Comparison

Panels vs Kirshigo

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
Currently charting
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

Kirshigo

Features
Read full description

If you are looking for an audiobook player for your iPhone or iPad in 2026 you have found it. Kirshigo now supports Audiobookshelf. Download and stream books from your Audiobookshelf server. Kirshigo is a premium audiobook player for the files you already own. Import MP3, M4A, M4B and AAC audiobooks, organize your collection, and keep listening on iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch or with CarPlay. TRY EVERYTHING FREE FOR 7 DAYS Explore Kirshigo with every feature unlocked for 7 days. No restrictions, no subscription and no automatic purchase when the trial ends. If you like Kirshigo, unlock it permanently with a single in-app purchase. If not, simply don't buy it. There's nothing to cancel and no recurring fee. Give it a try, import a few audiobooks and see what Kirshigo can do. YOUR AUDIOBOOK LIBRARY, YOUR WAY Import individual files or complete folders. Kirshigo combines multi-file audiobooks, naturally orders numbered tracks and uses available metadata, chapters and artwork. Organize books in nested folders, browse by author and series, or create collections. Search, filter and sort your library, and edit titles, authors, series, book numbers, artwork or track order. MANAGE YOUR LIBRARY FROM YOUR COMPUTER Kirshigo includes its own Web Interface — no separate desktop app required. Start it on your iPhone or iPad and open the displayed address in your computer's browser. From there you can upload files and complete folders, add artwork, organize books and folders, edit metadata and collections, replace artwork, and download your local audio files again. Transfers happen directly between your browser and device without a Kirshigo cloud server. Both devices simply need to be on the same trusted private network. The Web Interface uses local unencrypted HTTP and Kirshigo must remain open during the session. LISTEN YOUR WAY • Playback speed from 0.5× to 3.0× in 0.1× increments • Configurable forward and backward skip intervals • Chapters and automatic resume • Sleep timer by duration or end of chapter • Named bookmarks • Per-audiobook three-band equalizer • Smart rewind after interruptions • Playback-speed-adjusted time displays • Background audio, Lock Screen, headphone and AirPlay controls • Light and dark appearances APPLE WATCH, CARPLAY & SIRI Control playback from Apple Watch, use the Home Screen widget for quick access, and browse Library, Authors and Collections with CarPlay. Use Siri to play or pause, skip, add bookmarks, change playback speed or stop at the end of the chapter. SHARE WITH AIRDROP Send audiobooks from Kirshigo to another Apple device with AirDrop — an easy way to move your files without uploading them to a cloud service. OPTIONAL DROPBOX LISTENING Connect Dropbox if you choose. Browse your folders and download audiobooks to your device or stream them directly without keeping a permanent local copy. PRIVATE BY DESIGN No Kirshigo account. No ads. No tracking or analytics SDKs. Your library, listening positions, bookmarks and statistics stay on your device. If you use Dropbox, Kirshigo communicates directly with Dropbox. BUILT TO KEEP GETTING BETTER I started developing Kirshigo because I wanted the ideal audiobook player for myself. Since then, I've added more and more features — many suggested by testers, others because they simply made the experience better. And I'm not finished. If you have an idea or a feature you'd love to see, send me an email. I want to keep developing Kirshigo and making it better. ONE PURCHASE. NO SUBSCRIPTION. Try everything free for 7 days. Then decide for yourself. If Kirshigo is the audiobook player you've been looking for, unlock it permanently with one in-app purchase. No subscription, no recurring fee and nothing to cancel. Kirshigo supports English and German.

Screenshots

Panels4 screens
Kirshigo4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Kirshigo at every 2 days against Panels's every 8 days. Panels's advantage is chart position (#174 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). 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 Kirshigo sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Panels ships an update every 8 days, Kirshigo every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 8 level
Panels versus Kirshigo: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPanelsKirshigo
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (12K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews70.2% of reviews—
Number of ratings12K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 8 daysEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
Best chart rank#174 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size165 MB9 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperProdukt StudioDadzio Trust

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

Kirshigo

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
2 purchases

Kirshigo

One-time2
  • 7-Day TrialFree
  • Kirshigo Lifetime Unlock$5.99

Questions

Is Panels free?
Panels is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Kirshigo free?
Kirshigo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Panels or Kirshigo have ads?
Neither Panels nor Kirshigo shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Panels or Kirshigo?
Panels ships an update every 8 days, and Kirshigo every 2 days. Most recently, Panels was updated on October 13, 2026 and Kirshigo on October 6, 2026.

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