Paperback Alternatives for iOS: What to Use If Paperback Isn't Working for You
Paperback is an ad-free comic and manga reader for Apple devices. You add content through third-party extensions, download chapters for offline reading, and keep your progress in sync with external trackers.
The reasons people look elsewhere are mostly about versions. There are two Paperback apps in circulation right now, and which one you have changes what works.
The App Store build vs the TestFlight build
The Paperback listing on the App Store is version 0.8.11, last updated on 28 February 2025. Newer 0.9 builds exist, but they’re distributed through TestFlight, and Paperback’s installation guide says alpha and beta access comes via Discord and Patreon. So if you installed Paperback from the App Store and haven’t joined either, you’re on a build that’s well over a year and a half old.
The two versions also have different requirements. According to Paperback’s installation page, 0.8 runs on iOS and iPadOS 13.4 or later and macOS 11 or later, while 0.9 needs iOS and iPadOS 15.4 or later and macOS 15 or later. Neither version runs on Intel Macs.
Some features differ too. Paperback’s FAQ says notifications aren’t supported in 0.8 and are planned to return in 0.9.
Why people look for a Paperback alternative
Extensions and versions. Paperback uses its own extension system, and extensions are built for a particular app version. When the extension you rely on is updated for 0.9 and you’re still on the App Store build, or a source stops being maintained, chapters stop loading.
No Mihon compatibility. Paperback extensions aren’t Mihon or Tachiyomi extensions, and it doesn’t restore Mihon .tachibk or Tachimanga .tmb backups. If you’re coming from Android, nothing you set up there carries over directly.
It’s Apple-only. Paperback runs on iPhone, iPad and Apple Silicon Macs. There’s no Android app or browser version.
If you sync with AniList or MyAnimeList, switching apps is less painful than it sounds. Connect the same tracker account in the new app and your chapter numbers are there, even if you have to re-add the series to your library.
Other readers to consider
Aidoku
Aidoku is the other source-based reader built for Apple devices, running on iPhone, iPad and Mac. It isn’t on the App Store: you install it through a TestFlight invite from its Discord, through AltStore or SideStore, or by sideloading an IPA. Its sources are .aix packages made specifically for Aidoku. It also reads local files and connects to media servers. Our Aidoku alternatives guide covers why people move away from it, which overlaps with Paperback in some ways but not others.
Tachimanga
Tachimanga is on the App Store and uses Mihon-compatible extensions, which makes it the obvious pick if you want the Android Mihon workflow on an iPhone. It reads ZIP, CBZ and EPUB files and connects to Komga. It’s iOS-only, and some features are part of a paid Premium tier. See Tachimanga alternatives for iOS for more.
Madomi
Madomi is our app, so read this part with that in mind. It’s on the App Store and Google Play, and also runs as a Chrome and Firefox extension. Like Tachimanga, it adds online sources through Mihon / Tachiyomi-compatible extensions from a repo you add yourself, and it imports Mihon .tachibk and Tachimanga .tmb backups. It reads CBZ, CBR, ZIP, EPUB and PDF files and connects to Komga. The reader is free. Tracker sync (seven services, including AniList and MyAnimeList), chapter release alerts and cross-device sync are part of a one-time paid unlock. It also translates raw chapters with AI, using credits, with 100 free per month. Its store listing may still show the old name, Fakey.
How they compare
| Paperback | Aidoku | Tachimanga | Madomi | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| On the App Store | Yes (0.8.11); 0.9 via TestFlight | No (TestFlight, AltStore or sideload) | Yes | Yes |
| Source format | Paperback extensions | Aidoku .aix sources | Mihon-compatible extensions | Mihon-compatible extensions |
| Platforms | iPhone, iPad, Apple Silicon Mac | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, Android, Chrome, Firefox |
Imports Mihon .tachibk backups | Not in its listing | Not in its docs | Yes | Yes |
Before you switch
If Paperback’s only problem for you is that the App Store build is old, joining the TestFlight beta may be all you need, as long as your device meets the 0.9 requirements. If you want to stay away from beta builds, or you want the Mihon extension ecosystem, look at Tachimanga or Madomi. If you’re a Mihon user who has just moved to an iPhone, our post on whether there’s a Mihon for iOS explains why there isn’t one and how to bring your library over.
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