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Publishing · head to head

Storytel vs Webtoon

Storytel logo

Storytel

Publishing

Unlimited audiobook and ebook subscription, strong in Europe and Latin America, no library card needed

From
$14.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Webtoon logo

Webtoon

Publishing

Naver-owned vertical-scroll digital comics platform with a paid-early-access coin system

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Webtoon has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Storytel catalogue depth and specific title availability vary significantly by country, so the experience in a core Nordic market is not the same as in newer markets.; Webtoon the Canvas open-publishing tier is largely unpaid or very low-paid for the vast majority of creators, and building a paying audience without an existing platform boost or promotion is difficult, so most work on the platform earns its creator little to nothing.
  • They diverge on capability: Storytel covers Unlimited streaming, Webtoon covers Vertical-scroll format.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Storytel and Webtoon actually diverge.

Attributes where Storytel and Webtoon differ
AttributeStorytelWebtoon
Starting price$14.99/monthFree
Pricing modelPer user per month, unlimitedFree to read on a delay; Webtoon Coins purchased to unlock early chapter access
Free tierNoYes

Identical on both: platforms (iOS, Android, Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Publishing).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Storytel

  • Unlimited streaming
  • Offline downloads
  • Combined ebook and audiobook catalogue
  • Kids profiles
  • Personalised recommendations
  • Multi-device sync

Only in Webtoon

  • Vertical-scroll format
  • Fast Pass early access
  • Originals programme
  • Canvas open publishing
  • Webtoon Coins
  • Creator dashboard and analytics

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Storytel

  • A commuter who listens to several audiobooks a month and finds per-title purchase or credit systems expensivenot Webtoon
  • A reader tired of library holds queues who wants guaranteed instant access to anything in the cataloguenot Webtoon
  • A family wanting a shared subscription with separate kids profiles for audio contentnot Webtoon
  • Someone in a Storytel-strong market such as Sweden, Poland or Brazil where the catalogue depth is greatestnot Webtoon

Webtoon

  • A comics reader happy to wait for chapters to become free rather than pay to read aheadnot Storytel
  • A fan of a specific ongoing series wanting to pay for early access to the next few chapters through Fast Passnot Storytel
  • An aspiring comics creator weighing whether to submit to the paid, editorially supported Originals programme or self-publish on the open Canvas tiernot Storytel
  • A reader browsing genre categories such as romance, action or fantasy across a large catalogue of vertical-format seriesnot Storytel

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Storytel

  • Catalogue depth and specific title availability vary significantly by country, so the experience in a core Nordic market is not the same as in newer markets.
  • Access stops the moment you cancel, so a lapsed subscriber loses the ability to continue books they were partway through, unlike owned audiobook purchases elsewhere.
  • Its ebook catalogue is meaningfully smaller than dedicated ebook services, so heavy ebook readers may find it thinner than expected.
  • It competes on unlimited access, so heavy listeners get better value than light users, who may find a credit-based service like Libro.fm or Audible cheaper per book.
  • Pricing and plan structure have changed by market over time, so the number of concurrent profiles and exact price should be checked for your specific country.

Webtoon

  • The Canvas open-publishing tier is largely unpaid or very low-paid for the vast majority of creators, and building a paying audience without an existing platform boost or promotion is difficult, so most work on the platform earns its creator little to nothing.
  • Fast Pass early access is a real-money coin purchase per chapter, and following several ongoing popular series can add up in cost for a reader who consistently wants to read ahead rather than wait.
  • Coin pack pricing is structured so that unlocking a handful of chapters regularly across multiple series costs meaningfully more than a flat subscription would, and the per-chapter cost is not always transparent before purchase.
  • Only a limited number of creators are accepted into the paid Originals programme, so the promise of making a living from Webtoon publishing applies to a small fraction of contributors rather than the broader creator base.
  • As with Wattpad under the same Naver ownership, product direction is set within a larger conglomerate strategy, and Canvas creators in particular have limited leverage or support compared with the curated Originals slate.

Pricing, plan by plan

Storytel

$14.99/month
  • Storytel$14.99/month
    • Unlimited audiobook streaming
    • Smaller unlimited ebook catalogue
    • Offline downloads

Webtoon

Free
  • Free readingFree
    • Full access to released chapters once their free delay period passes
    • No subscription required
    • Ads shown in some free chapter views
  • Webtoon Coins$1.99/per pack
    • Coin packs purchased in varying sizes to unlock Fast Pass early chapters
    • Coins spent per chapter unlocked, not a flat subscription
    • Prices scale with pack size, typically from a few dollars upward

Which should you pick?

Choose Storytel if

  • You need unlimited streaming.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want offline downloads.
Storytel review

Choose Webtoon if

  • You need vertical-scroll format.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want fast pass early access.
Webtoon review

Questions people ask

Is Storytel or Webtoon better?
Neither clearly leads. Storytel starts at $14.99/month and Webtoon at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Storytel or Webtoon?
Webtoon has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $14.99/month for Storytel and Free for Webtoon.
Does Storytel or Webtoon run on more platforms?
Both run on iOS, Android, Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Webtoon for free?
Yes. Webtoon has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Storytel starts at $14.99/month.
What is Storytel best used for?
Storytel is most often used for a commuter who listens to several audiobooks a month and finds per-title purchase or credit systems expensive, a reader tired of library holds queues who wants guaranteed instant access to anything in the catalogue, a family wanting a shared subscription with separate kids profiles for audio content, someone in a storytel-strong market such as sweden, poland or brazil where the catalogue depth is greatest. Of those, a commuter who listens to several audiobooks a month and finds per-title purchase or credit systems expensive and a reader tired of library holds queues who wants guaranteed instant access to anything in the catalogue are not what Webtoon is typically brought in for.
What can Storytel do that Webtoon cannot?
Storytel covers Unlimited streaming, Offline downloads, Combined ebook and audiobook catalogue, Kids profiles. Webtoon covers Vertical-scroll format, Fast Pass early access, Originals programme, Canvas open publishing.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Storytel: Do I need a library card for Storytel?

No, it is a paid subscription open to anyone regardless of library eligibility.

Webtoon: Do I have to pay to read Webtoon comics?

No, chapters become free after a delay; paying with Webtoon Coins through Fast Pass only lets you read upcoming chapters early.

Storytel: Is access unlimited or credit-based?

Unlimited streaming while subscribed, not a credit system like Libro.fm or Audible.

Webtoon: Can Canvas creators get paid?

Direct payment on Canvas is limited; most paid creator opportunities come through being accepted into the curated Originals programme.

Storytel: What happens to my books if I cancel?

You lose access to the catalogue, including anything you were partway through, since nothing is owned outright.

Webtoon: Who owns Webtoon?

Webtoon Entertainment, owned by Naver, the South Korean internet company that also owns Wattpad.

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