BookSavr Comic & Manga Reader vs Longbox
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.
Longbox
This app allows you to read your existing comic book files, including CBZ, CBR, and PDF formats, directly on your device. It offers various reading modes, library management, and offline access to your collection. Premium features unlock server connections, cloud browsing, and advanced reading tools.
- Reads CBZ, CBR, and PDF files
- Offline reading support
- Customizable reading modes (fit to width/height, two-page view)
- Right-to-left reading for manga
- Library management with search and favorites
- Optional cloud server integration
- EPUB novel support
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Longbox is a comic reader for people who already have the comics. Point it at your CBZ, CBR and PDF files and it opens them. No account, no upload, no waiting for a library to sync before you can read anything. READING • Fit to width, height or whole page — whichever suits the book • Turn your phone or iPad sideways to read two pages at once, and art drawn across a spread still gets the screen to itself • Pinch to zoom anywhere, double-tap to snap • Right-to-left for manga, set per series and remembered • Night and sepia filters, plus in-app brightness that leaves your system setting alone • Opens on the page you left, every time • Entirely offline — nothing is streamed unless you ask for it YOUR LIBRARY • Import from the Files app — anything on your iPhone or in iCloud Drive • However many comics you own — a hundred or ten thousand, there's no limit • Issues group into series on their own • Search, favourites and reading history • Up to eight libraries, any of them behind a passcode • Reading streaks and a leaderboard, if you want to be on it ALL OF THAT IS FREE The reader is never behind a paywall. Not the filters, not the fit modes, not the reading direction, not reading offline. There's no cap on how many comics you keep, either. If it opens a comic, it costs nothing. LONGBOX PREMIUM • Connect a Komga, Kavita or OPDS server — browse it, read from it, download for offline • Hide comics you'd rather not see, without touching the server • Browse your Dropbox from inside Longbox: a single issue or a whole folder, without leaving the app • Sharpening and upscaling for scans that need it • Beta features first – Panel by panel (alpha) — splash pages and complicated layouts often won't detect • Automatic metadata — publisher, year, creators and characters • EPUB novels — contents, adjustable type, themes and highlighting • Unlimited libraries • Smart Lists that keep themselves current • Your place follows you — across your devices, and in step with your server both ways • Your own picture as the app background • Seven accent colours, each with its own app icon Comics you have already downloaded from a server stay readable forever, even if Premium lapses. Paying us was never what made them yours. PREMIUM PRICING Longbox Premium is available as a one-time purchase, or as a subscription billed monthly or yearly with a 7 day free trial. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. A subscription renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period, and can be managed in Settings › Apple Account › Subscriptions. Privacy Policy: https://getlongbox.app/privacy.html Terms of Use: https://getlongbox.app/terms.html
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: BookSavr Comic & Manga Reader at 5.0 against Longbox's 4.0. BookSavr Comic & Manga Reader also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3). Longbox's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 11 days) and ratings volume (4 vs 1). On price, ads 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
Both are free to download. Longbox sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. BookSavr Comic & Manga Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.
BookSavr Comic & Manga Reader holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 4 respectively.
BookSavr Comic & Manga Reader ships an update every 11 days, Longbox every 3 days. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.
| Parameter | BookSavr Comic & Manga Reader | Longbox |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | 4.0 (4 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 4 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 11 days | Every 3 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 26.5 | 15.5 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 44 MB | 74 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | James Locker | NOAH REILLEY BEARUP |
Customer experience
BookSavr Comic & Manga Reader
Longbox
In-app purchases
BookSavr Comic & Manga Reader
No in-app purchases
Longbox
- Longbox Premium Monthly$1.991 Month
- Longbox Premium Yearly$14.991 Year
- Longbox Premium Lifetime$24.99
Questions
Is BookSavr Comic & Manga Reader free?
Is Longbox free?
Which has better reviews, BookSavr Comic & Manga Reader or Longbox?
Do BookSavr Comic & Manga Reader or Longbox have ads?
Which is updated more often, BookSavr Comic & Manga Reader or Longbox?
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