# Sumi - AI Manga Translator Review

AI manga translator that erases original lettering and re-typesets your language directly into the artwork, for personal reading on web,

## Editor's Score: 72/100

Capability scores high because the inpainting-plus-retypesetting approach, vertical CJK layout preservation, and confirmed compatibility with 110 named publisher sites are genuinely differentiated features that generic image translators do not match. Ease of use is strong: no account needed for a first page, the Chrome extension requires no file handling, and the iOS app supports drag-and-drop with keyboard shortcuts. Value takes a real hit from the split billing model: a reader using both web and iPhone pays two separate subscriptions with no shared balance, and the Studio plan at $39.99/month is positioned at scanlation groups while explicitly withholding the export workflows that audience actually needs. Delivery scores in the low-to-mid range because the source language ceiling of three languages is a concrete gap versus the marketing copy's broader framing, and the disconnect between the Studio plan's stated audience and its actual feature set is a delivery credibility problem, not just a pricing quirk.

## Pros
- Inpainting-plus-retypesetting pipeline produces pages that look drawn rather than overlaid, including vertical Japanese bubble layouts, which most generic image translators do not handle.
- Tested and confirmed working on 110 named manga publisher sites, with the Chrome extension translating pages in place on sites like Shonen Jump+ and MANGA Plus without any file upload.
- Free tier is genuinely functional: 5 pages on sign-up plus 5 claimable per day, no credit card required, with batch translation of up to 20 pages available even on the free plan.

## Cons
- Web and iOS subscriptions are completely separate with no shared page balance, meaning a reader who uses both the browser and the iPhone app must pay for two independent plans.
- Source language support is limited to Japanese, Korean, and Chinese; there is no path to translate, say, a French or Italian doujinshi into English, even though the site mentions such use cases in its marketing copy.
- The Studio plan at $39.99/month is positioned for scanlation groups, but Sumi explicitly does not support watermark-free export or redistribution workflows, making the plan's value proposition thin for its stated audience.

## Pricing

Freemium. A free tier is available.
- Free: Free
- Pro: $6.99/month (or $69.99/year, billed annually)
- Pro+: $14.99/month (or $149.99/year, billed annually)
- Studio: $39.99/month (or $399.99/year, billed annually)

Pricing reflects what we saw at the time of review (2026-09). Confirm current pricing on the official site.

Category: AI Design & Art (https://aitoolseekers.com/category/ai-design-art)
Official site: https://mangasumi.com/
Last verified by a human: 2026-09-03

Reviewed by a human at AI Tool Seekers, a hand-reviewed AI tools directory. Every listed tool is verified by a person before publishing. Scores are editorial opinions from a fixed rubric (capability, ease of use, value, delivery on promise) and cannot be bought; there is no pay-to-rank.
Directory: https://aitoolseekers.com
This review: https://aitoolseekers.com/tools/sumi-ai-manga-translator
Methodology: https://aitoolseekers.com/how-verification-works

## Verdict

Sumi is the right pick for a reader who wants to follow Japanese, Korean, or Chinese titles without waiting for official translations, and who cares that the page still looks like a manga page rather than a document with text boxes pasted over it. The free tier is genuinely usable at 5 claimable pages per day, but the web and iOS subscriptions are completely separate, so a reader who switches between phone and browser will pay twice. Anyone who needs bulk export for fan releases or wants a tool that works across every device under one subscription should look elsewhere.

Best for: Solo manga readers following untranslated series on official publisher sites
Not for: Scanlation groups distributing releases, or readers who want one subscription covering both mobile and web

## Overview

Sumi does one thing that most translation tools skip: it removes the original lettering, reconstructs the artwork underneath, and typesets your language back inside the original bubble shape. The result reads like a drawn page, not a screenshot with a text overlay. Vertical Japanese bubbles stay vertical. That inpainting-plus-retypesetting pipeline is the product's core differentiator, and it applies whether you are using the online translator, the Chrome extension on a publisher site, or the iOS app with a file you imported.

The tool covers Japanese, Korean, and Chinese source text and outputs to 16 languages. It has been tested against 110 named manga sites, including Shonen Jump+, MANGA Plus, Comic Walker, and roughly 80 additional platforms. Batch translation handles up to 20 pages at once on any paid or free plan. A glossary lets you pin character name translations so they stay consistent across chapters, and you can edit any bubble's translation in place without re-running the whole page.

One structural quirk matters before you subscribe: the web and Chrome extension subscription is entirely separate from the iOS and Mac app. Pages do not carry over, and neither does the subscription. The iOS app sells page packs starting at $1.99 for 200 pages, plus a one-time unlimited offline buy-out. If you read on both platforms, you are looking at two separate payment tracks.

## Who should use it

A reader following three or four ongoing Japanese series that have no English release yet will get real value from Sumi's free daily allowance for light reading, or from the $6.99 Pro plan for anything heavier. The Chrome extension is particularly practical for someone who already reads on official publisher sites like Shonen Jump+ or MANGA Plus: the extension translates the page in place without any file handling. The glossary and in-place edit features make it usable for someone who wants consistent character names across a long series.

Anyone running a fan translation group and looking to produce distributable releases should look elsewhere. Sumi explicitly does not add watermark-free export workflows for republishing, and the tool is built for personal reading copies only. A reader who splits time between an iPhone and a laptop and does not want to manage two separate subscriptions will also find the split billing model frustrating. For general image translation needs that go beyond manga, Canva's Magic Studio tools handle a broader range of design and text-on-image tasks under one subscription.

## FAQ

Q: How many free pages do I get without paying?
A: One page can be translated in the browser with no account at all. Creating a free account adds 5 more pages, and you can claim an additional 5 pages per day from your dashboard. No credit card is required at any point on the free tier.

Q: Does one subscription cover both the website and the iPhone app?
A: No. The web and Chrome extension subscription (starting at $6.99/month) is entirely separate from the iOS app. The iOS app uses page packs starting at $1.99 for 200 pages, or a one-time unlimited offline buy-out. Pages and billing do not carry over between the two.

Q: What source languages does Sumi translate from?
A: Sumi reads Japanese, Korean, and Chinese source text. It does not currently support other source languages such as French or Italian, even though those languages are available as output targets.

Q: Can I use Sumi to produce fan translations for distribution?
A: Sumi is built for personal reading copies. The site explicitly states it does not add watermark-free export workflows for republishing, and the legality and etiquette of distributing any output are the user's responsibility.

Q: Which manga sites does the Chrome extension work on?
A: Sumi has tested and confirmed the extension on 110 named sites, including Shonen Jump+, MANGA Plus, Comic Walker, Young Animal, and roughly 80 additional publisher platforms. The extension translates images already on the page without requiring any file upload.

Q: What is the page limit on the highest paid plan?
A: The Studio plan at $39.99/month (or $399.99/year) provides 12,000 pages per 30 days, which the pricing page describes as approximately 600 chapters.