If you love reading manga online, you’ve probably come across MangaBuddy and wondered: “is it safe to use manga buddy?” This is a smart question to ask before spending hours on any free manga site.

In this detailed guide, we’ll break down:

• What MangaBuddy is and how it works
• Security, privacy and content risks
• Whether MangaBuddy is legal or not
• If MangaBuddy is safe for kids and teens
• Safer and legal alternatives to read manga online
• Practical tips to stay safe if you still decide to visit manga sites

Throughout the article, we’ll use simple language so it’s easy to understand, even if you’re not very technical.

---

What Is MangaBuddy & How Does It Work?

Before deciding is it safe to use Manga Buddy, it helps to understand what the platform actually is and how it behaves.

Basic idea of MangaBuddy

MangaBuddy is a free online manga reader. It lets users read manga, manhwa and manhua in different genres like action, romance, fantasy, drama and more. You can open the website, search for a title, choose a chapter, and start reading in your browser without installing anything.

You’ll usually see features like:

• A search bar to find manga titles
• Categories (action, romance, webtoon, mature, etc.)
• Chapter lists for each series
• Bookmark or “favorite” options for logged-in users

How MangaBuddy makes money?

MangaBuddy is free to use, so it mainly relies on ads and third-party banners for revenue. Many users report seeing pop-up ads, redirect ads and banner ads when they browse pages or switch chapters.

This ad-heavy model is very common for free manga sites, but it can also create:

• Annoying pop-ups or new tabs
• Redirects to random or low-quality websites
• Risk of landing on scammy pages if you click the wrong thing

Content range – including mature titles

MangaBuddy hosts a wide range of content, including series with violence, strong language, and explicit sexual themes. Some titles on the site are clearly marked as “Mature” or have adult storylines.

This is important if:

• You’re a parent worried about what your child might see
• You’re a teen trying to avoid explicit content
• You share a device with family members

No (or minimal) personal data collection

One small plus from a privacy angle: you can usually read without creating an account, or at least without entering very detailed personal data. Some reviews note that the platform does not typically require things like full name or payment information just to read.

However, this doesn’t mean there are no risks. Your IP address, device data and browsing behavior can still be tracked by ad networks or analytics tools, like on many websites.

---

Is It Safe to Use Manga Buddy? Main Security & Privacy Risks

Now let’s answer the main question: is it safe to use manga buddy? The honest answer is: it’s a mixed picture. Some security tools rate certain MangaBuddy domains as relatively safe, while parents’ guides and user discussions warn about ads, redirects and content risks.

Confusing domain situation (clones & look-alikes)

There are (or have been) several related or similar domains, like:

• mangabuddy.com
• mangabuddy.top
• mangamirror.com (reported as a rebrand of MangaBuddy)

Some of these domains have low trust scores on scam-checking websites, especially newer ones like mangabuddy.top. One security checker even warns that the trust rating is “rather low” and suggests it may be a scam.

This means:

• You might think you’re visiting the “real” MangaBuddy
• But you could end up on a copycat site with worse ads, more malware risk or phishing

History of hacking & suspicious behavior

Users on Reddit once reported that MangaBuddy had been “hacked” and was redirecting to strange links, with antivirus software flagging web attacks.

While that specific incident may be old and “fixed”, it shows:

• The website’s security has been questionable in the past
• Visiting such sites always involves some risk of malicious scripts or compromised ads

Ads, pop-ups and redirects

Many users and review sites describe MangaBuddy as:

• Ad-heavy – with lots of banners and pop-ups
• Sometimes redirecting to other sites when you tap or click for the next chapter

Risks from these ads include:

• Being redirected to scam pages pretending to be system alerts
• Fake “update your browser” or “download this player” messages
• Phishing pages asking for personal info
• Pages trying to trick you into installing unwanted apps or browser extensions

Security-conscious guides note that while MangaBuddy itself may not force malware downloads, the third-party ad networks can still lead you to harmful sites if you click carelessly.

Mixed ratings from security tools

Not all tools agree:

• Some scanners give mangabuddy.com a decent trust score (for example, around 70/100, calling it “legitimate but not perfect”).
• Other tools say it’s not on major malware blocklists, meaning it isn’t flagged as a known malicious domain.
• But for related domains like mangabuddy.top, trust scores can be quite low.

So on a technical level, MangaBuddy is not the worst site on the internet, but it’s far from risk-free, especially if you are not careful with ads.

Privacy and data concerns

Even without sign-ups, free manga sites like MangaBuddy can collect:

• IP addresses
• Basic device info
• Pages you visit and time spent

This data can be shared with ad networks. While this is common on many websites, it’s something to remember if you want maximum privacy online.

