Panels vs Cantook by Aldiko
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
Cantook by Aldiko
This app consolidates all your eBooks, comics, and audiobooks into a single platform. It offers seamless integration with public libraries, access to public domain titles, and the ability to import your own files. Customize your reading experience with various fonts, themes, and organization tools.
- Unified library for eBooks, comics, audiobooks
- Public library integration
- Import EPUB, CBZ, PDF files
- Access public domain books
- Customizable reading experience
- Organize bookshelf with categories
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Welcome to Cantook! The favorite reading app for the true bookworms. Bring all your eBooks, comics and audiobooks in the same place, no matter where they're coming from. Available on iPhone, iPad or macOS. With Cantook, we make it easy to bring all your books in the same place: • Built-in support for public libraries, allowing you to easily browse your library's catalog and borrow books from them • Thousands of public domain books from the Cantook Bookstore • Import your own EPUB, CBZ or PDF files • Add your own catalogs, for example using Calibre Cantook provides an extensive set of features for both casual and power users: • Customize your reading experience with multiple fonts and themes • Full support for dark mode throughout the app • Organize your bookshelf with categories and collections Our philosophy is to contribute to and leverage open standards: • Read EPUB files via a Readium Mobile based reading experience • Explore catalogs using OPDS • Full support for Readium LCP based on EPUB, PDF and audiobooks
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Panels at 4.8 against Cantook by Aldiko's 3.3. Panels also leads on review sentiment (70% vs 39%) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 2 months). Cantook by Aldiko's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. Cantook by Aldiko asks for nothing beyond the download.
Panels holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Panels has 13K ratings behind it against 32, 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 39% of Cantook by Aldiko's.
Panels ships an update every 9 days, Cantook by Aldiko every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Panels | Cantook by Aldiko |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (13K ratings) — better | 3.3 (32 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 70.2% of reviews — better | 38.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 13K — better | 32 |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | #137 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 166 MB | 26 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Produkt Studio | De Marque |
Customer experience
Panels
Cantook by Aldiko
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
Cantook by Aldiko
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
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
Cantook by Aldiko
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Panels free?
Is Cantook by Aldiko free?
Which has better reviews, Panels or Cantook by Aldiko?
Do Panels or Cantook by Aldiko have ads?
Which is updated more often, Panels or Cantook by Aldiko?
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