How do I translate text in manga or comics?

Open a CBZ or CBR file in CIRCØ, set your From and To languages, click the translate icon in the toolbar, then draw a rectangle over any speech bubble or caption. OCR reads the text in that region and the translation appears in a popover.

Which languages does the OCR support?

CIRCØ supports nine OCR languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Japanese, and Chinese (Simplified). Language data is downloaded on first use and cached by your browser for fast subsequent lookups.

Can I read right-to-left manga?

Yes. Set the reading direction to right-to-left for Japanese manga, or left-to-right for Western comics and manhwa. You can also choose fit-width, fit-height, or original-size zoom modes.

Are my comic files uploaded to a server?

No. CBZ and CBR files are opened locally inside your browser and never leave your device. OCR also runs on-device. Only the small snippet of recognized text you choose to translate is sent off-device for translation.

What is the difference between CBZ and CBR formats?

CBZ files are ZIP archives of images and CBR files are RAR archives of images. Both contain the individual pages of a comic or manga as JPEG or PNG files. CIRCØ opens both formats directly in the browser without any conversion.

Do I need to install a browser extension?

No extension is needed. CIRCØ is a web app that runs entirely inside your browser tab. You can optionally install it as a Progressive Web App (PWA) for offline access, but it is not required.

Can I use CIRCØ offline to read comics?

Yes. Install CIRCØ as a PWA from your browser menu and it works offline. You can open and read CBZ/CBR files without an internet connection. Translation requires a connection, but reading and OCR work offline once the language data has been cached.

Does CIRCØ save my translated words?

Yes. Every word or phrase you translate is automatically saved to your local vocabulary list. You can review saved words, track your progress, and export your vocabulary — all stored privately in your browser.

← CIRCØ · Guide · Privacy · Terms

Manga & comic translator — OCR any panel

CIRCØ is a free, browser-based manga translator that reads CBZ and CBR comic files and lets you OCR-translate the text right on the page. Draw a box over any speech bubble, caption, or sound effect and CIRCØ recognizes the text with on-device OCR, then translates it in a popover. No account, no browser extension, and your files never leave your device.

Open a comic in CIRCØ →

How do you translate manga online with CIRCØ?

CIRCØ translates manga online in five steps: open a file, choose languages, enter translate mode, draw a rectangle over text, and read the translation. The entire workflow runs inside your browser with no software to install.

Open circ0.com and load a .cbz or .cbr file using the file picker or drag-and-drop.
Set the From language (for example Japanese) and To language (for example English) in the header bar.
Click the translate icon in the toolbar — the cursor becomes a crosshair.
Draw a rectangle over any speech bubble, caption, or sound effect. OCR reads that region and the translation appears in a popover.
Translated regions are saved as overlays, so they reappear automatically when you return to that page.

What is OCR translate for manga and how does it work?

OCR translate for manga means using optical character recognition to extract text from comic-book images, then translating it into another language. Unlike EPUB or PDF text, manga text is embedded in artwork, so normal copy-paste does not work. CIRCØ solves this by running an OCR engine directly in your browser — you draw a box over a region of the page, the engine recognizes the characters, and the recognized text is sent for translation. The OCR language data downloads once and is cached locally for fast subsequent lookups.

This approach works for Japanese manga, Chinese manhua, Korean manhwa, and Western comics in any of the nine supported OCR languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Japanese, and Chinese (Simplified).

What makes CIRCØ different from other comic book translators?

Most manga translation tools are desktop apps that require installation, or browser extensions that only work on specific sites. CIRCØ is different in several ways:

No install, no extension — works in any modern browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) without downloading software.
Privacy-first — your CBZ and CBR files are opened locally and never uploaded. Only the small snippet of recognized text is sent for translation.
Combined reader + translator — read and translate in the same interface instead of switching between apps.
Vocabulary tracking — every translated word is saved to a local vocabulary list you can review and export.
Offline capable — install CIRCØ as a PWA and read comics offline. Translation needs a connection, but reading and OCR work without one.
Not just comics — the same app also translates EPUB books, PDF documents, and video subtitles.

Which CBZ and CBR reader features does CIRCØ include?

Beyond OCR translation, CIRCØ is a full-featured CBZ/CBR comic reader designed for comfortable reading on any screen size.

Right-to-left or left-to-right page turning — set RTL for Japanese manga or LTR for Western comics and manhwa.
Zoom modes — fit-width, fit-height, or original size. Pinch-to-zoom on touch screens.
Saved translation overlays — translated regions persist between sessions, so you never lose your work.
Keyboard navigation — arrow keys and spacebar to turn pages quickly.
Works on phones and tablets — responsive layout with swipe gestures for page turning.

Is CIRCØ really free and private?

Yes. CIRCØ is completely free to use — there are no premium tiers, ads, or sign-up walls. Privacy is a core design choice: comic files are opened inside your browser using local JavaScript APIs and are never sent to a server. OCR recognition also runs on-device. The only data that leaves your browser is the small snippet of text you choose to translate, which is sent to a translation API. Read the full privacy policy for details.

Great for reading untranslated manga

Read raw Japanese manga, Chinese manhua, or comics in any foreign language and translate panel by panel as you go. Because CIRCØ saves every translated word to your vocabulary list, it doubles as a language-learning tool — you can review words you encountered, track how many new words you learn per session, and export your vocabulary for flashcard apps. Whether you are studying Japanese, brushing up on French bandes dessinées, or reading Italian fumetti, CIRCØ helps you understand the text without losing the flow of the story.

Read & translate manga →

Questions? Email circ0@circ0.com. See our privacy policy and terms of use.