Comics have been bringing joy to people for over a century, but the way we read them is constantly changing. Enjoying comics, whether it’s going from buying comics at the newsstand to buying pull lists at your local comic shop, reading single issues, or picking up commercial collections or graphic novels instead. There are always many ways. Now, thanks to the internet, there are even more ways to find new favorites, and many of those spaces also allow you to read comics for free. From library apps to manga companies, there are many places you can read manga without paying a dime, but we’ve hand-picked a list of the 10 best.
web comics
The easiest to navigate and most used service on our list is Webtoon. The app and desktop versions of this platform are great, with an unparalleled selection of free comics. While you won’t find all the standard comic shop heroes here, Webtoon offers stories from every genre, with over 1 million titles. The great horror comic that inspired Netflix hit shows like Hellbound sits alongside fun romance blockbusters like Roar Olympus and is one of DC Comics’ biggest hits in years. One Wayne Family Adventure was born here, as was the now New York Times bestselling fantasy Lore Olympus. Webtoons have revolutionized the way people access and create comics, and they’re completely free. Users can pay to read additional chapters and new entries faster than usual, but Webtoon lets you access its vast catalog without spending a cent. In addition to the great selection, you’ll quickly fall in love with the platform’s infinite scrolling format that makes it easy to read comics on your phone or iPad.
Hoopla
Next up is Hoopla, a great library app. The only caveat is that you must obtain or own a library card. A library card, available at your local library or online, is a worthwhile endeavor as it gives you access to a vast catalog of comics, audiobooks, and novels. In addition to iconic series like Invincible and Y the Last Man Complete Edition, Hoopla also offers new comics every week from publishers like Archie Comic and IDW. Their vast library contains thousands of books that are very easy to read on your phone or tablet. Hoopla also has a great movie catalog of on-demand movies, and getting a Hoopla library card gives you access to other video rental services like Kanopy. When it comes to range and selection, there’s no better way to get your favorite comics for free than Hoopla.
In other words
The Viz website is a treasure trove of free manga that lets you read the opening chapters of a variety of popular Shonen Jump and Viz titles. The site currently offers access to a ton of the biggest manga, including My Hero Academia, Demon Slayer, One Punch Man, The Legend of Zelda, Assassination Classroom, Choujin X, and more. providing. There are also plenty of youth and girls series such as “Maison Ikkoku”, “Skip Beat!”, and “Fushigi Yugi”. This is a super easy way to try out a new series or revisit old favorites before deciding whether to commit. Also, the interface is very easy to navigate on your desktop. If you prefer reading comics on an app, Viz also has a free chapter reading app that includes over 10,000 of his comics, but it costs $1.99 per month to access that complete catalog. But right now, you can read all of these hits with a 7-day free trial before you subscribe.
boy jump
Weekly Shonen Jump was a pioneer in the manga app game, releasing their app at an incredible price of $1.99. It currently costs $2.99 per month, but the reason I bring it up here is because when you download the app, you get free access to multiple chapters without a paid subscription. The great thing about this app, and his Viz app, is that it updates weekly with new chapters. Titles such as BORUTO: NARUTO NEXT GENERATIONS, Dragon Ball Super, and One Piece will all be available on the same day of release in Japan. Also, if you want to know about free comics, you can access them, including blockbusters such as Chainsaw Man. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Kaiju No. 8, etc. all have multiple chapters available to free members.
Marvel.com
You may not realize it, but Marvel’s website not only has in-depth editorials and commentary on your favorite heroes, but it also has tons of free comics to read. These titles are much harder to find than his Viz site, but if you’re an avid fan of Spider-Man, X-Men, and other Marvel heroes, they’re worth a Google search (of course) correct page above). Now, from exciting number one’s like Venom, the Giant-Sized X-Men, and Thanos, to free comic book issues and even the fun and bizarre promotional books the company has created for licensors and companies like Lexus and Ford. , you can read about 50 Marvel comics for free. . This isn’t a huge collection, but it does have some great titles that will help you learn a little more about your favorite heroes.
dc universe infinite
A DC Universe membership gives you access to thousands of comics for $7.99 per month. But what you may not know is that you can also read the publisher’s Free Comic Book Day issues on the desktop version of this site. The lineup of free comics changes, but currently you can read 13 books, including “Batman,” “Suicide Squad: King Shark,” and “Wonder Woman: Rebirth.” The selection is small, but if you like DC’s most infamous villains and popular heroes, it’s definitely worth checking out. And if you want to read more, we’re currently offering a 7-day free trial that gives you access to our entire catalog.
dark horse comics
Another unexpected place where you can find great single-issue digital comics is the Dark Horse website. The company’s free manga hub currently boasts over 100 comics, which is more than both of its two largest competitors. Its library includes titles such as “Hellboy,” “Mass Effect,” “Overwatch,” “The Umbrella Academy,” and “Stranger Things.” More like the Marvel Library, this includes regular issues and tie-ins, plus free Comic Book His Day books. The only catch is that you have to create a free account to access the book, but it’s worth it because you can actually download the questions and read them offline instead of just reading them in your browser. There is no mistake.
Barnes & Noble
One of the best-kept secrets when it comes to how to read free comics legally is the Barnes & Noble website. When you download the Nook app to your favorite device, you can download and access nearly 1000 comics, ranging from fantasy comics to his DC superheroes. Whether you’re looking for his YA comics like Raven Loves Beast Boy and The Nightmare Before Christmas: Zero’s Journey, or complete series like Batman or Countdown to Infinite Crisis, Barnes & Noble has a surprisingly eclectic collection. And if you’re in the mood for manga, you’ll be happy to know there’s a wide selection of lesser-known titles that you can access for free.
comicthology
You can read hundreds of free comics on comixology, but to find them, you’ll need to search for “Free Comic Book Day” once you’re on the site. The good news is that not only does he stock an extensive collection of FCBD books, including titles from Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, and more, but you’ll also find other hidden gems in your search results. Current standout works include Marvel Voices #1, Detective Comics Debut #27, Fatale #1, and Chrononauts #1. Make sure you’re “purchasing” something that doesn’t say Kindle Unlimited below. Comixology also means you can download comics and read them offline. It takes a little effort, but you can build a great library of digital comics through Comixology.
tapas
For our final entry, we return to the world of web comics. Tapas has a large selection of original manga from a variety of independent creators, and while some chapters are behind a paywall, similar to Webtoon, most titles and chapters are generally free to explore and read. I can. Some of the most popular series currently include The Witch’s Throne, Torte and Lacey, and The Beginning After the End. You won’t find characters you already know here, but you might discover new favorites and expand your manga reading horizons.
Rosie Knight is a freelancer for IGN, covering everything from anime and manga to monsters, children’s films, and horror films. She has over five years of experience in entertainment journalism and has written bylines in Nerdist, Den of Geek, Polygon, and more. Rosie is a manga artist who has written manga such as “Godzilla’s Girlfriend’s Rivals vs. Battra” and “Haunted High Top.” She co-hosts the weekly She’s Crooked Media pop culture podcast, X-Ray Vision. When she’s not writing, you can find her playing Dragon Ball FighterZ or binge-watching the odd old horror or fighting movie. She loves collecting VHS and reading as many comics as possible, as well as making comics and her zines. You can find her on social at @rosiemarx.