# Pocket Library vs Penguin

The clearest difference is ads: Penguin at none against Pocket Library's shown. Penguin also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 3 months). Pocket Library's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.0). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Pocket Library sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Penguin sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Pocket Library ships an update every 3 months, Penguin every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 5, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pocket Library | Penguin |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/penguin-cbz-cbr-comic-reader/id6780071705/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **1** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 39 MB | 110 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [DONGSOO LEE](https://appshunter.io/developer/1868670088) | [HAEDUN KIM](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896506869) |

## What reviewers say

### Pocket Library

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-library-comic-viewer/id6760787319)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pocket Library Premium (Lifetime) | $9.99 | 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 | $6.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pocket Library free?

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

### Is Penguin free?

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

### Do Pocket Library or Penguin have ads?

Pocket Library shows ads; Penguin does not.

### Which is updated more often, Pocket Library or Penguin?

Pocket Library ships an update every 3 months, and Penguin every 3 days. Most recently, Pocket Library was updated on September 5, 2026 and Penguin on September 21, 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.*