7 Best WEBTOON Alternatives to Read and Publish Comics

WEBTOON is an amazing platform for comics enthusiasts, but some platforms give you more control, better tools, or even a stronger community. This guide walks through why it's worth checking out WEBTOON alternatives, including top online tools and social media platforms where you can read or publish comics the way you want.

Part 1. Why Should You Look for WEBTOON Alternatives?

You always knew WEBTOON was not the end-all be-all of comic printing, comic publishing, or anything comic-related. It did provide opportunities when it first hit the scene back in the day. People began to realize what some had long known: comics are a lucrative business.

But sadly, like Icarus who flew too close to the sun, WEBTOON's success and good reputation are declining. Not only do you, as readers and creators, know better about what is going on in the background of their company, but now it turns out that, rather than having the creator's best interests in mind, which is the bare minimum of what WEBTOON Originals, the publishing aspect, is supposed to be, greed has blinded this once well-liked company.

Webtoon has faced criticism over its original contracts, which some say are predatory and seek to own all intellectual property (IP), and for restricting creators from promoting external publications.

Also, WEBTOON removed the Daily Pass feature without any notice. This means that the chapters you thought were free now cost over $9.99 per month, even if you want to read just one series.

Part 2. Top 5 WEBTOON Alternatives to Read and Publish Comics Online

If you are frustrated with WEBTOON as a reader or creator, there are many WEBTOON alternatives, and these are discussed below with the ups and downsides.

1. Tapas

TAPAS is very, very similar to WEBTOON Canvas. It has a system kind of like the Super Like feature using "ink." But that ink-based payment model? It's just not good. It gives off the wrong kind of vibe. You don't have to hate it, but you probably won't enjoy it.

Tapas hosts web comics and has a fan base that has blown many series into popularity, such as Magical Boy by the cow and many others. A few years ago, it was a great place for creators to post their Comics. It's since fallen by the wayside and creator popularity because it prioritizes showing polished Korean Studio Mangas, while regular artists who have pretty much made Tapas into what it is now get pushed to the community tab on the site. So don't solely rely on it to boost your popularity, but definitely utilize it to bring more eyes to your series.

You might've been able to get a lot more traction on Tapas in the past, but now it feels like there's barely any viewership. If you're there, it's likely because you've been on the platform for a long time. It's one of those situations where success mostly comes from consistency, like if you've built up 5,000 followers on something like Magpie, you'll get maybe 100 likes or so. Not much. That's what a hiatus does.

The platform doesn't seem worth your time anymore. Its update gets glitchy after a certain number of uploads.

The only upside over LINE is that the audience feels slightly more mature. Plus, Tapas has allowed more customization for mature content. But now WEBTOON is starting to roll out something similar. So it's hard to say if Tapas holds any edge anymore. Unless you've already got an established following there, it may not be worth the effort.

2. GlobalComix

Global Comics has been working hard since it first appeared on the scene a few years ago. They ended up nabbing a content editor who would Scout artists for the original scene for WEBTOON when it was coming up. So you can rest assured that the people behind GlobalComix know comics, and you can tell they really have a love for it, both traditional and new style. Since then, the platform has gained popularity with traditional comic titles to showcase.

It's also very friendly to the nonprofessional artist crowd, which makes it one of the best WEBTOON alternatives to host your web comic. It showcases both the vertical scrolling

format and traditional comic pages so beautifully on the website and allows you to zoom in on the app. Speaking of the app, yes, GlobalComics now has an app, which it didn't previously have, but now that it does, it should make accessing, reading, and posting comics 10 times easier for readers everywhere.

For readers, there are different categories and a dedicated free section as well. Gold membership is offered, too, for exclusive discounts.

However, it's a very small platform compared to WEBTOON because it hosts around 100,000 comics. So for now, you won't find a lot of readership there as a creator. Navigation is hard. However, its uploading system is amazing. It is very clean and easier to use than most others, especially for batch uploads.

You can schedule releases and enable premium content. But premium content won't help because the readership is smaller. That's really the biggest issue. It's worth keeping an eye on, but for now, it's not somewhere you'll get much traction.

3. NamiComi

Another WEBTOON alternative to watch is NamiComi. It's currently in beta, so there are some technical difficulties. It works with Manga decks and aims to put the creator at its core. It does provide useful tagging tools and content warnings that help organize your work neatly. That's a plus.

You get weekly editor's choices, hot titles, most followed, and latest recommendations to read comics and Manga online. The library is pretty decent as well.

The platform is super cozy. The comics are very easy to read, and you can also publish your work. You can even send recommendations to the staff, and they'll publish them on the front page. The platform also has a cute little social page where it acts like a Twitter page, almost, where you can see what everyone else is posting or the people that you follow.

The platform wants to be creator-centered and avoids using a WEBTOON Originals-style system. Their goal is to remain fully driven by creators. That's admirable. But even though they market themselves as "the only creator-focused platform," that isn't true. And that kind of overhyped marketing might not sit well with everyone.

