# Panels vs TradComics

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Panels | TradComics |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (13K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/panels-comic-reader/id1236567663/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tradcomics/id6739791299/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **13K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 70.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#160** | — |
| Size | 166 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Produkt Studio](https://appshunter.io/developer/1236567662) | [TradComics](https://appshunter.io/developer/1787076104) |

## What reviewers say

### Panels

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

**Currently charting:** #160 Top Free · Book, #166 Top Grossing · Book (US App Store)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo 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


### TradComics

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tradcomics/id6739791299)

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.

**Highlights:** Simulates traditional comic reading feel, Supports .tcb files, Supports .cbz files, Supports .pdf files, Intuitive reader interface

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Panels free?

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

### Is TradComics free?

TradComics is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

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

TradComics is rated higher. Panels averages 4.8 out of 5 from 13K ratings, while TradComics averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Panels or TradComics have ads?

Neither Panels nor TradComics shows ads.

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

Panels ships an update every 9 days, and TradComics every 2 months. Most recently, Panels was updated on November 9, 2026 and TradComics on October 30, 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.*