Comparison

Panels vs Macroverse

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

Macroverse

Experience a new era of digital storytelling with a unique mobile-first format for comics and webtoons. Support creators directly through subscriptions and engage with a community focused on the future of entertainment.

Highlights
  • Mobile-native TapStory format
  • Exclusive series and free episodes
  • Creator revenue sharing
  • Community collaboration opportunities
  • Support for comics, TV, gaming, and animation franchises
Features
Read full description

* Welcome to Macroverse * Next Generation Comics is just the beginning... Macroverse is a multi-format entertainment studio that rewards its community, collectors, creators and collaborators for supporting upcoming blockbuster franchises spanning comics, TV, gaming, animation, movies and more. --- Macroverse is a new type of comic and webtoon! Our unique TapStory format delivers stories that feel completely native on your phone. It's the way comics would be if they were invented today. If you love comics and webtoons, you'll love this. If you've never read them... you'll love this! Enjoy a wide range of free episodes and exclusive series and subscribe for unlimited access to EVERYTHING for one low price. Better yet, Macroverse is built with and for the creators that make the stories you love. All subscription revenue is shared directly with the creators who make the comics on our app. Subscribing to Macroverse directly supports the next generation of comics creators and helps them make more great work for you to enjoy. See how great that is! Together we'll revolutionize the way comics are crafted, discovered, shared and expanded. As you explore and we expand, you'll find new ways to collaborate, create and join in the process as well. There's a lot on the way and many opportunities to participate at whatever level you choose. Suit up, Macronaut! Join us on the adventure. It's gonna be a ton of fun! --- www.macroverse.com www.discord.gg/macroverse Twitter/X: @macroverse IG: @macroversehq --- By using Macroverse, you agree to our Privacy Policy at https://macroverse.media/privacy and our Terms of Use at https://www.macroverse.media/terms

Screenshots

Panels4 screens
Macroverse4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Panels at every 8 days against Macroverse's every 2 months. Panels also leads on ratings volume (12K vs 41) and chart position (#179 vs unranked). Macroverse's advantage is review sentiment (92% vs 70%) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, 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 Macroverse sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Panels against 4.8 for Macroverse. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Panels has 12K ratings behind it against 41, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 70% of Panels's written reviews are positive against 92% of Macroverse's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Panels ships an update every 8 days, Macroverse every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and June 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Panels versus Macroverse: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPanelsMacroverse
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (12K ratings) — better4.8 (41 ratings)
Positive reviews70.1% of reviews92.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings12K — better41
Update frequencyEvery 8 days — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
Best chart rank#179 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size165 MB70 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperProdukt StudioMacroverse Media, Inc

Customer experience

Panels

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

Macroverse

All ratings42 ratings
Positive95.2%
Neutral2.4%
Negative2.4%
Written reviews25 reviews
Positive92.0%
Neutral4.0%
Negative4.0%

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

Macroverse

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

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
5 purchases

Macroverse

Subscriptions3
  • Macroverse Unlimited Weekly$1.997 Days
  • Macroverse Unlimited$4.991 Month
  • Macroverse Unlimited Yearly$49.991 Year
One-time2
  • Standard Episode$0.99
  • Super Season Unlock!$9.99

Questions

Is Panels free?
Panels is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Macroverse free?
Macroverse is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Panels or Macroverse?
Panels is rated higher. Panels averages 4.8 out of 5 from 12K ratings, while Macroverse averages 4.8 from 41 ratings.
Do Panels or Macroverse have ads?
Neither Panels nor Macroverse shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Panels or Macroverse?
Panels ships an update every 8 days, and Macroverse every 2 months. Most recently, Panels was updated on September 25, 2026 and Macroverse on June 10, 2026.

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