It's hard to say which one is more popular in an absolute sense. The light novel has a strong following among those who love traditional print media and in - depth storytelling. It has the advantage of being a more established format with a long - running series of volumes. However, the web version reaches a different audience, especially those who are more active online and prefer to consume content digitally. It can also gain popularity through online communities and sharing, so it really depends on different groups of fans.
The light novel tends to be more popular. It has been promoted more widely and has a lot of merchandise associated with it. The physical copies are sold in bookstores around the world, while the web novel is more of an online - exclusive thing and might not be as well - known to the casual readers.
Light novels are often more visible in the mainstream market. They are sold in stores, promoted more widely, and have a more polished presentation with their nice covers and illustrations. However, the web novels have a strong fan base within the online community. People who are really into the story from the very beginning and are used to reading online might prefer the web novels. So popularity depends on different groups of readers.
The web novel often has a faster - paced plot development. It might introduce new concepts or plot twists more quickly compared to the light novel. Also, the web novel may have some elements that were later removed or changed in the light novel adaptation due to various reasons like better fitting the overall story arc.
If you prefer a more polished and in - depth story, the light novel is a great choice. It usually has more detailed descriptions and a more refined writing style.