Best apps for reading scanned manga on iPad
(and iPhone)

Five things to check on iPad and iPhone

1. Formats (PDF / ZIP / CBZ / RAR)

Scanned manga is usually a ZIP of JPEGs (CBZ) or a PDF from the scanner. RAR and CBR support is less common.

2. Where the files live

iPad storage cannot be expanded later. Copy files to the device, or read directly from iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive, or a NAS. The larger the library, the more it helps to keep files off the device.

3. Spread size

An 11-inch iPad in landscape shows each page at about 111 × 157 mm, close to a printed volume. An 8-inch class iPad mini gives about 81 × 116 mm, smaller than a paperback.

4. Sharing with an iPhone

Whether the same app runs on both iPad and iPhone. If you read on the iPhone out and the iPad at home, an app that covers both is easier.

5. Price

Free, one-time purchase, or subscription. What you pay for differs by app: a one-time price for removing ads or adding formats, or a subscription for something one device cannot do, such as syncing two devices as one spread. The two are not measured on the same scale.

iOS readers compared

Prices and features are from public information as of September 2026. Check each store for the latest.

See the full reader comparison, including Android

Each app in brief

SideBooks (iPhone / iPad)

Free, with PDF / ZIP / RAR support. Cloud files are downloaded to the device before reading, so they use iPad storage. Built for reading on one screen.

ComicGlass (iPhone / iPad)

¥600 one-time. Handles ZIP / RAR / PDF and reads from a NAS (SMB), iCloud, or cloud storage. A long-standing choice for scanned comics on iOS. Built for reading on one screen.

i-Bunko HD (iPad)

iPad only, ¥1,100 one-time. Handles PDF and ZIP, transferred to the device. Not available on iPhone.

MIHIRAKI (iPhone / iPad / Android)

Where the others compete on how to use one screen, MIHIRAKI places two devices side by side as one spread. It reads PDF / ZIP / CBZ from Dropbox, Google Drive, or a NAS, and also shows the web versions of Kindle and MANGA Plus. An iPad pairs with an iPhone or an Android tablet.

How an iPad spread compares with a printed volume

An iPad in landscape, and two iPads side by side, drawn to the same scale as a printed manga volume. Page sizes are calculated for a manga page (about 1 : 1.42) filling the screen.

A single iPad in landscape reaches printed size at about 13 inches. An 8-inch class iPad mini in landscape shrinks each page to well below a paperback. Two iPad minis side by side bring the spread back close to printed size. Spread width includes the seam between the two devices.

See tablet sizes compared, including Android

Where your files live: which app fits

In iCloud Drive

ComicGlass opens iCloud Drive files directly. SideBooks imports them to the device through the Files app. MIHIRAKI does not support iCloud, so keep files in Dropbox, Google Drive, or a NAS instead.

In Dropbox or Google Drive

MIHIRAKI opens files in Dropbox and Google Drive as they are. No iPad storage is used, and a second device can open the same file.

On a NAS (home server)

ComicGlass connects over SMB, MIHIRAKI over WebDAV. On Synology, QNAP, and similar, just enable the WebDAV server. Both devices read from the same NAS, so nothing has to be copied around.

Two iPads, or an iPad with an iPhone, as one spread

MIHIRAKI installs on two devices linked by a QR code, with one showing the right page and the other the left. Two 11-inch iPads give each page about 157 × 224 mm, larger than a printed volume.
The old iPad, iPhone, or Android tablet left over from your last upgrade makes the second device free.

Compare foldables, large tablets, and two devices side by side

FAQ

Is an iPad mini enough for scanned manga?

Yes. Held upright, one page is close to a printed volume. In landscape each page is smaller than a paperback, so for spreads either pair two devices or use 11 inches or more.

Can MIHIRAKI open a ZIP kept in the Files app on the iPad?

MIHIRAKI reads files kept in Dropbox, Google Drive, or a NAS (WebDAV). Move the ZIP into a Dropbox folder first.

Can I read RAR (CBR) files?

MIHIRAKI supports PDF / ZIP / CBZ. Repack RAR files as ZIP on a computer and they will open.

Can an iPad pair with an Android tablet?

Yes. MIHIRAKI runs on both iOS and Android, and any combination works.

Does the MIHIRAKI spread work on a single iPad?

The spread feature needs two devices. With a single device, MIHIRAKI CLOCK turns it into a desk clock that shows your manga covers.