Comparison

ComicShelf Reader vs Longbox

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

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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 • 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 progress synced across every device you read on • 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 one-month 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

ComicShelf Reader4 screens
Longbox4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: ComicShelf Reader at 5.0 against Longbox's 3.0. ComicShelf Reader also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3). Longbox's advantage is iOS requirement (15.5 vs 17.0). 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. Longbox sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. ComicShelf Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ComicShelf Reader holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 2 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
ComicShelf Reader versus Longbox: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterComicShelf ReaderLongbox
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better3.0 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings12 — better
Update frequency—Every 3 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.5 — better
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB74 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperThomas EggenbergerNOAH REILLEY BEARUP

Customer experience

ComicShelf Reader

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

Longbox

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

ComicShelf Reader

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Longbox

Subscriptions2
  • Longbox Premium Monthly$1.991 Month
  • Longbox Premium Yearly$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • Longbox Premium Lifetime$24.99

Questions

Is ComicShelf Reader free?
ComicShelf Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Longbox free?
Longbox is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, ComicShelf Reader or Longbox?
ComicShelf Reader is rated higher. ComicShelf Reader averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Longbox averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.
Do ComicShelf Reader or Longbox have ads?
Neither ComicShelf Reader nor Longbox shows ads.

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