---

Legal & Ethical Side: Is MangaBuddy a Legal Manga Website?

Safety is not only about viruses. When asking is it safe to use manga buddy, we also have to talk about legality and ethics.

Is MangaBuddy officially licensed?

MangaBuddy is not known as an official, publisher-owned platform like:

• MANGA Plus by Shueisha, operated directly by Shueisha (the publisher of major series like One Piece and Jujutsu Kaisen)
• Shonen Jump app / VIZ, which is an official source for many Shonen Jump titles

Some reviews about the “MangaBuddy app” note that it claims to host only legal titles but lacks clear licensing information for many series, which raises doubts.

Because of this, MangaBuddy is widely viewed as operating in a legal gray area, similar to many free manga scan sites.

How copyright typically works for manga?

Manga is protected by copyright. Legit platforms either:

• Own the rights, or
• Pay licensing fees and share revenue with creators

Unofficial sites often scan, translate and upload manga without permission, which likely violates copyright law in many countries.

On Reddit and other forums, users often describe such sites as “not really legal” even if casual readers rarely face direct punishment. The main legal target is usually the people uploading and hosting the content, but that doesn’t automatically make viewing it fully legal or ethical.

Legal risk for users

In practice:

• Most readers are not individually targeted by law enforcement
• But using unlicensed manga sites may still break copyright laws, depending on your country
• Some countries have stricter rules, especially for downloading or storing infringing files

This guide is not legal advice, so if you’re deeply concerned, you should check your local laws or talk to a legal expert.

Ethical issues – supporting creators

Even if you personally feel safe, there’s an important ethical question behind “is it safe to use manga buddy?”

• Creators and publishers lose revenue when fans rely on unlicensed sites
• This can directly affect the ability of manga artists to continue their work
• Legal platforms use ads or subscriptions to pay the people who make the manga

So even if MangaBuddy feels easy and convenient, it’s more ethical (and often safer) to use legal services when possible.

---

Is MangaBuddy Safe for Kids & Teens?

Parents and younger readers often ask a related version of the main question: “is it safe to use Manga Buddy for kids or teens?”

Content suitability

Parental control sites and safety blogs point out that MangaBuddy can show:

• Mature or explicit content
• Uncensored scenes
• Suggestive covers and thumbnails within general browsing pages

They usually conclude that MangaBuddy is not fully safe for young audiences, especially without supervision.

Lack of strong parental controls

MangaBuddy is not designed as a kid-focused platform. It generally lacks:

• Built-in parental control modes
• Easy content filters by age rating
• Simple ways for parents to restrict explicit content

This means a child can easily click into adult series even if they start from something harmless.

Ad and redirect issues on mobile

On mobile, some users report that almost every tap for a next chapter can open a new tab or redirect to another website, which might include:

• Gambling or betting sites
• “Adult” chat or dating pages
• Fake game or app download prompts

For a teenager who is used to closing pop-ups, this might be only annoying. But for younger kids, it can easily expose them to inappropriate or unsafe pages.

Expert and reviewers’ verdict for younger users

Several parental-control style sites and guides say MangaBuddy is only “safe with caution”, or that it is technically secure but not appropriate by default for kids. They advise:

• Use ad-blockers
• Supervise usage
• Be selective about which series are allowed

So if the question is: “Is MangaBuddy safe for my child?” – the realistic answer is: No, not by default. It can only be somewhat acceptable with strong supervision and technical protections, and even then, legal alternatives are far better.

---

Safer & Legal Alternatives to MangaBuddy

If you’re uncomfortable with the risks but still love manga, there’s good news: there are many legal and safer platforms that answer the need behind the question “is it safe to use manga buddy?”

Official manga apps and sites

Here are some popular legal options used worldwide:

• MANGA Plus by Shueisha – official service from Shueisha. Offers latest chapters of big Shonen Jump titles (like One Piece, Jujutsu Kaisen, Spy x Family, etc.) for free at the same time as Japan in many countries.
• Shonen Jump / VIZ – official English app and website with a huge vault of chapters. Free recent chapters plus a low-cost subscription for full access.
• Other official apps (depending on region) listed by news outlets, publishers and even Indian and global anime communities, like Crunchyroll Manga, K MANGA and more.

These platforms:

• Clearly state their licensing
• Share revenue with creators
• Usually have better security and less shady ads

Why legal services are often safer?

