What you depend on when you publish on a platform
- Readers. If your audience is only on the platform, you cannot take it with you.
- Files. If the originals are only uploaded there, losing them means losing the work.
- Money. The platform sets the percentage, the minimum payout and the payment schedule.
- Your account. The platform can close it or change its rules.
Two publishing platforms
| Aspect | WEBTOON CANVAS (terms of 6 January 2026) | Tapas (terms effective from 9 November 2022) |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 13, or the higher minimum age in your jurisdiction; minors need supervision and the consent of their legal representative | 13 for the service; 18 for advertising, Support and the shop |
| Licence granted | Non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, transferable and sublicensable, for as long as the work is published, to operate, improve and promote the service | Ongoing, non-exclusive, worldwide and royalty-free, for digital publication and promotion. Tapas states that it does not claim ownership |
| Exclusivity | No general exclusivity | Not general. Early Access requires temporary exclusivity for episodes while they are behind the paywall |
| If you withdraw the work | New uses cease; existing uses are not removed | You may withdraw content or submit a takedown notice |
| Income | The creator receives 50% of the net advertising revenue of their series and 70% of the net revenue from Super Likes. Minimum payout: USD 100 via Patreon or USD 25 via PayPal. If you leave the programme or delete your account, a balance of USD 10 or more is paid; below that, nothing is paid | Roughly 70% of advertising revenue; Support passes on 100% after third-party costs; minimum of USD 25 via PayPal; 3 to 5 working days after the request |
"Non-exclusive" means you can also publish your webcomic elsewhere. The only thing that limits this is Tapas's Early Access, which temporarily reserves paid episodes.
Both platforms' licences are broad. They do not take ownership from you, but they let the platform use, modify and promote your work while it is published. Under the CANVAS licence, it can also sublicense the work to third parties.
I have not found a version of the Tapas terms later than the 2022 one. That the page is still live does not prove it is the latest.
Tapas is closing. According to its official notice (FAQ of 30 September 2026, updated on 1 October), from 1 October 2026 it is no longer possible to acquire more Ink, free Ink included; remaining Ink can be used until 31 March 2027, and the service ends that day at 23:59 (Pacific Time). Until then, titles stay online unless withdrawn earlier, which is requested through its creator enquiry form, and new material can still be published, with no restrictions announced. After the closure, not even content that has already been unlocked will be accessible. It is not a platform on which to start a series. If you publish there, keep your originals and decide where you will carry on; see What to do if your digital artwork is on a platform that is closing.
Other platforms
| Platform | Version | What I have located | Not located |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ko-fi | Effective from 13 July 2026 | Free plan: 0% on one-off tips and 5% on shop sales, memberships, monthly tips and commissions. Standard mode: 5% on one-off tips too. PayPal or Stripe fees are added. Payment goes straight to your PayPal or Stripe account, with no Ko-fi threshold of its own in the source consulted | Minimum age, licence, exclusivity, and withdrawal |
| Patreon | Updated 27 May 2026 | 13 to use Patreon; to have a creator page or to buy, 18, or permission from a parent or guardian | Licence, exclusivity, withdrawal, commission, and payment |
| MANGA Plus Creators | Effective 1 July 2026 | The official announcement confirms a revision of articles 17 and 18, on removal and moderation | Minimum age, licence, commission, and payment |
I have not found Pixiv's minimum age, licence, commission or payment terms. Its guidelines say that restricted works are not visible to users under 18, which does not set a minimum age for creating.
Checks for any platform
This is my own list, not the platforms'.
- What age is required, and do you need your parents' or guardians' consent?
- What licence do you grant: exclusive or not, for how long, and can it be sublicensed?
- What happens if you withdraw the work or close your account?
- Is there exclusivity in any programme?
- How much are you paid, on what schedule and with what minimum?
- Does monetisation require you to be an adult?
- Can you download your files?
- What is the date of this version of the terms?
When you accept terms, save a PDF copy dated that day. If they change, you will have what you accepted.
How to keep control
These are my own recommendations:
- Keep your originals outside the platform: the layered file, the full-resolution version and the pages separately. What to keep and how to name it: What to retain as a master file for a digital work and how to name its versions.
- Also publish on a site of your own, a website or a blog, even if most reading happens on the platform. To choose a name and domain, see Artist name, domain and trade mark.
- Collect your readers' contact details, for example with an email newsletter, so you can tell them if you move.
- Before publishing the same episode on two sites, check that neither requires exclusivity.
- Think about paper from the start. If you ever want to print your webcomic, the format of the pages matters. It is explained in How to prepare a file for printing.
If you are under 18
WEBTOON CANVAS admits users from 13, with supervision and the consent of your legal representative. Tapas admits users from 13, but requires 18 for advertising, Support and the shop. Patreon admits users from 13 to use it, and requires 18, or the permission of a parent or guardian, to have a creator page or to buy.
Read the terms with your parents or guardians. I have not found official information on the tax obligations of a minor with their own income; if you start being paid, ask an adviser.
Points requiring clarification
The minimum age, licence, exclusivity and withdrawal terms of Ko-fi and Pixiv; the licence, commission and payment terms of Patreon and MANGA Plus Creators; and a version of the Tapas terms later than 2022. If you are going to use those platforms, read their current terms.
To find out what you may draw without permission, see Fan art: what you can do with other people's characters. And if a publisher offers to publish the webcomic in print, see Publishing contract for a comic: mandatory clauses and the author's rights.
Itineraries
I am starting my practice
Choose the platform for its terms and not only for its audience. And always keep your originals.
I am going to sell or exhibit
If you are going to be paid, check each platform's revenue share, minimum payouts and payment schedules, and do not depend on a single source of income.
An open conversation
This guide brings together dated terms from several platforms and practical recommendations. If you publish webcomics and can provide the current terms of any of those still missing, or you spot a change, you can write to me.
Sources
- WEBTOON CANVAS, terms of use, 6 January 2026.
- Tapas, official end-of-service notice (FAQ of 30 September 2026, updated on 1 October 2026).
- Tapas, terms of service.
- MANGA Plus Creators, official announcement on the revision of the terms.
- MANGA Plus Creators, terms.
- Pixiv, guidelines.
- Ko-fi, terms.
- Ko-fi, fees.
- Patreon, terms and policies.