# Panels vs Macroverse

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 (#182 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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Panels | Macroverse |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (12K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/panels-comic-reader/id1236567663/reviews)** | [4.8 (41 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/macroverse-next-gen-comics/id1287187206/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **12K** | 41 |
| Positive reviews | 70.1% of reviews | **92.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 8 days** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | **#182** | — |
| Size | 165 MB | 70 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Produkt Studio](https://appshunter.io/developer/1236567662) | [Macroverse Media, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1153255891) |

## What reviewers say

### Panels

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

**Currently charting:** #182 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


### Macroverse

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/macroverse-next-gen-comics/id1287187206)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Macroverse Unlimited Weekly | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Macroverse Unlimited | $4.99 | per month |
| Macroverse Unlimited Yearly | $49.99 | per year |
| Standard Episode | $0.99 | one-time |
| Super Season Unlock! | $9.99 | one-time |


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