Mangamo
Mangamo Inc. is a Japan-based mobile manga platform offering global readers officially licensed access to 1,000+ titles and 20,000+ chapters across iOS, Android, and web, monetizing through a $4.99/month Plus subscription, Magamo Coins microtransactions, and freemium trial chapters.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Mangamo does
Mangamo Inc. is a Japan-incorporated, privately held mobile manga reading platform that operates the Mangamo mobile application on iOS and Android alongside a web presence at mangamo.com. The platform provides global readers official, licensed access to a catalog of 1,000+ titles and 20,000+ chapters from twelve publisher partners, with Kodansha and COMISMA acting as core partners and Amazia, TOKYOPOP, Dark Horse Comics, NIHONBUNGEISHA, TORICO, MAGIA, North Stars Pictures, and Flex Comix as additional licensors. The product surface includes 50+ exclusive "Only On Mangamo" titles such as My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999 and Devil-Chi that are not available on competing platforms, with new series and chapters added daily.
The business model is hybrid freemium-plus-microtransaction: free trial chapters and a Daily Free Chapters mechanism (one free chapter per series per day in the Plus catalog) drive top-of-funnel engagement; a Plus Membership subscription at $4.99/month provides unlimited access to exclusive titles, thousands of chapters, and an ad-free experience as the primary recurring revenue stream; and Magamo Coins, a non-transferable virtual currency, enables users to buy individual chapters or volumes with permanent access. Content is professionally translated and curated by editorial rather than generated through AI. Distribution relies on Apple App Store and Google Play Store with a product-led growth motion supported by a Discord community, Instagram, Twitter, and an email newsletter.
The company operates as a going concern with a stated headcount band of 1-10 employees and no disclosed institutional investors, parent entity, or funding rounds. The legal entity is Mangamo Inc., governed by Japanese law with Tokyo District Court jurisdiction. The economic model is asset-light content licensing and distribution: most value derives from publisher relationships and content curation rather than proprietary technology development.
Mangamo firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Mangamo
- Legal name
- Mangamo Inc.
- Website
- https://mangamo.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Mangamo Inc. is a Japan-based mobile manga platform offering global readers officially licensed access to 1,000+ titles and 20,000+ chapters across iOS, Android, and web, monetizing through a $4.99/month Plus subscription, Magamo Coins microtransactions, and freemium trial chapters.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Mangamo industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Digital Manga Reading
- NAICS
- Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210), Book Publishers (513130)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Digital Comics, Manga & Serialized Reading Platforms (BPAMAJAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Manga Publishing (Japanese & Global) (MPAJAGAA)
Keywords
Where Mangamo is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tokyo
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Mangamo business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Plus Subscription: Monthly subscription service at $4.99/month (US pricing, may vary by region) providing unlimited access to 50+ exclusive Only On Mangamo titles and thousands of chapters from popular series. Subscription billed monthly with automatic renewal.
- Coin Purchases: Virtual currency (Magamo Coins) used to purchase individual chapters or volumes. Coins have no monetary value, are non-transferable, and provide permanent access to purchased content. Users can purchase coins and redeem them for access to specific manga series.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Plus Membership - Unlimited access to exclusive titles |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Coin-based purchases for individual content |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Mangamo product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Mangamo operates a mobile manga reading platform that provides official access to over 1,000 licensed manga titles and 20,000 chapters from Japanese publishers including Kodansha and COMISMA. The platform monetizes through a $4.99/month Plus Membership subscription offering unlimited access to exclusive titles and a Magamo Coins virtual currency system for purchasing individual chapters and volumes. New series and chapters are added daily, with professionally translated content available globally on iOS and Android devices.
Product overview
Mangamo is a mobile manga reading platform providing official access to licensed manga from Japanese publishers. The core product is the Mangamo Mobile App, which serves as the primary interface for reading manga. The platform operates on a hybrid business model combining a Plus membership subscription ($4.99/month) offering unlimited access to 50+ exclusive titles and thousands of chapters with no ads, and a Magamo Coins virtual currency system for purchasing individual chapters and volumes. Free users can access free chapters offered by most series and Daily Free Chapters (one free chapter per day per series in the Plus catalog). The platform hosts over 1,000 titles and 20,000 chapters, with new manga series and chapters added daily, all officially licensed and professionally translated into English.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Mangamo Mobile App Mobile manga reading application available on iOS and Android platforms, providing access to over 1,000 manga titles and 20,000 chapters with daily updates of new series and chapters. Targeted at individual manga readers worldwide seeking officially licensed, professionally translated content on mobile devices.
- Plus Membership Premium monthly subscription offering unlimited access to 50+ exclusive 'Only On Mangamo' titles including My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999, Devil-Chi, Date of Marriage, and thousands of additional chapters from popular series. Priced at $4.99/month with no ads and automatic renewal billing.
- Magamo Coins Virtual currency system used to purchase individual manga chapters and volumes. Coins can be redeemed for access to locked content and purchased volumes remain accessible permanently. Provides a pay-as-you-go purchasing alternative to the Plus subscription.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 1,000 manga titles available
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Mangamo
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Mangamo technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Mangamo partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- KodanshacoreMajor manga publisher providing licensed manga content including popular series like Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest, Attack on Titan, Blue Lock, and many others. Mangamo serves as a licensed digital distribution platform for Kodansha titles.
