Panels vs TradComics
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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
TradComics
Experience digital comics with a classic feel. This reader app supports popular formats like .tcb, .cbz, and .pdf, offering a familiar way to enjoy your favorite graphic novels and manga.
- Simulates traditional comic reading feel
- Supports .tcb files
- Supports .cbz files
- Supports .pdf files
- Intuitive reader interface
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A reader app that simulates the feel of reading a traditional comic book. Supports .tcb, .cbz and .pdf files.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: TradComics at none against Panels's 5. TradComics also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.8). Panels's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (13K vs 1). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. TradComics asks for nothing beyond the download.
TradComics holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Panels has 13K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Panels ships an update every 9 days, TradComics every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Panels | TradComics |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (13K ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 70.2% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 13K — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | #160 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 166 MB | 2 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Produkt Studio | TradComics |
Customer experience
Panels
TradComics
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
TradComics
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
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
TradComics
No in-app purchases









