# Panels vs KedaReader

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Panels at 12K against KedaReader's 200. Panels also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.5) and update cadence (every 8 days vs every 3 weeks). KedaReader's advantage is review sentiment (85% vs 70%). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Panels sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month and KedaReader sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Panels holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Panels has 12K ratings behind it against 200, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 70% of Panels's written reviews are positive against 85% of KedaReader's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Panels ships an update every 8 days, KedaReader every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Panels | KedaReader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (12K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/panels-comic-reader/id1236567663/reviews)** | [4.5 (200 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kedareader/id1545372338/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **12K** | 200 |
| Positive reviews | 70.2% of reviews | **85.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 8 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#191** | — |
| Size | 165 MB | 247 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Produkt Studio](https://appshunter.io/developer/1236567662) | [晖铠 陈](https://appshunter.io/developer/1545370672) |

## What reviewers say

### Panels

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/panels-comic-reader/id1236567663)

**Currently charting:** #191 Top Free · Book (US App Store)

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:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Panels+ Monthly | $1.49 | per month |
| Panels+ Yearly | $14.99 | per year |
| Panels 3 Upgrade | $9.99 | one-time |
| Panels 2 | $19.99 | one-time |
| Panels 3 | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 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

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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


### KedaReader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kedareader/id1545372338)

Read your DRM-free digital comic collections on iOS devices with a rich experience. Supports various archive formats, nested files, and cloud storage integration. Offers advanced reading modes and streaming capabilities for seamless access to your library.

**Highlights:** Supports PDF, ZIP, RAR, CBZ, CBR, EPUB, MOBI, AZW3, Reads archives without decompression, Supports nested archives and folders, Cloud sync via iCloud, Box, Dropbox, OneDrive, Connects to Komga, Kavita, Calibre via OPDS, Streaming reading from WebDAV/SMB servers, AI-based image enhancement

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Buy me an ice cream~ | $0.99 | one-time |
| Buy me a milk tea | $1.99 | one-time |
| Buy me a coffee | $2.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime (Early supporter) | $3.99 | one-time |
| Buy me a happy day~ | $3.99 | one-time |
| Buy me a happy week~ | $8.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime | $9.99 | one-time |
| Buy me a happy month~ | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Best manga reader
- 👍 Excellent features
- 🔒 Secure and private
- 💡 Innovative upscaling
- 👍 Seamless NAS integration

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 🔒 Concerns about paywall and monetization

**Reported bugs**

- Issues with page orientation and rotation
- Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions
- Inconsistent behavior when switching Apple IDs

**Requested features**

- Add reading mode with eye-friendly display
- Support for EPUB format and text-based books
- Implement Apple TV and macOS support
- Add bookmark and favorite features
- Improve page orientation and rotation handling


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Panels free?

Panels is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is KedaReader free?

KedaReader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Panels or KedaReader?

Panels is rated higher. Panels averages 4.8 out of 5 from 12K ratings, while KedaReader averages 4.5 from 200 ratings.

### Do Panels or KedaReader have ads?

Neither Panels nor KedaReader shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Panels or KedaReader?

Panels ships an update every 8 days, and KedaReader every 3 weeks. Most recently, Panels was updated on September 25, 2026 and KedaReader on September 24, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*