Comics that read like paper, not a backlit screen.
A lean, native reader that renders every page with a real paper look: warm tone, fine grain, ink that shows through. Your whole collection, private and on-device.
No accounts. No tracking. Everything runs on your device.
From your shelf to the page.
Ink on paper, not glare.
Every page is re-rendered warm, with fine grain and a little show-through. Flip from screen to paper, live.
Point it at a folder.
Aim it at any folder your Files app can reach. Covers load at once; a comic downloads when you open it.
1 of 3 downloaded · tap the cloud to pull one down
Collects nothing.
No accounts, no ads, no tracking. Your library never leaves the device.
Bookmarks you know on sight.
One tap saves a picture of the page, not a number. All in one place, searchable.
Browse like a deck.
Big covers, swiped like cards. Filter by mood, or shuffle to a random pick.
Comic
#4 · 2026 · 48 pages
Small app. Deep reader.
120 Hz reader
Turns pages at the full ProMotion rate, decoded off the main thread.
Double-page spread
Two pages side by side, paired so they never mismatch.
Live Text
Press and hold to select and copy text right off the page.
Double-tap to fit
Toggles fit-width and fit-height. No pinch, no drift.
Page grid
Jump anywhere from a thumbnail grid, cached to disk.
Always resumes
Reopens on your last page and marks itself read at the end.
Every CBZ
JPEG, PNG, GIF, WebP, HEIC and more, sorted naturally.
Import anywhere
From Files, the share sheet, or as your default CBZ handler.
Real covers in Files
A QuickLook extension shows true cover art, not a ZIP icon.
No duplicates
Caught by content, not filename, so re-scans stay clean.
ComicInfo metadata
Reads creators, characters and a story index for anthologies.
Built for iOS 26
Native Liquid Glass, with Dark, Light and System themes.
Free. Forever.
No price, no subscription, no in-app purchases. Just a good comic reader for iPhone and iPad.
iOS 26+ · iPhone & iPad · Sideload with AltStore or Sideloadly · Source
Support
Paper Comic Reader is free and open source. If it earns a spot on your home screen, you can leave a voluntary tip. No perks, no strings, entirely optional.
Stripe (card or SEPA, no account) or GitHub Sponsors. The app stays free either way.
Questions
Is it really free? +
Yes, free and open source (MIT). No ads, no subscription, no in-app purchases. Tips are welcome but entirely optional.
How do I install it without the App Store? +
Easiest is the App Store: one tap, automatic updates. If you'd rather not use it, download
the .ipa from GitHub Releases and install it with AltStore or Sideloadly.
What comic formats does it read? +
CBZ archives (ZIP-based), with JPEG, PNG, GIF, WebP, HEIC, BMP and TIFF pages inside. CBR and PDF are not supported.
Does it work on iPad? +
Yes, it's universal for iPhone and iPad, portrait and landscape, with a proper two-page spread on bigger screens. Requires iOS or iPadOS 26.
Do you collect any data? +
No. No accounts, no analytics, no tracking. Everything stays on your device.