Gone are the days of lugging around heavy manga volumes or squinting at tiny scanlations on laptop screens. In 2025, your favorite manga lives in your pocket, ready whenever boredom strikes.
But with dozens of manga apps cluttering both app stores, how do you separate the Chainsaw Man from the chainsaws? After torturing my eyes (and battery life) testing every manga app worth mentioning, I’ve ranked the definitive top 10 for both iOS and Android.
Whether you’re a broke student hunting for free options, a daily commuter needing offline reading, or a completionist demanding the biggest library possible, this guide cuts through the hype to show which apps actually deliver the goods.
1. VIZ Manga
Platforms: iOS & Android
Cost: Freemium (free titles + paid volumes/subscription)
Offline Reading: Yes
Content: Official, licensed manga
VIZ Media dominates English manga distribution, and their app flexes that publishing muscle hard. Their library reads like a who’s who of mainstream hits – Jujutsu Kaisen, My Hero Academia, Naruto, Demon Slayer – all presented in a clean, responsive interface that doesn’t try to dazzle you with unnecessary bells and whistles.
What sets VIZ Manga apart is stability. While other apps crash during peak reading hours or struggle with double-page spreads, VIZ handles everything smoothly. Their offline reading function actually works (imagine that), letting you download entire volumes before your next flight or subway ride.
Android users give it a solid 4.6 stars, though iOS readers grumble about the missing landscape mode – a baffling omission when you’re trying to appreciate double-page artwork. The freemium model lets you sample enough to know if you want to commit, then offers both individual purchases and subscription options.
If you want official translations from the biggest manga publisher without technical headaches, VIZ delivers exactly what it promises – nothing more or less.
2. Shonen Jump
Platforms: iOS & Android
Cost: Freemium (100 free chapters daily + $1.99/month subscription)
Offline Reading: Yes (though downloads expire)
Content: Official, licensed manga
Shonen Jump’s app is the manga equivalent of an all-you-can-eat buffet that costs less than a coffee. The 100 free chapters daily policy is absurdly generous, and the $1.99 monthly subscription for unlimited access makes other entertainment services look like highway robbery.
The app delivers manga royalty – One Piece, Naruto, Jujutsu Kaisen, My Hero Academia – with chapters dropping the same day as Japan through their simul-release system. The iOS version boasts a nearly perfect 4.9-star rating, with an interface clean enough to stay out of your way while reading.
Not everything shines, though. The Android version struggles on smaller screens, and both platforms suffer from bizarre navigation quirks. The offline downloads expire after a set period, which defeats the purpose for irregular readers. And heaven help you if you’re trying to marathon a series – the constant need to navigate back to the chapter list breaks any reading flow.
Despite these annoyances, Shonen Jump offers unbeatable value. Where else can you legally read hundreds of chapters for less than the cost of a single physical volume?
3. MANGA Plus by SHUEISHA
Platforms: iOS & Android
Cost: Freemium (first/latest 3 chapters free + subscription options)
Offline Reading: No
Content: Official, licensed manga
MANGA Plus cuts out the middleman, coming straight from Shueisha – the Japanese publishing powerhouse behind Weekly Shonen Jump. The app’s free model is both generous and maddening: you get the first three and latest three chapters of major series like One Piece and Spy X Family, plus a one-time free read of all chapters for ongoing manga.
When it works, it’s fantastic. New chapters appear shortly after Japanese release, and the global availability means no more region-locked content. The app even supports English and Spanish, with community features for commenting on chapters.
But the Android experience borders on digital self-harm. Chapters frequently fail to load, the UI feels abandoned since 2010, and basic quality-of-life features (like remembering where you stopped reading) are mysteriously absent. The iOS version fares better with a modest 3.8-star rating, but still lacks offline reading – inexcusable for a manga app in 2025.
MANGA Plus deserves a spot here purely for its free, legal access to Shueisha’s catalog. Just prepare for technical frustrations that will test your love for manga.
