WEBTOON Review – The Best Manga Reader App for Smartphone

WEBTOON

If you are anything like me, always on the lookout for new ways to get lost in a good story. Then, you will definitely like WEBTOON. It is an excellent manga, comic, and manhwa reader app that I found recently. Before this, I have tried many apps and none of them matches its potential. WEBTOON has the largest manga library, starting from classics to the latest ones in good quality. In this article, I have shared everything you need to know about WEBTOON. If this app suits you, add it to your reading collection and dive into the world of new, exciting stories.

My Experience with the WEBTOON App

I first came to know about the WEBTOON app during the lockdown period. The app is available on both the Play Store and App Store. I still remember the first comic I read, “Lore Olympus,” and how the unique art style and story pulled me into the WEBTOON world. Since then, this app has become my daily routine. One of the best things to mention about WEBTOON is its smooth and minimalistic UI. The app recommends comics based on your reading history. This auto-suggestion feature helps me find underrated titles. I also enjoy how episodes are released weekly or biweekly.

WEBTOON has offered me with countless hours of entertainment. Whether I was looking for a comedy, a thrilling mystery, or a heartwarming romance, WEBTOON had something to offer for every mood. One more thing that made me like WEBTOON is its community hub. This app is a space where passionate readers and creators come together. I found myself being engaged in the comments section and interacting with people who share similar interests. If you enjoy visual storytelling or want a break from traditional books, WEBTOON is worth trying. It transformed the way I consume stories, and honestly, it is one of the best manga reader apps I have used till now.

Exploring WEBTOON’s Library!

WEBTOON’s library is massive. The app has millions of episodes across thousands of webcomics, all categorized into genres such as romance, horror, action, fantasy, comedy, and more. One of the first things I noticed was the layout. The series is divided into “Originals” and “Canvas.” Originals are official releases by WEBTOON. Canvas, on the other hand, features creator-submitted content. This makes it easier for me to choose the title I want to read.

WEBTOON's Library

I also love the NEW & HOT tab. This section updates frequently with trending series and new arrivals. The Daily Schedule lets me plan which series to read on which days. It is like having a custom reading calendar. You can also bookmark and subscribe to the series, so you will never miss an update. The app even notifies you when a new episode drops. WEBTOON’s library is not only rich in content, but it is also well-organized and user-friendly. I can definitely conclude that this app has the largest library of manga, comics, and manhwa titles.  

Is WEBTOON Free to Read?

Yes. WEBTOON is free to read. You can access a huge portion of its content without spending a single penny. But like most free apps, there are also optional paid plans if you want. Each comic series releases episodes periodically, which you can read for free. If you are impatient like me and want to unlock episodes early, you can subscribe to the “Fast Pass.” This is a paid feature, and it works through WEBTOON Coins. You can buy the coins within the app itself.

WEBTOON

Another option to unlock the episodes is WEBTOON’s Ad Pass. It lets you unlock new episodes by watching short ads and help creators earn money. Creators can put up to three episodes behind these “Reward Ads.” For users who want to support their favorite creators, WEBTOON offers support programs and tipping features. This means you can directly contribute to the artists you love.

How I Use It – WEBTOON on Different Devices

The best thing about WEBTOON is its multi-device support. While I mostly use the app on my smartphone, I have also used it on my tablet and on my desktop through a browser. The impressive feature of WEBTOON is that your reading progress and subscribed series are synced across all your devices when signed into the same account. This means I can start an episode on my phone and pick up exactly where I left off on my tablet. This cross-device compatibility is very useful for me during traveling.

On my smartphone and tablet, the app is intuitive and easy to use. The app is perfectly optimized for smaller screens, making a comfortable reading experience. Rarely I access WEBTOON via the web browser on my computer. The website interface is like the app’s design, which provides a similar visual experience. Another thing to mention is that the app is not available for streaming devices or Smart TVs. If the TV has a browser, you can access the WEBTOON website. But, the experience was not that smooth and user-friendly.

I can confidently say that WEBTOON is a safe and legal platform. It is a legitimate company, a subsidiary of Naver Corporation (a South Korean internet conglomerate), and operates globally with official licenses. This implies its reliability. In terms of personal safety, WEBTOON takes user privacy seriously. Like most apps, they have clear privacy policies regarding data collection and usage. The app itself is free from intrusive malware or viruses, and downloading it from official app stores (Google Play Store, Apple App Store) makes sure that you are getting a legitimate version.

What Annoys Me

While my overall experience with WEBTOON has been positive, there are a few things that I feel the app needs to improve. First, waiting 24 hours for the next episode can be frustrating when you want to know what happens next. This model is designed to encourage coin purchases, which I understand from a business perspective. But it is quite annoying when you really want to read what happens next in the episode. It would be better if they had a limited number of free “unlocks” per week instead of a daily limit.

Another minor problem is the ad placements. While they generally appear between episodes rather than in the middle of a panel, sometimes they can disrupt the reading flow. There are also instances where I feel the personalized recommendations in the “NEW & HOT” tab aren’t right and not to my taste. Lastly, while the comment section is a great place to engage, like any online community, it can also be home to spoiler-heavy comments or, in rare instances, less constructive discussions. These are the issues in the WEBTOON app that need attention, and the company should take the necessary steps to fix them.

Need Help? Contact WEBTOON Support

Fortunately, WEBTOON provides customer support to help solve the users’ queries. The primary way to reach out for assistance is via email. For most user-related inquiries, technical issues, or general support questions, you can contact them directly at [email protected]. Other contact details of the service are listed below.

  • Address: 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th Floor, 6, Buljeong-ro, Bundang-gu (Jeongja-dong, Green Factory), Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do 13561, South Korea.
  • Phone: +82 1588-3820

For community-related concerns or reporting inappropriate content within the app, there are usually in-app reporting tools. I have explored their support options and found them to be effective.

Should You Download and Use WEBTOON?

If you have an interest in reading comics, manga, manhwa, or well-crafted digital storytelling, downloading and using WEBTOON is worth it. You will never find bored as its library is huge and there are several titles to explore. Apart from the free access, the quality and variety of content are the things I like the most. WEBTOON has something for everyone. The platform is safe, legal, and updated, making it a reliable source for digital comics. If you are a manga reader like me, go ahead and use the app to get an immersive reading experience.