The 9 Best Book Reading Apps of 2024

E-readers are great, but don't count your phone out. These apps make reading on your phone a breeze

Book lovers no longer lack choices regarding quality ebook and audiobook apps. Here are some of the best book reader apps for Android, iOS, and Windows devices.

01
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Best Free Book Reading App: Media365 Book Reader

Media 365 ebook app on an iPhone XS smartphone..

Media 365

What We Like
  • Massive library of popular and niche ebooks that can be read for free.

  • Ability to import your own ebook files for reading in the app.

What We Don't Like
  • Offline reading requires a $1.99 upgrade.

  • Only for Android.

Media365 is a free reading app for Android that lets you read any of the books in its library in exchange for the occasional fullscreen advertisement. Authors can self-publish on the Media 365 platform, which is why so many niche and indie titles are available. Many mainstream books are also available, like the entire Harry Potter book series.

The Media 365 library stores eBooks in 15 languages, while font size can be adjusted simply by doing a two-finger pinch on the screen. There’s also a text-to-speech function, which lets the app read books to you. You can also upload your ebooks with supported EPUB, PDF, AZW3, CBC, CBR, CBZ, CHM, FB2, LIT, MOBI, TCR, AI, and PUB formats.

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02
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Best eBook Reader App for Amazon Prime Members: Kindle

Amazon Kindle app on an iPhone XS.

Amazon

What We Like
  • Massive library of ebooks to choose from.

  • Apps are updated on a very regular basis.

What We Don't Like
  • The Kindle app for Windows is more for traditional computers than touchscreens.

  • Can’t buy ebooks within the iOS or Android Kindle app.

The official Kindle apps on iOS, Android, Mac, and Windows are Amazon’s way of letting their customers consume their Kindle ebooks without having to buy a Kindle.

Any Kindle-branded ebook on the Amazon website can be read within the Kindle app. A variety of features set this app experience apart from its rivals, including the built-in dictionary, the ability to skip ahead without losing your place, and Amazon’s X-Ray tech, which reveals extra information on a book’s characters and world while you’re reading.

The Amazon Kindle apps aren’t perfect, though. The Windows Kindle app is designed more for traditional desktop computers than modern devices with touchscreens, and the iOS and Android versions don’t support ebook purchases. However, Kindle eBooks can still be purchased on the Amazon website and will sync to the Kindle app almost immediately.

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03
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Most-Available Reading App: Rakuten Kobo

Rakuten Kobo app on iPhone XS.
What We Like
  • Loads of options to customize the reading experience.

  • There’s an official Kobo app for most phones in existence.

What We Don't Like
  • The Windows app is incredibly outdated, and the Facebook login doesn’t work.

  • Audiobooks are only available on the iOS and Android apps.

Rakuten’s Kobo is a major competitor to Amazon, with millions of ebooks and a growing number of audiobooks on its platform. The iOS and Android Kobo apps are clearly where the company puts most of its attention, with each app offering an impressive variety of font sizes, styles, and color options to make the reading experience more personal and comfortable for individual users.

The Kobo app is also available for Windows 10 in the Microsoft Store app store. Windows users will want to download the separate desktop version of the app, though, which is updated regularly and offers more features. The desktop app also works on Macs.

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04
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Best Reading App for Kids: Epic!

Epic book reading app on iPhone XS.

Epic!

What We Like
  • Lots of in-app gamification that encourages kids to read more.

  • Great selection of classic and modern children’s books.

What We Don't Like
  • App requires a monthly subscription to use, though a 30-day free trial is available.

  • Changing settings is a bit of a convoluted process.

Epic! is like a Netflix for kids, but instead of TV shows and movies, it supplies the user with a massive library of ebooks and audiobooks. Parents can make unique profiles for each of their children, who can customize their profiles based on their tastes.

While many classic children’s books are available to download, there are also many modern releases, such as one series of books covering famous pop culture icons. Children can also choose from family-friendly comic books like Snoopy and The Smurfs and numerous short video clips created by DreamWorksTV.

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05
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Best iPhone eBook Reader App: Yomu EBook Reader

Yomu EBook Reader app on iPhone.
What We Like
  • Supports EPUB, MOBI, PRC, AZW, AZW3, KF8, CBZ, CBR, and PDF files.