4. Mihon (Android)
Platform: Android only (not on Google Play Store)
Cost: Free
Offline Reading: Yes
Content: Unofficial (aggregates from various sources)
With Tachiyomi’s official development ending in 2023, Mihon emerged as its spiritual successor, maintaining the same powerful feature set while actively addressing modern challenges. This free, open-source reader requires sideloading from their website rather than using the Play Store, but the extra steps unlock an unparalleled manga experience.
Mihon’s extension system revolutionizes manga access. Rather than curating its own library, it aggregates content from countless online sources through installable extensions. This approach delivers a virtually unlimited collection spanning every genre and language imaginable.
The customization options border on excessive. You can configure reading direction (vertical, right-to-left, left-to-right), page scaling, color filters, auto-rotation behavior, and dozens of other settings. The robust library management system lets you organize manga into collections, track reading progress, and automatically detect new chapters.
Offline reading shines particularly bright, with batch downloading that ensures uninterrupted manga access during flights or subway commutes. The app’s clean, modern interface uses Material Design principles and offers both light and dark themes.
For Android users willing to install outside Google Play, Mihon provides the most comprehensive, flexible manga experience available – period.
5. MangaToon
Platforms: iOS & Android
Cost: Freemium (ads, in-app purchases)
Offline Reading: Yes
Content: Mostly licensed, some user-generated
MangaToon breaks the mold by looking beyond Japan. Its library spans manga, manhwa (Korean comics), manhua (Chinese comics), and webtoons, with support for languages including English, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Spanish, and Portuguese.
The free content access methods get creative. Beyond weekly free chapter releases, users can earn points through in-app tasks or watch short ads to unlock chapters. This approach makes manga accessible even to readers on tight budgets.
The mobile-optimized reading experience shines, with smooth vertical scrolling and offline support. A unique “chat stories” format presents some narratives as text conversations for quick, casual reading.
User ratings stay strong across platforms (4.5 Android, 4.0 iOS), though complaints target the ad frequency and temporary nature of unlocked chapters – even those purchased with in-app currency.
MangaToon also fosters a creator community where users can publish their own stories. For readers wanting to explore comics beyond traditional Japanese manga, MangaToon offers the broadest cultural range, provided you can tolerate the ads.
6. Mangamo
Platforms: iOS & Android
Cost: Subscription ($4.99/month)
Offline Reading: No
Content: Licensed manga
Mangamo takes the Netflix approach – a single monthly subscription for unlimited access to hundreds of licensed manga titles. Their catalog spans various genres, featuring recognizable series like Attack on Titan and Fairy Tail alongside lesser-known gems.
The app emphasizes creator support through its subscription model and offers a daily free chapter for potential subscribers to sample the service without registration.
From there, the user experience diverges dramatically between platforms. The iOS version maintains a respectable 4.2-star rating with generally positive feedback. The Android version, however, resembles a digital disaster zone. Pages load at glacial speeds or not at all. The browsing experience feels deliberately obtuse. Users report persistent crashes, device overheating, and battery drain that borders on supernatural.
Even on iOS, the absence of offline reading cripples a subscription service that should excel at convenience. Some users also report frustration with paywalled content beyond the subscription, requiring additional coin purchases.
Mangamo’s concept – straightforward subscription access to diverse licensed manga – deserves praise. The execution, particularly on Android, needs urgent attention before it can compete with top-tier apps.
7. INKR Comics
Platforms: iOS & Android
Cost: Freemium (subscription, “Ink” purchases)
Offline Reading: No
Content: Licensed manga and comics
INKR Comics aims to be a comprehensive platform for all sequential art, offering over 1,000 titles spanning manga, comics, and webtoons. The app emphasizes ethical consumption through revenue-sharing with creators and publishers.
Features include personalized recommendations, preview options for browsing content, and automatic syncing across devices. The organization tools help manage reading lists across different content types.
