Comparison · checked 19 October 2026
Panelift vs Ichigo Reader
Ichigo Reader for reading in an app on many languages; Panelift for clean, edited chapters that keep the art.
Ichigo Reader is a subscription app that translates manga pages, PDFs and ZIPs into English and 37 other languages, using the whole file as context. Panelift is a website that translates whole chapters from Japanese, Korean and Chinese into English, paints the art back where the lettering was, keeps a cast list consistent across a series, checks every page and lets you edit any line afterwards.
Side by side
| Feature | Panelift | Ichigo Reader |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Website: upload pages, a ZIP or a chapter link; read and edit in the browser | iPhone and iPad app (Ichigo LLC) |
| How it changes the page | Erases the original lettering, paints the art back and letters the translation inside each bubble | Not stated whether the original lettering is erased; release notes mention translated bubbles blending into dark backgrounds |
| Story context | Reads the whole chapter first: a cast list with names, genders and forms of address, kept for the next chapter of the series | Uses the full PDF or ZIP as context |
| Checks and failed pages | Checks every page (Fast); pages that fail a check are held for you and refunded | Not stated |
| Languages | Japanese, Korean and Chinese into English | English and 37 more, including Japanese, Korean and Simplified Chinese |
| Editing | Page editor with the chapter script beside the page, AI rewordings for any line, fonts and colours | Not stated |
| 18+ series | 18+ series supported on a private GPU route, at the 18+ page price | Not stated |
| Pricing | Fast: 10 credits a page (US$0.05–0.12, ₹4.2–7, depending on plan or pack); 100 free credits on sign-up | Subscription with a free trial: Tier 1 US$8.99 and Tier 2 US$24.99 (App Store prices) |
Which to pick
Pick Ichigo Reader for
- A phone app for reading on the go, with 38 languages.
- A flat subscription, if you read a lot and want one monthly price.
Pick Panelift for
- Art kept intact: the original lettering is erased and the art painted back, then the translation is lettered into the bubble.
- A cast list for the series: names, genders and forms of address stay consistent from chapter to chapter.
- Every page checked in Fast, failed pages held for you and never charged.
- An editor: change any line, ask for other wordings, and only that bubble is redone.
- 18+ series supported on a private GPU route.
Questions
Is Panelift or Ichigo Reader better?
Ichigo Reader suits reading on a phone in many languages for a flat subscription. Panelift suits chapters you want to read or share as clean pages: the art painted back, consistent names across a series, every page checked and every line editable.
Does Ichigo Reader translate whole chapters?
Yes, it accepts PDFs and ZIPs and uses the whole file as context. Panelift also translates whole chapters, from uploads, ZIPs or a chapter link, and remembers the cast for the next chapter of the series.
How much do Panelift and Ichigo Reader cost?
Ichigo Reader is a subscription (Tier 1 US$8.99, Tier 2 US$24.99 on the App Store). Panelift charges per page: 10 credits a page in Fast, US$0.05–0.12 depending on plan or pack, with 100 free credits on sign-up.
Sources
Ichigo Reader details are from Ichigo Reader's own pages as of 19 October 2026; prices and features change, so check them before you buy. “Not stated” means we could not find it on those pages. Panelift details are from this site and its live prices. Ichigo Reader is a trademark of its owner; this page is not affiliated with or endorsed by them.
