Manhwa and webtoons are forms of vertical scrolling digital comics originating from Korea. Their growing popularity has caused a surge in digital versions, allowing more people to access them on mobile devices. Although they're extremely popular and engaging, they can be hard to read for those used to reading comics horizontally.
Fortunately, apps are available on both Android and iPhone that make reading manhwa and webtoons comfortable and easy, while offering large libraries of comics to choose from. If you are looking to get into either, this collection of the best manhwa and webtoon reader apps is going to be the perfect gateway.
1. Webtoon
Webtoon is one of the biggest platforms for fans of the genre. It has a community of over 72 million readers and a catalog of some of the most popular manhwa, such as Noblesse and God of Highschool.
It provides a wide array of genres of comics, ranging from comedy to action, so you're guaranteed to find something you're interested in. The app uses your tastes to create recommendations that are always changing, giving you something new to read every day.
Webtoon Originals is a program that allows users to create and upload their own comics. Don't worry if you don't have excellent drawing skills; you can use comic generators to create comics easily and add them to the Webtoon app. Anyone can grow and cultivate their own followings, garnering success. You can rate and comment on the series, providing critiques.
You can also subscribe to your favorite series, so you're always updated, and download chapters to read in your spare time or when you're on the go. For all these reasons, Webtoon is a great overall app for those looking to explore the world of manhwa.
Download: Webtoon for Android | iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)
2. Lezhin Comics
Lezhin Comics is a publication that provides its own set of comics, catering more to fans of romance. It hosts some of the most popular webtoons in the romance genre, but you'll still find a wide variety of genres and titles. You can follow creators, download chapters easily, and show support for the community and creators through the app's social features.
Lezhin uses a "WUF" system, which stands for "wait until free." This allows readers to earn keys daily that unlock chapters of their favorite series. Those who don't wish to wait can subscribe to an unlimited reading plan.
You can sync your progress across various devices, allowing you to read wherever you want and continue where you left off, no matter what device you were on before. By catering to all types of customers, Lezhin is a great place for those looking for love-oriented comics, as well as those who enjoy other genres.
Download: Lezhin Comics for Android | iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)
3. Tapas
Tapas is a large indie comic platform. Unlike Webtoon and Lezhin, which are manhwa reader apps catering to various industries, Tapas hosts creators looking to get into the world of indie writing. There is a wide variety of genres and titles, both comics and novels. You can support your favorite creators independently through tips. In addition, the app makes it easy to comment on and rate the chapters you read.
Similar to Lezhin, coins are given daily to let you access new content, and in addition, there's a WUF system in place. Alternatively, you can become a super fan of a creator to access new content before everyone else by giving them in-app coins that the app calls "Ink".
Similar to Webtoon and Lezhin, you can also download manhwa episodes on Tapas and read them offline without an internet connection.
Tapas hosts not only manhwa but other types of creative works, such as panel comics and web novels. There is something for everyone available on Tapas, so if you're looking for comic works that are more casual and bite-sized, this is the platform for you.
Download: Tapas for Android | iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)
4. Tappytoon
Tappytoon hosts some of the most popular manhwa of recent years. This includes titles such as Solo Leveling and The Legend of the Northern Blade, which have seen tremendous acclaim. Otherwise, it has a smaller, but impressive library of comics not hosted elsewhere.
The app provides high-quality digital art. You can browse through its catalog easily, plus it supports basic features like downloads and subscriptions for convenience. Besides comics, Tappytoon also has a dedicated section in its app for graphic novels. If you're a fan of those, you can start by checking out our list of the best graphic novels you can read for free on Amazon.
Unlike other platforms that offer you daily free coins to unlock chapters of any series, Tappytoon only allows this for select series. If you are a fan of some series, you may have to pay for the content. It should also be noted that the website offers some series that aren't available on the mobile app.
Regardless of these limitations, Tappytoon hosts some extremely high-quality works that you should check out.
Download: Tappytoon for Android | iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)
5. INKR Comics
INKR Comics presents a variety of manga, manhwa, webtoons, and other types of comics. You can find a diverse library of comics that is updated weekly with the latest chapters. INKR uses a personalized recommendation engine that monitors what you read, then uses that to generate suggestions you might also be interested in.
The developers have focused on making an app that delivers a streamlined, seamless experience. By creating a viewer that runs smoothly and allowing users to view chapter previews without loading large images, surfing the app is quick and easy.
INKR provides a unique library and its own exclusives that aren't available elsewhere. The only downside with INKR is that you must create an account before reading the platform's content.
Although the platform provides a variety of comic types, there are other apps for exclusively reading manga on Android and iOS if you are into that.
Download: INKR for Android | iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)
6. Manta Comics
Manta Comics is another manga, manhwa, and comics publication that presents translated works in an accessible format. It provides exclusive comics and doesn't use the payment-per-chapter system that some of the other platforms employ. You can binge-read without having to worry about any coins or keys running out.
However, that is not to say Manta Comics is a free manhwa app. You'll have to pay for unlimited access to the platform's catalog. As always, comic books aren't cheap, but there are ways of legally reading comics online for free.
The feature set of Manta Comics is similar to other manhwa apps, including recommendations and the option to subscribe to your favorite authors. Manta Comics provides its own library that is primarily focused on the romance genre, so check it out if you enjoy that style.
Download: Manta Comics for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)
Enjoy Manhwa Anywhere
Manhwa stories are immersive, engaging, and present some fresh air in the comic industry. If you are looking for something new to read, manhwa may just be the answer. And these mobile apps are all you need to enter the exciting world of manhwa and webtoons.