# Manga Reader vs Penguin

The clearest difference is rating: Manga Reader at 5.0 against Penguin's 4.5. Penguin's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs weekly) and iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.4). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Manga Reader sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $0.49 per 7 days and Penguin sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Manga Reader holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 2 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Manga Reader ships an update weekly, Penguin every 3 days. Both last shipped on October 28, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Manga Reader | Penguin |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/manga-reader-ai-translator/id6755601184/reviews)** | [4.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/penguin-cbz-cbr-comic-reader/id6780071705/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2 | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 149 MB | 121 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.4 | **18.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Hirotoshi MAKINO](https://appshunter.io/developer/1832474371) | [HAEDUN KIM](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896506869) |

## What reviewers say

### Manga Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/manga-reader-ai-translator/id6755601184)

Instantly translate Japanese manga from websites, local files, and cloud storage. Learn Japanese naturally through real manga dialogue with side-by-side comparisons and AI explanations. Build your personal vocabulary with saved words and AI-generated example sentences.

**Highlights:** Instant website manga translation, Local file and cloud storage import, Seamless overlay translation, Dialogue comparison for learning, AI dialogue explanations, Personal vocabulary builder, AI example sentences

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cloud Translation Weekly | $0.49 | per 7 days |
| Unlimited Translation 1Year | $0.99 | per year |
| Unlimited Translation Monthly | $0.99 | per month |
| Cloud Translation Yearly | $14.99 | per year |
| Cloud Translation 3-Day Pass | $0.49 | one-time |
| Unlimited Translation Lifetime | $2.99 | 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 Reader free?

Manga Reader 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 Reader or Penguin?

Manga Reader is rated higher. Manga Reader averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Penguin averages 4.5 from 2 ratings.

### Do Manga Reader or Penguin have ads?

Neither Manga Reader nor Penguin shows ads.

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

Manga Reader ships an update weekly, and Penguin every 3 days. Most recently, Manga Reader was updated on October 28, 2026 and Penguin on October 28, 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.*