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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Panels vs WEBTOON

Panels 4.8★ · Free to download 75
Winner Panels
WEBTOON 4.8★ · Free + IAP 60

Panels is the better choice for users who want a dedicated, customizable comic and manga reader for their own files, while WEBTOON is better for those seeking a vast library of original webcomics with a freemium model.

Full reviews: Panels · WEBTOON

Panels excels as a local comic reader, offering robust file management and a clean UI, though recent updates have introduced bugs and monetization concerns. WEBTOON provides a massive collection of original webcomics, but its user experience is increasingly hampered by aggressive ads and a restrictive coin system.

Head to head

Features & Content tieR4R5R7R10
Panels Panels is praised for its ability to easily import and organize local comic and manga files, supporting various formats like CBR and PDF R5. Users appreciate its clean UI and customization options for reading . However, some users wish for better support for EPUBs and metadata R7, and a stretch feature for pages . The recent addition of a store and subscription-locked features like SMB and page-curl has been met with negativity R4R10R14.
WEBTOON WEBTOON is lauded for its extensive library of original webcomics across diverse genres, with users finding many engaging stories . However, many users report a lack of variety, with top suggestions often being similar . There are also concerns about inappropriate content for its 13+ rating .
Ease of Use & Reliability tieR1R6R8R12
Panels Panels is generally considered easy to use for importing and organizing files R12R26. However, recent updates have introduced significant reliability issues, including broken downloads, crashing, freezing, and slow page loading R1R6R12R19. Users also report bugs with library linking, thumbnails, and panel re-adjustment R6R8R12.
WEBTOON WEBTOON's core reading experience is often described as streamlined and easy . However, the app is frequently criticized for being buggy, freezing, and crashing, especially after updates R70. Many users find the new UI confusing and difficult to navigate, particularly with coin challenges and account login issues .
Price & Value edge: PanelsR11R14R27R30
Panels Panels is free to download but many advanced features are locked behind a subscription or one-time purchase, which some users find annoying or scummy R11R14R30. Features like SMB support, EPUB reading, and page-curl are paywalled R14R30R40. Some users feel the price is high compared to competitors or for features that should be free R27R40.
WEBTOON WEBTOON is free to download but heavily relies on in-app purchases (coins/gems) and ads to access content, especially older or completed series . Users frequently complain about the increasing number of intrusive ads, including unskippable video ads that disrupt reading R69R70R72. The coin system is seen as greedy and frustrating, with users losing coins or having long wait times for free chapters .
Support & Communication edge: PanelsR3R17R26R36
Panels Panels has received mixed feedback on support. Some users report issues being fixed R17, and developers being responsive R26. However, others mention dead support links or no replies to critical issues like OPDS syncing . There are also complaints about persistent review pop-ups, even after reviewing R3R36.
WEBTOON WEBTOON users do not frequently mention direct support interactions. However, the app's frequent updates are often seen as detrimental, introducing more bugs and aggressive monetization rather than fixing issues R70. There's a general sentiment that developers are not listening to user feedback regarding ads and the coin system .
Pick Panels if

You have your own library of comic and manga files (CBR, PDF, CBZ) and want a dedicated, feature-rich reader with strong organization capabilities R5. You are willing to pay a one-time fee or subscription for advanced features like SMB support and page-curl, and prefer a clean, ad-free reading experience R11R14.

Pick WEBTOON if

You are looking for a vast and constantly updated library of original webcomics and don't mind a freemium model that involves watching ads or purchasing coins to access content . You enjoy discovering new artists and stories across many genres .

Evidence note: WEBTOON has a significantly larger number of reviews, which skews its overall rating slightly lower than Panels, despite both having high lifetime averages. Recent reviews for both apps highlight a decline in user experience due to bugs (Panels) and aggressive monetization/ads (WEBTOON). The free-vs-paid asymmetry is notable for WEBTOON, where much of the negativity stems from free-tier friction.

