search could be improved to include comic text

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Crashes when trying to save/share comics
- Scrolling issues when zoomed in on comics
- Inconsistent behavior when exiting and re-entering the app

**Most requested features**

- Add a favorites or bookmarking system
- Implement a read/unread indicator
- Add push notifications for new comics
- Improve support for interactive/animated comics

## Recent user reviews (10 of 258)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xkcd/id303688284/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Does what it says on the tin

*2025-01-11*

needs a favorite button :)

### 5/5 — Excellent app

*2024-04-26, version 3.6*

Does a great job. Simple and effective.

### 5/5 — I still use this app daily

*2024-04-02, version 3.6*

Great app, really clean and minimal

### 5/5 — Great

*2023-03-27*

Very good 5 stars also it is very good and did I mention it is very good?

### 5/5 — I think it needs a be fix

*2021-09-14, version 3.6*

One of my oldest apps. Straightforward. Made before all the crap they add into apps now.  Great work. I think it needs an update though. New comics are not loading as of 9/13/21.

### 5/5 — Keeps it simple. 👍

*2021-06-30, version 3.6*

Of the XKCD apps out there this is the simplest and it does exactly what it should: shows the comics and Alt-text in a straightforward view that works really smoothly. 
I stopped using the app because of the 1248 bug; I’m delighted that the bug has been fixed and I’m back to my regular XKCD updates. (+1 star to Paul for patiently responding to my bug reports and updating the app!)

### 5/5 — Brilliant

*2021-02-06, version 3.5*

Brilliant

### 5/5 — Great for mobile

*2020-11-18, version 3.5*

I love this app. Lately there’s a small bug that seems to crash it when using the arrows to go to the next comic, although that’s only happening for me in comics numbered 400-405 or so.

### 1/5 — Soap Box

*2020-05-12*

The app has little to offer to make it worth downloading.  The creator RM stopped being funny and had too many agendas that he wants to push on his readers.

### 4/5 — 10 Years

*2019-11-26*

I’ve had this app installed on my iPhones for 10 years. The only thing I wish it had were notifications when new comics come out.

## Frequently asked questions about xkcd

### What is this app?

This app provides a dedicated mobile interface for reading the entire xkcd comic archive. It is designed to be faster and easier to navigate than the official website.

### How do I read the alt text?

You can easily read the alt text for each comic by simply touching and holding the comic image. This feature is integrated directly into the reading experience.

### Is this app free to use?

Yes, this app is completely free to use. There are no advertisements or in-app purchases required to access all features and comics.

### What are the benefits of using this app over the website?

The app offers a more optimized mobile experience with faster loading times and simpler navigation. The touch-and-hold feature for alt text is also a key convenience not found on the website.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 3.6 — 2021-02-28

This version fixes a crash that sometimes occurred when selecting previous, next, or random while viewing a comic.

### 3.5 — 2020-03-18

The app now downloads higher quality images whenever possible. And it also supports Dark Mode in iOS 13.

### 3.4 — 2019-07-15

This fixes the top three bugs that have been reported:
- The app can now load comics past 1248.
- The app no longer crashes when saving an image to the camera roll.
- And the FAQ is no longer a black screen on certain devices.

### 3.3 — 2018-07-05

iPhone X support. The app now looks better than ever on iPhone X.

Fixed an issue where download icons would appear for comics that were already downloaded.

### 3.2 — 2016-06-14

Fixed bug where sometimes you couldn’t scroll the whole way to the right of the comic.

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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.*