Read Smarter: Best Manga Trackers & Progress Tools

With thousands of manga series spanning countless genres, it’s no surprise that readers often find themselves thinking, “Wait, what chapter was I on again?” If you’re a manga lover who juggles multiple series, staying organized can feel like a full-time job. Luckily, there’s a solution: manga tracking tools and progress trackers.

Whether you’re using dedicated apps, browser extensions, or platforms with built-in tracking, these tools let you keep tabs on your favorite titles, mark completed chapters, and discover new reads. In this guide, we’ll highlight the best manga trackers and tools to help you read smarter—not harder. We’ll also take a closer look at how sites like vyvymanga play a role in tracking your manga consumption.


Why You Need a Manga Tracker

Manga readers today consume content across multiple sites, apps, and formats, often switching between devices and platforms. Without a tracker, it’s easy to:

  • Forget which chapter you left off on.

  • Lose track of your dropped or on-hold series.

  • Waste time scrolling or skimming chapters you’ve already read.

A good manga tracking tool helps you centralize your manga library, giving you an overview of your reading habits and helping you stay on top of updates.


Top Manga Tracking Platforms You Should Know

1. MyAnimeList (MAL): The OG Tracker That Still Shines

Originally designed for anime, MyAnimeList has become one of the most trusted manga tracking tools online. It offers a vast database with thousands of manga titles, complete with synopses, reviews, and user ratings.

✅ Key Features:

  • Create a custom manga list: Reading, Completed, On Hold, Dropped, or Plan to Read.

  • Get chapter and volume tracking.

  • Social features: Add friends, compare lists, join discussions.

  • Integrates with third-party apps and extensions.

🚫 Downsides:

  • The interface feels a bit dated.

  • Not all new or niche titles appear instantly.

Best For: Readers who want a community-driven platform with wide compatibility across devices and apps.


2. AniList: Sleek, Stylish, and Packed With Features

AniList is a newer but powerful alternative to MyAnimeList. It offers similar features but with a more modern design and customization options.

✅ Key Features:

  • Track manga and anime in one elegant dashboard.

  • Rich stats: Time read, genres, scores, and more.

  • Supports multiple list views (grid, list, seasonal).

  • Strong API support for developers and apps.

🚫 Downsides:

  • Smaller community compared to MAL.

  • Some advanced features can overwhelm beginners.

Best For: Readers who love customization, clean design, and in-depth stats.


3. MangaUpdates: Perfect for Tracking Release Progress

MangaUpdates doesn’t just let you track what you’ve read—it helps you stay informed on what’s coming next. It’s especially useful for ongoing and lesser-known manga series.

✅ Key Features:

  • Community-submitted release data.

  • Personalized lists with status updates.

  • Search by genre, demographic, or author.

🚫 Downsides:

  • Basic UI that hasn’t evolved much.

  • No mobile app.

Best For: Readers who want to stay current with release schedules and track obscure or niche titles.


Browser Extensions That Track While You Read

If you prefer reading manga online, these browser extensions can automatically track your progress as you go.

1. MAL-Sync

MAL-Sync is a browser extension that connects sites like VY Manga, Manganato, MangaDex, and others directly to your MAL or AniList account.

✅ Features:

  • Syncs reading progress in real-time.

  • Adds overlays to manga pages showing your last read chapter.

  • Tracks anime and manga across various websites.

🚫 Downsides:

  • Requires some setup.

  • Might not support all manga readers.

Best For: Readers who frequently switch between multiple manga sites, including VY Manga.


2. Tachiyomi with Tracking Extensions

Though technically an app, Tachiyomi supports integration with MAL, AniList, and MangaUpdates. With this, you can track chapters even if you’re reading from third-party sources.

✅ Features:

  • Offline reading with synced tracking.

  • Multiple sources, including VY Manga (via extensions).

  • Complete customization.

🚫 Downsides:

  • Android-only.

  • Requires manual installation of sources and tracking add-ons.

Best For: Android users who want an all-in-one reading and tracking powerhouse.


Built-In Tracking on Manga Sites: Is It Good Enough?

Some manga sites offer built-in history or tracking, which can be convenient. For example, VY Manga provides a history section that shows recently viewed chapters and lets you pick up where you left off.

What VY Manga Offers:

  • Recent chapter memory: Helps you resume quickly.

  • Clean UI: Smooth mobile reading experience.

  • Bookmarking features to save favorites.

However, this form of tracking is local to the browser or device, meaning it doesn’t sync across platforms and can be lost if cookies are cleared.

Best For: Casual readers who stick to one main website like VY Manga and don’t need advanced stats or cross-device tracking.


Mobile Apps That Combine Reading & Tracking

1. VIZ Manga App

With a subscription, the VIZ Manga App offers a legal manga library along with basic progress tracking. It remembers where you left off and lets you favorite series for notifications.

2. Manga Plus by Shueisha

Free and official, MANGA Plus saves your reading progress within the app and lets you sync it with a Google account for backup.

3. Mangazone and Manga Dogs

Unofficial manga reading apps like Manga Dogs or Mangazone come with built-in libraries and reading history. However, they may not support legal reading or syncing with trackers like MAL or AniList.


Choosing the Best Manga Tracking Tool for You

With so many tools available, how do you choose the right one? Here’s a quick guide based on your reading habits:

Reader Type Recommended Tool
Web-based reader MAL-Sync or MangaUpdates
App-based reader Tachiyomi with MAL/AniList sync
Cross-platform reader AniList for design, MAL for compatibility
VY Manga user Browser-based tracking + bookmarks
Legal content supporter VIZ Manga App or MANGA Plus

Read Smarter, Not Harder

Keeping up with multiple manga titles doesn’t have to be chaotic. By choosing the right tracker or progress tool, you’ll spend less time hunting for the last chapter you read and more time actually enjoying your manga.

Platforms like AniList and MyAnimeList help you take control of your collection, while tools like MAL-Sync allow seamless integration with manga sites like VY Manga. And if you’re a mobile-first reader, Tachiyomi offers one of the most complete tracking systems available.

In the end, reading smarter comes down to organization, awareness, and using the right tools. Whether you’re a casual fan or a hardcore manga binger, there’s a tracker out there that fits your style.