# Chunky Comic Reader vs Panels

The clearest difference is rating: Panels at 4.8 against Chunky Comic Reader's 4.2. Panels also leads on update cadence (every 8 days vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (12K vs 485). Chunky Comic Reader's advantage is iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.0). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Chunky Comic Reader sells 3 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 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Panels has 12K ratings behind it against 485, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of Chunky Comic Reader's written reviews are positive against 70% of Panels's.

Chunky Comic Reader ships an update every 2 months, Panels every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chunky Comic Reader | Panels |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (485 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chunky-comic-reader/id663567628/reviews) | **[4.8 (12K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/panels-comic-reader/id1236567663/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 485 | **12K** |
| Positive reviews | 64.2% of reviews | **70.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#180** |
| Size | 26 MB | 165 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Michael Ferenduros](https://appshunter.io/developer/650613081) | [Produkt Studio](https://appshunter.io/developer/1236567662) |

## What reviewers say

### Chunky Comic Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chunky-comic-reader/id663567628)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Generous Tip | $0.99 | one-time |
| Super-Generous Tip | $2.99 | one-time |
| Pro Upgrade | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- Vertical scrolling for webtoons
- Metadata editing capabilities
- Nested folder organization
- Keyboard controls
- Night mode/dark theme


### Panels

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

**Currently charting:** #180 Top Free · 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 Chunky Comic Reader free?

Chunky Comic Reader 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, Chunky Comic Reader or Panels?

Panels is rated higher. Chunky Comic Reader averages 4.2 out of 5 from 485 ratings, while Panels averages 4.8 from 12K ratings.

### Do Chunky Comic Reader or Panels have ads?

Neither Chunky Comic Reader nor Panels shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Chunky Comic Reader or Panels?

Chunky Comic Reader ships an update every 2 months, and Panels every 8 days. Most recently, Chunky Comic Reader was updated on September 21, 2026 and Panels on October 9, 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.*