If you publish a web novel on Tapas, the recent reports about the platform's planned shutdown raise a question: where can you publish your novel next?
There isn't one replacement that fits every author. The right platform depends on your genre, existing readership, publishing rights, monetization plans, and whether you want to publish the same story on other platforms.
This guide compares a few options so authors can check them before deciding where to move their work.
Note: The Tapas situation is still developing. Check Tapas/Kakao's latest announcements before making decisions about your account, contracts, or paid content.
Before choosing a new platform, don't start by asking, "Which platform should I use?"
Just start with your own requirements, check your publishing agreement. If your Tapas novel is covered by an exclusive agreement, don't simply upload it somewhere else. Read the agreement and determine what rights you currently have.
This is particularly important for novels that participate in monetization or other contractual programs.
Keep your original files
Before migrating, keep your own copies of manuscript files, individual chapters, cover artwork, illustrations, novel description, character information, tags and author notes about characters.
A platform migration is much easier when you have the original material available. Check how the new platform handles ownership.
Look specifically for copyright ownership, publishing licence, exclusivity, content removal, monetization, payouts, and migration tools if there. Don't assume that two platforms with similar audiences have identical terms.
1. NovelCult
NovelCult is a web-novel platform focused on reading, publishing, discovering, and supporting serialized novels.
It supports genres including Fantasy, LitRPG, Cultivation, Action, Romance, and other forms of web novels.
What authors should know
NovelCult states that authors retain ownership of their work. NovelCult has a non-exclusive licence needed to host, display, index, and operate the service; it does not transfer copyright ownership.
NovelCult has a migration tool designed for existing web novels. It supports importing stories from Royal Road, WebNovel, ScribbleHub, and FanFiction.net, as well as importing files such as DOCX, TXT, ZIP, EPUB, and HTML. (Migrate your story)
There is currently no need to manually copy hundreds of chapters one by one when using one of the supported migration routes. NovelCult also verifies ownership before a migrated story is published.
Eligible authors can offer optional paid Early Access, where readers receive access to advance chapters before those chapters become publicly available. NovelCult's FAQ says Stripe handles its current payment, billing, onboarding, and payout flows. (FAQ)
2. Royal Road
Royal Road is a major destination for serialized fiction, particularly around LitRPG, progression fantasy, fantasy, and related genres.
For an author whose Tapas novel fits those categories, Royal Road may be worth evaluating.
However, audience fit matters. A platform that works well for one genre may not produce the same results for another.
Before moving, check Royal Road's current author terms and publishing requirements directly.
Consider Royal Road if you write LitRPG, progression fantasy, fantasy, Isekai, dungeon fiction, and system-based stories.
3. Wattpad
Wattpad has a much broader fiction audience and a strong social-reading component.
It can be worth considering if your novel is aimed at readers interested in romance, fantasy, young adult, contemporary fiction, fanfiction, character-driven stories.
The important thing is to check Wattpad's current publishing and monetization programs rather than assuming they work the same way as Tapas.
Wattpad can be a particularly different experience from platforms that are centered on LitRPG or progression fantasy.
4. WebNovel
WebNovel is another major webnovel platform covering genres such as fantasy, action, romance, cultivation, and other web-fiction categories.
It can make sense for authors whose stories fit those audiences, but authors should pay particular attention to the specific publishing agreement offered to them. Before signing anything, understand whether the agreement is exclusive, what rights are being licensed, how chapters are monetized, how royalties work, what happens if you leave, and whether you can publish the same story elsewhere.
The fact that a platform accepts your genre doesn't automatically mean its publishing arrangement is suitable for your situation.
5. Scribble Hub
Scribble Hub is another option for webnovel, with a wide selection of genres and niche combinations. It can be worth exploring if your novel doesn't fit neatly into the audience of a more genre-focused platform. Authors can consider it for fantasy, LitRPG, Isekai, Romance, slice of life, progression, and other niche web-fiction combinations
As with every platform, check the current terms before transferring or monetizing an existing work.
What about your existing Tapas readers?
Moving platforms doesn't automatically mean moving your audience. This is one of the biggest things an author should consider. If you already have readers on Tapas, tell them where you're going.
You can use author announcements, social media, discord, patreon, email newsletters or any other communities where your readers already follow you. If you have an existing author following, make the transition easy to understand.
For example:
Where to find my novel next:
The story will continue on [new platform].
New chapters will continue on the same schedule.
You can also keep a simple page on your own website containing your current publishing locations.
What if you have hundreds of chapters in Tapas?
Don't immediately start copying them manually. First check whether the platform you're moving to has an import tool. For example, NovelCult currently supports migration from many webnovel platforms and file-based imports. Its migration system can process large back catalogues, with chapters imported in publication order. (Migration Guide)
For a large novel, that can make a substantial difference. After importing, however, review the result before publishing. Formatting, images, chapter titles, links, and other elements may need checking.
NovelCult's own publishing guide recommends reviewing chapter formatting and metadata before publishing.
When moving a story, authors often focus entirely on chapters and forget everything around them. Save your title, description, cover, genres, tags, chapter titles and the author notes
Should you publish on more than one platform?
For some authors, cross-posting makes sense. It means publishing the same novel on multiple platforms rather than depending entirely on one audience. But check the terms first.
NovelCult explicitly states that its publishing licence is non-exclusive, allowing authors to publish elsewhere, provided they aren't restricted by another agreement.
Cross-posting can also help an author compare reader engagement, chapter views, follows, comments, reviews, genre response, and monetization. However, it also means managing multiple publishing schedules and communities.
A good migration checklist
If you're a Tapas author deciding what to do next, use this checklist:
Step 1: Back up your novel
Save every chapter, image, cover, and piece of metadata.
Step 2: Check your Tapas agreement
Determine whether your work has any exclusivity or licensing restrictions.
Step 3: Decide what matters most
Is your priority:
Existing readership?
Genre fit?
Free public reading?
Monetization?
Ownership?
Cross-posting?
Easy migration?
Community interaction?
Step 4: Research two or three platforms
Don't move immediately based on one recommendation.
Step 5: Check the terms
Especially ownership and exclusivity.
Step 6: Import or upload your work
Use a migration tool where one exists.
Step 7: Review the imported chapters
Check formatting, links, images, titles, and chapter order.
Step 8: Tell your readers
Give your existing audience a clear destination.
Step 9: Keep a copy yourself
Even after moving, keep your own files.