Six of the best comic reader apps

Comics by Comixology was the Amazon of comics, until Amazon bought it. Now, it’s just Amazon, with all of the politics that brings: the Android app lost Google Play payments, and iOS lost its store entirely.

But, oh, the range - it’s hard to stay mad when there are so many affordable comics to buy.

Stuff says ✭✭✭✭✩

Download Comics for iPhone and iPad (£free) here

Download Comics for Android (£free) here

Described as ‘the Netflix of comics’, there’s a whiff of bargain bin about Marvel Unlimited. But c’mon - for US$10 per month you get access to 15,000 digital issues, in an all-you-can eat buffet of spandex and scientific experiments giving rise to superpowers in an extremely unlikely fashion.

Stuff says ✭✭✭✭✩

Download Marvel Unlimited for iPhone and iPad (£free) here

Download Marvel Unlimited for Android (£free) here

We’re long-time Comic Zeal fans, and that £2.99 app’s still best for iPhone. On iPad, though, Chunky won us round, due to its streamlined interface, great controls, smart upscaling, and two-up landscape option. There’s plentiful cloud support, but a £1.99 ‘pro’ upgrade adds a mini web server too.

Stuff says ✭✭✭✭✭

Download Chunky for iPad (from £free) here

Edited by a green alien with a phone dial glued to his head and featuring fascist-future-cop-with-a-permasnarl Judge Dredd, 2000 AD is a British institution. The 37-year-old comic’s digital venture is sleek and smartly designed, providing access to 2000 AD itself, the Megazine and classic thrills aplenty.

Stuff says ✭✭✭✭✭

Download 2000 AD for iPhone and iPad (£free) here

Yes, we’ve - gasp! - gone for a paid Android app. That’s because ComiCat is excellent, automatically scanning your device to find any lurking comics, and deftly handling whatever CBRs and PDFs you throw at it.

That instantly marks it out as superior to most Android comic viewers - and we tried many. Cheapskates can make do with Perfect Viewer, though.

Stuff says ✭✭✭✭✭

Download ComiCat for Android (£1.99) here

Sequential is a comic app for the more discerning reader. Its collection is heavily curated and possibly a bit worthy, but you can guarantee pretty much anything you buy will deserve your time and money. The reader itself is smooth and fast, if lacking Chunky’s level of elegance.

Stuff says ✭✭✭✭✩

Download Sequential for iPad (£free) here

READ MORE: iCheapskate - the 30 best free apps for iPhone and iPad