Panels vs TaqReader
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
TaqReader
This application allows users to download and read EPUB files directly from web links. It offers a straightforward and efficient reading experience for digital books.
- EPUB reader
- Download from links
- Fast performance
- Reliable functionality
- Free to use
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Simple, fast, reliable and free epub reader. Just enter a link to an epub file, download it and read it :)
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: TaqReader at none against Panels's 5. TaqReader also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). Panels's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.4) and update cadence (every 8 days vs every 6 weeks). On price, ads, chart position 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
Both are free to download. Panels sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. TaqReader asks for nothing beyond the download.
Panels holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Panels has 12K ratings behind it against 1K, 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 59% of TaqReader's.
Panels ships an update every 8 days, TaqReader every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Panels | TaqReader |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (12K ratings) — better | 4.4 (1K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 70.2% of reviews — better | 58.5% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 12K — better | 1K |
| Update frequency | Every 8 days — better | Every 6 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | #166 | #88 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 165 MB | 71 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Produkt Studio | Madan Ali Abu Hayzah |
Customer experience
Panels
TaqReader
User reviews
Panels
From 12K 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
TaqReader
From 1K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 📚 Enjoyable reading experience
- 💰 Affordable book prices
- 🗂️ Convenient book organization
- 🤖 Helpful in-app commands
Room to improve
- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 🖥️ Suboptimal iPad/iOS experience
- 🌙 Lack of dark mode
- 📝 Limited annotation/highlighting tools
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
TaqReader
Reported bugs
4 issues- Frequent app crashes
- Audiobook playback issues
- Inconsistent page/progress tracking
- Subscription/purchase problems
Requested features
4 requests- Add dark mode option
- Improve iPad/iOS compatibility and features
- Implement annotation and highlighting tools
- Add custom folder organization for books
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
TaqReader
No in-app purchases









