# Panels vs Comic Reader

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Panels at 13K against Comic Reader's 42. Panels also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.5) and chart position (#148 vs unranked). Comic Reader's advantage is review sentiment (85% vs 70%). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Panels sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month and Comic Reader sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. 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 13K ratings behind it against 42, 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 Comic Reader's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Panels ships an update every 9 days, Comic Reader fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Panels | Comic Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (13K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/panels-comic-reader/id1236567663/reviews)** | [4.5 (42 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/comic-reader-manga-cbz-cbr/id6504741382/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **13K** | 42 |
| Positive reviews | 70.3% of reviews | **85.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | **#148** | — |
| Size | 166 MB | 96 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Produkt Studio](https://appshunter.io/developer/1236567662) | [Alexandre Guidet](https://appshunter.io/developer/1508644490) |

## What reviewers say

### Panels

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

**Currently charting:** #148 Top Free · Book, #155 Top Grossing · 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


### Comic Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/comic-reader-manga-cbz-cbr/id6504741382)

This app allows users to read comic books in CBR, CBZ, and PDF formats. It offers features like smart library organization, automatic progress saving, and an ad-free experience. Premium features include unlimited imports and custom collections.

**Highlights:** Supports CBR, CBZ, and PDF formats, Import from local storage/USB, Automatic reading progress saving, Customizable comic collections, Ad-free reading experience, Eye comfort mode (blue light filter)

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

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly subscription | $1.99 | per month |
| Monthly Subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| Monthly subscription sale | $4.99 | per month |
| Monthly subscription | $4.99 | per month |
| Yearly subscription | $12.99 | per year |
| Lifetime | $17.99 | per year |
| Yearly subscription | $29.99 | per year |
| Yearly subscription sale | $29.99 | per year |
| Lifetime | $22.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime | $34.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Premium | $69.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Panels free?

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

### Is Comic Reader free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Panels or Comic Reader?

Panels is rated higher. Panels averages 4.8 out of 5 from 13K ratings, while Comic Reader averages 4.5 from 42 ratings.

### Do Panels or Comic Reader have ads?

Neither Panels nor Comic Reader shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Panels or Comic Reader?

Panels ships an update every 9 days, and Comic Reader fortnightly. Most recently, Panels was updated on October 28, 2026 and Comic Reader on October 27, 2026.

---

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