Six platforms answer where to read manhwa legally 2026: WEBTOON, Manta, Tapas, Tappytoon, Lezhin, and MangaPlus. The rest have too-thin catalogs or won't carry the specific series you came to read.
Which one you need depends on what you're reading and what you're willing to pay. The answer is not always WEBTOON, though that's where most people should start.
Key Takeaways
- WEBTOON: free, largest English catalog, where most readers should start
- Manta ($7.99/month): unlimited subscription, Under the Oak Tree exclusive, strong romance/fantasy catalog
- Tappytoon: licensed premium manhwa — Who Made Me a Princess, The Remarried Empress, per-chapter or subscription
- Lezhin Comics: credit-based, deepest 18+ English catalog
- Tapas: earn ink coins without paying, diverse indie and licensed titles
- For series recommendations across these platforms, see the best manhwa to read in 2026 guide
Overview
The platforms split into three payment models. WEBTOON and Tapas use a free-with-early-access-lock structure: recent chapters cost coins or ink, older chapters unlock for free on a delay. If you're willing to trail the release schedule by a few weeks, both are effectively free.
Manta runs a flat subscription ($7.99/month) — one fee, unlimited access to everything in the catalog. No tracking which episodes are free, no coin math.
Lezhin and Tappytoon charge per chapter: credits or coins, bought in bundles. Expensive for heavy readers. Worth the cost only when the specific series you want isn't available elsewhere.
Reading on legal platforms matters for a specific practical reason: official platforms report reader data to publishers and original creators. That data drives licensing decisions for English translation. Scanlation sites don't fund the next licensed series — legal platforms do.
GODEEPER: Not sure where to start with manhwa? The full ranking covers 20 series across genres with platform availability for each. Best Manhwa to Read in 2026 →
Step-by-Step: Choosing the Right Platform
Step 1 — Find where your series is licensed
Check the series page before picking a platform. Most popular manhwa have official English licenses, but the platform varies significantly:
- Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint — WEBTOON
- Who Made Me a Princess — WEBTOON + Tappytoon
- Under the Oak Tree — Manta exclusive
- Lore Olympus — WEBTOON only
- True Beauty — WEBTOON
- The Remarried Empress — WEBTOON
Knowing the platform first prevents creating accounts you won't use.
Step 2 — Match the platform to how you read
Heavy readers following 3+ series: Manta's subscription ($7.99/month) pays off fastest. One fee, no tracking which episodes are free.
Casual readers following one or two active series: WEBTOON's Fast Pass (3 coins per early episode) or Tappytoon's per-chapter model is cheaper than a subscription you won't fully use.
Readers who don't mind waiting a few weeks: WEBTOON's free tier is fine. Most completed series unlock fully over time. Patience covers most of the cost.
Anyone specifically looking for mature content: Lezhin. The credit system is expensive, but the 18+ catalog doesn't exist anywhere else in English.
Step 3 — Download the app
WEBTOON's mobile app is the most complete: offline reading, dark mode, customizable font, smooth vertical scroll. Manta's app is clean. Lezhin's app works but the UI is noticeably dated. All platforms also have web readers.
Where to Read Manhwa Legally 2026: Platform by Platform
1. WEBTOON
The largest legal manhwa platform in English. Free tier with the Fast Pass system locking the 3–6 most recent episodes behind coins (3 coins per episode for early access). Completed series have all chapters free after the waiting period.
The catalog covers romance, action, villainess isekai, slice-of-life, drama, and horror. WEBTOON Originals are commissioned directly by the platform — Lore Olympus, True Beauty, and Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint in English are all here. For isekai series specifically, see the best isekai manhwa guide — most of those series are WEBTOON-hosted. The reading experience on both mobile and web is the best of any platform on this list.
It doesn't cover mature content (that's Lezhin) or series on competing platforms (Manta exclusives). But for reading broadly without spending money, nothing else competes.
2. Manta
Subscription at $7.99/month for unlimited reading. No coin system, no per-chapter fees. The monthly fee buys access to the full catalog without friction.
The catalog skews toward romance and fantasy manhwa. Under the Oak Tree — 300+ chapters of ongoing medieval fantasy romance — is exclusive to Manta and alone justifies the subscription for readers following that series. The platform also carries a significant back catalog of completed romance titles.