Unfortunately, user experiences suggest the reality falls short of these ambitions. The iOS version maintains a decent 4.4-star rating, but Android users paint a grimmer picture at 3.9 stars. Common complaints include a faulty viewer causing unintended page turns, frequent crashes (especially post-advertisement), and an overwhelming, confusing interface.
Former Manga Rock users particularly criticize the transition to a monetization-heavy model, with some subscribers reporting advertisements despite paying for the service. Content selection and update frequency also draw criticism across both platforms.
INKR Comics presents an admirable vision – supporting creators while providing diverse reading material. Until the technical issues and aggressive monetization find better balance, it remains a platform with more potential than performance.
8. Book Walker
Platforms: iOS & Android
Cost: Freemium (purchase-based)
Offline Reading: Yes
Content: Official manga and light novels
Book Walker distinguishes itself by bridging the manga-light novel divide, offering an extensive library of both formats in Japanese and English. This dual focus creates a unique value proposition for fans of both Japanese storytelling mediums.
The offline reading capability and customizable settings (font size, background color) address key mobile reading needs. The app functions essentially as a digital bookstore, focusing on purchases rather than subscriptions.
User experiences reveal significant pain points across platforms. iOS users (giving it 4.0 stars) report difficulties accessing Japanese content after updates, often requiring language setting changes or reverting to web browsers. Performance issues plague both versions, with complaints about slow responsiveness, poor app switching, delayed downloads, and inconsistent scan quality.
The restrictive Digital Rights Management (DRM) system draws particular criticism, along with the lack of offline support for PC and eReader devices – limiting the ecosystem value compared to competitors.
Book Walker’s strength remains its comprehensive library spanning both manga and light novels. For readers invested in both formats, this integration might outweigh the technical frustrations.
9. Crunchyroll Manga
Platforms: iOS & Android
Cost: Subscription (bundled with Crunchyroll Premium)
Offline Reading: No
Content: Official, licensed manga
Crunchyroll Manga takes a different approach by bundling manga access with their popular anime streaming service. Rather than competing as a standalone product, it positions itself as added value for existing subscribers.
The app features a streamlined interface that prioritizes reading over complex features. The catalog includes popular titles from publishers like Kodansha, with simulpub releases shortly after Japanese debut. While not as extensive as dedicated manga platforms, the library complements Crunchyroll’s anime offerings with related series.
The reading experience maintains consistency across both iOS and Android, with smooth page transitions and high-quality image reproduction. Zoom functionality works adequately on smaller screens, though double-page spreads remain awkward on phones.
The lack of offline reading capability represents the most significant limitation, restricting usage to situations with reliable connectivity. The modest library size relative to dedicated manga applications reinforces its position as a bonus feature rather than a primary manga solution.
For anime fans already subscribed to Crunchyroll Premium, the manga app provides excellent supplementary value. As a standalone manga reader, it serves better as a secondary option for specific titles rather than a primary platform.
10. Webtoon
Platforms: iOS & Android
Cost: Free (optional Fast Pass purchases)
Offline Reading: Limited
Content: Official, licensed content
While not focused exclusively on traditional Japanese manga, Webtoon has become essential for fans of vertical-scrolling comics, including many created by manga-influenced artists. The platform specializes in the “webtoon” format – color comics optimized for mobile viewing through vertical scrolling.
Webtoon’s primary strength lies in its free access model. An enormous library costs nothing, with optional Fast Pass purchases for readers wanting early access to upcoming episodes. All content eventually becomes free, making this one of the most accessible platforms available.
The reading experience perfectly suits mobile devices. Vertical scrolling eliminates the need for zooming or panning, creating an intuitive experience equally effective on phones and tablets. The clean interface emphasizes content discovery through featured series, genres, and personalized recommendations.
User ratings consistently exceed 4.7 stars on both app stores, with complaints limited to wait times between free episode releases and notification inconsistencies.
