In short
- The desktop reader, YACReaderLibrary and the server are free and GPL-3.0 on Windows, macOS and Linux; the server also runs in Docker.
- The iPhone and iPad app is $4.99 and the Android app $4.49, one-off (US prices).
- Mobile formats: CBZ, CBR, ZIP, RAR, RAR5 and PDF.
- The iOS app can lock chosen folders; the Android page does not mention a lock.
What YACReader is
YACReader is a set of programs for a comic collection you already own. The site has carried the line "Since 2009", the footer reads © 2009–2026 Luis Ángel San Martín
, and the App Store seller is the same person, so one developer has kept it going for seventeen years.
The set has four parts, all built for files you already have, and none of them sells comics:
- YACReader, the desktop reader.
- YACReaderLibrary, which catalogs folders of comics, with reading lists, reading progress and Continue Reading.
- YACReaderLibrary Server, which makes that library available to phones and to a web browser. It runs on a desktop, a NAS or in Docker.
- The iOS and Android apps, which stream from the server or import files to read offline.
Manga reads right to left, webtoon-style files get a continuous vertical scroll, and western comics show as ordinary pages.
Where to get it, and the ratings
The desktop programs download from yacreader.com, and the source code is on GitHub under GPL-3.0. Desktop version 10.4.0 came out on October 9, 2026.
"YACReader - Comic Reader" is on the App Store for iPhone and iPad, rated 4+, first released in April 2013 and updated on October 29, 2026. The Android app is on Google Play, rated Everyone, with more than 5,000 installs; yacreader.com also links an Amazon Appstore listing. Neither store rating reflects what you open, because the apps ship empty.
- iPhoneYesYACReader - Comic Reader, $4.99, iPhone and iPad, updated 2026-10-29.
- AndroidYesGoogle Play, $4.49, 5K+ downloads, updated Oct 5, 2026. Also listed on Amazon Appstore (link on yacreader.com).
- BrowserYes"Server & Web UI: Keep your library available from a NAS or home server and access it through any browser." Self-hosted, not a public…
What it reads, and which purchases
The mobile apps list cbz, cbr, zip, rar, rar5 or pdf
. That covers the DRM-free files adult comic stores sell:
| Store | Download format |
|---|---|
| FAKKU (book digital editions) | PDF or ZIP of images |
| Irodori Comics | DRM-free PDF, 3200 px tall |
| Iron Circus Comics | DRM-free PDF |
| Affect3D Store | ZIP with PNG, JPG or PDF |
| itch.io, Patreon attachments | Whatever the creator uploads |
Affect3D Store's ZIPs of images open as comics directly. A ZIP that holds a PDF needs unpacking first. Our DRM-free downloads page lists every store we cover that sells files you keep.
How the phone apps get your comics
The mobile apps are built around YACReaderLibrary. Run the library on a computer or server at home, connect the phone, and browse the same collection with the same reading progress. The App Store page lists other import routes: from the device, Dropbox, Box, OneDrive, and Finder or iTunes file sharing.
Android caught up late. Importing comics stored on the phone itself, for offline reading
, arrived in Android version 1.12 in October 2026. Before that the Android app needed a library server.
Remote access is up to you. One Google Play reviewer in August 2025 could not reach his library away from home without router access for port forwarding, and the app did not use his SD card. That is one user's report, and any self-hosted library raises the same question.
Offline reading
Both apps can download comics for offline reading
, and imported files are on the device already. The library server also has a web UI, so a browser on any machine in the house can read from it. That web UI is self-hosted; there is no public YACReader website to sign in to. For other ways to keep comics on a device, see our offline manga guide.
Privacy: the iOS folder lock
The iOS feature page documents the lock this way: parental control, lock certain folders so only you can have access to them.
That is the useful version of a privacy lock for adult comics, since a mixed collection can stay open while the adult folders need the code.
The Android page does not mention a lock, so assume there is none until it does. On data, Google Play's Data safety card says nothing is shared with third parties and the app may collect app info and performance data. The iOS app's on-device live translation, according to the listing, fully respects your privacy
and runs on the device.
No lock is documented for the desktop programs. The private library page compares locks across apps.
Price
- onceYACReader desktop and YACReaderLibrary ServerFreefree, GPL-3.0
- onceYACReader for iPhone and iPad$4.99paid app
- onceYACReader for Android$4.49paid app
Source: yacreader.com. Prices change with region, promotions and the store you buy through.
US prices. The phone apps are paid upfront, and the App Store page shows no in-app purchases, so there is nothing to renew. The desktop programs are funded by donations through Patreon and PayPal.
Limits
The phone apps cost money while the competition is often free. The Android app is mainly a library client, with device import only since October 2026, and its lock is undocumented. Page bookmarks are not named on the pages we checked, though reading progress, Continue Reading and reading lists are. And the full setup asks you to run a server.
Pros
- Free, open-source reader and library on all three desktop systems.
- Self-hosted server, also in Docker, streams to iOS, Android and a browser.
- iOS app locks chosen folders behind a code.
- Reads PDF without plugins.
Cons
- Mobile apps are paid.
- Folder lock documented for iOS only.
- Remote access needs your own network setup.
Alternatives to YACReader
For iPhone readers, Panels is the obvious comparison: free to read with, and its password or Face ID lock and Komga or Kavita access come with Premium at $1.49 a month, $14.99 a year or $19.99 once. YACReader's $4.99 gets the folder lock without a subscription.
If the server is the attraction, Komga and Kavita are free alternatives with per-user restrictions by age rating, which YACReaderLibrary Server does not document. On Android, Perfect Viewer reads local files for free and CDisplayEx Premium reads from a server. Every option is on our reading apps hub.
FAQ
Is YACReader free?
The desktop reader, library and server are free and open source. The iPhone and iPad app costs $4.99 and the Android app $4.49 (US prices).
Does YACReader have a password lock?
The iOS app documents a parental control that locks chosen folders. The Android page does not mention one.
Can YACReader read PDF comics?
Yes. The mobile apps list CBZ, CBR, ZIP, RAR, RAR5 and PDF.
Do I need a computer running YACReaderLibrary to use the phone app?
Not any more on Android since version 1.12, which added importing from the device, and the iOS app imports from the device and cloud drives. Streaming a full library still needs the server.
Does YACReader run in Docker?
Yes. The site lists the YACReaderLibrary Server as available for Docker, for a NAS or home server.
Final verdict
Verdict
YACReader fits a reader with a big CBZ, CBR or PDF collection on a computer who wants one library on desktop and phone. The desktop side costs nothing. On an iPhone, $4.99 buys a reader with a folder lock and no subscription, which is a good deal next to Panels Premium. On Android the app is younger and has no documented lock, so Perfect Viewer or Mihon may suit better there.