- COMISMA INC.coreJapanese manga publisher providing exclusive Only On Mangamo content including Devil-Chi, My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999, Date of Marriage, Nanase-san's Crazy Love Obsession, and many other series.
- Amazia Inc.minorJapanese manga publisher providing licensed content for distribution on the Mangamo platform.
- Apple (iOS App Store)coreDistribution partner through Apple App Store for iOS application distribution and in-app purchase processing.
- Google (Google Play Store)coreDistribution partner through Google Play Store for Android application distribution and in-app purchase processing.
- TOKYOPOP Inc.minorManga publisher providing licensed content including Bizenghast, Tarot Cafe, Dramacon, Princess Ai series, and Disney Manga titles.
- Dark Horse Comics LLCminorComic publisher providing licensed manga content including Hellboy, Umbrella Academy, Witcher, Lone Wolf and Cub, and 47 Ronin.
- NIHONBUNGEISHA Co., Ltd.minorJapanese publisher providing licensed content including Super Food Bowl, Gourmet Glutton, The Vampires Next Door, and various other titles.
- TORICOminorJapanese manga publisher providing licensed content including BIKINGS, VESTIGE, and various other titles.
- MAGIAminorJapanese manga publisher providing licensed content for distribution on Mangamo.
- North Stars Pictures, Inc.minorPublisher providing licensed manga including Arte, Helltopia, and Somali and the Forest Spirit.
- Flex Comix Inc.minorPublisher providing licensed content including Dropkick on My Devil! and You Guys Are All Annoying, with English translation rights arranged through BookLive Co., LTD.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Mangamo competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- MANGA Plus by Shueisha: Official free mobile/web manga reading app from Shueisha, the world's largest manga publisher; the most direct comparable to Mangamo due to identical officially-licensed model, mobile-first design, and simultaneous-release ('simulpubs') positioning.
- Webtoon (NAVER): Largest digital comics platform globally with a mobile-first, vertical-scroll, freemium-plus-coin model that closely mirrors Mangamo's monetization and product UX; comparable in scale and platform economics.
- Tappytoon: Mobile-first official manga and webtoon reading platform offering subscription plus per-chapter purchases; directly comparable to Mangamo in audience (English-speaking manga readers), model, and platform.
- Comikey: Independent officially-licensed English-language manga platform with a similar subscription-plus-chapter-purchase model and indie-publisher-friendly positioning; directly comparable in size and GTM.
- INKR Comics: Mobile manga and webtoon reading platform with a freemium and per-chapter model targeting English-speaking readers; comparable in scope, mobile UX, and licensing approach.
Broad incumbents
- VIZ Media: Major US manga publisher and Shonen Jump subscription operator (joint venture of Shueisha/Shogakukan); competes with Mangamo on licensed English-language manga while also being a potential licensor for many of the same titles.
- Crunchyroll Manga: Sony-owned anime/manga subscription platform bundling manga reading into a broader anime streaming service; a well-capitalized incumbent competing for the same mobile manga reader demographic.
- BookWalker (Kadokawa): Kadokawa-owned digital manga/light novel storefront with global reach; comparable on officially-licensed English manga distribution and coin/purchase model, with a much larger publisher parent.
Regional players
- LINE Manga / eBookJapan: Major Japanese-domestic digital manga platforms operated by LINE/Yahoo Japan; comparable mobile subscription and coin-based model but anchored to the JP market where Mangamo does not operate.
- Piccoma: Kakao Entertainment's manga/webtoon platform dominant in Japan and Korea; comparable mobile-first freemium-plus-coin model but with primary traction in Asian markets rather than Western.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Mangamo social profiles
Digital presenceMangamo financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Mangamo leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Mangamo funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Mangamo 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 Mangamo
What does Mangamo do?
Mangamo operates a mobile manga reading platform that provides official access to over 1,000 licensed manga titles and 20,000 chapters from Japanese publishers including Kodansha and COMISMA. The platform monetizes through a $4.99/month Plus Membership subscription offering unlimited access to exclusive titles and a Magamo Coins virtual currency system for purchasing individual chapters and volumes. New series and chapters are added daily, with professionally translated content available globally on iOS and Android devices.
Is Mangamo a public or private company?
Mangamo is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Mangamo founded?
Mangamo was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Mangamo based?
Mangamo is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Mangamo make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Plus Subscription is the primary driver. The others are coin Purchases.
Who are Mangamo's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are MANGA Plus by Shueisha, Webtoon (NAVER), Tappytoon, Comikey and INKR Comics. Broad incumbents are VIZ Media, Crunchyroll Manga and BookWalker (Kadokawa). Regional players are LINE Manga / eBookJapan and Piccoma.
Does Mangamo have an API?
No public API is recorded for Mangamo.
What industry is Mangamo in?
Mangamo's product category is Digital Manga Reading. 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 516210 and its SIC code is 2731.