Comparison

Panels vs Reader King

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Panels

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
Read full description

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

About

Reader King

Features
Read full description

Reader King is a local-first eBook reader for organizing, importing and reading personal files on iPhone, iPad and Mac. It does not require registration, sign-in or a cloud account. Your books, reading progress, bookmarks and reading history stay in the app sandbox on your device. You can import common document and eBook files from Files, Finder or system sharing, including PDF, EPUB, TXT, Markdown, RTF, MOBI, AZW, AZW3, CBZ, FB2 and HTML. Reader King copies imported files into its local sandbox so access does not depend on temporary external file permissions. The built-in reader focuses on PDF reading in this release, with automatic page progress, search, outline, bookmarks, page jump, single-page and double-page layouts, and reader preferences. Other supported eBook formats can be imported, archived, downloaded and managed locally. Reader King also supports network subscriptions. Add a direct eBook download link, or provide a JSON, CSV or plain text manifest to parse and download multiple books into your shelf. Downloads only happen from links you enter. Highlights: - Local import from iPhone, iPad and Mac. - PDF reading with progress, search, outline, bookmarks and page jump. - Direct link downloads and batch manifest subscriptions. - Responsive shelf layouts for phone, tablet and desktop. - Mac support for Finder import, drag and drop, menu shortcuts and Settings. - No account, no third-party analytics and no uploaded reading records.

Screenshots

Panels4 screens
Reader King4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Panels at every 9 days against Reader King's every 4 weeks. Panels also leads on chart position (#147 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Panels sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month and Reader King sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Panels ships an update every 9 days, Reader King every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 8 level
Panels versus Reader King: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPanelsReader King
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (13K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews70.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings13K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 9 days — betterEvery 4 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
Best chart rank#147 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size166 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperProdukt Studiolecoo

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
Show 1 more
  • Support for more file formats like ePub

Reader King

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Panels

Subscriptions2
  • Panels+ Monthly7 Days trial$1.491 Month
  • Panels+ Yearly7 Days trial$14.991 Year
One-time3
  • Panels 3 Upgrade$9.99
  • Panels 2$19.99
  • Panels 3$19.99
1 purchases

Reader King

One-time1
  • Reader King Enhanced$0.99

Questions

Is Panels free?
Panels is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Reader King free?
Reader King is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Panels or Reader King have ads?
Neither Panels nor Reader King shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Panels or Reader King?
Panels ships an update every 9 days, and Reader King every 4 weeks. Most recently, Panels was updated on October 30, 2026 and Reader King on October 28, 2026.

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