# SideBooks vs TradComics

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: TradComics at none against SideBooks's 1. TradComics also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6). SideBooks's advantage is ratings volume (97 vs 1) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 2 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SideBooks sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. TradComics asks for nothing beyond the download.

TradComics holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SideBooks has 97 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

SideBooks ships an update every 9 days, TradComics every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SideBooks | TradComics |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (97 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sidebooks/id409777225/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tradcomics/id6739791299/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **97** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 73.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 32 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Tatsumi-system Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/409777230) | [TradComics](https://appshunter.io/developer/1787076104) |

## 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


### TradComics

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tradcomics/id6739791299)

Experience digital comics with a classic feel. This reader app supports popular formats like .tcb, .cbz, and .pdf, offering a familiar way to enjoy your favorite graphic novels and manga.

**Highlights:** Simulates traditional comic reading feel, Supports .tcb files, Supports .cbz files, Supports .pdf files, Intuitive reader interface

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SideBooks free?

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

### Is TradComics free?

TradComics is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

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

TradComics is rated higher. SideBooks averages 4.6 out of 5 from 97 ratings, while TradComics averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do SideBooks or TradComics have ads?

Neither SideBooks nor TradComics shows ads.

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

SideBooks ships an update every 9 days, and TradComics every 2 months. Most recently, SideBooks was updated on October 17, 2026 and TradComics on October 15, 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.*