How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- VIZ, MANGA Plus and K MANGA are the official homes of the biggest Japanese publishers, with the newest chapters free on release day.
- BookWalker is the best pay-per-volume store for collectors who want to own digital volumes, including light novels.
- WEBTOON and Manta focus on vertical-scroll comics and manhwa, a different reading style from traditional manga.
- Azuki now presents itself as Omoi, and its subscription model suits readers who binge complete series rather than follow weekly releases.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 VIZ | Shonen Jump hits | See website | Yes |
 MANGA Plus | Latest Shueisha chapters free | Free | Yes |
 Azuki (Omoi) | Subscription manga reading | See website | No |
 BookWalker | Owning digital volumes | See website | Yes |
 K MANGA | Kodansha series | Free | Yes |
 WEBTOON | Vertical-scroll comics | Free | Yes |
 Comikey | Licensed series discovery | See website | Yes |
 Manta | Manhwa binges | See website | No |
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The best manga apps
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
VIZ is the US publisher behind the biggest shonen titles, and its homepage shows free Shonen Jump chapters for current hits like Dandadan, Sakamoto Days, Kagurabachi and Spy x Family, with the latest chapters dated within days of release. The app and site also carry previews, trailers and publishing news, so readers can follow announcements alongside the chapters themselves.
The trade-off is scope: VIZ covers its own licenses, so a reader who also follows Kodansha or Shueisha-only titles will need a second app. The free chapters make it easy to keep up with weekly series at no cost, and the paid plan opens the wider back catalog for readers who want to catch up on long-running series from the start.
What we like- Official home of One Piece, Jujutsu Kaisen, Chainsaw Man and more
- Free Shonen Jump chapters
- Previews and news
Watch out for- Full library access needs a paid plan
- Focus is on VIZ-licensed series only
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
MANGA Plus is Shueisha's official global platform, and its homepage is built around one promise: read the latest chapters free, the same day they appear in Japan. That makes it the essential app for readers who follow Weekly Shonen Jump and other Shueisha magazines and want to stay current without waiting for licensed volumes.
The limitation is the back catalog. MANGA Plus is designed for keeping up, not for bingeing a series from chapter one, and its current site notes that reading logs and favorites may not carry over between its beta and final releases. Pair it with VIZ or a volume store for older chapters, and use it for what it does best: free, legal, same-day chapters.
What we like- Official Shueisha platform
- Latest chapters free worldwide
- Same-day releases as Japan
Watch out for- Back catalog access is limited
- Reading log note warns beta and final releases may not share data
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Azuki was Kodansha's subscription manga service, and its homepage now presents the service under the Omoi name, with the same chapter calendar and genre browsing, from action and fantasy to romance, horror and slice of life. The catalog covers Kodansha series and indie titles, with new chapters listed daily.
The rebrand is the thing to know: readers searching for Azuki will land on Omoi, and the subscription model means there is no free tier to sample before paying. For readers who finish several volumes a month, a subscription beats buying volumes one by one. For readers who only follow one or two series, pay-per-volume stores may cost less.
What we like- Officially licensed digital manga
- Monthly subscription
- Wide genre range from action to boys love and girls love
Watch out for- Now presents itself under the Omoi name, which may confuse returning readers
- Subscription model, no free tier
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
BookWalker, from Kadokawa, is the largest digital manga and light novel store for English readers, with series ranging from Re:Zero and The Summer Hikaru Died to Black Butler and Ascendance of a Bookworm. Its homepage highlights coin-back promotions, new releases and a free reads section, so readers can sample series before buying.
The model is ownership: you buy volumes and keep them in your library, rather than renting access through a subscription. That suits collectors and light novel readers, since BookWalker carries both formats in one place. Heavy readers who finish many volumes a month will spend more here than on a subscription service, so use the free reads and coin-back deals to stretch the budget.
What we like- Huge manga and light novel catalog
- Free reads section
- Coin-back promotions
- Volumes stay in your library
Watch out for- Pay-per-volume costs add up for heavy readers
- No all-you-can-read subscription
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
K MANGA is Kodansha's official English manga platform, and its homepage leads with free latest chapters for series like Shangri-La Frontier, Blue Lock, The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity and That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime. Weekly and monthly update schedules are shown per series, so readers know exactly when the next chapter lands.
Like MANGA Plus, K MANGA is built for keeping up rather than bingeing: the newest chapter is free, while older chapters may need points. The catalog is Kodansha-only, so Shueisha readers still need MANGA Plus or VIZ. For Kodansha fans, though, it is the official, legal and free way to stay current.
What we like- Official Kodansha site
- Latest chapters free
- Major series like Blue Lock, Shangri-La Frontier and Witch Hat Atelier
Watch out for- Some series are region-limited
- Full access uses a points system for older chapters
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
WEBTOON is the biggest vertical-scroll comics platform, with series measured in hundreds of millions of views, from Lookism at over a billion to I Love Yoo and Odd Girl Out. Most episodes are free on a weekly schedule, and the platform also hosts independent creators alongside licensed hits.
