Comparison

SideBooks vs Chunky Comic 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

Chunky Comic Reader

Effortlessly manage and read your digital comic collection with smart upscaling and auto-enhancement features. Organize your library, download comics from various cloud services, and enjoy a seamless reading experience.

Highlights
  • Smart upscaling for low-res comics
  • Auto contrast/tint correction
  • Self-organizing library
  • Background downloading from cloud
  • Parental controls
  • Single/two-up page view
  • Right-to-left reading mode
Features
Read full description

Try an app that makes your comics look great, makes reading them a pleasure, and takes all the friction out of importing and managing them. • Ultra clean and simple to use • Smart upscaling makes even low-res comics look great • Auto contrast/tint fixes yellow pages and faded ink • Self-organising library - just drop in your comics and go • Download comics in the background while you read, directly from your cloud file-storage service or the web • Upgrade to pro, and download from your PC, Mac or NAS as well • Parental controls let you flag specific comics as ok, and passcode-lock everything else out of sight • Single-page or two-up page view • Right-to-left reading mode • Post screenshots directly to Twitter, Facebook, or Reddit Chunky supports CBZ, CBR, CBT and PDF comics, and understands ComicRack and ComicBookLover tags. It can browse and download directly from iCloud Drive, Dropbox, Transporter, Google Drive, OneDrive, Amazon Cloud Drive, Box, Pogoplug, Mediafire and Copy, and you can copy files in and out with iTunes on your computer or download them via the built-in web browser. Upgrade to Pro and it'll also connect to Mac or Windows shared folders, FTP or SFTP servers, ComicStreamer, Calibre or Ubooquity libraries, and run a mini web and webDAV server you can use to copy files in and out.

Screenshots

SideBooks4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: SideBooks at 4.6 against Chunky Comic Reader's 4.2. SideBooks also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 2 months) and review sentiment (74% vs 64%). Chunky Comic Reader's advantage is ratings volume (485 vs 97). On price, ads, 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 Chunky Comic Reader sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. 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 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chunky Comic Reader has 485 ratings behind it against 97, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 74% of SideBooks's written reviews are positive against 64% of Chunky Comic Reader's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SideBooks ships an update every 9 days, Chunky Comic Reader every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 10, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
SideBooks versus Chunky Comic Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSideBooksChunky Comic Reader
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (97 ratings) — better4.2 (485 ratings)
Positive reviews73.7% of reviews — better64.2% of reviews
Number of ratings97485 — better
Update frequencyEvery 9 days — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad
Requires iOS9.09.0
Further details — not scored
Size32 MB26 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperTatsumi-system Co., Ltd.Michael Ferenduros

Customer experience

SideBooks

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

Chunky Comic Reader

All ratings485 ratings
Positive77.9%
Neutral6.4%
Negative15.7%
Written reviews271 reviews
Positive64.2%
Neutral9.2%
Negative26.6%

User reviews

SideBooks

From 97 App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

  • 🐛 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

Chunky Comic Reader

From 485 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 🚀 Fast and smooth performance
  • 💡 Great organization and sorting options
  • 🔒 Secure and ad-free
  • 👍 Excellent comic reading experience

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Bugs and crashes
  • 🐛 Syncing and connectivity issues
  • 🐛 Compatibility problems with newer devices
  • 🐛 Lost reading progress
  • 🐛 Unreliable file management

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

Chunky Comic Reader

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Crashes when opening large files
  • Inability to import comics
  • Dropbox and OneDrive integration broken
  • Deleted comics not freeing up storage
  • Slow performance on newer iPads

Requested features

6 requests
  • Vertical scrolling for webtoons
  • Metadata editing capabilities
  • Nested folder organization
  • Keyboard controls
  • Night mode/dark theme
Show 1 more
  • Automatic backup and sync

In-app purchases

1 purchases

SideBooks

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

Chunky Comic Reader

One-time3
  • Generous Tip$0.99
  • Super-Generous Tip$2.99
  • Pro Upgrade$3.99

Questions

Is SideBooks free?
SideBooks is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Chunky Comic Reader free?
Chunky Comic Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SideBooks or Chunky Comic Reader?
SideBooks is rated higher. SideBooks averages 4.6 out of 5 from 97 ratings, while Chunky Comic Reader averages 4.2 from 485 ratings.
Do SideBooks or Chunky Comic Reader have ads?
Neither SideBooks nor Chunky Comic Reader shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SideBooks or Chunky Comic Reader?
SideBooks ships an update every 9 days, and Chunky Comic Reader every 2 months. Most recently, SideBooks was updated on October 10, 2026 and Chunky Comic Reader on October 10, 2026.

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