I have been a huge anime fan for years. Recently, I started to read manga as well and found it engaging. Over the past few weeks, I have been trying out a bunch of popular manga reader apps to find out the best one. Some had great features, others had a big collection, and there were a few which I didn’t like. I focused on things like how easy the app is to use, the size and quality of its manga collection, reading comfort, and whether it has too many ads. In addition, I also looked at features like offline reading, language options, and more. In this article, I have shared my personal experience with each app and which one I think is the best for manga lovers like me.
Crunchyroll
I have been using Crunchyroll for a long time to stream anime, and I recently gave it a shot for reading manga, too. To be honest, I found the manga collections very impressive. While the app is clearly designed for anime, it does include a good selection of popular manga titles, such as Attack on Titan, Fairy Tail, and My Hero Academia. In addition to Manga, it has access to music videos, anime movies, Crunchyroll Originals, and even a Game Vault filled with free mobile games. The app’s UI is clean and easy to use. So you can access your desired Manga title hassle-free.
Offline viewing is a huge plus, and only premium users can avail of this. I subscribed to the basic premium version, Fan Plan, for $7.99/month and experienced many perks, such as ad-free reading, unlimited anime library access, and more. If you are looking for a massive manga library, Crunchyroll might not be your top pick. But it is definitely the best platform for streaming anime. For me, Crunchyroll is not my primary manga app, but I love having it as the app has mixed content. It is content-rich and feels like a complete package for anime and manga fans like me.
MANGA Plus by SHUEISHA
I started using MANGA Plus by SHUEISHA because I wanted a reliable app to read the latest manga chapters without waiting or relying on third-party websites. To be frank, the app really surprised me. It gives you free access to brand-new chapters the same day they are released in Japan. It has all my favorite manga titles, such as Jujutsu Kaisen, Boruto, Chainsaw Man, My Hero Academia, and more. You can read the first three and the latest three chapters of most manga titles for free. This app doesn’t even ask you to sign up. Its layout is simple and user-friendly. I also liked that some titles are available in other languages, like Spanish, French, Russian, French, Thai, etc.
After a few weeks of reading, I decided to try out the MANGA Plus MAX subscription. Frankly speaking, the subscription is totally worth it. With over 17,000 chapters available and no ads, the premium version gives a smooth, binge-worthy experience. The best part is that our Manga reading actually supports the creators, and I feel good about it. For me, MANGA Plus has become part of my daily routine.
MangaToon
I recently gave MangaToon a try and liked it very much. MangaToon doesn’t just offer Japanese manga. You will also find Korean manhwa, Chinese manhua, and even fun chat-style stories. Chat stories are like reading a fun conversation, just like texting with a friend. Whether you’re into romance, fantasy, action, horror, or even BL (Boy’s Love), there is something here for every kind of manga lover. I also liked that MangaToon supports multiple languages like English, Spanish, French, Indonesian, and more.
While not everything is free on this app, there are tons of ways to unlock the content, like watching short ads to collecting points or vouchers by completing little tasks. You can even download manga for offline reading. I found the layout smooth and the colors vibrant. MangaToon has a community section. This is the section where you can discuss your desired manga titles with other fellow readers, which gives me a new experience. To summarize, MangaToon feels like a digital playground for comic lovers rather than just a reading app.
WEBTOON
Out of all the manga and webcomic apps I have used, WEBTOON easily feels the most community-driven. I didn’t just open the app to read stories, I found myself getting pulled into a world of creators, fans, and addictive series. The app offers millions of free episodes from different genres. Whether you are into action, romance, thrillers, or some other thing, WEBTOON has got all you need. I personally loved the Lore Olympus and The Remarried Empress titles on this app. The NEW & HOT tab is great for discovering trending titles, and I really like the personalized recommendations given by the app.
What also makes WEBTOON stand out from others is how much you can interact with the content and the creators. I have a habit of scrolling through the comments section of this app only to see other fans’ reactions. The community is always active, and it is fun to interact. Plus, if you have ever thought of creating your own comic, their CANVAS platform lets you publish it. This makes the app feel more than a manga-reading platform. Overall, WEBTOON is not only for manga lovers, it is for anyone who enjoys great storytelling, cool art, and being part of a fandom.
WebComics
When I first opened WebComics, I honestly didn’t expect to find such a massive library of over 8000 high-quality manga titles. From romance and fantasy to action, BL, GL, and even supernatural dramas, the app has all the genres you need. The reading experience was very smooth, and I loved being able to download episodes to read offline. The daily free reading events are another best thing about this app. With this, you can read premium comics without paying for every episode.
What impressed me was the exclusive content and the creativity behind the stories. Many of the manga titles on this app are original and only available here. I also liked the personalized suggestions. One thing that makes WebComics stand out is that it is not just for readers, you can join their creator community and publish your own comics. WebComics also lets you follow your favorite creators and get notified when new chapters are published. So you will never miss an update. If you are into manga, manhwa, or webtoons, WebComics is definitely worth checking out.
Other Best Manga Reader Apps to Try!
While the above apps are well-performing, there are plenty of other manga reader apps out there that are impressive and have some unique features. Whether you are into Japanese manga, Korean manhwa, Chinese manhua, or even webtoons, there is an app out there. Below are some more manga reader apps I have tried. If you like, you can use them too.
- VIZ Manga – Play Store | App Store
- INKR – Play Store | App Store
- Manga Dogs – App Store
- Manga UP! – Play Store | App Store
- Manga Fox – Play Store
My Take on the Best Manga Reader App
After trying out several popular manga apps, MANGA Plus by SHUEISHA stood out as my personal favorite. This is because it is official, free, and constantly up to date. What really made me like this app is that MANGA Plus lets you read the latest chapters of big-name titles like One Piece, Jujutsu Kaisen, My Hero Academia, and Boruto at the same time they air in Japan. The interface is clean, there are no annoying ads, and the fact that you can read the first and last few chapters of most series for free is a huge plus. My opinion is that it is the most reliable and fan-friendly manga reader app available online.