Legal manga services usually:

• Use more trustworthy ad networks or subscription models
• Are less likely to serve malicious pop-up ads
• Provide age ratings, content filters and sometimes parental controls
• Have clear privacy policies and support channels

They’re not perfect, but generally much safer than random free manga sites.

How to choose a safe manga site or app?

When choosing where to read manga, look for:

• Official connection to a publisher (Shueisha, Kodansha, etc.)
• Positive mentions in reputable news or tech blogs
• Clear terms of service and privacy policy
• No demands for strange permissions (for example, a reader app asking for access to your contacts or SMS is a red flag)

If a site:

• Has lots of copied series
• Uses low-quality logos
• Or looks like a clone of another domain

…assume it could be unsafe or unlicensed.

---

Safety Tips If You Still Decide to Use MangaBuddy

Even after reading all this, some users may still visit MangaBuddy or similar sites. If you do, it’s important to be as safe as possible while you search for manga.

Basic device protection

If you go to any free manga site (including MangaBuddy):

• Use a good antivirus / anti-malware program and keep it updated
• Turn on your browser’s built-in safe browsing or “enhanced protection” features
• Keep your operating system, browser and apps updated so known security holes are patched

Be strict with what you click

To reduce risk on MangaBuddy or any similar site:

• Don’t click on flashing banners or “You won a prize!” style ads
• Avoid downloading any “player,” “codec,” or “update” that appears from pop-ups
• If a new tab opens unexpectedly, close it immediately without interacting
• Use an ad-blocker (where legally allowed) to reduce risky ads and redirects

Protect your privacy

When using MangaBuddy or other free manga sites:

• Avoid logging in with your main email; if you must register, consider a secondary email
• Never share payment card information on random manga clones
• Don’t reuse important passwords you use for banking, email, or work

This way, even if a database is leaked, your most important accounts stay safe.

For parents

If your teen insists on using MangaBuddy but you’re worried:

• Talk openly about what content is appropriate
• Install a content filter / parental control app that can block adult sites and risky ads
• Encourage them to use legal apps for their favorite series, and explain why it matters to support creators

---

Quick FAQs About MangaBuddy Safety

To finish, let’s answer some common questions directly.

Q1. So, is it safe to use Manga Buddy?

Short answer: MangaBuddy may be technically usable for many people, but it is not fully safe or risk-free.

• It has a history of ad-related risks, redirects and at least one reported hacking incident.
• Some domains linked to MangaBuddy have low trust scores.
• It sits in a legal gray area because it doesn’t clearly show licenses for many series.

If safety, legality and supporting creators are important to you, official alternatives are much better choices.

Q2. Can MangaBuddy give me a virus?

MangaBuddy itself may not intentionally install malware, and some security scans rate its main domain as moderately safe.

However:

• Third-party ads and redirects can lead you to malicious websites, which might try to trick you into installing harmful software.

So the risk is not zero, especially if you click on suspicious content or download anything.

Q3. Is MangaBuddy legal in my country?

Most likely, MangaBuddy is not officially licensed, so it probably doesn’t fully comply with copyright laws in many regions.

• In many places, the main legal issue is with those who host and upload the content
• But reading unlicensed content may still be against the law or at least against the spirit of copyright

You should check your local laws if you’re concerned.

Q4. Is MangaBuddy safe for kids?

No, MangaBuddy is not kid-friendly by default:

• It has mature and explicit titles
• It shows ads and redirects that might lead to inappropriate websites
• It lacks strong parental controls or easy content filters

For children or young teens, it is much safer to stick with legal, official manga apps that support age ratings and have stricter content guidelines.

Q5. What are the best safe alternatives to MangaBuddy?

Some of the safest and most widely recommended legal platforms include:

• MANGA Plus by Shueisha – free latest chapters, official and global.
• Shonen Jump / VIZ – huge library of Shonen Jump series with affordable subscription.
• Other official apps promoted by manga and anime communities and media as legal choices, depending on your country.

These options are far safer and ensure that authors and publishers get paid.

---

Final Verdict: Should You Use MangaBuddy?

If your question is “is it safe to use manga buddy?”, the most balanced answer is:

• Technical safety: With strong antivirus, ad-blockers and careful clicking, many people can use MangaBuddy without immediate problems – but there are still real risks from ads, redirects and occasional security issues.
• Content & kid safety: It is not suitable for children without heavy supervision, due to mature content and risky ads.
• Legal & ethical side: MangaBuddy is almost certainly not a fully licensed platform for most titles, so it is legally gray and ethically weaker compared to official services.

If you care about your device security, privacy, supporting creators, and avoiding legal gray areas, the best decision is to choose official manga apps and websites instead of MangaBuddy.