Customer Reviews (141)

snapperbakraa • 2025-03-20T08:58:28-07:00

The free smart comics app is much easier to use. I paid money to use this useless app which has trouble importing comics and connecting to the library.

MikezMac-gmail • 2025-03-13T20:28:04-07:00

This doesn’t open epub comics. How do I get a refund?

Sizzleweet • 2025-02-13T08:04:19-07:00

Simply the best comic reading solution on the market. Works flawlessly with the YACReader server and library manager. Developer is super prompt and helpful. The panel view mode in YACReader is far superior to other implementations by a long shot.

Summary of Key Insights

YACReader enjoys a very positive overall sentiment, evidenced by a high average rating and a large proportion of 5-star reviews. Its key strengths lie in its organizational capabilities, seamless integration with the desktop version, and responsive customer support. However, users have reported issues with importing files, occasional crashes, and a lack of certain features like epub support and more intuitive UI elements. Despite these drawbacks, the app is highly regarded by its user base, particularly those with large comic collections.

  • Overall Rating: High (primarily 5-star reviews)
  • Key Strengths: Organization, desktop integration, customer support, feature set.
  • Key Weaknesses: Import issues, occasional crashes, UI/UX quirks, feature gaps.
  • Overall Sentiment: Positive

Quantitative Metrics:

  • Total Reviews: 141
  • Score Distribution: {"1":13,"2":9,"3":7,"4":11,"5":101}
  • Percentage of 5-star reviews: 71.6%
  • Percentage of 4-star reviews: 7.8%
  • Percentage of 3-star reviews: 5%
  • Percentage of 2-star reviews: 6.4%
  • Percentage of 1-star reviews: 9.2%

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 141 reviews
  • Time Frame: Not specified, but reviews appear to be from recent years, including 2024.
  • Analysis Methods:
    • Sentiment Analysis: Categorized reviews based on star ratings and textual content to determine overall sentiment.
    • Keyword Extraction: Identified frequently mentioned keywords and phrases to pinpoint common themes, pain points, and feature requests.
    • Frequency Analysis: Counted the number of times specific issues and requests were mentioned to prioritize them.

Key User Pain Points

  • Import Issues: Several users reported difficulties importing comics, especially wirelessly or from cloud services like Google Drive and Box. Some users have problems where files are grayed out, or the import function simply doesn't work. (High Impact, High Frequency)
  • Crashing: The app occasionally crashes, particularly during file import or when quickly flipping between pages. (High Impact, Medium Frequency)
  • UI/UX Quirks: Users find the UI confusing, with unlabeled icons and non-intuitive gesture controls. The copy/paste method for moving files is also criticized. (Medium Impact, Medium Frequency)
  • Syncing Problems: Some users report issues syncing with cloud services and the desktop version of YACReader. (Medium Impact, Low Frequency)
  • Missing Features: Lack of epub support, sorting options (e.g., by date added), and automatic grouping of series are common complaints. (Medium Impact, Medium Frequency)

Frequently Requested Features

  • ePub Support: Many users want the app to support reading epub comic files.
  • Improved Cloud Syncing: Specifically, reliable Google Drive integration is highly desired.
  • Enhanced UI/UX: More intuitive controls, labeled icons, drag-and-drop file management, and easier organization are requested.
  • Sorting Options: Users want the ability to sort comics by date added and other criteria.
  • Automatic Series Grouping: Automatically group comics by title into folders.
  • Continuous Vertical Scroll (Webtoon Mode): Some users request better support for webtoons, with continuous vertical scrolling.
  • Double Tap to Zoom: The ability to double tap to temporarily zoom in/out.
  • Metadata Syncing: Syncing metadata/comic information from the desktop version.
  • Direct Cloud Viewing: Ability to view comics directly from the cloud without downloading.
  • Multiple User Accounts: Allow multiple user accounts for shared devices.
  • Password Protection for Remote Server Access: Security enhancement for remote access.
  • Image Upscaling and Adjustment: Image upscaling and brightness/contrast/hue sliders.
  • Automatic Rotation Page Layout: Automatically switch between single and double page views upon rotation.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Organization: Users praise the app's ability to organize large comic collections, especially with the YACReaderLibrary desktop application.
  • Desktop Integration: Seamless integration with the desktop version is a major selling point.
  • Customer Support: Responsive and helpful customer support is frequently mentioned.
  • File Format Support: Supports a wide range of comic book file formats (cbz, cbr, zip, rar, pdf).
  • Remote Reading: The ability to stream comics from a remote server is highly valued.
  • Customization: Offers various reading options, including manga mode, continuous scroll, and automatic margin trimming.
  • Value for Money: Users consider the app reasonably priced for its functionality.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Fix Import Issues: Address the reported problems with importing files, especially from cloud services and local storage. Investigate why certain file types are grayed out or fail to import. Improve error messaging and provide clearer instructions.
  • Address Crashing Issues: Investigate and fix the causes of app crashes, particularly during file import and page flipping.
  • Improve UI/UX: Redesign confusing UI elements, label icons, and implement more intuitive gesture controls. Consider drag-and-drop file management.

Medium Priority:

  • Implement ePub Support: Add support for reading epub comic files.
  • Enhance Cloud Syncing: Improve the reliability of cloud syncing, especially with Google Drive and Box.
  • Add Sorting Options: Implement sorting options for comics (e.g., by date added, title).
  • Automatic Series Grouping: Automatically group comics by title into folders.
  • Investigate Samba Share Crashing: Address the crashing issue when flipping through pages of a cbr file on a Samba share.

Low Priority:

  • Continuous Vertical Scroll (Webtoon Mode): Add better support for webtoons, with continuous vertical scrolling.
  • Double Tap to Zoom: Implement double tap to temporarily zoom in/out.
  • Metadata Syncing: Sync metadata/comic information from the desktop version.
  • Direct Cloud Viewing: Allow users to view comics directly from the cloud without downloading.
  • Multiple User Accounts: Consider adding multiple user accounts for shared devices.
  • Password Protection for Remote Server Access: Implement password protection for remote access.
  • Image Upscaling and Adjustment: Add image upscaling and brightness/contrast/hue sliders.
  • Automatic Rotation Page Layout: Automatically switch between single and double page views upon rotation.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • AI-Powered Comic Organization: A service that uses AI to automatically organize comic collections, tag metadata, and suggest reading orders.
  • Cloud-Based Comic Reader with Social Features: A comic reader that stores comics in the cloud and allows users to share reading progress, reviews, and recommendations with friends.
  • Comic Conversion Tool: An app that easily converts between comic file formats, including epub, with customizable settings for image quality and metadata.

Trends and Observations

  • Strong Positive Sentiment: The app enjoys a very positive reputation among its users.
  • Importance of Desktop Integration: The seamless integration with the desktop version is a key differentiator and a major reason why users choose YACReader.
  • Value of Customer Support: Responsive customer support is highly valued and contributes to user satisfaction.
  • Feature Parity with Competitors: Users often compare YACReader to other comic readers and request features that are available in those apps.

Conclusion

YACReader is a highly regarded comic reader with a strong user base. Its strengths lie in its organizational capabilities, desktop integration, and customer support. By addressing the identified pain points, particularly import issues and occasional crashes, and implementing frequently requested features, YACReader can further enhance its user experience and solidify its position as a leading comic reader app.

Overall Recommendation: Prioritize fixing import issues and addressing crashing problems. Then focus on improving the UI/UX and adding frequently requested features like epub support and sorting options.

Original App Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/yacreader-comic-reader/id635717885?uo=2