Last checked: October 2026 · Android & iOS
10 Best Manga Reading Apps in 2026 (Android & iOS)
Reading manga on a phone got harder to sort out after Tachiyomi shut down on January 13, 2024, and things changed again when the original Kotatsu repository was archived on November 4, 2025, so many online lists now point to dead apps. This guide to the best manga reading apps fixes that by checking every version, price and platform against official sources in October 2026. If you want a fast answer, Mihon is the best manga app for Android, Aidoku leads on iPhone and iPad, MANGA Plus by Shueisha is the top free legal pick, Shonen Jump by VIZ gives the best value at $3.99 a month, and WEBTOON suits manhwa fans, with full details on the best manga reading apps below.
- 10 ranked apps
- Android + iOS
- 8 bonus picks
- 7 FAQs
Quick picks
The fast answer, checked against official sources
- Best for Android
- Mihon (v0.21.2, free)
- Best for iPhone & iPad
- Aidoku (v0.9, free)
- Top free legal pick
- MANGA Plus by Shueisha
- Best value
- Shonen Jump by VIZ ($3.99/month)
- Best for manhwa
- WEBTOON
Methodology
How These Apps Were Picked
Every app on this list had to pass the same four checks before it earned a spot among the best manga reading apps for 2026. First, the app had to be actively maintained, which is why the original Kotatsu and other dead projects are left out of the main ranking. Second, every fact came from the app’s official website, GitHub page or App Store listing instead of other blogs. Third, prices were checked on the official store pages, and the US App Store was used where prices change by region. Finally, the list covers both Android and iOS, since a ranking that skips iPhone users only helps half of its readers.
Last checked: October 2026.
#1 · Best overall
1. Mihon — Best Overall Successor to Tachiyomi
Mihon is the closest thing to Tachiyomi you can install today, and it sits at the top of the best manga reading apps because it carries the same idea forward with active development. It does not come with any manga of its own, so you add an extension store such as Keiyoushi and install the sources you want from there. If you used Tachiyomi before, you can import your old backup and keep your library along with your reading progress.
| Platform | Android only, with no iOS or iPadOS version and no plans for one |
| Price | Free and open source under the Apache license |
| Latest version | v0.21.2, released on October 13, 2026 |
| Where to get it | mihon.app or the official Mihon GitHub page, since it is not on the Google Play Store |
| Best for | Former Tachiyomi users who want the same experience |
Key features
- Tracking with MyAnimeList, AniList, Kitsu and other services keeps your reading lists up to date.
- Several reading modes and custom color filters let you set up pages the way you like.
- The extension store, which was called “extension repo” before v0.20.0, is where you add your sources.
- Tachiyomi backup import brings your library and reading progress over in one step.
Pros
- It is free, open source and actively developed.
- Your old Tachiyomi library moves over without any loss.
Cons
- It only runs on Android devices.
- You must set up an extension store before you can read anything.
#2 · Mihon fork
2. Komikku — Best Mihon Fork for Extra Features
Komikku is one of the best manga reading apps for people who already like Mihon but want more control over a large library. Because it shares its base with Mihon, the setup feels familiar, and its extra tools are what set it apart from other Mihon alternatives. If you track many ongoing series on more than one device, the sync and filter tools below are the main reason to choose it over Mihon itself.
| Platform | Android |
| Price | Free and open source |
| Latest version | v1.14.1 |
| Best for | Readers with big libraries who want sync and better filters |
Key features
- A WebDAV synchronization service lets you sync your data through storage you control.
- Your trackers are used to spot duplicate entries in your library.
- Filters on the Updates and History screens save time when you follow hundreds of series.
- Support for TachiyomiX 1.6 is included, and the old “extension repo” is now called “extension store”.
Pros
- WebDAV sync keeps your library backed up across all your devices.
Cons
- The extra options can feel like too much for someone who only wants a simple reader.
