# Zero Reader vs Penguin

The clearest difference is price: Penguin at Free against Zero Reader's $0.99. Penguin also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 10 days) and review sentiment (100% vs 83%). Zero Reader's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Penguin is free to download; Zero Reader costs $0.99 up front. Penguin sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Zero Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

Zero Reader ships an update every 10 days, Penguin every 3 days. Both last shipped on October 13, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Zero Reader | Penguin |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | — | **[4.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/penguin-cbz-cbr-comic-reader/id6780071705/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **2** |
| Positive reviews | 82.6% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 10 days | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 29 MB | 120 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **18.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [杰翔 康](https://appshunter.io/developer/1862067238) | [HAEDUN KIM](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896506869) |

## What reviewers say

### Zero Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zero-reader-txt/id6761920228)

A lightweight and clean local novel reader that imports TXT files for a pure reading experience. Enjoy features like clear formatting, chapter navigation, progress tracking, bookmarks, and customizable themes and fonts without any ads or network permissions.

**Highlights:** Import local TXT files, Clean reading interface, Chapter navigation, Bookmarks and reading progress, Reading statistics, Customizable themes and fonts, Dark mode support

**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 Zero Reader free?

Zero Reader costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Penguin free?

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

### Do Zero Reader or Penguin have ads?

Neither Zero Reader nor Penguin shows ads.

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

Zero Reader ships an update every 10 days, and Penguin every 3 days. Most recently, Zero Reader was updated on October 13, 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.*