Your iPhone may be the computer you use the most, whether it's for work, play, or kick back with a movie. But what about leveraging written content? This is where the best eReader apps come in.
Whether it's a colorful comic, the latest nonfiction in your Amazon library, or a book recommended by a friend, it's never been easier to enjoy a book through your phone. With the ever-increasing size of iPhones and the beautiful OLED displays of the iPhone 13 series, your content comes to life like never before.
With that in mind, here are our picks for the best reading apps you'll find on iOS. And since a tablet is probably even better for most, all the apps listed here also have versions of iPadOS.
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Kindle (opens in a new tab) is synonymous with e-book reading, and Amazon offers its own series of devices to do just that. This association may have buried the lead for some iPhone users, who may not have noticed that there is a Kindle app on the App Store. And the good news is that it's amazing.
The app offers over a million books, and if you're already an Amazon user who's bought books before, your entire library is ready to go right out of the box. Prime and Kindle Unlimited users can also get free books, as well as those included in their subscription, plus Audible functionality so you can listen to your books.
You'll find nifty features like instant Wikipedia searches and translations, a built-in dictionary, and your progress will even sync with other devices.
Scribd
Not sure what you want to read or don't feel like reading a book you might not like? Scribd (opens in a new tab) has long been the "Netflix for books," a subscription service that offers unlimited eBooks for €8.99/€10.99.
And that's not all. Scribd also provides access to audiobooks, magazines, and even sheet music. However, if you stick to written content, the app will sync with your iPhone, iPad, and even your Apple Watch, allowing you to access your content wherever you are. Also, the player itself is incredibly customizable. You can set horizontal or vertical scrolling, font size, and annotate pages without worrying about sticky notes.
Finally, Scribd is ad-free, which means more screen real estate for your content, your library, and the chance to discover your next favorite book.
ComiXology
ComiXology (Opens in a new tab) is an early iPad App Store favorite and is another entry on this list for Amazon, and yes, you'll need to be logged into Amazon to read. It's a shame, but it regularly comes with the benefit of toll-free numbers.
If you're a comic book reader, it's hard to beat ComiXology, which includes Marvel, DC, and more, whether you're a fan of superheroes, manga, or whatever. Digital comics pop right off the screen on the latest iPhones, providing a truly immersive feel with Guided View.
This clever mode moves from panel to panel, meaning you can spend less time scrolling and more time reading about the adventures of the Justice League or the Avengers.
Apple books
No longer known as iBooks and no longer offering that skeleton shelf design, Apple's own bookstore is worth a visit, and it's already on your device by default.
As you can imagine, the library has all the new and the best, as well as the classics, and the audiobooks are high quality and CarPlay compatible. You can also add your own documents, so if you have a large PDF to process, you can do it with Apple's beautiful, minimalist user interface.
There are also reading goals, and all your progress is synced across all your Apple devices, including your Mac.
(*15*) Wattpad
If you're not looking for the kind of article you'll find in your local bookstore, and are instead interested in finding the next Dickens or Bronte, then maybe Wattpad (opens in a new tab) is for you. vosotras.
Wattpad collects the best original stories from aspiring authors and makes them accessible, with plenty of free content to read. You can even upload your own budding bestseller for others to enjoy.
However, it's worth noting that you'll need a premium subscription to sync progress between devices, which will set you back $5.99 / €5.99.
Kobo Books
Part e-reader, part social network for book lovers, Kobo Books (Opens in a new tab) offers a great reading experience with a twist.
You can read, highlight, annotate, and more; but it stands out with the "Read Life" feature, which will allow you to build a community. Think of it like a book club within your app, with millions of books to read and audiobooks to listen to, combined with people to chat with.
There are also a plethora of free titles, so it's worth hopping on them to see if anything piques your interest.
Libby from OverDrive
If you're looking for a more authentic library experience, Libby (opens in a new tab) has you covered: not only can you read your own content, but you can also borrow books for a period of time instead of buying them outright.
You can even annotate and take notes on your borrowed books, all without worrying about paying high fees to deface them. Progress is synced across devices, but you'll need to use a library card to sign in (yes, really), and content is limited to what your visited library has to offer.
Still, there's something strangely odd about Libby's approach that makes us miss the library.
Turn signal
For our final entry on this list, we've opted for something a bit unique: an e-reading app that tries to prevent you from reading a book in its entirety.
All right, help us here. Neuroscientific research from Blinkist (opens in a new tab) suggests that you can absorb much of what a book has to offer in about 15 minutes. To do this, the application provides summaries of books, either by text or through audiobooks. If that sounds like cheating, it may not be for you. However, if you're short on time or want to dig into a topic of conversation, it may be worth checking out.
Still, this unique approach means that Blinkist has a smaller library than most of the alternatives here.