The best reading apps for your own books
Six apps for the EPUBs and PDFs you own, compared on what keeps you inside the story.
At dawn, the mist began to lift. The castle rose above the mist.
At dawn, the mist began to lift. He followed the river with his eyes, past the hills and into the mountains.
There, above the valley, stood the castle.
He stopped on the ridge, his coat stirring in the morning breeze.
The road was still long, but he could see where it led. He tightened the strap of his bag and walked on.
Six apps, in brief
Storieta
Best for staying immersed in the story
Illustrates scenes in your EPUBs and PDFs, keeps every character’s face, and recaps up to your page.
Web · Free → Pro $4.99/mo
- Scene illustrations as you read
- Character cast, portraits, and relationships
- Spoiler-safe recaps and companion
- Works in any browser, free to start
Kindle
Best store and hardware ecosystem
iOS, Android, web, e-ink · Free apps
The biggest store, plus Send to Kindle for your own files. No help following the story.
Apple Books
Best on Apple devices
iPhone, iPad, Mac · Free
Polished, with easy imports and iCloud sync. Apple devices only, and no story features.
Google Play Books
Best free cloud sync
Android, iOS, web · Free
Upload up to 1,000 EPUBs and PDFs and read anywhere. A reliable page-turner.
Kobo
Best Kindle alternative store
iOS, Android, e-ink · Free apps
An EPUB-first store with library borrowing. Best on Kobo hardware.
Moon+ Reader
Best Android power reader
Android · Free + Pro one-time
Endless settings and wide format support. Android only, with a dated design.
Everything, side by side
Swipe to compare →
| Feature | Storieta | Kindle | Apple Books | Play Books | Kobo | Moon+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upload your own EPUB | Yes | Via Send to Kindle | Yes | Yes | Sideload | Yes |
| PDF support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Basic | Yes |
| Works on any device | Browser | Yes | Apple only | Yes | Yes | Android only |
| Scene illustrations | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Character help | Cast + relationships | X-Ray, store books only | No | No | No | No |
| Spoiler-safe recaps | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Ask about the story | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Read chapters as comics | Pro | No | No | No | No | No |
| Built-in bookstore | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Offline reading | iOS beta | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Free option | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |