# Readwhere vs Panels

The clearest difference is rating: Panels at 4.8 against Readwhere's 1.0. Panels also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 2 months) and review sentiment (70% vs 42%). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Readwhere sells 6 one-off in-app purchases and Panels sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Panels holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Panels has 13K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 42% of Readwhere's written reviews are positive against 70% of Panels's.

Readwhere ships an update every 2 months, Panels every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Readwhere | Panels |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readwhere-e-paper-and-magazines/id544688485/reviews) | **[4.8 (13K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/panels-comic-reader/id1236567663/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **13K** |
| Positive reviews | 42.2% of reviews | **70.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#120** |
| Size | 35 MB | 166 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Mediology Software Private Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/415229805) | [Produkt Studio](https://appshunter.io/developer/1236567662) |

## What reviewers say

### Readwhere

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readwhere-e-paper-and-magazines/id544688485)

Access a vast library of newspapers, magazines, comics, and books for offline reading. Bookmark, clip, save, and share articles, and discover local news with location-based search. Enjoy content in various languages and popular publications.

**Highlights:** Offline reading downloads, Bookmark pages, Clip, save, and share articles, Clipbooks for curated news, Location-based newspaper search, Multi-language content, Wide selection of publications

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pack of 40 Credits | $0.99 | one-time |
| Pack of 130 Credits | $2.99 | one-time |
| Pack of 240 Credits | $4.99 | one-time |
| Pack of 500 Credits | $9.99 | one-time |
| Pack of 1000 Credits | $19.99 | one-time |
| Pack of 2500 Credits | $49.99 | one-time |


### Panels

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/panels-comic-reader/id1236567663)

**Currently charting:** #120 Top Free · Book, #153 Top Grossing · Book (US App Store)

Enhance your comic and manga reading with a clean, customizable interface. Enjoy universal file compatibility, cross-device syncing, and advanced reading presets. Organize your library, secure your content, and import from various cloud services and local networks.

**Highlights:** Universal file compatibility (CBR, CBZ, PDF, ePUB), Cross-device reading progress sync, iCloud Drive integration, Customizable reading presets, Right-to-left reading for manga, OPDS server support, Content security with password/Face ID

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Panels+ Monthly | $1.49 | per month |
| Panels+ Yearly | $14.99 | per year |
| Panels 3 Upgrade | $9.99 | one-time |
| Panels 2 | $19.99 | one-time |
| Panels 3 | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth and responsive
- 👍 Clean and modern UI
- 💡 Useful features like panel view and vertical scrolling
- 🔒 No ads in paid version
- 👍 Good import and organization options

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 🔒 Useful features locked behind paywall
- 🔒 Subscription model instead of one-time purchase
- 🐛 Issues with page navigation and zoom
- 🐛 Problems with reading right-to-left content

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when opening large files
- Issues with page order and navigation
- Problems with zooming and scrolling
- Syncing and importing bugs
- Compatibility issues with older devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to create sub-folders and nested collections
- Automatic sorting and organization of comics
- Option to lock reading direction
- Double-tap to zoom functionality
- Progress tracking and bookmarking features


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Readwhere free?

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

### Is Panels free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Readwhere or Panels?

Panels is rated higher. Readwhere averages 1.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Panels averages 4.8 from 13K ratings.

### Do Readwhere or Panels have ads?

Neither Readwhere nor Panels shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Readwhere or Panels?

Readwhere ships an update every 2 months, and Panels every 9 days. Most recently, Readwhere was updated on October 23, 2026 and Panels on October 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.*