Comparison

Panels vs MangaY

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 reading with advanced features and a clean interface. Enjoy DRM-free titles, extensive file format support, and seamless cross-device synchronization. Organize your library and customize your reading experience.

Highlights
  • Universal comic format support (CBR, CBZ, CB7, PDF, ePUB)
  • Cross-device reading progress sync
  • OPDS server streaming and downloading
  • DRM-free comic store with creator support
  • Advanced reading presets and page filters
  • Library organization with custom themes
  • Content security with password/Face ID
Features
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

MangaY

Access and read thousands of manga titles for free across various genres. Discover new content daily, organize your favorites, and enjoy offline reading with customizable display options. Sync your library across devices.

Highlights
  • Massive manga library
  • Daily new manga additions
  • Offline reading support
  • Cloud sync with Google/Facebook
  • Customizable reading modes
  • Multi-language support
Features
Read full description

MangaY - Best Manga Reade App is a manga e-reader that gives you FREE access to all of your favorite manga, with NEW manga added every day!! Discover, Read and Share thousands of manga for FREE! Manga Mega - Best Manga Reader App's Massive Library Read comics in Action, Romance, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Martial Arts, Shounen, Supernatural, Historical, Horror, Mystery, Shoujo, Sci-fi, Mecha, Doujinshi, Seinen, School Life, Webtoons, and Drama. Features of Manga Mega - Best Manga Reader: - Search manga with a keyword. - Sort manga by popularity or last updated time. - Filter manga by category. - Favorite Manga - Load image quickly - Download manga to read them offline - Variety of genres - Auto update when new chapters are available - Horizontal and Vertical reading modes Make it your own! Manga Mega - Best Manga Reader App offers the best personalization features available! Whether that’s changing your background color, or changing your reader orientation, Manga Mega - Best Manga Reader App is designed to fit every user’s unique needs! Your favorite manga available in English, Spanish, and French Cloud Sync New phone? No problem! Sync your favorite Manga’s to the cloud with Facebook or Google account. Offline Reading Download your favorite Manga so you can read them offline with Manga Mega - Best Manga Reader! Read configuration Read with horizontal or vertical type and Slide Brightness, configure app with Dark mode or Line mode. Enjoy all of your favorite Manga whenever and wherever you want with Manga Mega - Best Manga Reader! Note: Due to copyright, not all manga available in all regions.

Screenshots

Panels4 screens
MangaY4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Panels at 4.8 against MangaY's 1.2. Panels also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 12 months). MangaY's advantage is iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.0). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support 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 MangaY sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. 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 1.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Panels has 13K ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Panels ships an update every 9 days, MangaY every 12 months. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Panels versus MangaY: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPanelsMangaY
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (13K ratings) — better1.2 (6 ratings)
Positive reviews70.2% of reviews—
Number of ratings13K — better6
Update frequencyEvery 9 days — betterEvery 12 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#139 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.09.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size166 MB63 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperProdukt StudioDavis Lee

Customer experience

Panels

All ratings12,674 ratings
Positive95.5%
Neutral1.8%
Negative2.7%
Written reviews1,144 reviews
Positive70.2%
Neutral9.5%
Negative20.3%

MangaY

All ratings6 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

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

MangaY

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
1 purchases

MangaY

One-time1
  • Manga Pro$6.99

Questions

Is Panels free?
Panels is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is MangaY free?
MangaY is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Panels or MangaY?
Panels is rated higher. Panels averages 4.8 out of 5 from 13K ratings, while MangaY averages 1.2 from 6 ratings.
Do Panels or MangaY have ads?
MangaY shows ads; Panels does not.
Which is updated more often, Panels or MangaY?
Panels ships an update every 9 days, and MangaY every 12 months. Most recently, Panels was updated on November 7, 2026 and MangaY on November 3, 2026.

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