# SideBooks vs KedaReader

SideBooks and KedaReader both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 85% of KedaReader's written reviews are positive against 72% of SideBooks's. SideBooks's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 3 weeks) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 16.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SideBooks sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and KedaReader sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for SideBooks against 4.5 for KedaReader. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 97 and 200 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 72% of SideBooks's written reviews are positive against 85% of KedaReader's.

SideBooks ships an update every 9 days, KedaReader every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SideBooks | KedaReader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (97 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sidebooks/id409777225/reviews)** | [4.5 (200 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kedareader/id1545372338/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 97 | **200** |
| Positive reviews | 72.4% of reviews | **85.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 32 MB | 247 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Tatsumi-system Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/409777230) | [晖铠 陈](https://appshunter.io/developer/1545370672) |

## What reviewers say

### SideBooks

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sidebooks/id409777225)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Thema extension Add-On | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth page turning
- 📚 Great for reading comics and manga
- 🗂️ Excellent folder organization
- 🔍 Useful search and table of contents features
- 💻 Seamless Dropbox integration

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes when loading large files
- 🚫 Limited file format support (no CBZ/CBR)
- 🔍 Difficult to find and delete books
- 🔒 Requires Dropbox access, no local file support
- 🔍 Small thumbnail size makes it hard to browse

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

- 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


### KedaReader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kedareader/id1545372338)

Read your DRM-free digital comic collections on iOS devices with a rich experience. Supports various archive formats, nested files, and cloud storage integration. Offers advanced reading modes and streaming capabilities for seamless access to your library.

**Highlights:** Supports PDF, ZIP, RAR, CBZ, CBR, EPUB, MOBI, AZW3, Reads archives without decompression, Supports nested archives and folders, Cloud sync via iCloud, Box, Dropbox, OneDrive, Connects to Komga, Kavita, Calibre via OPDS, Streaming reading from WebDAV/SMB servers, AI-based image enhancement

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Buy me an ice cream~ | $0.99 | one-time |
| Buy me a milk tea | $1.99 | one-time |
| Buy me a coffee | $2.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime (Early supporter) | $3.99 | one-time |
| Buy me a happy day~ | $3.99 | one-time |
| Buy me a happy week~ | $8.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime | $9.99 | one-time |
| Buy me a happy month~ | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Best manga reader
- 👍 Excellent features
- 🔒 Secure and private
- 💡 Innovative upscaling
- 👍 Seamless NAS integration

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 🔒 Concerns about paywall and monetization

**Reported bugs**

- Issues with page orientation and rotation
- Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions
- Inconsistent behavior when switching Apple IDs

**Requested features**

- Add reading mode with eye-friendly display
- Support for EPUB format and text-based books
- Implement Apple TV and macOS support
- Add bookmark and favorite features
- Improve page orientation and rotation handling


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SideBooks free?

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

### Is KedaReader free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SideBooks or KedaReader?

SideBooks is rated higher. SideBooks averages 4.6 out of 5 from 97 ratings, while KedaReader averages 4.5 from 200 ratings.

### Do SideBooks or KedaReader have ads?

Neither SideBooks nor KedaReader shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SideBooks or KedaReader?

SideBooks ships an update every 9 days, and KedaReader every 3 weeks. Most recently, SideBooks was updated on September 25, 2026 and KedaReader on September 24, 2026.

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