BookSavr Comic & Manga Reader vs ComicShelf Reader
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
BookSavr Comic & Manga Reader
Manage your personal comic, manga, and book collection with this self-hosted library hub. Stream your media instantly from your Windows Server to native client apps on Mac, iPhone, and iPad. Enjoy a customizable reader with features like double-page spreads and multi-color bookmarking.
- Self-hosted library hub
- Stream media from Windows Server
- Native client apps for Mac, iPhone, iPad
- Customizable reader engine
- Double-page spread support
- Multi-color bookmarking
- Local network streaming
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The Ultimate Free, Self-Hosted Reading Sanctuary. Meet BookSavr—A client hub that puts your entire comic, manga, and book library at your fingertips. Stream terabytes of your favorite media instantly from your own home server to native, polished client apps on Mac, iPhone, and iPad. Why BookSavr? 100% Free & Private: No subscriptions, no cloud space limits, and zero data collection. Flexible Formats: Support for CBZ/CBR comic archives, PDFs, e-books, and even PDF sheet music. Customizable Reader: Tailored for double-page spreads, vertical scroll mode, custom color UI, and advanced bookmarking. Read & Write Sync: Easily sync reading progress, collection updates, and bookmarks back to your server. Easy Server Setup: Host your own library server on Windows, Mac, or Linux using our lightweight Electron app. Set it up in minutes on your local network or connect remotely via VPN/Tailscale.
ComicShelf Reader
Organize and read your digital comic collection with support for multiple formats like CBZ, CBR, PDF, and EPUB. Enjoy various library and reading views, including panel-by-panel zoom and cloud storage integration. Designed for a seamless reading experience on iPhone and iPad.
- Supports CBZ, CBR, PDF, EPUB formats
- Carousel, Shelf, and Grid library views
- Paginated, Panel, and Scroll reading modes
- Right-to-left reading for manga
- Cloud storage integration (Google Drive, iCloud, WebDAV)
- Handcrafted dark UI with optional red theme
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ComicShelf Reader is the ultimate comic reading experience for iPhone and iPad. Whether you're a lifelong collector or just getting started, ComicShelf Reader puts your entire library at your fingertips — beautifully organized and a joy to read. READ EVERY FORMAT CBZ, CBR, PDF, and EPUB — ComicShelf Reader handles them all. No conversions, no workarounds. Just open and read. THREE STUNNING LIBRARY VIEWS • Carousel — Flip through your collection like a physical longbox with a stunning 3D carousel and reflective display • Shelf View — See your comics organized by series on a classic bookshelf • Grid View — A clean, dense layout for collectors with large libraries THREE READING MODES • Paginated — Tap or swipe page by page, just like holding a real comic • Panel View — Zoom in panel by panel for the ultimate reading experience on any screen size • Scroll View — Continuous vertical scrolling, perfect for webtoons and manga MANGA SUPPORT Full right-to-left reading mode for manga fans. ComicShelf Reader adapts to the way you read. YOUR LIBRARY, YOUR WAY Connect your existing cloud storage and read directly from your collection — no re-uploading required. • Google Drive • iCloud Drive • WebDAV servers BEAUTIFUL BY DESIGN ComicShelf Reader features a handcrafted dark UI with an optional Bloodied red theme — built for late-night reading sessions. Every detail, from the animated carousel to the per-panel zoom, is designed to keep you in the story. PRIVACY FIRST ComicShelf Reader does not collect, sell, or share your personal data. Your library stays yours. Support: support@comicshelf.app Privacy Policy: https://comicshelf.app/reader/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: BookSavr Comic & Manga Reader at 5.0 against ComicShelf Reader's 3.0. ComicShelf Reader's advantage is iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.5). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
BookSavr Comic & Manga Reader holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 2 respectively.
| Parameter | BookSavr Comic & Manga Reader | ComicShelf Reader |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | 3.0 (2 ratings) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 2 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 11 days | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 26.5 | 17.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 44 MB | 4 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | James Locker | Thomas Eggenberger |
Customer experience
BookSavr Comic & Manga Reader
ComicShelf Reader
In-app purchases
BookSavr Comic & Manga Reader
No in-app purchases
ComicShelf Reader
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is BookSavr Comic & Manga Reader free?
Is ComicShelf Reader free?
Which has better reviews, BookSavr Comic & Manga Reader or ComicShelf Reader?
Do BookSavr Comic & Manga Reader or ComicShelf Reader have ads?
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