#3 · Source variety
3. Kotatsu-Redo — Best for Source Variety
Kotatsu-Redo earns its place among the best manga reading apps because of how many sources it can reach. The original KotatsuApp/Kotatsu repository on GitHub was archived on November 4, 2025, and a community fork called Kotatsu-Redo picked up the work, with its main repository updated in July 2026 and its parsers updated in August 2026. That makes Kotatsu-Redo the version to install today, since the original app no longer gets updates from its old repository.
| Platform | Android |
| Price | Free and open source under the GPL-3.0 license |
| Sources | More than 1,000, according to the official kotatsu.app site |
| Best for | Readers who want the widest choice of sources |
Key features
- Tracking works with MyAnimeList, AniList and Shikimori.
- The official site describes it as a simple and convenient open-source manga reader for Android.
- Development continues on GitHub through the Kotatsu-Redo project.
Pros
- More than 1,000 sources are supported.
- Shikimori tracking is a nice extra for readers who use it.
Cons
- Kotatsu was built on its own code, so it does not import Tachiyomi backups directly.
#4 · Best for iPhone
4. Aidoku — Best Free Manga Reader for iPhone and iPad
Aidoku is the best manga app for iPhone if you want something that works like Mihon on Apple devices. It is one of the best manga reading apps for iPhone users, who were left out while Tachiyomi and its forks stayed on Android, and the project promises that it will stay fully open source and ad-free forever. Aidoku also gives you three ways to get manga, which makes it useful both for casual readers and for people who keep their own collection on a home server.
| Platform | iOS, iPadOS and macOS |
| Price | Free, open source and ad-free |
| Latest version | v0.9 |
| Where to get it | The official site, aidoku.app |
| Best for | iPhone and iPad readers who want an open-source manga reader |
Key features
- You can import manga files you already own, connect to a media server, or browse external sources.
- Built-in Komga, Kavita and Suwayomi sources make it easy to read from your own home server.
- Version 0.9 added OCR dictionary support for iOS 18 and later, along with auto scroll for the webtoon reader.
- Background downloading, added in v0.7.3 for iOS 26 and later, keeps chapters saving while you use other apps.
Pros
- It shows no ads and costs nothing.
Cons
- Some newer features need recent versions of iOS, such as iOS 18 or iOS 26.
#5 · Best for iPad
5. Paperback — Best Manga Reader for iPad
Paperback is a strong choice for anyone who reads mostly on an iPad, and it stands with the best manga reading apps on Apple devices because its reader was built with the bigger screen in mind. Its double-spread chapter reader shows two pages side by side, just like an open printed volume. Like other reader apps, it does not host manga by itself, so it depends on the plugins you add to find content.
| Platform | iOS and iPadOS |
| Ads | None at all |
| Where to get it | The official site, paperback.moe |
| Best for | iPad readers who want a book-like layout |
Key features
- The friendly layout is easy to learn, even for first-time users.
- Third-party plugins connect the app to content sources, much like extensions work in Mihon.
- The double-spread reader is made to fill the iPad screen.
Pros
- Reading on an iPad feels like holding a real book.
Cons
- You need to add your sources yourself through plugins.
#6 · Best free legal app
6. MANGA Plus by Shueisha — Best Free Legal App
MANGA Plus is the official app from SHUEISHA Inc., the publisher of Weekly Shonen Jump, and it is the top free pick among the best manga reading apps that are fully legal. For most series you can read the first three and newest three chapters for free, which is enough to start a story and keep up with new releases at the same time. Readers who want older chapters as well can move to MANGA Plus MAX, which is the paid side of the service and opens the larger English catalog.
| Platform | iOS, Android and the web, so you can read manga online in a browser too |
| Price | Free, or the US App Store plans at $1.99 for Standard and $4.99 for Deluxe |
| Catalog | More than 17,000 English chapters with MANGA Plus MAX |
| Not available in | Japan, China and Korea |
| App Store rating | 3.8 from about 2,000 ratings, rated 13+ |
| Best for | Readers who want free Shueisha chapters straight from the source |
Pros
- New chapters are free and come directly from the publisher.
