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Publishing · head to head

Wattpad vs Webtoon

Wattpad logo

Wattpad

Publishing

User-generated fiction publishing and reading app, owned by Naver alongside Webtoon

From
Free
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

  • Each has a real cost: Wattpad only a small, selected group of authors participate in the Paid Stories revenue-share programme, so the large majority of writers publishing on the platform earn nothing directly from their work being read.; 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: Wattpad covers Free serialised fiction library, Webtoon covers Vertical-scroll format.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Wattpad and Webtoon actually diverge.

Attributes where Wattpad and Webtoon differ
AttributeWattpadWebtoon
Pricing modelFree with ads; paid ad-free subscription and optional in-app coin purchasesFree to read on a delay; Webtoon Coins purchased to unlock early chapter access

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Wattpad

  • Free serialised fiction library
  • Wattpad Premium subscription
  • Wattpad Coins
  • Paid Stories programme
  • Writing and publishing tools
  • Wattpad Studios

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.

Wattpad

  • A reader wanting free access to a large catalogue of ongoing, chapter-by-chapter serialised fictionnot Webtoon
  • An amateur writer wanting to publish work chapter by chapter and build a following before seeking traditional publicationnot Webtoon
  • A frequent reader wanting an ad-free, offline-capable experience through Wattpad Premiumnot Webtoon
  • A fan wanting to tip a favourite author or unlock select paid stories through the Wattpad Coins systemnot Webtoon

Webtoon

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

Where each one falls short

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

Wattpad

  • Only a small, selected group of authors participate in the Paid Stories revenue-share programme, so the large majority of writers publishing on the platform earn nothing directly from their work being read.
  • The free tier is ad-supported with ads appearing between chapters, which interrupts reading flow in a way competitors with a purely subscription model do not.
  • Content moderation across a huge volume of user-submitted fiction has been an ongoing challenge, and mature or borderline content has periodically drawn scrutiny given the platform's substantial teenage user base.
  • Since the 2021 Naver acquisition and merger with Webtoon, product direction is set within a larger Korean media conglomerate strategy rather than independently, which has meant slower, less predictable feature development for the original Wattpad product.
  • Story completion and update frequency depend entirely on individual amateur authors, so readers following an ongoing story have no guarantee it will ever be finished.

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

Wattpad

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Ad-supported reading of the full story catalogue
    • No offline downloads
    • Ads shown between chapters
  • Wattpad Premium$4.99/month
    • Ad-free reading
    • Offline chapter downloads
    • Also offered at a discounted annual rate

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 Wattpad if

  • You need free serialised fiction library.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want wattpad premium subscription.
Wattpad 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 Wattpad or Webtoon better?
Neither clearly leads. Wattpad starts at Free and Webtoon at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Wattpad or Webtoon?
Wattpad starts at Free and Webtoon at Free.
Does Wattpad 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 Wattpad for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Wattpad best used for?
Wattpad is most often used for a reader wanting free access to a large catalogue of ongoing, chapter-by-chapter serialised fiction, an amateur writer wanting to publish work chapter by chapter and build a following before seeking traditional publication, a frequent reader wanting an ad-free, offline-capable experience through wattpad premium, a fan wanting to tip a favourite author or unlock select paid stories through the wattpad coins system. Of those, a reader wanting free access to a large catalogue of ongoing, chapter-by-chapter serialised fiction and an amateur writer wanting to publish work chapter by chapter and build a following before seeking traditional publication are not what Webtoon is typically brought in for.
What can Wattpad do that Webtoon cannot?
Wattpad covers Free serialised fiction library, Wattpad Premium subscription, Wattpad Coins, Paid Stories programme. Webtoon covers Vertical-scroll format, Fast Pass early access, Originals programme, Canvas open publishing.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Wattpad: Is Wattpad free?

Yes, reading is free and ad-supported; Wattpad Premium removes ads and adds offline downloads for a monthly or annual fee.

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.

Wattpad: Can writers make money on Wattpad?

A limited number of authors are selected into the Paid Stories programme and earn a share of Wattpad Coins spent on their work; most authors do not earn direct payment from the platform.

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.

Wattpad: Who owns Wattpad?

Naver, the South Korean internet company that also owns Webtoon, acquired Wattpad in 2021.

Webtoon: Who owns Webtoon?

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

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