Manga Plus
MANGA Plus by SHUEISHA is Shueisha's free official digital manga platform, launched in 2019 to distribute Shueisha titles simultaneously worldwide. It serves global manga readers across web, iOS and Android in seven languages, driving upstream value to Shueisha through physical volume sales and licensing.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Manga Plus does
MANGA Plus by SHUEISHA is a free, official digital manga distribution platform operated by Japanese publisher Shueisha Inc. and launched in 2019. It offers simultaneous-with-Japan release of Shueisha titles to international readers, serving as the publisher's primary global online reading channel. The catalog is anchored by flagship Shueisha franchises including One Piece, Jujutsu Kaisen, Chainsaw Man, SPY x FAMILY, Boruto, Hunter x Hunter, Black Clover and Dandadan, with One Piece generating 234M+ cumulative views and the Chainsaw Man finale drawing 1.1M views as engagement benchmarks.
The platform is delivered across three distribution surfaces: a web client plus native iOS and Android applications distributed via the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Localization supports English, Spanish, French, Indonesian, Thai, Portuguese and Russian, reflecting an explicit non-Japan reader focus. Operational integration extends into the broader Shueisha ecosystem through the MediBang creator platform and distribution partnerships with Viz Media for coordinated English-language digital and print release.
The business model is freemium at the reader level with no subscription fee and no direct platform monetization disclosed; the asset functions as a global marketing and demand-generation funnel that drives upstream value back to Shueisha through physical tankobon sales, anime production tie-ins, merchandising and licensing. Distribution is governed by ABJ Mark compliance and the platform is positioned as a publisher-direct alternative to scanlation and third-party aggregator routes.
Manga Plus firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Manga Plus
- Legal name
- Shueisha Inc.
- Website
- https://mangaplus.shueisha.co.jp
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- MANGA Plus by SHUEISHA is Shueisha's free official digital manga platform, launched in 2019 to distribute Shueisha titles simultaneously worldwide. It serves global manga readers across web, iOS and Android in seven languages, driving upstream value to Shueisha through physical volume sales and licensing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Manga Plus industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Digital Manga Distribution
- NAICS
- Book Publishers (51313), Periodical Publishers (513120)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Digital Comics, Manga & Serialized Reading Platforms (BPAMAJAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Manga Publishing (Japanese & Global) (MPAJAGAA)
Keywords
Where Manga Plus is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tokyo
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Manga Plus business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Free Content Access (Freemium): The platform provides free access to manga chapters, serving as a global promotional and distribution channel for Shueisha content. This freemium model attracts a large user base and drives readers to purchase physical volumes or regional licensed versions.
- Licensing Revenue (Shueisha): Shueisha generates revenue through licensing agreements with regional publishers like Viz Media, who distribute content in specific territories. The platform serves as an official distribution channel supporting these licensing arrangements.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free Access - All content available at no cost |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Manga Plus product offering
Product offeringCore offering
MANGA Plus by SHUEISHA is a digital manga distribution platform that provides official, simultaneous worldwide access to Shueisha's manga catalog via a web platform and mobile apps (iOS and Android). It releases new chapters at the same time as the Japanese publication schedule in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, French, Indonesian, Thai, Portuguese, and Russian, with all content available to read for free. The platform also features a real-time ranking system, a manga library with genre and status filtering, and a creators platform linked to Medibang for manga artist support.
Product overview
MANGA Plus by SHUEISHA is a unified digital manga reading platform that provides simultaneous worldwide access to Shueisha's manga catalog. The platform consists of a web-based reading platform (mangaplus.shueisha.co.jp) and mobile applications for iOS and Android. Key features include a manga library with genre and status filtering, a real-time ranking system showing popular titles, curated featured content sections organized by publication (Weekly Shonen Jump, Jump Plus, Young Jump), and a creators platform for manga artist support. Users can read manga in multiple languages from anywhere in the world at the same time as Japanese releases, supporting manga artists while accessing popular titles like One Piece, Boruto, Hunter x Hunter, Spy x Family, and Dandadan.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- MANGA Plus by SHUEISHA (Web Platform) A web-based digital manga reading platform that allows users to read Shueisha manga titles from anywhere in the world, in multiple languages, simultaneously with Japan. The platform features updates, rankings, featured content, and manga library browsing for individual manga readers globally.
- MANGA Plus Mobile App Mobile application for iOS and Android devices that allows reading manga on the go with the same simultaneous release features as the web platform. Available through the App Store and Google Play Store.
- Creators Platform (Medibang Integration) A creator support platform linked through Medibang that allows manga artists to create and submit works, with the 'Creators' link providing access to manga creation tools.
