Head-to-head · Comic Book Reader Apps
Kavita vs Panels
Kavita leads on 0 checks, Panels on 2, and 3 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreKavita · 7.8/10
- Free planboth
- Most featuresPanels · 4 of 4
Kavita scores higher on our rubric for comic book reader apps: 7.8 against 7.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #5.
Panels offers panel-by-panel mode; Kavita doesn't. Panels offers cloud sync; Kavita doesn't.
Kavita is the better fit for self-hosters who want a feature-rich web reader. Panels is the better fit for apple users who want cloud libraries and panel reading.
- Kavita fits best
Self-hosters who want a feature-rich web reader
- Panels fits best
Apple users who want cloud libraries and panel reading
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Side by side
| Feature | Kavita 7.8/10 Visit ↗ | Panels 7.6/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 7.8 | 7.6 |
| Ranking | #3 in Comic Book Reader Apps | #5 in Comic Book Reader Apps |
| Best for | Self-hosters who want a feature-rich web reader | Apple users who want cloud libraries and panel reading |
| Pricing model | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid |
| Starting price | $4/mo | Free plan |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Self-hosted, Browser extension | Mobile, Desktop |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux | iOS, macOS |
| Support | Docs, Community | Email, Community, Docs |
| Integrations | 5 integrations | 8 integrations |
| Built for | Solo, Small business | Solo, Small business |
| Features Kavita 2/4 · Panels 4/4 | ||
| Panel-by-panel mode | — | ✓ (best) |
| Library organization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cloud sync | — | ✓ (best) |
| Manga reading | ✓ | ✓ |
| Specs | ||
| Archive formats | CBZ, CBR, CB7, CBT | CBZ, CBR, CB7 (7z), PDF, comic ePUB |
| Platforms | web, Windows, macOS, Linux | iOS, macOS |
| Our review | ||
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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| Our verdict | Kavita is a free, open-source digital library for organizing and reading comics, manga, EPUBs and PDFs on a self-hosted server. Its browser-based readers offer single- and double-page layouts, webtoon mode, and right-to-left or… Read the review → |
Panels is a DRM-free comic and manga reader for iPhone, iPad, and Mac, aimed at Apple users who want to keep a digital library organized and read across devices. It handles CBZ, CBR, CB7, PDF, and image-based comic ePUB files, with… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Kavita — where it wins
- Built-in readers support comics, manga, EPUB and PDF
- Search, metadata filters, collections and reading lists organize a library
- OPDS access connects the library with compatible reader apps
Where it doesn't
- Requires self-hosting rather than a cloud-hosted library
- No panel-by-panel reading mode
- No cloud-hosted sync
Panels — where it wins
- Reads CBZ, CBR, CB7, PDF, and image-based comic ePUB files
- Supports cloud folders and OPDS libraries, including Komga and Kavita
- Offers panel-by-panel reading, manga direction, and cross-device progress sync
Where it doesn't
- Available only on iOS and macOS
- Cloud libraries and OPDS require a premium option
- Page filters and text detection are premium features
- Kavita7.8/10 · Free plan
A free, open-source reader and library for people who want to host their own comics and ebooks.
Visit KavitaFull verdict → - Panels7.6/10 · Free plan
A capable Apple-only comic reader with archive support, cloud libraries, and panel-by-panel modes.
Visit PanelsFull verdict →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update