Comparison

ComicShelf Reader vs Live Comics

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

Head to head
About

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.

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
Read full description

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

About

Live Comics

Experience comic books like never before with narrated speech, sound effects, and guided panel-by-panel viewing. Import your own digital comics or stream classic titles. Designed for all readers, including those who are blind or visually impaired.

Highlights
  • Audio comics with character voices
  • Panel-by-panel guided view
  • Sound effects and music per panel
  • Audio descriptions for art
  • Import CBR/CBZ files
  • Offline reading
  • Curated classic comic library
Read full description

Live Comics turns comic books into audio comics. Every speech bubble is read aloud in character, every panel gets its own sound effects and music, and the page glides from panel to panel like a movie. Press play, read along, and let the issue carry you. COMICS READ ALOUD, PANEL BY PANEL • A guided panel-by-panel view, like a movie cut of the page • Male and female voices for the characters and the narrator, matched to who is speaking • Sound effects and soundscapes under every panel: gunfire and explosions on the battlefield, creaking doors in a haunted house • Subtitles that follow the narration, word for word AUDIO DESCRIPTIONS OF THE ART • Turn on audio descriptions and hear what each panel shows, between the spoken lines • Made for blind and low-vision readers, and for anyone who would rather listen YOUR OWN COMICS • Import your own CBR and CBZ files on the web, then read them on your phone, tablet, or computer • Western comics, manga, and manhwa all supported • Your library, shelves, and reading progress follow you across devices • Download issues to read offline CLASSIC COMICS TO STREAM • A curated shelf of Golden Age comic books, ready to play • Horror, war, sci-fi, and adventure from the 1940s, 50s, and early 60s • New issues added regularly MADE FOR LISTENING • Pick your narrator voices • Adjustable pacing and audio mix • Great on the nightstand or in your hands Live Comics works with your livecomics.to account. Sign in and your library is waiting. SUBSCRIPTIONS Optional plans renew automatically until you cancel in your Apple ID settings, at least 24 hours before the period ends. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://livecomics.to/privacy

Screenshots

ComicShelf Reader4 screens
Live Comics4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Live Comics at 5.0 against ComicShelf Reader's 3.0. Live Comics also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). ComicShelf Reader's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 9). On price, ratings volume, 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. Live Comics sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $3.00 per month. ComicShelf Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Live Comics holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 2 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
ComicShelf Reader versus Live Comics: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterComicShelf ReaderLive Comics
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (2 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings22
Update frequency—Every 3 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB7 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperThomas EggenbergerSmooby, LLC

Customer experience

ComicShelf Reader

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Live Comics

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

ComicShelf Reader

No in-app purchases

9 purchases

Live Comics

Subscriptions5
  • Collector$3.001 Month
  • Reader7 Days trial$20.001 Month
  • Collector (yearly)$30.001 Year
Show 2 more
  • Enthusiast7 Days trial$60.001 Month
  • Power7 Days trial$100.001 Month
One-time4
  • 1,000 Credits$10.00
  • 2,800 Credits$25.00
  • 6,000 Credits$50.00
Show 1 more
  • 12,000 Credits$100.00

Questions

Is ComicShelf Reader free?
ComicShelf Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Live Comics free?
Live Comics is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, ComicShelf Reader or Live Comics?
Live Comics is rated higher. ComicShelf Reader averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Live Comics averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do ComicShelf Reader or Live Comics have ads?
Neither ComicShelf Reader nor Live Comics shows ads.

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