- Both paid plans cost less than $5 a month.
Cons
- Readers in Japan, China and Korea cannot use the service.
#7 · Best subscription value
7. Shonen Jump (VIZ) — Best Subscription Value
Shonen Jump by VIZ Media gives you the most reading for your money among the best manga reading apps, which is why it wins the subscription spot. Many chapters are released simul with Japan, so you read them on the same day as readers in Japan, and the latest chapters are always free. The paid membership is aimed at readers who want to go back through older chapters instead of only reading the newest ones.
| Price | $3.99 per month after a 7-day free trial listed on the App Store |
| Catalog | A digital vault of more than 20,000 manga chapters |
| Extra purchases | Volumes from $6.99 to $10.99 on the App Store |
| Available in | The United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, the Philippines, Singapore and India |
| App Store rating | 4.9 from 261,000 ratings, rated 13+ |
| Best for | Readers who want a big official catalog for one low price |
Pros
- The manga subscription is cheap for a catalog of this size, and the latest chapters stay free.
Cons
- It is only offered in ten countries, so many readers cannot subscribe.
#8 · Kodansha
8. K MANGA — Best for Kodansha Series
K MANGA is the official, authorized digital distribution service from Kodansha, so it is the place to go if your favorite series come from that publisher. Among the best manga reading apps, it stands out because it uses points instead of a subscription, which means you only pay for the chapters you actually read. This model works well for readers who follow a few series, but people who read many titles each week should compare it with a subscription app such as Shonen Jump.
| Platform | iOS, Android and the web |
| Price | 100 points for $1.00, up to 2,500 points plus 80 bonus points for $25.00 |
| Subscription | None for now, although some users have asked for one in App Store reviews |
| App Store rating | 4.6 from 2,900 ratings, rated 16+ |
| Best for | Kodansha fans who follow a few series at a time |
Pros
- You pay only for the chapters you open.
Cons
- Heavy readers may spend more than they would on a monthly plan.
#9 · Square Enix
9. Manga UP! — Best for Square Enix Manga
Manga UP! is the official service run by the publisher SQUARE ENIX, which makes it the right app for fans of Square Enix manga. Its large subscription catalog puts it among the best manga reading apps for heavy readers, and you can still pay per chapter if you prefer that. The VAULT PASS opens more than 30,000 chapters at once, so it suits readers who like to binge long series in one go, while coins work better for people who only want a few chapters.
| Platform | iOS and Android |
| Subscription | VAULT PASS in two tiers, priced at $4.99 and $6.99 |
| Coins | From 160 coins for $0.99 up to 6,400 coins for $39.99 |
| App Store rating | 4.5 from 2,600 ratings, rated 13+ |
| Best for | Square Enix fans who want to read long series without waiting |
Pros
- The VAULT PASS covers a very large catalog of chapters.
Cons
- The largest coin packs get expensive quickly.
#10 · Webtoons & manhwa
10. WEBTOON — Best for Webtoons and Manhwa
WEBTOON is the best webtoon app on this list, and it belongs with the best manga reading apps for anyone who enjoys manhwa and vertical comics. Reading is free, and if you do not want to wait for the next episode, you can buy coins to get early access. This makes it easy to try many stories before you spend any money.
| Platform | iOS, Android and the web |
| Price | Free, with coins for early episodes |
| Catalog | Thousands of stories across 23 genres |
| Updates | New episodes on a daily schedule from Monday to Sunday |
| Run by | NAVER WEBTOON Ltd. |
| App Store rating | 4.8 from 515,000 ratings, rated 13+ |
| Best for | Manhwa and webtoon fans who read every day |
Key features
- The vertical scroll format is made for reading on a phone screen.
- The daily schedule means there is something new to read on every day of the week.
Pros
- Free reading with daily updates across 23 genres.
Cons
- Early episodes cost coins, and that cost can add up over time.
