Comparison

Penguin vs Capes

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Penguin

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
Read full description

A comic reader for the books you already own. CBZ, CBR, PDF and EPUB open straight from Files, your Mac, or your NAS — no unpacking, no account, no ads, and no internet needed once a book is on the device. Japanese pages you cannot read? Penguin Viewer translates the speech bubbles on your device and paints the English back into the balloon. ■ Manga and novels in one library - Drop in CBZ, CBR, CB7 (7z), ZIP, RAR, PDF or an image folder. TXT, MD and EPUB novels land on the same shelf. - Auto margin cropping fills the screen with books you scanned yourself. ■ A library in your own folders - Make folders like in Finder, nested at any depth, and drag books between them. - New imports land in the open folder, dozens at a time. Move or delete in bulk, or drag books into your own order. - The folder layout and book order follow you over iCloud. Files are not uploaded and use no iCloud storage. ■ Translation that ends on the device - A manga or webtoon bubble is read sentence by sentence, translated, and painted back where the original lettering was. Vertical Japanese is recognized too. - In novels, translate a sentence or page to read beside the original, or look up words. - Translate a book in advance and pages turn with no wait. Nothing is sent anywhere. ■ Read novels your way - Font, size, line spacing, margins and background change in Text and Layout, live. - Jump chapters from the contents. Position and bookmarks carry between devices. ■ Your NAS and server library - Connect over SMB (NAS), WebDAV or OPDS, compatible with Komga and Kavita. - OPDS-PSE streaming resumes at your page without downloading, so a huge library takes no storage. - Reading position syncs over iCloud, and server credentials stay in the device keychain. ■ Read it the way you want - Single Page, Two-Page, or Smart Two-Page picking by screen ratio, plus right-to-left binding. - Webtoons scroll vertically, or run 120Hz auto-scroll through a binge. Pan sideways while zoomed in. - Multi-gigabyte volumes turn without stutter, and pinch zoom works in spreads too. - A night theme blacks out the reader on your schedule, and Mac turns pages from the keyboard. ■ A library that sorts itself - Smart shelves file books as unread, reading or finished, and ComicInfo groups a scattered series. - Set grid columns and cover size, sort by recently opened, search by title, author or series. ■ A record that grows as you read - Reading statistics, streaks and milestones build the habit. - The reading calendar shows how much you read, iOS widgets show today's, and Face ID locks the app, hiding books from widgets and search. ■ Local AI Translation Benchmark - Measure how fast your iPhone, iPad or Mac translates a manga page. Run it from Translation in Settings. - The result is a single PVScore. A bigger number means a faster device. - The results screen is CRT arcade, scanlines and all. Beat your best and NEW RECORD appears. - Save and share the score as a PNG card, device name and chip included. - Enter a nickname (up to 12 characters) to see the worldwide PVScore top 500. ■ Honest pricing - Almost everything is free. The free library holds 30 books, and sharing the app opens 10 more. - The benchmark and leaderboard are free, with unlimited runs. - An unlimited library is one lifetime Pro purchase, not a subscription. No ads anywhere. ■ Privacy by default - Local first: files, translation, statistics and benchmark results stay on the device. - Leaderboard posts send nickname, score, run log and device info (model, chip, RAM, OS), all shown first. - Linking MyAnimeList sends it your title searches and volumes read. - No account, no sign-up, not a single tracking SDK. Open it and read. - Export your library and reading history, and restore it on a new device. ■ Good to know - Penguin Viewer supplies no manga or novels. It reads files you already own. - The interface comes in 17 languages. Requests left in reviews get built quickly. Novel reading came out of one.

About

Capes

Features
Read full description

Dive into your favorite stories with Capes, the ultimate smart reader designed for comic book, manga, and graphic novel enthusiasts. Fast, clean, and completely customizable, Capes turns your iPad and iPhone into the perfect digital library. Whether you are reading classic American comics in single-page mode or scrolling through the latest webtoons, Capes adapts to your reading style instantly. Key Features: Universal Format Support: Seamlessly import and read CBZ, ZIP, and PDF files. Smart Layouts: Choose between Single Page, Double Page, or Webtoon scrolling modes. Custom Reading Filters: Protect your eyes and enhance older comics with Grayscale, Sepia, and Invert filters. Detailed Reading Statistics: Track your reading habits, see how many pages you've read, and monitor completed series. Incognito Mode: Read privately without saving history or progress. Volume Key Navigation: Turn pages effortlessly using your device's physical volume buttons. Perfect Fit: Smart image sizing options (Fit Height, Fit Width, Auto) to match any screen. Organize your collection, customize your reading experience, and pick up exactly where you left off. Your entire comic universe, now in one place.

Screenshots

Penguin4 screens
Capes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Capes at none against Penguin's 1. Capes also leads on iOS requirement (15.5 vs 18.0). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Penguin versus Capes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPenguinCapes
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 days—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS18.015.5 — better
Further details — not scored
Size120 MB66 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHAEDUN KIMGUVEN DOLAS

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Penguin

One-time1
  • Pro Lifetime — Buy Once$3.99
None

Capes

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Penguin free?
Penguin is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Capes free?
Capes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Penguin or Capes have ads?
Neither Penguin nor Capes shows ads.

Other comparisons