Manga Translation Tools Compared: What Actually Works (2026)

There are more manga translation tools available now than ever. Browser extensions, desktop apps, self-hosted pipelines, and mobile apps all compete for different use cases. Some are free, some charge per page, some require a GPU and Python knowledge.

This guide covers every major option, explains how the translation pipeline actually works under the hood, and gives honest assessments of what each tool does well and where it falls short.

Full Comparison Table

BYOK = Bring Your Own Key (you provide API keys for your preferred LLM).

How the Translation Pipeline Works

Every tool on this list runs some version of the same five-stage pipeline. Understanding these stages helps explain why results differ between tools and where quality problems come from.

Stage 1: Text Detection. The tool scans the image to find regions containing text. This includes speech bubbles, narration boxes, sound effects, and floating text. This is actually the biggest bottleneck for quality. If text is not detected, it cannot be translated. Handwritten text, stylized SFX, and text that blends into artwork are frequently missed.

Stage 2: OCR (Optical Character Recognition). Detected text regions are fed through an OCR model that converts the image of text into actual characters. For Japanese manga, manga-ocr is the standard. It handles printed text in speech bubbles well but struggles with handwritten text, calligraphy, and heavily stylized fonts.

Stage 3: Translation. The extracted text is sent to a translation engine (an LLM like GPT, Gemini, or DeepSeek, or a local model). This is the stage that most affects the readability of the final output. Better LLMs produce more natural, context-aware translations.

Stage 4: Text Removal (Inpainting). The original text is erased from the image and the background is reconstructed. For simple solid-color speech bubbles this is trivial. For text over detailed artwork or screentone patterns, the tool needs AI inpainting to fill in what was behind the text.

Stage 5: Typesetting (Rendering). The translated text is placed back into the image in the correct positions. Font selection, text size, and bubble fitting all happen here. This is where desktop apps with manual editing shine over fully automatic tools.

Where quality differences come from: Most tools use the same OCR model (manga-ocr) and similar inpainting approaches. The real differences are in text detection accuracy, which LLMs are available for translation, and how much control you have over the typesetting.

Browser Extensions

Browser extensions are the fastest way to start. Install, click a manga page, get a translation. No local software, no API keys, no GPU needed.

KitsuTL

KitsuTL is a browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. It handles both translation and image restoration (decensoring) in one tool.

Speed: 1-2 seconds per page.

LLM options: GPT, Gemini, Qwen, Grok, DeepSeek. You pick which model to use.

How it works: Click any manga image on a reader site (or drag-drop local files), select your mode (Translate, Restore, or both), and the processed image replaces the original on the page. Batch mode lets you process full chapters at once.

Pricing: Pay-per-use at ~$6 for 2500 credits (roughly $0.002 per page). 20 free credits on signup. Credits never expire.

Unique feature: The only browser extension that combines translation with image restoration (removing mosaic/bar censorship). For details on decensoring, see our DeepCreamPy alternatives guide.

Torii

Torii is a translation-only extension with the same core technology and pricing as KitsuTL.

Speed: 1-2 seconds per page.

Pricing: Same as KitsuTL. ~$6 for 2500 credits, 20 free on signup.

If you only need translation (no decensoring), Torii and KitsuTL are functionally identical. Choose based on interface preference.

Cotrans

Cotrans is a userscript (Tampermonkey/Violentmonkey) based on the manga-image-translator project. It adds a translate button to manga reader sites.

Pricing: Free.

The catch: The hosted web service has been unreliable and is sometimes down entirely. When it works, processing can be slow during peak times. Translation backend options are more limited than paid extensions.

Best for: Users who want a free option and can tolerate occasional downtime.

IsManga (Manga Translator)

IsManga is a browser extension with a subscription pricing model rather than pay-per-use.

Pricing: Around $6/month for unlimited use.

Key difference: Subscription means unlimited pages per month, which is better value if you read a lot (100+ pages/month). Worse value if you read occasionally. Limited LLM backend options compared to KitsuTL/Torii.

