# SmbReader vs Comic Shelf

The clearest difference is update cadence: Comic Shelf at every 2 weeks against SmbReader's every 7 months. SmbReader's advantage is iOS requirement (8.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

SmbReader ships an update every 7 months, Comic Shelf every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SmbReader | Comic Shelf |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Size | 19 MB | 8 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [koji12000](https://appshunter.io/developer/338086702) | [RYUZABU SAITO](https://appshunter.io/developer/6791222704) |

## What reviewers say

### SmbReader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smbreader/id1180424745)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Comic Shelf

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/comic-shelf/id6797688767)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SmbReader free?

SmbReader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Comic Shelf free?

Comic Shelf is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do SmbReader or Comic Shelf have ads?

Neither SmbReader nor Comic Shelf shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SmbReader or Comic Shelf?

SmbReader ships an update every 7 months, and Comic Shelf every 2 weeks. Most recently, SmbReader was updated on October 7, 2026 and Comic Shelf on October 4, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*