# Penguin vs Emaki

Penguin and Emaki are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

Both are free to download. Penguin sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Emaki sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Penguin ships an update every 3 days, Emaki every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Penguin | Emaki |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/penguin-cbz-cbr-comic-reader/id6780071705/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1** | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 days | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 110 MB | 11 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [HAEDUN KIM](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896506869) | [Masashi Kanamori](https://appshunter.io/developer/6808069316) |

## What reviewers say

### 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 | $6.99 | one-time |


### Emaki

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/emaki-nas-comic-reader/id6808069044)

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| iPhone & iPad Reading Unlock | $2.99 | one-time |
| Unlock all pages | $4.99 | one-time |
| Upgrade to Mac and iOS | $5.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Penguin free?

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

### Is Emaki free?

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

### Do Penguin or Emaki have ads?

Neither Penguin nor Emaki shows ads.

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

Penguin ships an update every 3 days, and Emaki every 2 days. Most recently, Penguin was updated on September 21, 2026 and Emaki on September 17, 2026.

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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.*