For a long time, the manga was not available for readers either in English translation or on digital platforms. This caused the rise of “scanlations” where fans scanned their favourite manga chapters and then used image editing programs to replace the original text.
When it comes to manga, it becomes challenging to differentiate between an original English translation and a fan-based translation because over the years the quality and quantity of letters have evolved immensely. With so many technological advances, things have also changed in the case of reading manga comics and anime.
Let’s get the cat out of the bag….
Manga is graphic novels and comics originally produced and originated in Japan. Do you find yourself often sinking in the divine world of manga and manhwa? Do you know where to enjoy your favourite chapters of manga for free and legally?
Don’t worry, we get you covered, let’s unwrap a list of some of the best sites to read manga online legally.
Some Best & Legal Websites to Enjoy Manga
VIZ Media
Founded back in 1986 as VIZ LLC, it is one of the most famous American company of manga publishers and anime distributors. It is a leading organization for publishing Japanese comics and novels with English translation in North America, Germany, Ireland and the United Kingdom. VIZ Media offers a startling catalogue of some of the famous titles of manga series including Attack on Titans and The Origin. You can get your hands on manga through the VIZ app and website. They offer a combination of free chapters and subscription-based access to the content.
Crunchyroll
On this platform, manga and anime go hand in hand. Crunchyroll is one the most recommended legal sites for all manga lovers because it updates manga as soon as the chapters are published in Japan. The site offers an amazing collection of new and old titles, and you’ll surely discover new manga series to fall in love with. Crunchyroll is more than just a site to read manga online because it allows you to connect with the community of manga lovers, share your reviews and speak your mind. Now this might be overwhelming for a beginner but trust us you will never regret joining this.
ComiXology
Owned by Amazon, ComiXology is one of the best websites to explore the world of manga on both Android and iOS. With one time flat-fee, this legal website gives you full and free access to an enlarged collection of manga comics. Moreover, in February 2022, Amazon integrated ComiXology with Kindle, replacing its old browser-based store. Now you can access and read manga series anywhere anytime on the Kindle app.
Shōnen Jump
It is one of the oldest and most popular manga magazines available in today’s world. For manga lovers WSJ does not stand for Wall Street Journal; it is referred to as Weekly Shōnen Jump. FYI, it has a whole new avatar on digital media.
With this legal site, you can access the first three chapters of any ongoing manga series for free. Depending on the length of the series, you’ll be able to unlock the first three chapters or the recent three chapters of the ongoing manga. With an easy subscription plan, you can access complete manga series including some of the most popular titles in the manga world such as One Piece, My Hero Academia and Naruto.
Kodansha
Since its foundation in 1909 in Japan, Kodansha is the oldest company distributing journals and manga in Japan. Its U.S. subsidiary publishes English-translated manga and Japan-based fiction books and novels in the U.S.
With the recent advances in technology and development, Kodansha has built its legal digital platform which allows you to access some manga for free and charge a small fee to access new chapters and manga series just like ComiXology and Amazon.
Let’s Wrap
In today’s time, these are the most used websites to access manga online for free and legally. These websites also offer apps for both iOS and Android devices. Normally, manga is in white and black colour, so you don’t require a colour screen to understand the depth of the art. Well, these sites have made it easier to access manga but it’s always worth considering how you want to consume your favourite book.
