Comparison · Ebook reader apps
Apple Books vs Readest: which is better in 2026?
Apple Books ranks higher in our list of ebook reader apps (#2 against #3, score 88.0 against 86.5), but the gap is small and the better choice depends on what you need.
Choose Apple Books if you want
Apple users who buy ebooks and audiobooks from Apple.
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.
Choose Readest if you want
Open-source reading across phones and desktops.
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.
The main differences
- Only Readest runs on Linux.
- Only Readest runs on Windows.
- Only Readest runs on Android.
- Only Readest runs on Web.
- Readest is open source; Apple Books is not.
Side by side
 Apple Books |  Readest | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 88.0 | 86.5 |
| Rank in list | #2 of 6 | #3 of 6 |
| Price | FreeFree app with no subscription; books priced individually | Free and open sourceFree and open source under AGPL-3.0 |
| Free to use | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | No | Yes |
| Platforms | iOS, iPadOSmacOSiOS, iPadOS, macOS | macOSWindowsLinuxAndroidiOSWebmacOS, Windows, Linux, Android, iOS, Web |
| Made by | Apple | Not stated |
| Phone app | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Apple users who buy ebooks and audiobooks from Apple | Open-source reading across phones and desktops |
| Strengths |
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| Limits |
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| Links | Visit site | Visit site |
Questions about Apple Books vs Readest
- Is Apple Books better than Readest?
- Apple Books ranks higher in our list of ebook reader apps (#2 against #3, score 88.0 against 86.5), but the gap is small and the better choice depends on what you need. Apple Books is best for: apple users who buy ebooks and audiobooks from Apple. Readest is best for: open-source reading across phones and desktops.
- Which is cheaper, Apple Books or Readest?
- Apple Books: Free app with no subscription; books priced individually. Readest: Free and open source under AGPL-3.0.
- Do Apple Books and Readest run on the same platforms?
- Apple Books supports iOS, iPadOS, macOS. Readest supports macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, iOS, Web.