Comparison

SideBooks vs WebToon Reader

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

Head to head
About

SideBooks

This app offers a high-performance PDF and comic viewer with realistic paper-turning animations. It supports various viewing directions, enhanced bookshelf management, and secure password protection for your documents. Easily import files from multiple sources and enjoy a customizable reading experience.

Highlights
  • Realistic paper curl animation
  • Multiple viewing directions
  • Enhanced bookshelf management
  • Password protection
  • Dropbox and iTunes file import
  • Supports PDF, ZIP, CBZ, RAR, CBR
Features
Read full description

SideBooks is a high performance, high speed PDF viewer that allows you to enjoy reading with the feel of actual paper. =Features= Curl animation that simulates the actual turning of paper pages has been added to the standard page slide function. Supports viewing from 3 directions, documents that open left to right, right to left and vertically. It provides the optimal environment for viewing any book. All zoom rates have been optimized providing high speed, dynamic screen display. An infinite hierarchy of folders can be created, moved, deleted, renamed, etc. using the enhanced bookshelf management function. Real visual bookshelf function that corresponds to back cover style display. Files can be imported by 3 methods, Network transfer through Dropbox, USB transfer through iTunes and direct transfer from other applications. Books can be protected so others cannot view them by using the password protected locking function. This is a universal application that operates on the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. =Functions= Overall: *Brightness Adjustment *Screen rotates to match the orientation of the device *Screen Rotation Lock *Password Protected Start-up Lock Viewer: *Support PDF,ZIP,CBZ,RAR and CBR format *Page Turning: Choose from slide or curl *Viewing Directions: Choose from opening left to right / right to left / vertically *Page Spacing: Choose form wide / narrow / none *Facing Pages: Choose the pair of facing pages by setting the cover to on or off *Trim function within the range of page display *Cache pre-read function for the previous and next pages *Set the display for each book and remember the page number of the last page read *Text search function (list display type) *Contents function (also supports hierarchy type) *Bookmark function (with editable memos) *Edit handwritten notes *Send to other applications (Open-In) *Send by email *Printing function (Air Print) *In-page link function *Link to outside URL function (built-in browser / Safari / Printing) *Display / Don't Display link buttons *Page turning function using tap or swipe *Expansion / Contraction function using pinch and double tap (1-1024x zoom) *Viewing of encrypted PDF files with password protection *Display / non-display of statusbar when reading Bookshelf: *Display form: Choose form list bookshelf / visual bookshelf *Function to set theme of visual bookshelf with each folder *Bookshelf thema extension pack (Add-On) *Cover editing function (corresponds to the trim) *File editing function: create, move, delete, setting for all books in folder *Bookmark list *Reading history list *Unread list *Edit of mark choose form already read / unread *Book name search function *Network transfer through Dropbox *USB transfer through iTunes *Direct transfer from other applications Special thanks to, "Give My Regards to Black Jack" SHUHO SATO Manga on Web http://mangaonweb.com

About

WebToon Reader

View your favorite webtoons and manga files with a simple, optimized reader. Supports a wide range of compressed file formats and PDFs, with easy file import from cloud services and PC.

Highlights
  • Horizontal scrolling for webtoon feel
  • Supports CBR, CBZ, CB7, ZIP, RAR, 7Z
  • PDF file support
  • Import from cloud services (iCloud, Google Drive, Dropbox)
  • Upload via PC web browser (WIFI)
  • App and file lock functions
Features
Read full description

Simple Comic File Reader App Horizontal Scroll Like Korean Webtoon - Smooth horizontal scrolling - Simple options - CBR, CBZ, CB7, ZIP, RAR, 7Z - Also supports PDF files - iPhone, iPad, Mac(Apple Silicon) support (* Some functions may not be supported on Mac) This app can upload and view compressed files or PDF files that users have. (File containing webtoon or Manga image files) We've optimized and simplified the options to view webtoon files in the current “Manga Viewer” app. Normal cartoon files can be viewed like watching a webtoon. ** Characteristic ** - Zip, RAR, 7z, cbz, cbr, cb7 compressed files (including images with png, jpeg, jpg and gif extensions + bmp, tiff, tif, webp, avif, jxl(26+), heif(18+)) - PDF file support - Upload via PC web browser (WIFI) - Import files from cloud apps such as iCloud, Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Box, etc. - OneDrive, Dropbox direct login and download - WebDav, SMB, FTP - SFTP support - Upload files with iTunes file sharing - Cloud app, copy files from mail attachments - Apply default image sharpening filter - iPhone, iPad, Mac(Apple Silicon) support - Pad supports multitasking - Rotate the screen horizontally and vertically - “App Lock” function to enter password when entering the app - “File lock” function to enter password when opening file - Screen auto off (ON / OFF) - Continue to last file (ON / OFF) ** Please install the cloud app on your iPhone and log in to import files from the cloud. If you have any bugs or issues, please send them to the Send button on the top right of the setting screen or send them to junhuloveapple@gmail.com. (Answer in comments may take up to a day to respond to Apple's comment system. Please email us for a quick reply.)

Screenshots

SideBooks4 screens
WebToon Reader4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: SideBooks at none against WebToon Reader's shown. SideBooks also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 3 weeks) and ratings volume (97 vs 29). WebToon Reader's advantage is review sentiment (88% vs 74%). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. SideBooks sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and WebToon Reader sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SideBooks holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 97 and 29 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 74% of SideBooks's written reviews are positive against 88% of WebToon Reader's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SideBooks ships an update every 9 days, WebToon Reader every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
SideBooks versus WebToon Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSideBooksWebToon Reader
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (97 ratings) — better4.4 (29 ratings)
Positive reviews73.7% of reviews87.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings97 — better29
Update frequencyEvery 9 days — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS9.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size32 MB94 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTatsumi-system Co., Ltd.kim juyoung

Customer experience

SideBooks

All ratings97 ratings
Positive92.8%
Neutral2.1%
Negative5.2%
Written reviews518 reviews
Positive73.7%
Neutral9.1%
Negative17.2%

WebToon Reader

All ratings29 ratings
Positive86.2%
Neutral3.4%
Negative10.3%
Written reviews32 reviews
Positive87.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative12.5%

Bugs and requests

SideBooks

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Crashes when opening certain PDF files
  • Corrupted files cause repeated crashes
  • Dropbox integration issues on some devices

Requested features

6 requests
  • Add support for ePub and other popular formats
  • Implement iCloud/Google Drive integration
  • Allow manual rearrangement of bookshelf
  • Add dark mode and customizable background options
  • Improve bookmark and annotation features
Show 1 more
  • Implement a more intuitive file management system

WebToon Reader

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

SideBooks

One-time1
  • Thema extension Add-On$0.99
1 purchases

WebToon Reader

One-time1
  • WebToon Reader Remove Ads$1.99

Questions

Is SideBooks free?
SideBooks is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is WebToon Reader free?
WebToon Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SideBooks or WebToon Reader?
SideBooks is rated higher. SideBooks averages 4.6 out of 5 from 97 ratings, while WebToon Reader averages 4.4 from 29 ratings.
Do SideBooks or WebToon Reader have ads?
WebToon Reader shows ads; SideBooks does not.
Which is updated more often, SideBooks or WebToon Reader?
SideBooks ships an update every 9 days, and WebToon Reader every 3 weeks. Most recently, SideBooks was updated on October 13, 2026 and WebToon Reader on October 11, 2026.

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