Comparison

Kanman Reader vs Shiori Reader

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Kanman Reader

This comic reader helps Chinese language learners immerse themselves in manhua. Easily look up definitions for unfamiliar words by scanning the page, and manage your library of DRM-free comics.

Highlights
  • Supports ZIP, RAR, CBR, CBZ formats
  • Horizontal or vertical scrolling
  • On-page word definition lookup
  • Manhua library management
  • Resume reading from last point
Features
Read full description

Kanman Reader is a comic reader designed for Chinese learners who want a smooth experience when reading Chinese comics (also known as manhua). Upload DRM-free manhua in ZIP/RAR/CBR/CBZ format and start reading to immerse yourself more deeply in the language. If you come across a word you don’t know while reading a manhua on Kanman Reader, you can quickly hold the page to scan it and extract the text. Tapping on a word you don’t recognize will effortlessly pull up the definition for that word. Spend less time trying to look up unfamiliar characters, and spend more time immersing yourself in the Chinese language! Features: - Supports multiple file formats: Manhua can be opened in ZIP/RAR/CBR/CBZ formats - Customizable reading experience: Choose whether you want to flip through manhua horizontally or scroll downwards - Easily look up definitions: Scan manhua to pull up English definitions for unfamiliar Chinese words - Manhua management: Stores previously accessed manhua in a library and lets you easily pick up from where you last left off

About

Shiori Reader

This EPUB reader is designed for Japanese language learners. It offers one-tap dictionary lookups, vocabulary saving, and Anki integration to help users expand their Japanese vocabulary and improve reading comprehension.

Highlights
  • One-tap dictionary lookup
  • Yomitan dictionary import
  • Seamless EPUB reading
  • Vocabulary list saving
  • Anki integration
  • Context-aware learning
  • Smart Japanese text support
Features
Read full description

Read Japanese books with ease - look up words with a tap and expand your vocabulary. Shiori Reader is the ultimate EPUB reader designed specifically for Japanese language learners. With a sleek interface and powerful learning tools, Shiori transforms your reading experience by making Japanese texts accessible and enjoyable. Key Features: • One-tap dictionary lookup - Simply tap any Japanese word to instantly see its meaning, reading, and pitch accent • Dictionary import - Import Yomitan-formatted dictionaries to help expand your Japanese vocabulary • Seamless EPUB reading - Enjoy a fluid reading experience with customizable themes and font settings • Vocabulary building - Save important words to your vocabulary list for later review • Anki integration - Export words directly to AnkiMobile for efficient spaced repetition study • Context-aware learning - See words in their original sentence context to enhance understanding • Smart Japanese support - Advanced support for kanji, furigana, pitch accent, and complex Japanese text • Customizable reading experience - Choose between scroll and page modes, adjust font size and theme colors Perfect for Japanese learners at any level, Shiori Reader bridges the gap between reading authentic Japanese content and building vocabulary. Import your own EPUB files and start improving your Japanese reading skills today.

Screenshots

Kanman Reader3 screens
Shiori Reader4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Shiori Reader at weekly against Kanman Reader's every 9 months. Shiori Reader also leads on ratings volume (14 vs 1). Kanman Reader's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Kanman Reader holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Shiori Reader has 14 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Kanman Reader ships an update every 9 months, Shiori Reader weekly. The most recent releases landed on June 4, 2026 and August 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Kanman Reader versus Shiori Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKanman ReaderShiori Reader
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better4.7 (14 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings114 — better
Update frequencyEvery 9 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.4 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size32 MB310 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAkash CherianClint Russell Graviet Jr

Customer experience

Kanman Reader

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Shiori Reader

All ratings14 ratings
Positive92.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative7.1%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Kanman Reader

No in-app purchases

None

Shiori Reader

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Kanman Reader free?
Kanman Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Shiori Reader free?
Shiori Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Kanman Reader or Shiori Reader?
Kanman Reader is rated higher. Kanman Reader averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Shiori Reader averages 4.7 from 14 ratings.
Do Kanman Reader or Shiori Reader have ads?
Neither Kanman Reader nor Shiori Reader shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Kanman Reader or Shiori Reader?
Kanman Reader ships an update every 9 months, and Shiori Reader weekly. Most recently, Kanman Reader was updated on June 4, 2026 and Shiori Reader on August 12, 2026.

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