Desktop Apps

Desktop apps give you more control over the translation pipeline, especially typesetting. They are the preferred tools among scanlation groups because you can review and correct every stage of the process before generating the final output.

The tradeoff is setup time: you need to install software, configure API keys, and sometimes install Python dependencies.

Comic-Translate

Comic-Translate is an open source desktop app that supports manga, manhwa, webtoons, and European comics. Available on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Supported formats: Individual images, PDF, EPUB, CBR, CBZ.

LLM options: GPT-4, Claude, Gemini, DeepSeek, and local models. You provide your own API keys.

OCR: Uses manga-ocr for Japanese, PaddleOCR for Chinese, Pororo for Korean, and EasyOCR for other languages.

Standout feature: Manual correction mode. You can review and fix OCR output before translation, and adjust typesetting after translation. This produces cleaner results than fully automatic tools at the cost of more manual work.

Setup: Download the release, install dependencies, add your API keys. Moderate difficulty.

BallonsTranslator

BallonsTranslator is another open source desktop app, popular among scanlation teams for its rich editing capabilities.

What makes it different: BallonsTranslator has a full typesetting editor built in. You can adjust font, size, position, rotation, and styling for every text element after translation. This is the closest you get to professional scanlation quality without manual Photoshop work.

LLM options: GPT, DeepL, Sugoi local models, and others. Bring your own API keys.

OCR: manga-ocr for Japanese, with other OCR options for Chinese and Korean.

Setup: Similar to Comic-Translate. Download, configure, add API keys.

Best for: Users who want fine control over typesetting and are willing to spend time on manual adjustments.

Self-Hosted

manga-image-translator

manga-image-translator is the foundational open source project that several other tools (including Cotrans) are built on. It is a full end-to-end pipeline: text detection, OCR, translation, inpainting, and rendering.

Running locally: Requires Python 3.8+, CUDA-capable GPU (recommended), and about 15GB of disk space for models. Install via pip or Docker. Docker is the easier path.

Translation backends: GPT, DeepL, Sugoi (local), Google Translate, Papago, and many more.

What it does well: When running locally, you get full control over every stage of the pipeline. You can swap OCR models, translation backends, and inpainting methods. It is the most configurable option available.

What to know: The inpainting in manga-image-translator is for removing text (cleaning speech bubble backgrounds), not for decensoring. It also has a web interface mode for easier use once you get it running.

Best for: Technical users who want maximum control and do not mind Python/Docker setup.

Mobile

Mobile manga translation is less mature than desktop or browser options.

Google Lens is the most accessible option. Point your camera at a manga page (or open a screenshot) and it overlays translated text. It works for quick lookups but has real limitations for manga: it does not understand speech bubble reading order, struggles with vertical text, and cannot handle handwritten or stylized text. Not practical for reading full chapters.

IsManga has mobile apps for both Android and iOS in addition to their browser extension.

Firefox for Android supports browser extensions, which means KitsuTL and Torii work on mobile through Firefox. Desktop browsers are smoother for longer reading sessions, but it works.

LLM Quality: Which Translation Engine Is Best?

The choice of LLM backend matters more than which tool you use. All tools that let you pick your LLM (KitsuTL, Torii, Comic-Translate, BallonsTranslator) will produce similar quality when using the same model.

GPT-4 / GPT-4o: The most consistent overall. Handles dialogue, narration, and context well. Good at maintaining character voice across a conversation. The default recommendation.

Claude: Some professional translation teams have chosen Claude for the most natural-sounding English output. Particularly good at preserving tone and register.

Gemini Flash: The budget option. Cheaper per token than GPT-4 while producing surprisingly good results for standard manga dialogue. Quality drops on nuanced or ambiguous text.

DeepSeek: Good quality for the price. Competitive with GPT-4 on straightforward dialogue. Less tested on edge cases.

