# Interchange vs Panels

The clearest difference is monetization model: Panels at free with in-app purchases against Interchange's subscription. Panels also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.3) and ratings volume (12K vs 212). Interchange's advantage is iOS requirement (12.2 vs 15.0). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Interchange sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $2.49 per month and Panels sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Panels holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Panels has 12K ratings behind it against 212, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 73% of Interchange's written reviews are positive against 70% of Panels's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Interchange ships an update every 6 days, Panels every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Interchange | Panels |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (212 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/interchange-ebook-converter/id1198053063/reviews) | **[4.8 (12K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/panels-comic-reader/id1236567663/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 212 | **12K** |
| Positive reviews | **73.2% of reviews** | 70.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 days** | Every 8 days |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | — | **#181** |
| Size | 103 MB | 165 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.2** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [小龙 刘](https://appshunter.io/developer/1171012527) | [Produkt Studio](https://appshunter.io/developer/1236567662) |

## What reviewers say

### Interchange

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/interchange-ebook-converter/id1198053063)

Convert and read a wide variety of ebook formats, including DRM-protected files. Offers extensive customization for reading, note-taking, and book management. Supports multiple import methods and file decompression.

**Highlights:** Multiple ebook format conversion, DRM removal for Kindle books, Customizable ebook reader layout, Note-taking and bookmarking, Customizable book covers, Multiple page-turning methods, Comic reading support, Advanced book management

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

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| UNLOCK ALL FEATURES, REMOVE AD | $2.49 | per month |
| UNLOCK ALL FEATURES, REMOVE AD | $4.99 | per year |
| REMOVE ALL ADS | $1.99 | one-time |
| Conversions+50 | $1.99 | one-time |
| All formats | $1.99 | one-time |
| Conversions+600 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Conversions+1000 | $3.99 | one-time |
| ALL ACCESS, REMOVING AD | $9.99 | one-time |
| All advanced features | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and quick conversion speeds
- 👍 Easy to use interface
- 📁 Supports multiple file formats
- 💰 Free version available
- 📧 Can send files to Kindle

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and crashes on cover changes
- 😤 Intrusive and excessive advertising
- ❌ Poor conversion quality for PDFs
- 🔤 Confusing and non-intuitive UI
- 🌐 Inconsistent English localization

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when changing covers
- Ad close buttons are too small or non-functional
- Converted files show as 0 bytes
- App crashes when deleting empty files
- Pro version features still require upgrade prompts

**Requested features**

- Batch conversion capability
- Right-to-left text support for Arabic books
- Proper cover image inclusion in conversions
- Unlimited conversions
- iPad Pro landscape orientation support


### Panels

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/panels-comic-reader/id1236567663)

**Currently charting:** #181 Top Free · Book (US App Store)

Enhance your comic and manga reading with a clean, customizable interface. Enjoy universal file compatibility, cross-device syncing, and advanced reading presets. Organize your library, secure your content, and import from various cloud services and local networks.

**Highlights:** Universal file compatibility (CBR, CBZ, PDF, ePUB), Cross-device reading progress sync, iCloud Drive integration, Customizable reading presets, Right-to-left reading for manga, OPDS server support, Content security with password/Face ID

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Panels+ Monthly | $1.49 | per month |
| Panels+ Yearly | $14.99 | per year |
| Panels 3 Upgrade | $9.99 | one-time |
| Panels 2 | $19.99 | one-time |
| Panels 3 | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth and responsive
- 👍 Clean and modern UI
- 💡 Useful features like panel view and vertical scrolling
- 🔒 No ads in paid version
- 👍 Good import and organization options

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 🔒 Useful features locked behind paywall
- 🔒 Subscription model instead of one-time purchase
- 🐛 Issues with page navigation and zoom
- 🐛 Problems with reading right-to-left content

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when opening large files
- Issues with page order and navigation
- Problems with zooming and scrolling
- Syncing and importing bugs
- Compatibility issues with older devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to create sub-folders and nested collections
- Automatic sorting and organization of comics
- Option to lock reading direction
- Double-tap to zoom functionality
- Progress tracking and bookmarking features


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Interchange free?

Interchange is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Panels free?

Panels is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Interchange or Panels?

Panels is rated higher. Interchange averages 4.3 out of 5 from 212 ratings, while Panels averages 4.8 from 12K ratings.

### Do Interchange or Panels have ads?

Neither Interchange nor Panels shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Interchange or Panels?

Interchange ships an update every 6 days, and Panels every 8 days. Most recently, Interchange was updated on September 25, 2026 and Panels on September 27, 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.*