# PageBack vs Penguin

The clearest difference is update cadence: Penguin at every 3 days against PageBack's every 9 days. PageBack's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PageBack sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Penguin sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PageBack ships an update every 9 days, Penguin every 3 days. Both last shipped on October 28, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | PageBack | 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 | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 66 MB | 121 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Paul Edwards](https://appshunter.io/developer/1881361485) | [HAEDUN KIM](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896506869) |

## What reviewers say

### PageBack

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pageback-books-pdfs-comics/id6764436943)

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PageBack Plus Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Pageback Premium Monthly | $7.99 | per month |


### 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 PageBack free?

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

### Is Penguin free?

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

### Do PageBack or Penguin have ads?

Neither PageBack nor Penguin shows ads.

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

PageBack ships an update every 9 days, and Penguin every 3 days. Most recently, PageBack was updated on October 28, 2026 and Penguin on October 28, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*