Android forks
Other Tachiyomi Forks Worth Knowing
TachiyomiJ2K
TachiyomiJ2K is a free, open-source manga reader for Android 6.0 and above, with its code still public on GitHub under the Jays2Kings account. Because it supports older Android versions, it ranks with the best manga reading apps for phones that newer apps leave behind.
TachiyomiSY
TachiyomiSY is another fork on GitHub under the jobobby04 account. Its README says it needs Android 8.0 or above, so lists that claim it runs on Android 6.0 are wrong, and you should check your phone’s Android version before you try to install it.
Aniyomi
Aniyomi is built on Mihon, but it goes further by adding a full-featured anime player next to the manga reader. It requires Android 8.0 or higher, and it is one of the best manga reading apps for people who want anime and manga in one app.
Neko
Neko is an unofficial MangaDex manga reader app for Android 8 and above, so it focuses on one source instead of many. That narrow focus suits readers who get all of their manga from MangaDex and want an app that is built only around that site’s library.
Official & licensed
More Legal Manga Apps to Consider
Omoi (formerly Azuki)
Omoi, the service formerly called Azuki, is run by KiraKira Media and costs $4.99 a month after a 14-day free trial. Premium gives you full access to 200+ series and 20% off digital volumes, and Omoi pays royalties to creators in Japan.
Mangamo
Mangamo is one of the best manga reading apps for official manga, with titles from more than 20 top Japanese publishers. Mangamo Plus costs $4.99, but some titles can only be read with coins because of publisher licensing terms.
Comikey
Comikey offers officially licensed comics with simulpub chapters, and you can read nearly the whole catalog for free by watching ads. Its partners include Shogakukan’s MangaOne, Hakusensha and SQUARE ENIX, and it works on the web, iOS and Android.
INKR
INKR is a legal manga platform that adds new chapters every day across more than 1,500 titles. It uses coins and a membership, so you can pay as you go or join a plan, and it runs on iOS and Android.
Side by side
Quick Comparison: Price, Platform and Latest Version
The table below puts the best manga reading apps side by side, so you can compare price, platform and version without scrolling back through every review. A dash means the detail could not be confirmed from an official source, so it was left out instead of guessed. Every price comes from the official store page, and the US App Store was used for the official apps.
| App | Type | Platform | Price | Latest Version | Ads | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mihon | Open source | Android | Free | v0.21.2 | — | Former Tachiyomi users |
| Komikku | Open source | Android | Free | v1.14.1 | — | Extra library tools |
| Kotatsu-Redo | Open source | Android | Free | — | — | Source variety |
| Aidoku | Open source | iOS, iPadOS, macOS | Free | v0.9 | No | iPhone readers |
| Paperback | Plugin-based reader | iOS, iPadOS | — | — | No | iPad reading |
| MANGA Plus | Official | iOS, Android, web | Free, $1.99 or $4.99 | — | — | Free Shueisha chapters |
| Shonen Jump (VIZ) | Official | iOS | $3.99/month | — | — | Subscription value |
| K MANGA | Official | iOS, Android, web | Points (100 = $1.00) | — | — | Kodansha series |
| Manga UP! | Official | iOS, Android | $4.99 or $6.99, or coins | — | — | Square Enix manga |
| WEBTOON | Official | iOS, Android, web | Free, coins for early access | — | — | Webtoons and manhwa |
The first three rows are the main Tachiyomi alternatives on Android, and all of them are free, while Aidoku and Paperback do the same job on Apple devices. Readers who want to support creators should look at the official rows, since MANGA Plus is the cheapest way to start and Shonen Jump offers the biggest catalog for a single monthly price. For a full Tachiyomi experience on Android, Mihon is the safest pick among the best manga reading apps, and WEBTOON stays the best place for manhwa fans.
Which type?
Official Apps vs Open-Source Readers: Which Should You Use?