Still, there's major potential with this website because not only is the social feature a great idea, but it genuinely seems to want to focus on creators' comic comforts before corporate greetings.

4. The Duck Webcomics

The Duck Webcomics (or just "The Duck") is a very small site for posting comics. It's definitely on the tiny side, but what it lacks in numbers, it makes up for in dedication. The community is tight-knit and full of people who have been working on their comics for a long time.

You can post your comics for free. The site can be a little tricky to use as it feels a bit outdated and clunky, but once you figure it out, you can build a pretty decent custom site on it. It's not hard, just a bit confusing at first.

There's a sense of community here. The Duck has forums, featured comics (possibly weekly), and even a podcast. If your comic gets featured, they might even compose musical themes for it, which is a nice bonus. It feels personal.

Another plus is that it's not algorithm-driven. Whatever's being posted is what shows up on the main page. That helps if you're new or still building your audience. You won't get buried instantly like on larger platforms. It's a welcoming space to learn and grow.

One drawback is the upload system. It can be frustrating. You might find yourself re-uploading things because pages don't display correctly. Still, it's a small community that's worth supporting if you value that kind of connection.

5. Comic Fury

Comic Fury is hands down one of the best WEBTOON alternatives for publishing comics. It's extremely welcoming, and there are almost no restrictions on what your comic can be, aside from the obvious ones.

There's no app, which is common for platforms that allow wider content freedom (App Store policies tend to block or restrict adult content). But Comic Fury makes up for that in every other way.

You can do mass uploads with ease. If your files are named correctly, the system automatically names updates for you. You can just type in your schedule, select your start date, and everything falls into place. You can organize by chapter, upload bundles, and edit everything after the fact.

There's a chapter system, a great archive, bookmarks, RSS feeds, and full control over your site. You don't see ads unless you choose to host them yourself with your own code. You get a full comic website for free.

You can add transcripts, tag characters, build search tools, and even create custom variables. Comic Fury can look a bit old-school at first, and the amount of control might feel overwhelming. But once you dive in, it's one of the most powerful and flexible platforms out there. You can remove Comic Fury's branding if you want, control who comments, write author blogs, add character bios with images, and much more.

There's also a central "hub" page that connects all Comic Fury webcomics, so users can browse across the community. The site's creator is very active, and the community is incredibly supportive.

You can even post animated GIFs for motion comics. It's completely free, highly customizable, and offers a level of creator freedom that few platforms come close to.

Comic Fury also bans AI art, which many creators will appreciate.

Part 3. The 2 Best Social Media WEBTOON Alternatives

There are social media sites as well that can act as fantastic WEBTOON alternatives. Here are some of them.

1. Tumblr

If you're doing narrative long-form comics (which is likely if you're reading this), Tumblr can be a surprisingly strong WEBTOON alternative because the readership is there. Posting your comic there might give you better results than putting it on some of the smaller comic platforms that haven't gained traction yet.

One major benefit of Tumblr is that it brings in actual readers and not just creators. The site thrives on fandom and art, so your comic is right at home there. Learning how to tag properly and exploring the right communities can help you connect with an audience quickly.

Tumblr isn't set up like a dedicated comic site, so there are limitations, especially in how comics are displayed. But it does offer a lot of customization, and it is more than most social platforms. You can apply different themes, edit HTML, and even build a website-style layout for your comic.

It's not always easy to interlink pages, but you can schedule updates and use Tumblr's multimedia post options to your advantage. Whether you post full pages or just use it as a linking hub, Tumblr gives you flexibility.

Also, Tumblr now has communities. That opens up even more ways to build a space specifically for comic artists and fans. You might find more traction here than you would on many platforms that are supposedly built for comics.

2. Patreon

Patreon is also a solid choice.

It's easy to organize comic pages using collections and tags. You can set them up for public release after a certain time, and the platform now supports both free and paid memberships. This means fans can subscribe for free and still receive your updates.

A common drawback is the assumption that Patreon always requires payment, so casual readers might hesitate to explore. But if you're looking for a way to manage updates and offer early access, Patreon does the job.

You can even offer free early updates to build your following. Then, if someone wants to pay, you can provide even more perks, like access to content two weeks ahead or comic critiques during streams. It works well as both a publishing comics and a fan support tool.

Part 4. FAQs of WEBTOON Alternatives

Conclusion on WEBTOON Alternatives

Now there are WEBTOON alternatives to read and host comics, and honestly, that's a good thing. If you're a comic creator, you've got more control now than ever before. Some platforms, like Comic Fury and The Duck Webcomics, are all about community and creative freedom. Others, like GlobalComix or NamiCami, are newer but still worth keeping an eye on. And yes, TAPAS might not be what it used to be, but it still exists if you've already built a space there.

Don't forget the power of social media, too. Tumblr gives you access to fandom-driven readers who actually want to engage with your stuff, and Patreon lets you organize, schedule, and grow your comic while offering early access or rewards.