Comparison

Shifter vs CGNovels

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

Head to head
About

Shifter

Experience a sci-fi murder mystery graphic novel with stunning parallax animation and interactive elements. Choose your path, listen to a full cast of voice actors, and explore a rich universe with an interactive appendix.

Highlights
  • Interactive graphic novel
  • Parallax animation
  • Full voice cast
  • Sci-fi murder mystery
  • Interactive appendix
  • Choose your own path
Features
Read full description

SHIFTER the Interactive Graphic Novel has arrived! Innovative use of parallax animation and interactivity is masterfully woven together to create a multimedia experience of unparalleled scope, featuring the amazing voice talents of **WIL WHEATON**! *** NOTE: Compatible with iPad 2 and later, iPhone 4s and later, and iPod touch (5th generation) *** What if you could soar with the birds – not in a man-made contraption or by using virtual reality, but as an actual bird? What if you could literally be a fly on the wall in a top-secret meeting? What if you could become any animal in the world or, better yet, anybody in the world? What if you could become any creature that has ever existed (and some you never believed could exist)? Find out the answers to these questions and more in Shifter, the latest full-color graphic novel from Anomaly Productions. Shifter is a sci-fi murder mystery with a unique perspective, a pulse-pounding thriller that explores the depths of humanity’s evil and the tremendous powers of the animal kingdom. Following in the revolutionary footsteps of the ANOMALY Interactive Graphic Novel, SHIFTER lets YOU choose how YOU want to enjoy this sublime Hitchcockian murder-mystery with a decadent sci-fi twist. Read on your own or listen to a cast of eight actors, drawn from FILM, TELEVISION and VIDEO GAMES lend their brilliant voice talents to breathe life into each spoken role. This is not “books-on-CD” narration… This is the best of AUDIO CINEMA, complete with music, sound effects and so much more! Enjoy the first chapter for free, then unlock the rest of the content to experience: - 9 Epic Chapters - 200 Fully Painted Pages - 65 Interactive Touch Points - 875 Panels of Art - 2½ Hours of Audio Discover more at Facebook.com/ExperienceAnomaly *** FEATURING ACTORS YOU KNOW AND LOVE!!! *** Wil Wheaton, Dave Fennoy, Olivia d’Abo, Allyson Ryan, Anthony Cistaro, Keith Szarabajka, David Lodge and Ryan Cooper. Don’t just take our word for it -- IMDB them! *** TONS OF BACKSTORY AND INFORMATION PROVIDED BY “JEEVES” *** A fully interactive appendix is included. There are over sixty entries detailing the characters, places and objects in the Shifter universe. Let Jeeves the alien computer show you the story behind the story. *** HAVE THE BOOK “ACTED OUT” FOR YOU WITH FULL VOICEOVERS!!! *** A graphic novel is nice. A graphic novel that reads to you with cinematic-level voice acting is what previous generations could only dream about… That dream is now REALITY! Evocative musical scores set the mood for dynamic voice acting. The entire experience is further heightened by professional-grade sound effects that bring together a “digital book” done in a way you’ve NEVER experienced before! (With the exception of our other interactive graphic novel, ANOMALY!) Explore each gorgeous, painted panel at your leisure. Go ahead. We can wait… Extensive PARALLAX lends motion in ways no static page ever could. “Get pulled into the action” in a very literal way. Simply tap when you’re ready to move on. And did we mention we’ve got internet, voice and acting phenom, WIL WHEATON, in SHIFTER’S leading role? Oh, yeah. We went there…and he brought it! *** LET THE BOOK PLAY LIKE A MOVIE!!! *** Sit back and relax… Auto-play will “act out” SHIFTER for you without the need to so much as lift a finger. Want letters out of the way? Turn them off! This is as close as any graphic novel can possibly get to the theater experience without being fully animated!

About

CGNovels

Experience graphic novels with a unique image-text relationship and a library of original stories. Enjoy high-quality artwork and multiple language options. Free story previews are available to sample before committing.

Highlights
  • Clear and simple interface
  • High-quality images
  • English and Turkish language options
  • Free story previews
  • Original story library
Read full description

Reading graphic novels digitally has become much fun and easier now! We have redefined the relationship between image and text for CGNovels. With this new reading experience we also aims to be a library with full of original stories. Download now and be a part of the excitement! Here are some of the features you’ll find in CGNovels app: • Clear and simple interface: With just three basic movements, you can fully focus on immersing yourself in the stories. • High-quality images: Artworks in a format that showcases amazing details. • Language options: Enjoy the stories in English and Turkish. • Free story previews: Get a taste of each story before diving in.

Screenshots

Shifter4 screens
CGNovels4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: CGNovels at 5.0 against Shifter's 4.4. CGNovels also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 3 months). Shifter's advantage is ratings volume (24 vs 2) and iOS requirement (6.1 vs 13.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Shifter sells 5 one-off in-app purchases and CGNovels sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

CGNovels holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Shifter has 24 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Shifter ships an update every 3 months, CGNovels daily. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Shifter versus CGNovels: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShifterCGNovels
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (24 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews68.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings24 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS6.1 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size333 MB55 MB
Age rating12+12+
DeveloperAnomaly Productions, Inc.Mehmet Ozen

Customer experience

Shifter

All ratings23 ratings
Positive87.0%
Neutral4.3%
Negative8.7%
Written reviews103 reviews
Positive68.0%
Neutral4.9%
Negative27.2%

CGNovels

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Shifter

One-time5
  • Chapters 2 and 3$0.99
  • Chapters 4 and 5$0.99
  • Chapters 6 and 7$0.99
Show 2 more
  • Chapters 8 and 9$0.99
  • Full Unlock$2.99
1 purchases

CGNovels

One-time1
  • Seyyah Chapter 1$5.99

Questions

Is Shifter free?
Shifter is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is CGNovels free?
CGNovels is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Shifter or CGNovels?
CGNovels is rated higher. Shifter averages 4.4 out of 5 from 24 ratings, while CGNovels averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Shifter or CGNovels have ads?
Neither Shifter nor CGNovels shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Shifter or CGNovels?
Shifter ships an update every 3 months, and CGNovels daily. Most recently, Shifter was updated on November 1, 2026 and CGNovels on November 3, 2026.

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