The best manga reading apps fall into two groups, and the group you choose decides where your manga comes from and who gets paid. Official manga apps such as MANGA Plus, Shonen Jump, K MANGA, Manga UP!, WEBTOON and Omoi are licensed, so the money you spend reaches the creators and publishers behind each series. They also give you new chapters on release day without any setup at all.
Open-source readers such as Mihon, Komikku, Kotatsu-Redo, Aidoku and Paperback work differently, because they do not host any manga themselves. Instead, they connect to sources through extensions or plugins, and whether that reading is legal depends on the source you add. Many readers use both types, keeping an official app for the series they love and a reader app to organize everything else. If supporting the people who make manga matters to you, start with the official apps and add a reader only when you need more control.
Scam warning
Watch Out for Fake “Mihon for iOS” Apps
No official Mihon for iPhone
Since Mihon is so popular, scam apps often use its name to trick iPhone users who are looking for the best manga reading apps. The official Mihon FAQ is clear on this point, saying, “There is no iOS or iPadOS version and neither are there plans for one.” The same FAQ warns that “any app proclaiming to be ‘Mihon for iOS’ is not by us and should be treated as a scam,” so any listing that uses that name is fake. If you are on an iPhone or iPad, install Aidoku or Paperback from their official sites instead, since both were made for Apple devices.
FAQ
FAQ
1. What’s the best replacement for Tachiyomi in 2026?
Mihon is the best replacement for Tachiyomi in 2026 and the top pick among the best manga reading apps, since it continues the same idea with active updates. It also imports Tachiyomi backups, so your library moves over. For extra features such as WebDAV sync, Komikku is a strong second choice.
2. Is Kotatsu still updated?
The original Kotatsu repository on GitHub was archived on November 4, 2025, so that version no longer gets updates. Development moved to the community fork Kotatsu-Redo, which showed activity in July and August 2026, so Kotatsu-Redo is the version to use if you want a Kotatsu-style reader today.
3. Are these open-source apps safe to use?
The open-source picks among the best manga reading apps, such as Mihon, Komikku, Kotatsu-Redo and Aidoku, publish their code publicly, so anyone can check what they do. The safety risk comes from fake copies, so download them only from the official site or official GitHub page, never from random APK sites.
4. Can I switch from Tachiyomi to these apps without losing my library?
Yes, you can switch to most of these apps without losing your library. Mihon, TachiyomiJ2K, TachiyomiSY and Neko support Tachiyomi backups, so your library and reading progress come with you. Kotatsu is the exception, because it was built on its own code and does not import Tachiyomi backups directly.
5. Which of these apps are legal to use?
MANGA Plus, Shonen Jump, K MANGA, Manga UP!, WEBTOON, Omoi, Mangamo, Comikey and INKR are official or licensed services, so they are the best manga reading apps if you want fully legal reading. Open-source readers like Mihon and Aidoku host no content, so their legality depends on the sources you add.
6. Is there a Mihon or Tachiyomi app for iPhone?
No, there is no Mihon or Tachiyomi app for iPhone, and the Mihon team says it has no plans to make one. Any app that calls itself “Mihon for iOS” is a scam. iPhone and iPad users should pick Aidoku or Paperback, the best manga reading apps for Apple devices.
7. What is the best free manga app?
Among the best manga reading apps, Mihon is the top free option on Android, since it costs nothing and lets you control your sources. For free manga apps that are also legal, MANGA Plus gives you the first three and newest three chapters free, and WEBTOON is free across 23 genres.
Final Thoughts
Final Thoughts
The right choice depends on your device and on how you like to read. Android users will be happiest with Mihon, while Komikku suits readers who want more control and Kotatsu-Redo suits those who want more sources. On iPhone and iPad, Aidoku and Paperback give you open, ad-free reading without any fake “Mihon for iOS” risk. If you would rather pay creators directly, MANGA Plus is the cheapest start, Shonen Jump gives the best subscription value, and WEBTOON is the home for manhwa. Pick one Android or iOS reader and one official app from these best manga reading apps, and you will have everything covered.