Companies that use Manga Plus
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Manga Plus technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Manga Plus partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Viz MediacoreViz Media serves as the English-language licensing partner for Shueisha content. Manga Plus coordinates simultaneous releases with Viz Media's English platform, particularly for major series like Black Clover's final chapters. Both platforms release content at the same time, with Viz Media serving the North American market while Manga Plus serves the global audience.
- MediBangminorMediBang partnership provides creator tools and community platform access through the Creators link on Manga Plus. The link directs to medi bang.com/mpc for manga creator resources, supporting the broader manga creation ecosystem.
- Apple (iOS App Store)coreApple serves as the distribution channel for the Manga Plus iOS mobile application through the iOS App Store, enabling iPhone and iPad users to access the manga reading platform.
- Google (Google Play)coreGoogle provides distribution infrastructure for the Manga Plus Android application through Google Play Store, enabling Android device users to download and access the manga platform.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Manga Plus competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Crunchyroll (Sony Group): Owned by Sony Group, Crunchyroll is a global anime and manga streaming/distribution incumbent. Its growing digital manga offering and synergies with anime simulcasts make it a broad incumbent competing for the same global manga reader.
Emerging players
- Tapas Media: Independent digital comics platform offering serialized manga, manhwa, and original webcomics with a freemium model. Overlaps with Manga Plus in free-reading model and global audience, though with stronger focus on independent and Korean titles.
- Comikey: English-language digital manga publishing and distribution platform offering simulpub-style releases from multiple Japanese publishers. Directly competes with Manga Plus in the official English-language manga distribution space.
- INKR Comics: Digital manga and webtoon aggregator with legal licensing from multiple Japanese and Korean publishers. Comparable to Manga Plus as a multi-publisher digital reading destination targeting international manga fans.
Direct peers
- Viz Media: Shueisha's primary English-language licensing partner and direct digital distribution counterpart. Viz Media operates its own Shonen Jump simulpub platform, making it the closest competitor in English-speaking markets and the platform's most strategically entangled peer.
- Webtoon (Naver): Naver's global digital comics platform and the largest webtoon reader app. While its content is predominantly Korean-origin, it competes directly with Manga Plus for global digital-reading mobile mindshare and offers a comparable free-reading experience.
- Tappytoon: Digital manga and webtoon platform with a strong Korean (manhwa) and licensed Japanese catalog. Competes for the same global free-to-read digital manga audience as Manga Plus, especially in Southeast Asia and the Americas.
- BookWalker (Kadokawa): Kadokawa's global digital bookstore and reading platform for manga, light novels, and books. As a fellow Japanese publisher-operated digital distribution service, it is structurally comparable to Manga Plus and competes for the same international Japanese-content reader.
Regional players
- Bilibili Comics: Digital manga publishing arm of Bilibili, dominant in Greater China. While Manga Plus is not focused on China, Bilibili Comics represents the same licensed Japanese-manga digital distribution model in a major regional market.
- Piccoma (Kakao Entertainment Japan): One of Japan's largest digital manga platforms operated by Kakao Entertainment. While primarily Japan-domestic, Piccoma competes for the same licensed manga content pool and offers a benchmark for monetization strategies (e.g., wait-tickets) that could influence Manga Plus's future.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Manga Plus social profiles
Digital presenceManga Plus compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Manga Plus financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Manga Plus leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Manga Plus funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Manga Plus M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Manga Plus
What does Manga Plus do?
MANGA Plus by SHUEISHA is a digital manga distribution platform that provides official, simultaneous worldwide access to Shueisha's manga catalog via a web platform and mobile apps (iOS and Android). It releases new chapters at the same time as the Japanese publication schedule in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, French, Indonesian, Thai, Portuguese, and Russian, with all content available to read for free. The platform also features a real-time ranking system, a manga library with genre and status filtering, and a creators platform linked to Medibang for manga artist support.
Is Manga Plus a public or private company?
Manga Plus is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Manga Plus founded?
Manga Plus was founded in 2019.
Where is Manga Plus based?
Manga Plus is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Manga Plus make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Free Content Access (Freemium) is the primary driver. The others are licensing Revenue (Shueisha).
Who are Manga Plus's main competitors?
Crunchyroll (Sony Group) is listed as a broad incumbent. Emerging players are Tapas Media, Comikey and INKR Comics. Direct peers are Viz Media, Webtoon (Naver), Tappytoon and BookWalker (Kadokawa). Regional players are Bilibili Comics and Piccoma (Kakao Entertainment Japan).
Does Manga Plus have an API?
No public API is recorded for Manga Plus.
What industry is Manga Plus in?
Manga Plus's product category is Digital Manga Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMAJAJ, Digital Comics, Manga & Serialized Reading Platforms, with a secondary code of MPAJAGAA, Manga Publishing (Japanese & Global). Its NAICS code is 51313 and its SIC code is 2731.