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Alternatives

Best Kindle alternatives in 2026

Kindle is Amazon's free reading apps for Kindle ebooks on phones and computers. These 9 alternatives come from the same rankings, ordered by editorial score. Connected products carry a small, disclosed lift.

9 alternatives From best ebook reader apps How we rank Share

Ranked alternatives

  1. Apple Books

    Free app with no subscription, offline reading and audiobook playback on iPhone, iPad and Mac. It works only on Apple devices, and books are priced one at a time.

    Best for Apple users who buy ebooks and audiobooks from Apple

    iOS, iPadOSmacOSFree

    88.0of 100
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  2. Readest

    Is open source; also runs on Linux, Web. Open-source EPUB and PDF reader with apps on macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, iOS and the web, plus highlights, notes and text-to-speech. Kindle and Apple Books have longer track records.

    Best for Open-source reading across phones and desktops

    macOSWindowsLinuxAndroidiOSWebFree and open sourceOpen source

    86.5of 100
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  3. KOReader

    Is open source; also runs on Linux. Open-source reader for many formats that runs on Kindle, Kobo, PocketBook, Android and desktop Linux. It reads files you already have, but it does not sell books, so it suits readers who manage their own files.

    Best for E-ink devices and many document formats

    AndroidLinuxFree and open sourceOpen source

    85.0of 100
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  4. Libby

    Also runs on Web. The OverDrive app that borrows ebooks and audiobooks from a public library for free, on iPhone, Android and the web. Access depends on your library card, and titles are on loan, unlike Kindle or Apple Books purchases.

    Best for Free ebooks and audiobooks from a public library

    iOSAndroidWebFree

    84.5of 100
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  5. calibre

    Is open source; also runs on Linux. Free and open source library manager that converts books between formats on Windows, macOS and Linux. It is a desktop tool with no phone reading app, so it complements a reader rather than replacing one.

    Best for Managing and converting a large personal library

    WindowsmacOSLinuxFree and open sourceOpen source

    83.0of 100
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  6. Thorium Reader

    Is open source; also runs on Linux. Free, open-source desktop reader for Windows, macOS and Linux under BSD-3-Clause. It has no phone app, so it suits readers who only read on a computer.

    Best for Desktop reading of open-format books

    WindowsmacOSLinuxFree and open sourceOpen source

    80.0of 100
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  7. Foliate

    Is open source; also runs on Linux. An open-source ebook reader for Linux that opens EPUB and Mobipocket files, with auto-hyphenation, popup footnotes and media overlays. It is a reader, not a library manager, unlike calibre, and it runs only on Linux.

    Best for A simple open-source reader on Linux

    LinuxFree and open sourceOpen source

    79.0of 100
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  8. FBReader

    Also runs on Linux. A free reader for EPUB, FB2 and Readium LCP-protected books on six platforms, including Linux and Chrome OS. It has been closed source since 2015, unlike Readest and KOReader in this list.

    Best for EPUB and DRM-protected books on many systems

    iOSAndroidWindowsmacOSLinuxChromeOSFree

    78.5of 100
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  9. Google Play Books

    Also runs on Web. Google's store and reader for ebooks and audiobooks, with titles bought one at a time and no subscription. It works on Android and in a browser, and it supports offline reading and Android Auto audiobooks.

    Best for Android readers who buy titles one at a time

    AndroidWebPaid

    77.5of 100
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Open-source alternatives to Kindle

Kindle alternatives for Linux

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About Kindle alternatives

What is the best alternative to Kindle?
On listme.name the highest-scored alternative is Apple Books, followed by Readest. The right choice depends on price, platform and whether you need open source.
Is there a free alternative to Kindle?
Yes. Free options include Apple Books, Readest, KOReader.

Before you switch

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