The format is the main difference: WEBTOON episodes scroll vertically and are designed for phones, which some manga readers love and others find less satisfying than page-based manga. It also leans toward Korean manhwa and original webcomics rather than Japanese manga, so treat it as a companion to the manga apps above, not a replacement. For free, legal, phone-first reading, nothing else matches its scale.
What we like- Massive free catalog
- Huge hits like Lookism, Tower of God and Lore Olympus
- Creator platform for independent series
Watch out for- Vertical-scroll format is not traditional manga
- Some series are manhwa or webcomics, not Japanese manga
- Fast-pass payments for early access
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Comikey licenses manga from several Japanese publishers and presents them with clear chapter counts and completion status, so readers can tell at a glance whether a series is finished or ongoing. Its homepage highlights Kengan Omega at over 370 chapters, Firefly Wedding, Kengan Ashura and a wide romance, drama and isekai selection.
The catalog is smaller than the publisher-owned apps, and some titles carry mature themes, so parents should check ratings before handing the app to a younger reader. For adult readers who want licensed series beyond the big three publishers, Comikey is a useful second or third app, especially for discovering completed series to binge.
What we like- Licensed manga from multiple publishers
- Series like Kengan Ashura, Firefly Wedding and Kengan Omega
- Chapter counts shown upfront
Watch out for- Smaller catalog than the publisher apps
- Some series are mature-rated, so check before sharing with younger readers
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Manta is a manhwa platform built around binge reading, with romance, fantasy and drama series designed to be read in long sessions rather than weekly installments. Its homepage currently shows only a cookie notice, so the app store listing is the better place to confirm current pricing and the trial offer before subscribing.
That thin homepage is a flag, not a dealbreaker: Manta is an established service, but readers should verify the current plan on the store page rather than trusting older articles. The subscription model suits readers who finish a series a week. Occasional readers will get better value from the free chapters on VIZ, MANGA Plus and K MANGA.
What we like- Manhwa-focused catalog with binge-friendly series
- Clean reading experience
- Romance and fantasy strength
Watch out for- Subscription model with no free tier
- Homepage shows little detail beyond a cookie notice, so check the app store listing before subscribing
How we chose
We picked apps that legally license manga, manhwa or webcomics for US readers, covering the major Japanese publishers plus the leading vertical-scroll platforms. Each homepage was opened to confirm the service exists and matches its description, and prices were taken from the vendor's own pages where shown. Where a homepage did not display prices, we wrote "See website" rather than guessing. Services whose domains were blocked or failed to resolve were not listed, and Azuki's rebrand to Omoi is noted in the article rather than hidden.
How to pick the right manga app
Start with the series you already follow, not with the app. If your list is mostly Shonen Jump, VIZ and MANGA Plus cover it free. If it is Kodansha, K MANGA and Azuki (Omoi) are the official homes. If you read widely and want to own volumes, BookWalker is the store. If you read on your phone and like vertical scroll, WEBTOON is free and huge.
Then check the cost model against how much you read. Weekly readers who follow two or three series can stay free on the publisher apps. Binge readers who finish a series a week will save money on a subscription like Azuki or Manta. Collectors who reread favorites should buy volumes on BookWalker instead of renting access. Most readers end up with two apps: one free publisher app for weekly chapters, and one store or subscription for back catalogs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free manga app?
VIZ, MANGA Plus and K MANGA all offer the latest chapters of their publishers' series free, and WEBTOON offers most episodes free on a weekly schedule. Between them, a reader can follow many current series without paying anything.
Are these manga apps legal?
Yes, every app on this list licenses its catalog from the publishers, so creators and translators get paid. Unofficial scan sites may offer more series, but they do not support the creators and often carry malware and intrusive ads.
Which manga app has the most series?
BookWalker has the largest buyable catalog of manga and light novels, while WEBTOON has the largest free vertical-scroll catalog. For weekly publisher series, the publisher apps are the most current, even though each covers only its own licenses.
Can I read manga offline on these apps?
Most of these apps support offline reading for purchased or opened chapters, though free weekly chapters may require an internet connection. Check the app's download option before a flight, since offline rules differ by title and license.
What is the difference between manga and manhwa?
Manga is Japanese, traditionally read right to left in pages, while manhwa is Korean and usually read top to bottom in vertical scroll. WEBTOON and Manta focus on manhwa and webcomics, while VIZ, MANGA Plus, K MANGA and BookWalker focus on Japanese manga.
Why does Azuki now show as Omoi?
Azuki's homepage now presents the service under the Omoi name, with the same subscription model and chapter calendar. The domain azuki.co still works, so existing readers can continue from there, but new readers should expect the Omoi branding.
Sources we checked (8)
- https://www.viz.com
- https://mangaplus.shueisha.co.jp
- https://azuki.co
- https://global.bookwalker.jp
- https://kmanga.kodansha.com
- https://www.webtoons.com
- https://comikey.com
- https://manta.net
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.