Frequently asked

Is Panels free to use?
Panels is free to download and offers basic reading functionality, but many advanced features like EPUB support, SMB access, and page-curl are locked behind a subscription or a one-time purchase R14R30R40R46.
Does WEBTOON have many ads?
Yes, WEBTOON has an increasing number of intrusive ads, including pop-up banner ads that cover half the screen and unskippable video ads that play at the start of every chapter, even for paying users R69R70R72R75.
Can I read my own comic files on WEBTOON?
WEBTOON is primarily a platform for reading original webcomics hosted within its ecosystem; it does not support importing or reading local comic files like CBR, CBZ, or PDF (implied by content focus, no reviews mention this feature).
Are there any recurring bugs in Panels?
Recent updates to Panels have introduced several recurring bugs, including downloads breaking, the app crashing or freezing, slow page loading, broken thumbnails, and issues with library re-linking and panel re-adjustment R1R6R12R19.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R4] Panels 1/5 · US get rid of the store: i remember when this app was cool
  2. [R5] Panels 5/5 · US Amazing for reading: I love to get books off of Anna’s archive but files on there always seemed to be different, I finally got this app and sent files to panels and instantly got tons of books!
  3. [R7] Panels 2/5 · US Awesome app but..: I like the with the seamless adding of some manga I have, my biggest gripe comes to light novels tho, I hate that I can’t even read them because they don’t really work with epub which I really love more than PDFs. Besides that the app is amazing would recommend it.
  4. [R10] Panels 2/5 · US Get rid of the store: There are enough markets. I just wanted a reader app, not another thing trying to sell me things. At least let us remove it from the main navigation. I promise you I will never spend a dollar there, and if it becomes unavailable I’ll have to switch to a new app.
  5. [R1] Panels 1/5 · US Garbage: This worked for a while and then suddenly the Downloads section just broke. It won’t load anymore. I have 75GB of content downloaded. Now my options are to not have access to them or try to delete the app and redownload all of it. Spectacular. I have comic apps that haven’t been update in over 5 years that don’t screw up this bad. If you read locally avoid this app. Update: I ended up cl
  6. [R6] Panels 3/5 · US It got bad: Latest update broke the library, every single time I need to re-link the information
  7. [R8] Panels 4/5 · US Left-hand panel bug.: The panel on the left side keeps re-adjusting itself when opening the app again. It’s very annoying unfortunately. I want it to be minimized as small as possible. Or can we completely hide it in a toggle menu completely?
  8. [R12] Panels 3/5 · US new bugs needs more fixes: app was running great for months, then the new update broke parts of it. files i’ve had loaded before the big update a couple weeks ago now have broken thumbnails that can’t be restored. if i turn my ipad off, the app has to resync my whole manga library from the folder on my ipad storage, which breaks more thumbnails. if these bugs could get fixed the app would be back
  9. [R11] Panels 5/5 · US Excellent: Worth the single price, best comic reading app
  10. [R14] Panels 5/5 · US Amazing: I’ve been a TestFlight member for quite some time now, and this is one of the most incredible book and manga readers I’ve ever used. I only wish that the page-curl feature was one of the free options, rather than being a paid feature.
  11. [R27] Panels 3/5 · US iCloud support lackluster: Love the interface but not sure why iCloud folder support doesn’t exist. Smart Comic does it for $2 for complete purchase (vs $1.49 a month here) and only option here is to build a server from iCloud folder. Maybe I’m missing something?
  12. [R30] Panels 3/5 · US Subscription Model is Stupid: App works very well but of course for some reason they feel the need to charge to read comic epub files. Not really sure why support for a common file format is locked behind a paywall. Very annoying and scummy practice.
  13. [R3] Panels 3/5 · US Stop😭: Please stop giving me pops ups to review it (even when you actually do review it I will give you a pop up to review it every time you leave a book)
  14. [R17] Panels 5/5 · US App seems to be fixed: Just bought a new iPad mini and I’m bummed the app doesn’t work. Update: seems to have been fixed, changed my rating
  15. [R26] Panels 5/5 · US It really is a great app. Great work devs: This app just works. Everything syncs flawlessly. It’s made comic book reading so frictionless.
  16. [R36] Panels 3/5 · GB Great but…: I like the app but I’m giving it 3 stars because it constantly nags me to review it. Very annoying.
  17. [R40] Panels 1/5 · US SMB is Free: SMB is not a proprietary technology, the fact that you make us pay for SMB is a scam. I can literally use any other reader with smb flawlessly. FOR FREE. Youre not getting MY money bud. Stop scamming, your service isnt "premium" at all 😭
  18. [R46] Panels 2/5 · US Free version is basic: Free version is basic but usable. Would love to see more features move to the free tier
  19. [R69] WEBTOON 3/5 · US Good but too many ads: While I’ve been reading for a while and there’s tons of good comics and all, there’s just too many ads now
  20. [R70] WEBTOON 1/5 · US Ads are crashing the app: The pop up ads they use as a banner overlay for every first 5 sec of each new episode you read crashes the app and puts it into a no response. Forcing you to re open the app…… and that’s right have to go through the ad again. After it happens after every episode you break down and go purchase the Manta app. Rather pay money than deal with an app that’s supposedly free bu
  21. [R72] WEBTOON 3/5 · US Intrusive ads: I used to love WEBTOON but lately the ads have gotten more and more intrusive- including videos that overlay the comic for a short time, even if you’re a subscriber. Greedy greedy and it just makes the app less appealing.
  22. [R75] WEBTOON 3/5 · US Ads ads ads money money money: I’ve been reading from WEBTOON since 2016. This used to be a great app. It’s pretty much a cash grab that you can either spend your money or watch ads that take up double your time trying to read if you want to unlock multiple chapters. I never minded if you wanted to read ahead you can pay for that but the ads are ridiculous at this point. You want me to watch an ad
  23. [R19] Panels 1/5 · US Broken: They seem to have broken the basic functionality of their app trying to find a way to monetize it. I redownloaded after a few months, now on a new phone, I can’t get anything to actually import, and now it makes my phone hotter than it does when running a 3D game. It’s clunkier in every way. But hey, at least there’s a store now. I get they need to make a living but their priorities are wa

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store