Though not focused on traditional manga, Webtoon’s massive library of manga-influenced content, creator-friendly approach, and mobile-optimized reading experience make it essential for comic enthusiasts looking beyond conventional Japanese titles.
Which Manga App Is Right For You?
The perfect manga app depends entirely on your specific needs:
If You’re Budget-Conscious:
- Best Free Options: Shonen Jump (100 chapters daily), MANGA Plus (first/last 3 chapters free), Mihon (Android)
- Best Value Subscription: Shonen Jump ($1.99/month)
- Ad-Supported But Generous: MangaToon
If Library Size Matters Most:
- Largest Overall Library: Mihon (Android)
- Largest Official Shonen Catalog: Shonen Jump
- Most Diverse Cultural Content: MangaToon (manga, manhwa, manhua)
- Best for Both Manga & Light Novels: Book Walker
If Reading Experience Is Top Priority:
- Most Customizable: Mihon (Android)
- Cleanest Interface: VIZ Manga
- Best for Vertical Comics: Webtoon
- Most Stable Performance: VIZ Manga
If You Need Offline Reading:
- Best Offline Experience: Mihon (Android), VIZ Manga
- Decent Offline Options: Book Walker, MangaToon
- Avoid If Offline Is Essential: MANGA Plus, Mangamo, INKR Comics
The manga app landscape continues evolving rapidly. Publishers are finally investing in better digital experiences, while independent developers push innovation through apps like Mihon. For manga fans, this competition means better reading experiences with more content at lower prices – a trend that shows no signs of slowing in 2025 and beyond.
Manga Reading App FAQs
Are manga reading apps legal?
It depends on the app. Official apps like VIZ Manga, Shonen Jump, MANGA Plus, and Book Walker distribute properly licensed content, ensuring creators receive compensation. Mihon (and previously Tachiyomi) technically just provides a reader framework—the legality depends on which extensions you install and sources you access. Many scanlation sites operate in legal gray areas, translating and distributing manga without publisher permission. For fully legal reading, stick with official publisher apps or those explicitly advertising licensed content.
Which manga apps work without internet?
For reliable offline reading, VIZ Manga, Shonen Jump (though with expiring downloads), Mihon, MangaToon, and Book Walker offer the best experiences. Each handles offline content differently—VIZ lets you download purchased volumes indefinitely, while Shonen Jump’s downloads expire after a set period. Mihon excels with batch downloading entire series and configurable download settings. Always download content before losing connectivity, as most apps require internet for browsing even if they support offline reading of downloaded titles.
Why are some manga apps not available on Google Play?
Apps like Mihon aren’t available on official app stores because they potentially facilitate access to unlicensed content. Google and Apple have strict policies against apps that might enable copyright infringement, even if the apps themselves don’t directly host pirated content. Additionally, some developers avoid app stores to escape the 30% revenue cut and restrictive content policies. These apps require “sideloading” (installing from outside the app store), which involves enabling installation from unknown sources in your device settings.
Which app has the most manga titles?
Mihon potentially offers the largest library because it can aggregate content from dozens of sources through its extension system. Among official apps, VIZ Manga and Shonen Jump collectively host the largest English-language catalog of licensed manga, particularly for popular shonen and seinen titles. MangaToon offers impressive breadth when including manhwa and manhua alongside traditional manga. Each app specializes in different segments of the market—no single official app comprehensively covers all publishers and genres.
Are manga subscription services worth it?
Subscription value depends entirely on your reading habits. Shonen Jump’s $1.99 monthly subscription offers exceptional value if you read multiple chapters regularly. For casual readers who only follow a few series or read infrequently, free options like MANGA Plus or pay-per-volume models might be more economical. Calculate your typical monthly manga consumption—if you’d spend more buying individual volumes than on a subscription, services like Shonen Jump or Crunchyroll Manga (as part of Crunchyroll Premium) become very attractive propositions.