# Manga Storm CBR vs Panels

The clearest difference is ads: Panels at none against Manga Storm CBR's shown. Panels also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.4) and update cadence (every 8 days vs every 6 weeks). Manga Storm CBR's advantage is iOS requirement (13.6 vs 15.0). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Manga Storm CBR sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Panels sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Panels holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Panels has 13K ratings behind it against 625, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 62% of Manga Storm CBR's written reviews are positive against 70% of Panels's.

Manga Storm CBR ships an update every 6 weeks, Panels every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Manga Storm CBR | Panels |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (625 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/manga-storm-cbr/id943902063/reviews) | **[4.8 (13K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/panels-comic-reader/id1236567663/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 625 | **13K** |
| Positive reviews | 62.2% of reviews | **70.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#203** |
| Size | 26 MB | 166 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.6** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Work Corner Company Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/366621315) | [Produkt Studio](https://appshunter.io/developer/1236567662) |

## What reviewers say

### Manga Storm CBR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/manga-storm-cbr/id943902063)

This app allows you to read DRM-free comics in various formats like CBR, CBZ, and PDF directly from cloud storage or after importing them for offline access. It offers advanced features for managing and reading your comic library with customizable styles and progress saving.

**Highlights:** Supports CBR, CBZ, CB7, PDF, and other archive formats, Direct cloud storage access (Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.), Offline reading via import, Organize comics in multi-leveled folders, Customizable reading direction (LTR, RTL, Top-to-Bottom), Automatic reading progress saving, Continuous reading within groups

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Manga Storm CBR Pro | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 📚 Supports various file formats
- 💾 Integrates with cloud storage
- 🔍 Allows organizing comics/manga
- 🎨 Good reading experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or bugs
- 🤔 Confusing interface or lack of instructions
- 💰 Paid version required for full functionality
- 🔍 Difficulty finding/adding content
- 🔍 Issues with chapter/page ordering

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when trying to load large files
- Loses reading progress when switching apps
- Ads interfere with reading experience
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Add support for more cloud storage providers
- Implement dark mode
- Improve chapter/page organization and navigation
- Provide better instructions and tutorials
- Integrate with popular manga/comic websites


### Panels

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/panels-comic-reader/id1236567663)

**Currently charting:** #203 Top Free · Book (US App Store)

Enhance your comic and manga reading with a clean, customizable interface. Enjoy universal file compatibility, cross-device syncing, and advanced reading presets. Organize your library, secure your content, and import from various cloud services and local networks.

**Highlights:** Universal file compatibility (CBR, CBZ, PDF, ePUB), Cross-device reading progress sync, iCloud Drive integration, Customizable reading presets, Right-to-left reading for manga, OPDS server support, Content security with password/Face ID

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Panels+ Monthly | $1.49 | per month |
| Panels+ Yearly | $14.99 | per year |
| Panels 3 Upgrade | $9.99 | one-time |
| Panels 2 | $19.99 | one-time |
| Panels 3 | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth and responsive
- 👍 Clean and modern UI
- 💡 Useful features like panel view and vertical scrolling
- 🔒 No ads in paid version
- 👍 Good import and organization options

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 🔒 Useful features locked behind paywall
- 🔒 Subscription model instead of one-time purchase
- 🐛 Issues with page navigation and zoom
- 🐛 Problems with reading right-to-left content

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when opening large files
- Issues with page order and navigation
- Problems with zooming and scrolling
- Syncing and importing bugs
- Compatibility issues with older devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to create sub-folders and nested collections
- Automatic sorting and organization of comics
- Option to lock reading direction
- Double-tap to zoom functionality
- Progress tracking and bookmarking features


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Manga Storm CBR free?

Manga Storm CBR is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Panels free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Manga Storm CBR or Panels?

Panels is rated higher. Manga Storm CBR averages 4.4 out of 5 from 625 ratings, while Panels averages 4.8 from 13K ratings.

### Do Manga Storm CBR or Panels have ads?

Manga Storm CBR shows ads; Panels does not.

### Which is updated more often, Manga Storm CBR or Panels?

Manga Storm CBR ships an update every 6 weeks, and Panels every 8 days. Most recently, Manga Storm CBR was updated on October 7, 2026 and Panels on October 20, 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.*