# Panels vs Velo

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Velo at 100% against Panels's 70%. Velo also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.8). Panels's advantage is ratings volume (12K vs 2) and chart position (#159 vs unranked). 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 Velo sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Velo holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Panels has 12K ratings behind it against 2, 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 100% of Velo's.

Panels ships an update every 8 days, Velo weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Panels | Velo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (12K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/panels-comic-reader/id1236567663/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/velo-the-focus-reader/id6762020389/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **12K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 70.2% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 8 days | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | **#159** | — |
| Size | 165 MB | 23 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Produkt Studio](https://appshunter.io/developer/1236567662) | [Pleroma Labs LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1892478331) |

## What reviewers say

### Panels

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

**Currently charting:** #159 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


### Velo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/velo-the-focus-reader/id6762020389)

This app helps you read more efficiently with unique modes that display words one at a time or allow variable speed scrolling. It also intelligently processes PDFs and scanned documents, making them easier to read. Enjoy a distraction-free reading experience with customizable options and offline access.

**Highlights:** RSVP Mode for single-word display, Scrub Mode for variable speed scrolling, Distraction-free Reader Mode, Smart PDF import and processing, OCR for scanned documents, Cloud sync and export of highlights

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Velo Pro (Monthly) | $8.99 | per month |
| Velo Pro (Annual) | $69.99 | per year |
| 10 Enhanced Processing Credits | $4.99 | one-time |
| 50 Enhanced Processing Credits | $19.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Panels free?

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

### Is Velo free?

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

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

Velo is rated higher. Panels averages 4.8 out of 5 from 12K ratings, while Velo averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Panels or Velo have ads?

Neither Panels nor Velo shows ads.

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

Panels ships an update every 8 days, and Velo weekly. Most recently, Panels was updated on October 1, 2026 and Velo on September 25, 2026.

---

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