  • eBooks can be saved to the Yomu app from any iOS web browser.

What We Don't Like
  • Settings menu is very hard to find after adding books.

  • Download links should be in the main menu, not in the tutorial.

The Yomu EBook Reader is a fantastic app for iPhone and iPad users who download their ebooks in various file formats and want to bring them all together for a cohesive reading experience.

Yomu, Japanese for “to read,” supports all of the popular ebook file formats and those supported by Amazon Kindle. Files can be imported to the app via a cloud service like iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive, and once the app is installed, Yomu will appear as a source when saving ebook files from any iOS web browser app.

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06
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PDF eBook Reading App: Foxit PDF Reader

Foxit PDF Reader app on iPhone XS.
What We Like
  • PDF files can be shared directly to the app on iOS.

  • Reflow options makes all files readable on small screens.

What We Don't Like
  • Ability to create a new PDF file requires a $14.99 monthly subscription on iOS and Android.

  • Lack of a back button on app screens makes navigation very confusing.

Foxit PDF Reader Mobile is one of the better PDF apps and is an ideal solution for those who prefer to consume ebooks in the PDF file format. Unlike many similar apps that display a PDF as is and require you to pinch and zoom to read its content, Foxit features a reflow setting that resizes and reorganizes the text on a page to fit perfectly on a mobile phone’s screen.

PDF files can be transferred to the Foxit app via Wi-Fi, iCloud, or Foxit’s own Foxit Drive service. Those using an iOS device can import downloaded files directly from the share feature while using other apps. A monthly subscription is needed to take advantage of many advanced settings, but those looking for an app to simply read their PDF ebooks will be fine with the free functionality.

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07
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Best eBook Reader For Android Phones And Tablets: AIReader

AIReader reading app on Android.
What We Like
  • Supports a lot of Android devices with the minimum OS requirement being Android 2.3.

  • Multiple profiles can be used for different app settings. 

What We Don't Like
  • No support for PDF files.

  • Scrolling can be very jittery on lower-end Android tablets.

AIReader is a popular reading app on Android due to its support for older Android smartphones and tablets running operating systems as out-of-date as Android 2.3. It should be mentioned that many of the scrolling and related animations aren’t as smooth as they should be on older devices, but the ebook reading experience is still solid. Most major file types will work no matter which Android device you’re on.

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08
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Best Reading App on Nintendo Switch: Inky Pen

Inky Pen reading app on the Nintendo Switch.
What We Like
  • Large selection of free comics from lots of popular franchises.

  • Comics look great on the Nintendo Switch.

What We Don't Like
  • $7.99 a month will be a bit expensive for some people.

  • No Marvel or DC Comics series.

Most would think the Nintendo Switch is just for playing games, but its library of non-game apps has been slowly growing since its launch. One of these apps, Inky Pen, is a full-fledged comic book reading app that lets anyone read full digital issues from popular comic book series on their Switch.

Inky Pen does charge a monthly fee of $7.99 for unlimited access to its entire library, but there are an impressive amount of free issues available that will keep most comic fans entertained during long car trips or lazy weekends. What’s cool is the app works when the Nintendo Switch is docked so that a group can read comics on a TV.

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09
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Best Reading App for Google Addicts: Google Play Books

Screenshots from Google Play Books
What We Like
  • Very smooth reading experience with a page turn animation looks fantastic.

  • Runs really well on cheap, low-end Android tablets.

What We Don't Like
  • App needs to switch to the Google Play app every time you want to read more about a book.

  • Has a much smaller selection than Amazon.

Google Play Books, as its title suggests, is Google’s first-party app for reading ebooks and listening to audiobooks bought within the Google Play Store. The book selection isn’t as extensive as Amazon’s, but it’s still large enough to please the casual reader. Those who enjoy reading at least one book a day may want more.

The good thing is that Google Play Books doesn’t need a subscription service. It can be used to enjoy a purchased ebook or audiobook one weekend, then ignored for a week without feeling financial guilt for not taking advantage of some monthly fee.

It’s a very solid reading experience for when you want to use it, is incredibly stable and easy to use, and has some of the best page-turn animations out of all the book-reading apps.

Google Play Books is an excellent reading app, especially for those immersed in the Google ecosystem.

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