Manga UP! vs Reading Journal
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Manga UP!
Access a vast library of manga from a major publisher, featuring popular series and new releases. Read chapters daily for free or unlock unlimited access with a subscription. Stay updated with the latest from Japan and support creators.
- Read latest manga chapters
- Over 200 Square Enix series
- Daily bonus items for free reading
- Simulpub releases from Japan
- Originals of anime tie-ins
- Diverse genres: Isekai, fantasy, romance
- Unlimited reading with Vault Pass subscription
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Read "Fullmetal Alchemist", "Toilet-bound Hanako-kun", "Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You", and MORE on SQUARE ENIX's official "Manga UP!" app! FREE TO READ Log in daily to unlock free chapters—no rental limits! TRY PREMIUM FREE FOR ONE MONTH VAULT PASS subscription unlocks 30,000+ chapters instantly—perfect for binge readers! Access entire completed hits like "My Dress-Up Darling", "Horimiya", and "Soul Eater"! SIMULPUBS – LATEST CHAPTERS SAME DAY AS JAPAN Be the first to read the newest chapters of "The Apothecary Diaries", "Daemons of the Shadow Realm", "Assassin & Cinderella" and more! DISCOVER NEW SERIES 400+ manga across Isekai, Shonen, Romance, Fantasy, Shojo, Josei and Anime Tie-ins. Go beyond the mainstream and dive into hidden gems! SUPPORT CREATORS Manga UP! is the official service run by the publisher, SQUARE ENIX. All contents on this app are protected under the law and profits are legally distributed to authors. ■Official X (Twitter) account @MangaUpGlobal ■WEB version https://global.manga-up.com NOTICE If images are not displaying, please try restarting your device. Data charges may apply when using mobile networks. Series availability may change without notice. - Privacy Policy https://weblet.square-enix.com/geojmp.php?d=DOCUMENTS&l=privacy - Terms of Service https://global-api.manga-up.com/webview/rule_ios
Reading Journal
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Most reading apps are a catalog, a feed, or both. ReadLog is the opposite: a quiet, private place for your reading — the books, the quotes you want to keep, and a recap you'll actually want to look back on. Save the lines worth keeping Type a quote or scan it straight from the page with your camera. Tag it to the book, add the page, mark a favorite. Your highlights live in one searchable journal — not locked inside an e-reader. See your reading add up Books finished, pages read, your reading pace and streak, top genres, books by month. Set a yearly goal and watch it fill. Every number reflects only what you've logged. Make a Reading Wrapped — anytime Turn any month, year, or single book into a beautiful recap card and share it in a tap. Not once a year — whenever you finish something you're proud of. Your library, your shelf Track every book through to-read, reading, finished, did not finish, and reference. Log sessions as you go and see each book fill up. Private by design No account. No AI. Not tied to Amazon or any store. Everything stays on your device — nothing is uploaded, synced to us, or sold. Free — no account needed Unlimited books and shelf, reading sessions, ratings, basic stats, and a yearly recap card. Premium — monthly or yearly auto-renewing subscription, or a one-time Lifetime purchase. Check the price and free-trial eligibility in the app before you buy. - Reading Wrapped for any month, quarter, year, or single book, plus extra card styles - Unlimited quotes and camera quote scanning - Reading goals and full stats & trends - Reading-log PDF export and full library backup - Cancel anytime from your Apple ID settings ReadLog is a personal reading journal. You enter your own books, quotes, and sessions; any stats or recaps it shows reflect only what you've logged. Your data is stored on your device and is not uploaded or shared. Privacy Policy: https://softgrove.github.io/readlog-legal/privacy Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Reading Journal at none against Manga UP!'s shown. Reading Journal also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs monthly). Manga UP!'s advantage is chart position (#54 vs unranked). On price, in-app purchases, 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. Manga UP! sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Reading Journal sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Manga UP! ships an update monthly, Reading Journal every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Manga UP! | Reading Journal |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (2.6K ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 30.4% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 2.6K — better | — |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 3 days — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Best chart rank | #54 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 22 MB | 8 MB |
| Age rating | +12 | 4+ |
| Developer | SQUARE ENIX | Ryosuke Igarashi |
Bugs and requests
Manga UP!
Reported bugs
3 issues- Login errors and account issues
- Chapters not loading properly
- Inconsistent app performance
Requested features
3 requests- Subscription-based model instead of microtransactions
- Ability to permanently own chapters
- Reduced censorship or option to view uncensored versions
Reading Journal
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Manga UP!
- Vault Pass$4.991 Month
- Vault Pass1 Month trial$6.991 Month
- 160 Coin (First Time Only)$0.99
- 160 Coin$0.99
- 650 Coin$3.99
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- 1200 Coin$7.99
- 2600 Coin$15.99
- 3900 Coin$23.99
- 5000 Coin$31.99
- 6400 Coin$39.99
Reading Journal
- ReadLog Premium (Monthly)7 Days trial$2.991 Month
- ReadLog Premium (Yearly)7 Days trial$19.991 Year
- ReadLog Pro (Lifetime)$39.99