One practical note: Manta is less well-known than WEBTOON, and its catalog isn't as broad. It's not a replacement for WEBTOON — it's a complement. If you're reading both, you're covering most of the licensed manhwa market.
3. Tappytoon
Per-chapter or subscription model for specific series. High-profile licensed manhwa that WEBTOON either doesn't carry or shares the license for. Who Made Me a Princess is on Tappytoon (also WEBTOON). Some titles are Tappytoon exclusives.
The per-chapter pricing adds up quickly for long series. Better for focused reading of one or two specific titles than for broad exploration. If the series you want is here and not on WEBTOON, it's worth it for that specific series.
4. Lezhin Comics
Credit-based system. Chapters typically cost 2–3 credits each, and credit packs are purchased in bundles. This is the most expensive model per chapter for active readers.
Lezhin's catalog is the reason to use it: the most complete mature manhwa selection in English. Series that won't appear on other platforms due to content restrictions are often available here. The platform has been operating since 2013 and has a significant back catalog.
Not worth it for general manhwa reading. Worth it specifically for the mature catalog.
5. Tapas
Ink coin system — earn daily ink through the app or purchase it. Some series are "Premium Only" (paid ink required regardless of waiting). Most series follow the same free-with-delay model as WEBTOON.
The catalog is strong on indie and creator-owned manhwa alongside licensed Korean titles. A good complement to WEBTOON for series that aren't on either of the bigger platforms. Beware the Villainess is on Tapas.
6. MangaPlus by Shueisha
Free, simultaneous-release platform for Shueisha manga. The manhwa selection is thin — this is primarily a manga platform — but some Korean titles appear here. Worth checking if you're already using it for manga. No payment required.
7. Naver Webtoon (Korean Original)
The original platform for most popular manhwa. Korean-language only. Chapters are available before English translation, which takes anywhere from weeks to months. Some readers use machine translation through browser plugins; the quality varies significantly.
For English-language reading, use WEBTOON (the international version). Naver Webtoon is worth bookmarking only if you're tracking release schedules or following untranslated series.
Tips for Reading Affordably
On WEBTOON, the Fast Pass window is typically 2–3 weeks. If you don't need episodes the day they drop, just wait. Completed series unlock chapter by chapter and are eventually fully free.
Tapas's daily ink rewards add up slowly but they do add up. Patient readers can get through most non-Premium series without paying. The reward rate is predictable enough to plan around.
On Manta, the subscription earns out when you're following 3+ active series simultaneously. If you finish a binge and have nothing else to read, pause the subscription. It's monthly, not annual.
The universal tip: every platform offers the first chapter free. Read it before committing to an account or putting money toward a series. None of them charge for browsing.
GODEEPER: Building a reading list? The romance genre comparison covers 12 series with exact platform and pricing notes for each. Best Romance Manhwa 2026 →
Frequently Asked Questions about Reading Manhwa Legally
Is WEBTOON free to read? Most of it. Recent episodes on active series go behind the Fast Pass system (3 coins per episode). Completed series unlock fully over time. WEBTOON Originals follow the same model.
What's the cheapest way to read manhwa legally? WEBTOON's back catalog and completed series are free. Tapas allows earning ink without purchasing. For active reading across multiple series, Manta's $7.99/month pays off faster than per-chapter pricing.
Where can I read Under the Oak Tree? Manta exclusively. It's not available on WEBTOON, Tappytoon, or Tapas.
Where can I read Who Made Me a Princess? WEBTOON and Tappytoon. Physical volumes from Seven Seas Entertainment (7 volumes, series completed).
Is Lezhin Comics worth it? For mature manhwa specifically, yes. For everything else, WEBTOON or Manta is better value.
Can I read manhwa for free legally? Yes. WEBTOON's back catalog, MangaPlus, and Tapas's ink-earning system are all free to start.
Which platform has the best mobile app? WEBTOON — offline reading, smooth vertical scroll, dark mode, good customization. Manta second.
References
- WEBTOON: https://www.webtoons.com
- Manta: https://www.manta.com
- Tappytoon: https://www.tappytoon.com
- Lezhin Comics: https://www.lezhin.com/en
- Tapas: https://tapas.io
- MangaPlus by Shueisha: https://mangaplus.shueisha.co.jp/
- Naver Webtoon (Korean): https://webtoon.naver.com
