6 Free Websites to Publish Your Own Comic Online

Explore these popular online publishing platforms to showcase your comic art, and share unique stories

From manga to daily sketches, comics offer diverse ways to express yourself and your stories. Whether you love classic, humorous comic strips or full-length graphic novels, nowadays there’s a wealth of sources to read and publish these stories online.

Below you'll find different websites where you can start publishing your work right now for free. If you’re hoping to build an audience of comic-lovers and create a platform for your work, read on to learn about the various features of each site to help you decide where to upload your comics.

1. WEBTOON

WEBTOON is the go-to site to easily read comics in many forms, with manga being particularly popular. From slice-of-life like My Giant Nerd Boyfriend to myth retellings like Lore Olympus, readers are spoiled for choice. You can read online or via the app.

When it comes to publishing, you’ll use WEBTOON CANVAS, which offers lots of features like integration with Patreon. You’ll choose two genres for your comic and start by uploading your first episode. You can learn more about the process in the WEBTOON ACADEMY. The site also runs regular contests with impressive cash prizes.

2. Tapas

Tapas is focused on webcomics (but also hosts novels and LitRPGs) and is home to more than 100,000 stories! It’s the original home (alongside Tumblr) of popular romance Heartstopper which was just adapted by Netflix, and also creates Tapas Originals in various genres. Comics can be read online or via the app.

Once you have 100 subscribers for one of your titles you can monetize the ads on your page, and after 250 subscribers you can use their in-built creator support tool, where readers can tip you. The platform occasionally partners with traditional publishers to turn popular comics into printed books.

3. GlobalComix

If you have a classic, American-style comic that wouldn’t look lost on the shelf next to Marvel and DC, then GlobalComix might be the choice for you. For action, sci-fi, steampunk, superhero stories, and more, this smaller platform is still home to over 10,000 books.

To earn money, you can put certain chapters behind a general paywall for subscribers to the site, or set up early-access perks for your most loyal readers.

4. Tumblr

Tumblr is still an excellent place to share your creative work if you draw comics. Many of the most popular webcomics on the internet have an account here due to the support and acceptance they give to the genre.

However, it’s worth noting that for the monetization side, you’ll need to link to another site (perhaps one of the above options). Think of Tumblr more as a portfolio, or a way to share snippets of your comic for free to get readers interested, before you direct them to read the full comic elsewhere.

5. Twitch

This is another “supporting” option for your comic, which you can use for promotion and attracting new readers. Many comic artists share their drawing processes on Twitch, using the Art channel. If you can take your potential readers behind the scenes and talk about your storytelling or drawing process, you’ll create some social proof for yourself, demonstrating your commitment to your audience and your expertise as an artist.

6. Patreon

For some creators, Patreon is simply a way to get “tips” for their content. For others, it acts as a members-only website where exclusive content gets published. However you choose to use it, your Patreon could be a useful tool to monetize an online comic. This subscription-based website allows independent creators to support themselves using monthly donations from “patrons”. You could share early-access pages, mini-comics, and more to your most engaged readers, while also supporting your main comic site.

7. Spinwhiz Comics

Spinwhiz Comics is a discovery and distribution platform which was specifically designed to allow content creators to share their content, build their brands and start to gain revenue through multiple avenues. It was also created to give readers a daily stream of new comics and webcomics they may not have noticed otherwise with all of the competitive noise in the marketplace.

To publish your own conttent click the "Become a Publisher!" button at the top of the page.

8. WebcomicsFeed

WebcomicsFeed is a webcomic publishing platform, whose aim is to showcase the work of online comic creators, while offering them a fun new way of engaging with comic fans.

9. Webtoon

Webtoon is a digital comic platform where users can read and publish comics, predominantly in a vertical scroll format optimized for mobile devices. It hosts a wide range of genres, including romance, comedy, fantasy, action, and more. Webtoon features works from various artists and creators from around the world, offering a diverse selection of content to its users. It has gained significant popularity, particularly among younger audiences, and has become a prominent platform for both established and aspiring comic creators.

English version by @angeljimenez ; updated by @lauren_duplessis.

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Now you have an idea of where to publish comics online, you’ll need a great idea and eye-catching art. Here are some resources to get you started.

1. Unleash your creative superpowers with a discounted 2-course bundle: choose from comics, animation, character design, and more.

2. Need some inspiration to find your comic style? These 18 comic strips from Domestika teachers explore a wide range of looks.

3. Learn how to digitize your comic and share it online with a social media strategy in this course by Jimmy Craig.