{
    "products": [
        {
            "slug": "calibre",
            "name": "calibre",
            "kind": "app",
            "website": "https://calibre-ebook.com/",
            "page": "https://listme.name/software/calibre",
            "tagline": "Free e-book library manager with conversion and reading tools",
            "summary": "calibre is free e-book management software for Windows, macOS and Linux. It keeps an e-book library in one place, converts books between formats and reads them. The code is published under GPL-3.0.",
            "platforms": [
                "windows",
                "macos",
                "linux"
            ],
            "pricing": "open-source",
            "price_note": "Free and open source under GPL-3.0",
            "free_to_use": true,
            "open_source": true,
            "license": "GPL-3.0",
            "source": "https://github.com/kovidgoyal/calibre",
            "strengths": [
                "Free and open source under GPL-3.0",
                "Manages a personal library on the desktop",
                "Converts books between formats"
            ],
            "limits": [
                "No phone app, so reading on a phone needs another tool",
                "Desktop tool rather than a reading app"
            ],
            "checked": "2026-10-10",
            "connected_to_publisher": false,
            "overview": "calibre is e-book software that the project calls a one-stop solution for all e-book needs. It manages a library of books on your computer and converts books between e-book formats. It also includes a reader for opening books on the desktop.\n\nThe program runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, and its source is on GitHub under GPL-3.0. calibre is a desktop tool rather than a phone app, so it suits people who want to organize a large personal library and move books to other devices. Readers who want a simple reader on a phone may prefer Apple Books or KOReader."
        },
        {
            "slug": "readest",
            "name": "Readest",
            "kind": "app",
            "website": "https://readest.com/",
            "page": "https://listme.name/software/readest",
            "tagline": "Free open-source EPUB and PDF reader for every major platform",
            "summary": "Readest is a free, open-source ebook reader for EPUB and PDF that runs on macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, iOS and the web. It offers highlights, notes, split-screen reading, text-to-speech and cloud sync. Its code is published under AGPL-3.0.",
            "platforms": [
                "macos",
                "windows",
                "linux",
                "android",
                "ios",
                "web"
            ],
            "pricing": "open-source",
            "price_note": "Free and open source under AGPL-3.0",
            "free_to_use": true,
            "open_source": true,
            "license": "AGPL-3.0",
            "source": "https://github.com/readest/readest",
            "strengths": [
                "Free and open source under AGPL-3.0",
                "Apps for desktop, phone and the web",
                "Highlights, notes and cloud sync"
            ],
            "limits": [
                "Less established than Kindle or Apple Books",
                "Cloud sync is listed on the homepage without pricing detail"
            ],
            "checked": "2026-10-10",
            "connected_to_publisher": false,
            "overview": "Readest is an ebook reader for EPUB and PDF files. Its homepage lists macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, iOS and the web, and it offers highlights, notes, split-screen reading and text-to-speech.\n\nReadest is released under AGPL-3.0, and its code is on GitHub. It has apps on phones as well as desktops, unlike Calibre, so it suits readers who switch devices. Readers who want a long-established app may prefer Kindle or Apple Books."
        }
    ],
    "differences": [
        "Only Readest runs on iOS.",
        "Only Readest runs on Android.",
        "Only Readest runs on Web."
    ],
    "shared_rankings": [
        {
            "list": "ebook-reader-apps",
            "name": "Ebook reader apps",
            "page": "https://listme.name/best/ebook-reader-apps",
            "of": 10,
            "results": [
                {
                    "product": "calibre",
                    "rank": 6,
                    "score": 83,
                    "verdict": "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",
                    "spec": {
                        "platforms": "Windows, macOS, Linux",
                        "phone_app": false,
                        "open_source": true,
                        "cost": "Free and open source"
                    }
                },
                {
                    "product": "readest",
                    "rank": 3,
                    "score": 86.5,
                    "verdict": "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",
                    "spec": {
                        "platforms": "macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, iOS, web",
                        "phone_app": true,
                        "open_source": true,
                        "cost": "Free and open source"
                    }
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "ranks_higher_in_closest_shared_list": "readest",
    "page": "https://listme.name/compare/calibre-vs-readest",
    "json": "https://listme.name/api/v1/compare/calibre-vs-readest.json",
    "notes": [
        "Scores are editorial and only comparable inside one list. Products with connected_to_publisher true receive a disclosed ranking lift: https://listme.name/methodology"
    ],
    "source": "https://listme.name",
    "license": "Free to read and cite with attribution to listme.name.",
    "docs": "https://listme.name/developers"
}