RuneManga vs Ichigo Reader: manga translators compared
Ichigo Reader and RuneManga compared: upload page, extension, apps, languages, AI models, subscription or free plan, and data handling.
Short answer
Ichigo Reader is a reader-first subscription service: an upload page, a Chrome extension that works on manga sites, apps for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Android, a choice of AI models and 18 target languages, with a free trial. RuneManga is a web app translator with a $0 Free plan, rebuilt art under the old lettering and deletion about an hour after each job; its own extension is in the Chrome Web Store and Edge Add-ons for Chrome, Edge, Opera and Brave.
| Feature | RuneManga | Ichigo Reader |
|---|---|---|
| WebApp upload | Yes. Add images, a folder, a ZIP, a CBZ or a PDF (50 to 500 pages at once depending on the plan, 20 MB each), correct the result in Edit mode, and download single pages, a ZIP or one PDF. | Yes. The upload page on ichigoreader.com takes PDFs, ZIPs and images, with an auto-download option. |
| Browser extension | Yes, in the Chrome Web Store (Chrome, Brave, Opera) and Edge Add-ons; a Firefox version is in review. It translates pages right on the sites you read: an R button per page, Auto mode while you scroll, show original, Translate an area, Edit image and a ZIP of the page's translations. | Yes, a Chrome extension (listed as Manga Translator, about 40,000 users, updated October 2026) that works on manga sites through its Unlocker or Panel Tool. There are also apps for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Android. |
| Languages | From Japanese, Korean, Chinese, English and six more languages (or auto-detect) into 89 languages, including English, Spanish, Portuguese, Turkish and French. Arabic and Thai output is experimental. | Japanese, Chinese and Korean as sources; 18 target languages in the upload page's menu, including English, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Thai and Vietnamese. |
| Bubble-aware typesetting | Yes. Lettering in speech bubbles, caption boxes and text on the art is erased, the background filled in and the translation fitted in its place. Sound effects stay as drawn. Edit mode, in the WebApp and the extension, lets you move, restyle and rewrite the text. | Translated text is shown in bubbles over the page. Its pages do not describe how the original lettering is handled. |
| Colorize | SoonPlanned, not available yet. The colorizer is in development. | Not mentioned on the pages we checked. |
| Translation engine | RuneLingua, our own AI translator for manga dialogue, on every plan, Free included. A few languages it does not cover well yet use another translation service. You can also connect your own AI key (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini, DeepSeek, xAI or OpenRouter). | A choice of AI models. One is available on the free tier; the others are locked to paid Tier 1 and Tier 2. |
| Pricing | Credits, 1 per page. Free at $0: 20 credits a day, claimed on the site, plus 30 once at sign-up that never expire. Supporter ($2.99, 1,000 a month), Pro ($4.99, 2,500) and Ultimate ($9.99, 5,000) are on sale now, with packs of 1,000, 2,500 or 6,000 credits that never expire. | A subscription with a free trial. The App Store lists Tier 1 at $8.99 and Tier 2 at $24.99; the billing period is not stated there. |
| Privacy and retention | Pages are processed on RuneManga's servers; only the text found on the page goes to the translation engine. Jobs are deleted about an hour after they finish and are not used for training. | Uploaded images go to Ichigo's servers and are kept "only as long as needed to provide and improve the Service", with no fixed period. The policy describes cloud hosting and logging providers and names Gumroad for payments. |
| Sign-up needed | Yes for the WebApp: a free sign-in with Google, Discord or an emailed link, no card. | Not for the trial ("no registration required"). An account with email and password is optional. |
When RuneManga is the better fit
- You want a free plan rather than a trial, with the extension from the Chrome Web Store or Edge Add-ons, or the WebApp.
- You want the old lettering erased, the background filled in and a re-lettered PNG or ZIP to keep.
- You want a stated retention: uploads and results are deleted about an hour after the job.
When Ichigo Reader is the better fit
- You want a browser extension already listed in a store, or an app on iPhone, iPad, Mac or Android.
- You want to choose the AI model that translates.
- You read into a language RuneManga does not offer, such as Italian, Polish, Hindi or Chinese.
Questions
Does either need an account?
Ichigo Reader's trial needs no registration. RuneManga's WebApp needs a free account, made with Google, Discord or an emailed link, with no card.
Which languages can I read in?
Both read Japanese, Korean and Chinese. Ichigo Reader's upload page offers 18 target languages; RuneManga translates into 89.
Why are some fields marked as not stated?
We only list what Ichigo Reader's own pages and store listings say. Where they say nothing, we say so instead of guessing.
Sources
- Ichigo Reader: upload page
- Manga Translator (Ichigo) on the Chrome Web Store
- IchigoReader on the App Store
- Ichigo: privacy policy and terms
Facts checked on October 29, 2026 from each tool's own pages and store listings. Something out of date? Write to [email protected].