If you read manga, manhwa, or manhua in a language that isn't the one the chapter was scanlated in — or you want to read the raws the day they drop — a browser translator extension is the fastest fix. But they are not all the same. The biggest difference, and the one that quietly costs readers the most, is how they charge you: by the credit or by the month.
We tested the four manga-translation extensions readers ask about most in 2026, on real chapters across MangaDex, Webtoon, Bato.to, Asura Scans, and raw sites. Here's how they actually compare — and why "unlimited" turns out to matter more than any feature spec sheet.
The Short Version
Most of these tools translate speech bubbles in-place reasonably well. Where they split is the pricing model. Credit-based tools meter every page — you watch a balance tick down and ration your reading. MangaLens is unlimited for a flat monthly price at roughly half the cost of the leading credit-based competitor. If you binge, that gap is enormous.
Want to skip the comparison and just read? MangaLens is free to try — no card.
Install MangaLens — 200 Free TranslationsHow We Ranked Them
We scored each tool on four things readers actually feel:
- Pricing model — unlimited vs. credit-metered, and the real monthly cost if you read a lot.
- In-place reading — does it overlay translations on the page, or make you screenshot and tab-switch?
- Coverage — how many languages, and how many sites it works on.
- Privacy — does it stay out of your reader account and reading history?
The 2026 Ranking
1. MangaLens — Best for readers who actually binge
MangaLens overlays one-click AI translation directly on whatever manga page you're reading — MangaDex, Webtoon, Bato.to, Asura Scans, MangaKakalot, raw sites, and most other readers. It detects speech bubbles, OCRs the source text, and drops a clean translation in place in 65+ languages. No screenshotting, no separate window.
The reason it tops the list isn't a single feature — it's the pricing model. MangaLens is unlimited translations for a flat $4.99/mo or $49.99/yr. There is no credit balance to watch, no per-page meter, no "you've used 80% of your credits this month" anxiety. For anyone who reads more than a couple chapters a week, that's the whole game. You get 200 free translations to start, no credit card.
- Pricing: Unlimited · $4.99/mo or $49.99/yr · 200 free to try
- Reading: In-place overlay, scroll keeps working
- Coverage: 65+ languages, works across the major reader sites
- Privacy: Pages are translated on demand and discarded; never used to train models, never tied to you
2. Fakey — Polished, but you pay per page
Fakey is the most established option, with a large user base and a strong rating. The translation quality is good and the reader experience is clean. The catch is the model: Fakey is credit-based at $8.99/mo or $89.99/yr. Every page you translate draws down a balance, so heavy readers either ration their reading or buy more credits. If you only translate the occasional page it's fine — but for binge-readers it's both more expensive and more stressful than a flat unlimited plan.
- Pricing: Credit-metered · $8.99/mo or $89.99/yr
- Best for: Light, occasional readers who won't hit credit limits
3. Immersive Translate — Great generalist, manga is a side feature
Immersive Translate is an excellent general-purpose webpage and document translator, and it has added image/manga translation with inpainting. If you already use it for articles and PDFs, it's a reasonable add-on. But manga isn't its focus: bubble handling and reader-site coverage are less consistent than a manga-first tool, and the workflow is built around general translation rather than the manga reader.
- Pricing: Free tier + paid plans (general translation)
- Best for: People who mostly translate web pages and want manga as a bonus
4. AI Manga Translator — Functional, narrower
AI Manga Translator does what the name says and can be useful in a pinch, but coverage, language count, and polish trail the tools above. Worth knowing it exists; not where we'd start.
Side-by-Side
| Tool | Pricing model | Monthly | Languages | In-place reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MangaLens | Unlimited | $4.99 | 65+ | Yes |
| Fakey | Credit-metered | $8.99 | Many | Yes |
| Immersive Translate | Tiered / general | Varies | Many (general) | Partial |
| AI Manga Translator | Varies | Varies | Fewer | Yes |
Why "Unlimited" Beats a Feature List
Credit-based pricing sounds harmless until you do the math. A single chapter can be 20–60 pages. Read a few series, catch up on a backlog, or marathon a long-running title and you can burn through hundreds of translations in a weekend. With a credit meter, that either costs extra or makes you stop and ration. With unlimited, you just read.
That's the entire reason MangaLens exists: unlimited reading, no credits to count, at about half the price of the leading metered competitor. If you read manga seriously, the pricing model is the feature.
Read as much as you want — no credit balance, no card to start.
Install MangaLens — 200 Free TranslationsFrequently Asked
Is there a genuinely free manga translator?
Most tools, including MangaLens, give you a free allotment to start (200 translations, no card). For ongoing heavy reading, an unlimited flat plan ends up cheaper and less stressful than buying credits.
Which sites does MangaLens work on?
It translates whatever is on the page, so it works across the readers people actually use. We have platform guides for MangaDex, Webtoon, Bato.to, Asura Scans, MangaKakalot, and Rawkuma.
Can I read raws before the scanlation drops?
Yes. MangaLens detects the bubbles on a raw page and overlays a translation in your language, so you don't have to wait weeks for the official or fan release.
How does MangaLens compare to Fakey specifically?
Same core idea, different pricing model. See our full MangaLens vs Fakey breakdown — the short version is unlimited at $4.99/mo vs. credit-metered at $8.99/mo.