Local models (Sugoi, NLLB): Free and fully offline. Sugoi was specifically trained on visual novels and manga. Quality is a tier below cloud LLMs but keeps improving. The main advantage is zero ongoing cost and no internet requirement.

What the LLM cannot fix: No model handles Japanese pronouns well (they are frequently omitted in Japanese), character names remain inconsistent across pages, and wordplay/puns are untranslatable by any method. These are inherent limitations of the source language, not the model.

Real Costs: What Will You Actually Spend?

Casual reader (50 pages/month, ~2-3 chapters):

• KitsuTL/Torii: about $0.12/month
• IsManga: $6/month (subscription minimum)
• Free tools: $0 (but setup time)

Regular reader (200 pages/month, ~10 chapters):

• KitsuTL/Torii: about $0.48/month
• IsManga: $6/month
• Free tools: $0 plus your own API costs (~$0.50-2 depending on LLM)

Heavy reader (1000+ pages/month):

• KitsuTL/Torii: about $2.40/month
• IsManga: $6/month
• Free tools: $0 plus API costs (~$2-8 depending on LLM)

Pay-per-use is cheaper for most readers. Subscription wins only if you consistently read 500+ pages per month.

Language Support

Japanese is the best-supported language across all tools. manga-ocr was trained specifically on Japanese manga and is highly accurate on printed text. Every tool on this list handles Japanese.

Korean is well-supported by most tools. OCR accuracy is slightly lower than Japanese but still good. Papago tends to outperform Google Translate for Korean. See our manhwa translation guide for Korean-specific tips.

Chinese (Simplified and Traditional) is supported by most tools but is the least tested. PaddleOCR handles Chinese text detection well. Translation quality depends heavily on the LLM.

Verdict

Best for most readers: KitsuTL or Torii. Zero setup, fast, cheap for typical usage. KitsuTL adds image restoration if you need it.

Best for quality-conscious users: Comic-Translate or BallonsTranslator. Manual correction of OCR and typesetting produces noticeably cleaner results. Requires more time per chapter.

Best free option: manga-image-translator running locally. Full pipeline, maximum configurability. Worth the Docker setup if you plan to process large volumes.

Best for unlimited reading on a budget: IsManga. Flat monthly fee with unlimited pages.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which manga translation tool is the best?

For most people, a browser extension like KitsuTL or Torii. Install and click. If you want more control over the output, Comic-Translate or BallonsTranslator are desktop apps with manual editing capabilities.

Are free manga translation tools any good?

Yes. Comic-Translate and BallonsTranslator are free and produce excellent results. You provide your own LLM API key (GPT, Gemini, etc.) which costs a few cents per chapter. manga-image-translator is also free and fully self-hosted. The tradeoff is setup time and technical knowledge.

How accurate is AI manga translation?

Good enough to follow any story comfortably. Standard dialogue and narration translate well with modern LLMs. Consistent weak spots are pronoun ambiguity (Japanese drops them constantly), character name romanization, and handwritten/stylized text that OCR cannot read. The result reads like a solid fan translation, not a professional localization.

Can I translate manga on my phone?

Yes, but options are limited. IsManga has mobile apps. KitsuTL and Torii work through Firefox for Android. Google Lens works for quick single-panel lookups but is not practical for full chapters.

Which LLM should I use for manga translation?

GPT-4 is the safest default. Claude produces the most natural English. Gemini Flash is the cheapest while still being good. DeepSeek is competitive on standard dialogue. For free offline translation, Sugoi's local models are the best option. The choice matters more for nuanced text; for straightforward dialogue, most modern LLMs produce similar results.

Does the tool matter more or the LLM?

The LLM matters more. Two different tools using the same LLM will produce very similar translation quality. Where tools differ is in text detection accuracy (whether they find all the text), typesetting quality (how the translated text looks on the page), and convenience features (batch processing, manual correction, speed).

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Last updated: 2026.