Panels vs Epub Reader
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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
Epub Reader
This app offers a seamless reading experience for various ebook formats including EPUB, PDF, and CHM. It supports multiple compression formats and provides features like table of contents, note-taking, and bookmarking. Customize your reading with adjustable font sizes.
- Supports EPUB, PDF, CHM, RTF formats
- Opens compressed files (ZIP, RAR, 7Zip)
- Table of Contents navigation
- Note-taking functionality
- Bookmark management
- Customizable font size
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Epub Reader: Ultimate Ebook & Comic Viewer Experience seamless reading with a powerful, all-in-one document viewer designed for iOS. Now fully compatible with Kindle and Amazon ebook formats! All-in-One Format Support • Kindle Formats: MOBI, AZW, AZW3, AZW4, PRC • Ebooks & Docs: EPUB, PDF, CHM, RTF • Comics & Archives: CBZ, CBR, ZIP, RAR, 7Z, GZIP, TAR Key Features: • Smart Navigation: Effortlessly browse and skip chapters with the interactive Table of Contents. • Personalized Reading: Highlight text, take inline notes, and save your favorite pages with bookmarks. • Fully Customizable: Adjust font sizes and layouts to read comfortably, day or night. • Easy File Transfer: Instantly import books via Wi-Fi (desktop browser) or iTunes File Sharing. #Permanent professional version: * Make a one-time purchase and resume purchases anytime, anywhere. #Annual professional version: * Annual auto-renewable subscription, automatic renewal upon expiration. * Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's iTunes Account Settings after purchase. Privacy Policy: https://junjie-5cfc2.web.app/epubreader/privacypolicy.html Terms of Use: https://junjie-5cfc2.web.app/epubreader/terms.html Contact us: marryapps@163.com
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Panels at none against Epub Reader's shown. Panels also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.5) and review sentiment (70% vs 55%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence 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
Both are free to download. Panels sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month and Epub Reader sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Panels holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 13K and 11K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 70% of Panels's written reviews are positive against 55% of Epub Reader's.
Panels ships an update every 8 days, Epub Reader every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 15, 2026.
| Parameter | Panels | Epub Reader |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (13K ratings) — better | 4.5 (11K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 70.3% of reviews — better | 55.2% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 13K — better | 11K |
| Update frequency | Every 8 days — better | Every 2 weeks |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #169 | #143 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 166 MB | 91 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Produkt Studio | 俐 马 |
Customer experience
Panels
Epub Reader
User reviews
Panels
From 13K App Store ratingsWhat 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
Epub Reader
From 11K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Fast and responsive
- 💡 Convenient file transfer via WiFi
- 🤩 Great for casual reading
Room to improve
- 🐛 Loses bookmarks and reading progress
- 🔍 Lacks search functionality
- 🌗 No dark mode option
- 📏 Limited customization options
- 💤 Doesn't remember last read position
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
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- Support for more file formats like ePub
Epub Reader
Reported bugs
3 issues- Crashes when opening certain files
- Distorts images in some ebooks
- Fails to open ePub files consistently
Requested features
5 requests- Add dark mode
- Improve bookmark and progress tracking
- Implement search feature
- Increase customization options
- Allow variable screen timeout
In-app purchases
Panels
- Panels+ Monthly7 Days trial$1.491 Month
- Panels+ Yearly7 Days trial$14.991 Year
- Panels 3 Upgrade$9.99
- Panels 2$19.99
- Panels 3$19.99
Epub Reader
- Annual professional version$3.991 Year
- Remove Ads$0.99
- Passcode Lock$0.99
- Pro Version$5.99









