Comparison

Panels vs TaqReader

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 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
Currently charting
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

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.

Highlights
  • EPUB reader
  • Download from links
  • Fast performance
  • Reliable functionality
  • Free to use
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Simple, fast, reliable and free epub reader. Just enter a link to an epub file, download it and read it :)

Screenshots

Panels4 screens
TaqReader4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Panels sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. TaqReader asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Panels versus TaqReader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPanelsTaqReader
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (12K ratings) — better4.4 (1K ratings)
Positive reviews70.2% of reviews — better58.5% of reviews
Number of ratings12K — better1K
Update frequencyEvery 8 days — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#166#88 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size165 MB71 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperProdukt StudioMadan Ali Abu Hayzah

Customer experience

Panels

All ratings12,369 ratings
Positive95.4%
Neutral1.8%
Negative2.7%
Written reviews1,126 reviews
Positive70.2%
Neutral9.6%
Negative20.2%

TaqReader

All ratings1,044 ratings
Positive82.9%
Neutral5.9%
Negative11.2%
Written reviews176 reviews
Positive58.5%
Neutral12.5%
Negative29.0%

User reviews

Panels

From 12K App Store ratings

What 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 ratings

What 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
Show 1 more
  • 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

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
None

TaqReader

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Panels free?
Panels is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is TaqReader free?
TaqReader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Panels or TaqReader?
Panels is rated higher. Panels averages 4.8 out of 5 from 12K ratings, while TaqReader averages 4.4 from 1K ratings.
Do Panels or TaqReader have ads?
Neither Panels nor TaqReader shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Panels or TaqReader?
Panels ships an update every 8 days, and TaqReader every 6 weeks. Most recently, Panels was updated on October 13, 2026 and TaqReader on October 11, 2026.
Which is more popular, Panels or TaqReader?
Panels currently peaks at #166 in the App Store charts, and TaqReader at #88. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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