# Manga Capsule vs Penguin

The clearest difference is monetization model: Penguin at free with in-app purchases against Manga Capsule's subscription. Penguin also leads on rating (4.5 vs 4.0) and update cadence (every 3 days vs fortnightly). Manga Capsule's advantage is ratings volume (20 vs 2) and iOS requirement (16.3 vs 18.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Manga Capsule sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and Penguin sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Penguin holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Manga Capsule has 20 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 87% of Manga Capsule's written reviews are positive against 100% of Penguin's.

Manga Capsule ships an update fortnightly, Penguin every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Manga Capsule | Penguin |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/manga-capsule-ai-comic-reader/id6737119574/reviews) | **[4.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/penguin-cbz-cbr-comic-reader/id6780071705/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **20** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 86.7% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 154 MB | 120 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.3** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [景 贺](https://appshunter.io/developer/1774682580) | [HAEDUN KIM](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896506869) |

## What reviewers say

### Manga Capsule

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/manga-capsule-ai-comic-reader/id6737119574)

This app is a reader for manga enthusiasts, offering a seamless cross-device experience for collecting and enjoying comics. It supports multiple file formats and storage options, with customizable reading modes and AI-powered image enhancement.

**Highlights:** Cross-device reading sync, Supports EPUB, MOBI, PDF, ZIP, RAR, JPG, PNG, Connects to WebDAV, SMB, Aliyun Drive, Multiple reading modes (RTL, LTR, vertical), AI upscaling for low-resolution images, Smart bookshelf organization

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

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Plan | $0.99 | per month |
| 连续包季 | $1.99 | per 3 months |
| Annual Plan | $9.99 | per year |
| 终身会员·内测专享 | Free | one-time |
| 活动买断 | $4.99 | one-time |
| 活动买断 | $5.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Access | $15.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Access | $17.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Access | $19.99 | one-time |


### Penguin

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/penguin-cbz-cbr-comic-reader/id6780071705)

This app allows you to read your own comic collection in various formats, with on-device translation for Japanese manga. It offers a customizable reading experience and a smart bookshelf, all while prioritizing user privacy and local data processing.

**Highlights:** On-device manga translation for Japanese comics, Supports various file formats (CBZ, CBR, PDF, etc.), SMB and WebDAV network drive support, OPDS catalog compatibility, Smart bookshelf with automatic categorization, Customizable reading gestures and scrolling

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Lifetime — Buy Once | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Manga Capsule free?

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

### Is Penguin free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Manga Capsule or Penguin?

Penguin is rated higher. Manga Capsule averages 4.0 out of 5 from 20 ratings, while Penguin averages 4.5 from 2 ratings.

### Do Manga Capsule or Penguin have ads?

Neither Manga Capsule nor Penguin shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Manga Capsule or Penguin?

Manga Capsule ships an update fortnightly, and Penguin every 3 days. Most recently, Manga Capsule was updated on October 16, 2026 and Penguin on October 13, 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.*