Comparison

Glassy Comics vs ComicShelf

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

Head to head
About

Glassy Comics

A private and powerful comic reader for iOS that supports numerous file formats. Organize your library, customize your reading experience, and track your progress locally. Seamlessly import comics via Wi-Fi or iCloud.

Highlights
  • Supports 10 file formats (CBZ, CBR, PDF, EPUB, etc.)
  • Organize library with folders and filters
  • Customizable reading modes and animations
  • Local reading stats dashboard
  • Home screen widgets and Spotlight search
  • Connects to Komga and Jellyfin servers
  • Wi-Fi transfer and iCloud storage
Features
Read full description

Your comics. Beautifully. Glassy Comics is a private, powerful comic reader that lives entirely on your device. Import your collection, organize it your way, and read with a polished experience designed for iOS. READS EVERY FORMAT Open PDF, EPUB, CBZ, CBR, CB7, CBT, 7Z, TAR, GZ, and ZIP files, 10 formats, all handled natively with no server or conversion step required. YOUR LIBRARY, YOUR WAY Browse comics in a visual grid or compact list. Organize with folders, search by title, filter by read status, and bulk-select to move, rename, or delete. Smart reading progress is tied to file content, so it survives renames and moves. A READER BUILT FOR COMICS Swipe or tap through pages with fluid animations. Use the thumbnail scrubber to jump to any page instantly. Read single pages or two-page spreads. Choose from four reading modes — OLED Black, Dark Gray, Sepia, and Light — with optional page tint. Supports both left-to-right and right-to-left reading for manga. READING STATS DASHBOARD Track your reading streaks, total pages read, weekly activity, and session history, all computed locally on your device. No account needed, no data leaves your phone. WIDGETS & SPOTLIGHT Four home screen widgets keep your reading front and center: Continue Reading, Reading Streak, Weekly Activity, and Library Shelf. Comics are also indexed in Spotlight for instant search from anywhere on your device. CONNECT TO KOMGA & JELLYFIN Link your Komga or Jellyfin server to browse and read your hosted library right inside the app. Your self-hosted collection, wherever you are. WIFI TRANSFER Import comics wirelessly from any computer on your local network. No cables, no cloud accounts. STORE YOUR COMICS IN iCLOUD Keep your library in iCloud Drive so your comics are available on all your devices and right inside the Files app. Your reading progress syncs too, so you can pick up exactly where you left off. PRIVACY FIRST No cloud dependency, no data harvesting, no account required. Your library is fully under your control. FREE TO TRY Read your first 3 comics at no cost. Like what you see? A single one-time purchase unlocks everything, no subscriptions.

About

ComicShelf

Easily track your comic book collection, discover new and upcoming releases, and manage your wishlist. Stay updated on your favorite series with personalized feeds and weekly digests. Explore detailed comic and creator information, and connect with a community of fellow comic lovers.

Highlights
  • Track owned comic issues
  • Discover new and upcoming releases
  • Manage comic wishlists
  • Follow favorite comic series
  • Detailed comic and creator info
  • Rate issues and read community comments
Features
Read full description

ComicShelf is the comic book app you've been waiting for. Whether you're a lifelong collector or just getting into comics, ComicShelf makes it easy to track what you own, discover what's new, and stay connected to the stories you love. NEW RELEASES & UPCOMING ISSUES Browse new and upcoming comics from every major publisher, updated weekly. See standard issues and variant covers all in one place — so you never miss a cover worth hunting down. BUILD YOUR COLLECTION Log every issue you own with ease. Single issues, trades, variants — your entire collection organized and synced to your account. Finally know exactly what you have. WISHLIST & FIND IT Spot an issue you need? Add it to your wishlist and find it for sale on eBay with one tap. Back issue hunting has never been this easy. FOLLOW YOUR FAVORITE SERIES Follow any series and get a personalized feed of everything hitting shelves. Turn on the weekly newsletter and get a Monday morning digest of new issues from the series you follow — straight to your inbox. RICH COMIC & CREATOR INFO Dive deep into any issue with full credits, story arcs, characters, variant covers, and more. Tap any creator to explore their full bibliography. Powered by Metron, the most comprehensive comic database available. RATINGS & COMMUNITY Rate issues with stars and leave comments. See what other readers think, share your take, and be part of a community that loves comics as much as you do. ComicShelf is free to download and use. Sign up to sync your collection, follow series, and join the conversation.

Screenshots

Glassy Comics4 screens
ComicShelf4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Glassy Comics at 4.8 against ComicShelf's 3.4. Glassy Comics also leads on ads (none vs shown). ComicShelf's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and review sentiment (100% vs 88%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and device support 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. Glassy Comics sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. ComicShelf asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Glassy Comics holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 13 and 5 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 88% of Glassy Comics's written reviews are positive against 100% of ComicShelf's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Glassy Comics versus ComicShelf: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGlassy ComicsComicShelf
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (13 ratings) — better3.4 (5 ratings)
Positive reviews87.5% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings13 — better5
Update frequencyWeeklyWeekly
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS26.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size44 MB18 MB
Age rating+44+
DeveloperFernando BunnThomas Eggenberger

Customer experience

Glassy Comics

All ratings13 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive87.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative12.5%

ComicShelf

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

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Glassy Comics

One-time1
  • Glassy Comics Pro$6.99
None

ComicShelf

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Glassy Comics free?
Glassy Comics is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ComicShelf free?
ComicShelf is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Glassy Comics or ComicShelf?
Glassy Comics is rated higher. Glassy Comics averages 4.8 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while ComicShelf averages 3.4 from 5 ratings.
Do Glassy Comics or ComicShelf have ads?
ComicShelf shows ads; Glassy Comics does not.
Which is updated more often, Glassy Comics or ComicShelf?
Glassy Comics ships an update weekly, and ComicShelf weekly. Most recently, Glassy Comics was updated on October 31, 2026 and ComicShelf on October 24, 2026.

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