Comparison

Panels vs tiReader

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Panels

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
Currently charting
Read full description

Improve your comic reading experience with Panels. Enjoy reading your favorite titles in a clean and delightful interface, with plenty of customization and advanced features — fully DRM-free, with first-class support for OPDS, your own library, and your own files. Key features: - Universal Compatibility: Support for most common comic types: CBR, CBZ, CB7, PDF and comic ePUB (not text eBook). Support for multiple image formats, including WebP. - Cross-Device Sync: Synchronize your reading progress across iPhone, iPad and Mac and resume reading exactly where you left off. - Full iCloud Drive support: store your entire library on iCloud and access it from different devices. - Library Organization: Effortlessly manage your comic library with intuitive tools for easy navigation, custom folder colors, logos and cover images. * Themes: support for Light and Dark modes, and many others. * Reading Presets: Choose from a multitude of reading presets or create your own, including horizontal, vertical, or panel-by-panel guided view. - Right to Left reading (manga): read any comic with Panels. * OPDS support: Stream, search and download comics from your OPDS compatible server (Komga, Kavita, Codex, Ubooquity and others). * Secure your content: Keep files locked using a password or Face ID for your collections and files. Use Incognito mode to keep your reading sessions hidden. * Live Text and Subject detection. * Experimental Features: Access experimental features like panel-by-panel navigation. Panels Store — DRM-free comics from independent creators: - Browse and buy comics directly inside Panels, no extra apps or accounts. - 100% DRM-free: every purchase is yours to keep, read offline and back up. - Creators keep 80% of revenue, so your purchases directly support the people making the comics. - Purchased issues are added to your library and sync across your devices automatically. Native support for importing files from: * iCloud Drive * Dropbox * Microsoft OneDrive - Substack * OPDS: Komga, Kavita, Codex and others * Local network shared files and folders via SMB and Embedded web server - iTunes - External drives - Airdrop - Drag&Drop from other apps Page Filters: * Reduce Noise * Increase Sharpness * Reduce Moiré * Crop Borders * Require an active subscription or a one-time purchase. • You may purchase an Auto-Renewing Subscription to unlock all the premium features while it\'s active; or a one-off purchase to unlock the current major version features forever. • Your subscription will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase and will automatically renew (at the duration selected) unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. • Current subscription may not be cancelled during the active subscription period; however, you can manage your subscription and/or turn off auto-renewal by visiting your iTunes Account Settings after purchase • Read our privacy policy and terms of use: https://panels.app/privacy / https://panels.app/terms

About

tiReader

This app offers a comprehensive reading experience for eBooks, audiobooks, and comics across various formats. Access a vast library of free content and organize your collection with powerful tools. Customize your reading environment and sync across devices.

Highlights
  • Supports eBooks, Audiobooks, and Comics
  • Access to 1,000,000+ free eBooks
  • Customizable library structure
  • Powerful search and filtering
  • Bookmarks and annotations
  • Sync across devices
  • Cloud and OPDS catalog access
Features
Read full description

tiReader is the best way to read eBooks, Audiobooks and Comics on iPhone or iPad. Get access to 1000000+ free eBooks in OPDS-catalogs and Calibre servers. Support all popular formats • eBooks (epub, pdf, djvu, fb2, mobi, prc, azw, html, txt) • AudioBooks (M4B, M4A, MP3) • Comics (cbr, cbz) • Photos (jpg, png, bmp, gif, ico, tif, xbm) • Photo Albums (zip, rar) CORE FEATURES • Customizable ebooks and folders structure • Powerful tool set for searching, filtering and working with tags • Multicolor Bookmarks and Annotation • Fully customizable style and color themes for eBooks • Sync across all your devices EXTRA FEATURES • Day and Night modes • Access to Clouds, OPDS-catalogs and Calibre servers • Support of EPUB3 format eBooks with built-in multimedia content • Bookmark and Annotation search across all docs in Library (iPad only) • Open multiple docs at once (iPad only) HELP and FEEDBACK http://tireader.com/help http://tireader.com/contact Please note: tiReader does not support DRM-protected eBooks and comics. The free app version allows you to work with five documents only. Delete unnecessary documents to access others or remove this restriction with an in-app purchase "Unlock Full Version". Privacy policy: http://tireader.com/privacy_policy

Screenshots

Panels4 screens
tiReader4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Panels at every 8 days against tiReader's every 6 weeks. Panels also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.5) and ratings volume (12K vs 641). tiReader's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Panels sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month and tiReader sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Panels holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Panels has 12K ratings behind it against 641, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 70% of Panels's written reviews are positive against 66% of tiReader's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Panels ships an update every 8 days, tiReader every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Panels versus tiReader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPanelstiReader
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (12K ratings) — better4.5 (641 ratings)
Positive reviews70.1% of reviews — better66.2% of reviews
Number of ratings12K — better641
Update frequencyEvery 8 days — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#191 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size165 MB169 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperProdukt StudioStanislav Polishchuk

Customer experience

Panels

All ratings12,369 ratings
Positive95.4%
Neutral1.8%
Negative2.7%
Written reviews1,122 reviews
Positive70.1%
Neutral9.6%
Negative20.3%

tiReader

All ratings641 ratings
Positive88.8%
Neutral5.3%
Negative5.9%
Written reviews305 reviews
Positive66.2%
Neutral10.2%
Negative23.6%

User reviews

Panels

From 12K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 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

Room to improve

  • 🐛 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

tiReader

From 641 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fast and smooth performance
  • 📚 Supports wide range of file formats
  • 🎨 Highly customizable reading experience
  • 💾 Seamless cloud storage integration
  • 🔖 Excellent bookmarking and annotation features

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes and stability issues
  • 🔒 Limited cloud storage options
  • 📁 Difficulty with bulk file management
  • 🖥️ Layout issues on newer iPhone models
  • ⏱️ Slow loading times for large files

Bugs and requests

Panels

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • 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

6 requests
  • 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
Show 1 more
  • Support for more file formats like ePub

tiReader

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Highlighting not working for some books
  • Corrupted files not opening properly
  • Sync issues with certain cloud services
  • Unexpected crashes when handling large libraries

Requested features

6 requests
  • Vertical continuous scrolling for ePub files
  • Export notes and highlights
  • Improved PDF annotation tools
  • Audiobook playback support
  • Automatic cloud backup and sync
Show 1 more
  • Enhanced search and filtering options

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Panels

Subscriptions2
  • Panels+ Monthly7 Days trial$1.491 Month
  • Panels+ Yearly7 Days trial$14.991 Year
One-time3
  • Panels 3 Upgrade$9.99
  • Panels 2$19.99
  • Panels 3$19.99
4 purchases

tiReader

One-time4
  • Skin "minima Glass"$0.99
  • Skin "minima Glass red"$0.99
  • Skin "art Blur"$0.99
Show 1 more
  • Unlock Full version$4.99

Questions

Is Panels free?
Panels is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is tiReader free?
tiReader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Panels or tiReader?
Panels is rated higher. Panels averages 4.8 out of 5 from 12K ratings, while tiReader averages 4.5 from 641 ratings.
Do Panels or tiReader have ads?
Neither Panels nor tiReader shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Panels or tiReader?
Panels ships an update every 8 days, and tiReader every 6 weeks. Most recently, Panels was updated on September 25, 2026 and tiReader on September 23, 2026.

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