As a collector of manga myself, I know how tedious it can be to wait for the next volume to come in the mail. By the time it arrives, you’ve forgotten most of the arc, so you’re prompted to trace back your steps. In my opinion, it’s just cheaper and less time consuming to whip out your handy phone that holds dozens of manga right in the palm of your hand!
It matters not what sorts of comics you indulge in. Whether it’s romance, comedy, action, or if you’re just looking to serve yourself a slice of life, there is most certainly something for everyone. Depending on what you prefer, you can find apps that hold it’s own world of manga that doesn’t cost you much or is free of charge! On that note, let’s dive in to the top five apps for all manga readers out there.
Shonen Jump
If you claim to be the quintessential manga lover, you have most certainly heard of this popular platform. The Shonen Jump app features over 15,000+ chapters of some of the most popular titles around the globe! Here, you can unlock 100 chapters for free each day, but if you’re interested in having access to all the manga you want whenever you want, you can have it for the insanely cheap price of $1.99 a month. With this membership, you can also download each chapter onto your device and read offline when you’re on the go. Sweet, right?
VIZ Manga
With nearly a five-star rating on the app store for iOS, VIZ Manga is definitely a name that belongs on our list. This popular app provides hundreds– and I mean hundreds— of English-language manga titles so there’s something for everyone. Similar to the Shonen Jump app, this one sports the on-the-go mantra by allowing readers to stream their favorite series anywhere, anytime by downloading chapters to read offline. Additionally, you can purchase manga in digital straight from the app!
WebComics
You’ll find tons of unique titles with the WebComics app created for people like me and you who love manga. The app offers a high-quality collection of comics with beautifully drawn panels full of color! From American and Korean comics to Japanese Manga and Chinese Manhwa, this app is one of the best options to connect with a community of creators and even publish your own work! A monthly membership costs $5.99, but you also have the option to read for free by completing various tasks to earn gems (WebComics’ form of currency) and “pay” to read the next chapter. I definitely wouldn’t knock it til’ you try it.
Crunchyroll Manga
With the Crunchyroll Manga app at your disposal, you get easy access to the latest manga titles straight from Japan. This app is accessible for both iOS and Android users to stay in the loop and get their hands on the hottest manga at the same time they’re released in Japan. While its library is not as large as SJ or VIZ’s, this app still offers a neat selection of famous titles from Attack on Titan to Fairy Tail. One thing I might note is that if you’re looking to get the full experience from this reader, you will need to purchase a membership. (Sorry, I don’t make the rules!!!)
Manga Reader
Unlike previous apps I’ve mentioned so far, Manga Reader is one-hundred percent free and yours for the taking. The platform holds a massive range of genres and stories to binge-read on that early train ride to work or school, or over the weekend when you’ve got nothing else to do. Keep in mind that the app is ad-supported, but it doesn’t generate that many ads to really infringe upon your reading. What caught my attention was the app’s clean look and easy-to-use mobile features, so if that’s something that piques your interest then I would highly recommend this one for you.
There are so many options available for you to read and discover a new series outside of buying physical copies. That is not to say I don’t enjoy the tangibility of holding a book and flipping through its pages, or even the anticipation of waiting for a new volume to come in the mail. These digital reading apps, however, offer more flexibility to read within the comfort of your own device without any wears or tears. All you need to do is get to reading!
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