The best manga translator depends on how you read. Browser extensions translate the speech bubbles on the page in front of you, upload-a-page web tools hand back translated images, and open projects you install yourself let you run the whole process on your own computer. Ten options follow, in no particular order.
If you read manga, manhwa or comics in a language you don't speak, AI tools can now find the speech bubbles, read the text, translate it and put the new words back on the art. They come in three quite different shapes.
The ten below are alphabetical and in no particular order. Each description comes from the tool's own website or GitHub page, read as of Nov 2026, and the list is only about translating pages you already have, not where to find them.
Manga translators by type
| Tool | Type | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| BallonsTranslator | GitHub project you install | Computer-aided translation with image and text editing |
| Comic Translate | GitHub app and browser extension | Comics in many formats, including PDF, EPUB and CBZ |
| Koharu | GitHub project written in Rust | A local-first manga translation workflow |
| Manga Image Translator | GitHub project for manga and images | Translating text in manga and other images |
| MangaLens | Chrome extension | Translating bubbles on the site you're reading |
| MangaOCR | Online upload-a-page translator | Batch uploads, including ZIP and EPUB files |
| MangaTranslate | Chrome and Firefox extension | Manhwa and webtoons as well as manga |
| MangaTranslator by meangrinch | GitHub app you run yourself | Text inside and outside the bubbles |
| MangaTranslator.pro | Online upload-a-page translator | Single pages or batches, with two modes |
| TranslateImage | Image translation site with a manga page | Manga, manhwa and comic pages on the web |
Ten manga, manhwa and comic translators
BallonsTranslator
Best for: Translators who want to install a deep-learning comic tool on their own computer, with one-click machine translation and simple image and text editing.
Comic Translate
Best for: Readers of comics from many traditions, from manga and manhwa to BDs and fumetti, in formats from images to PDF, EPUB and CBZ files.
Koharu
Best for: Hobbyists who'd like a local-first workflow on their own machine, combining object detection, OCR, inpainting and language models.
Manga Image Translator
Best for: Developers comfortable with command-line options, such as choosing the detector or translator, for translating the text in manga and other images.
MangaLens
Best for: Chrome readers who want speech bubbles translated in place on any manga website, without reloading the page.
MangaOCR
Best for: Uploading chapters as JPG, PNG, ZIP or EPUB batches, with AI-powered OCR, translation and typesetting handled online.
MangaTranslate
Best for: Firefox or Chrome readers who want translations rendered inside the speech bubbles, plus a crop tool for any area on screen.
MangaTranslator by meangrinch
Best for: Tinkerers who want text inside and outside the speech bubbles translated, with the background art restored and the words typeset in custom fonts.
MangaTranslator.pro
Best for: Uploading one page or a batch of Japanese, Korean or Chinese manga, comparing the results and downloading them, with an AI Mode and a Comic Mode.
TranslateImage
Best for: People who translate all kinds of images, since the same site that handles manga, manhwa and comic pages also translates photos and screenshots.
Extension, upload page or a project you install?
Look at the tools' own pages and three groups appear. Two are browser extensions that work on the page you're reading. MangaLens describes 'AI-powered translation of speech bubbles in real-time on any manga website', and MangaTranslate promises 'AI manga, manhwa and webtoon translation rendered directly inside the speech bubbles' for Chrome and Firefox.
Three are upload-a-page web tools. MangaOCR is an 'Online AI Manga Translator' with 'Smart typesetting', MangaTranslator.pro offers an 'AI Mode' and a 'Comic Mode', and TranslateImage translates 'text in manga, manhwa, and comic pages'.
The other five live on GitHub and run on your own computer. BallonsTranslator calls itself a 'computer-aided comic/manga translation tool powered by deeplearning', Comic Translate is an 'AI comic and manga translator app/browser extension', Koharu is an 'ML-powered manga translator, written in Rust', and MangaTranslator by meangrinch describes itself as a 'Manga translation app powered by AI'. Manga Image Translator completes the group.
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That's the split most readers wouldn't guess: two of the ten are browser extensions that work inside the page you're already reading, three want you to upload pages, and half the list is GitHub projects you download, set up and run yourself.
Which kind suits the way you read
- You read in a browser. An extension translates the bubbles where they are, so there's nothing to download or upload.
- You've got the files. An upload-a-page tool takes images, and some take whole archives, then lets you download the translated pages.
- You want control. A GitHub project lets you choose the models, fonts and settings, though you'll need to be comfortable installing software.
- You read on a phone. The extensions here are for desktop browsers such as Chrome and Firefox, though one extension also points to an iOS app, so check the maker's page for phone support before you commit.
- You care how it looks. Look for typesetting and inpainting, which clean the original lettering off the art and set the new words in its place.
Making your own comics instead
If you'd rather create a comic than translate one, that's a different job with different tools. My guide on how to make comics and manga with AI for free covers it, and my round-up of free AI anime art generators helps with the artwork.
Whichever way you go, translate pages you own or have permission to use, and respect the artists and writers whose work you're reading.
Five steps inside a manga translation
Most of these tools follow the same steps, even when they hide them behind one button, and knowing them helps you see where a page has gone wrong:
- Detection: the tool finds the speech bubbles and any text outside them.
- Reading: optical character recognition reads the original Japanese, Korean or Chinese characters.
- Translation: a language model turns that text into your language.
- Inpainting: the original lettering is painted out so the art underneath looks whole.
- Typesetting: the translated words are fitted back into the bubbles in a readable font.
If a line comes out as nonsense, check the reading step first. A cleaner, sharper page gives every tool a better start.
Do you make a manga translator? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My advice on choosing a manga translator
Pick the kind before the tool. If you read in a browser and want it quick, try an extension. If you've got files on your computer, an upload page is simpler. If you enjoy tinkering and want the most say over fonts, models and settings, set up one of the GitHub projects. Try two at most on the same chapter, compare the pages side by side, and keep the one whose lettering you'd happily read for an hour.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Frequently asked questions
What is a manga translator?
A manga translator is a tool that finds the text on a manga, manhwa or comic page, translates it and places the translation back on the art. Some work in your browser, some take uploaded pages and some run on your own computer.
Can I translate manga in my browser?
Yes. Two tools on this list are browser extensions that translate speech bubbles on the page you're reading. Check which browsers each one lists before you install it.
Are there open-source manga translators?
Several tools on this list are projects on GitHub that you download and run yourself. Check each project's own page for its licence and setup steps before you start.
Do manga translators work on manhwa and webtoons?
Several pages here name manhwa and webtoons as well as manga, and one GitHub project lists comics, BDs and fumetti too. Check the tool's own page for the formats you read.
Which languages can a manga translator read?
Two tools here name Japanese, Korean and Chinese as the languages they read, and the others list their own. Each tool sets out its languages, so check yours is covered.
Is it okay to translate manga with AI?
Translating a page for your own reading is different from sharing it. Stick to pages you own or have permission to use, and don't post translated work without the rights holder's say-so.
