# ComiCook vs Penguin

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ComiCook at none against Penguin's 1. ComiCook also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.0). Penguin's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 8 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

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

ComiCook ships an update every 8 months, Penguin every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ComiCook | Penguin |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/penguin-cbz-cbr-comic-reader/id6780071705/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **2** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 39 MB | 120 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [YI LIN JUANG](https://appshunter.io/developer/1803264383) | [HAEDUN KIM](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896506869) |

## What reviewers say

### ComiCook

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/comicook/id6744326874)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### 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 ComiCook free?

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

### Is Penguin free?

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

### Do ComiCook or Penguin have ads?

Neither ComiCook nor Penguin shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ComiCook or Penguin?

ComiCook ships an update every 8 months, and Penguin every 3 days. Most recently, ComiCook 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.*