# Penguin vs ComicShelf Reader

The clearest difference is rating: Penguin at 4.5 against ComicShelf Reader's 3.0. ComicShelf Reader's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On price, ratings volume, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Penguin sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. ComicShelf Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

Penguin holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 2 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Penguin | ComicShelf Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/penguin-cbz-cbr-comic-reader/id6780071705/reviews)** | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/comicshelf-reader/id6781883679/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2 | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days | — |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 131 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [HAEDUN KIM](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896506869) | [Thomas Eggenberger](https://appshunter.io/developer/6772668034) |

## What reviewers say

### Penguin

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/penguin-cbz-cbr-comic-reader/id6780071705)

This app is a comic and novel reader that supports various file formats and local network connections. It offers on-device translation for manga and novels, customizable reading settings, and library management features. Your reading progress syncs across devices via iCloud.

**Highlights:** Supports CBZ, CBR, PDF, EPUB, TXT, MD formats, On-device translation for manga and novels, Offline viewing, Library management with folders and iCloud sync, Customizable reading settings, Connects to NAS and servers (SMB, WebDAV, OPDS), Reading statistics and streaks

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Lifetime — Buy Once | $6.99 | one-time |


### ComicShelf Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/comicshelf-reader/id6781883679)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Penguin free?

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

### Is ComicShelf Reader free?

ComicShelf Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Penguin or ComicShelf Reader?

Penguin is rated higher. Penguin averages 4.5 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while ComicShelf Reader averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Penguin or ComicShelf Reader have ads?

Neither Penguin nor ComicShelf Reader shows ads.

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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.*