10 Best Android Apps for Reading eBooks

People have different takes on the ever-increasing size of smartphone screens. Sure, the loss of compactness is one thing, but you get some benefits. For instance, you can now use your Android smartphone to read all your favorite eBooks seamlessly. Things are even better if you have an Android tablet. But how do you find the best apps for reading eBooks?

Well, here is a collection of the 10 best Android apps for eBooks.

#1 Kindle

Kindle is the best overall eBook reading app for Android. You can easily guess the reason why it is in the top place. For what it’s worth, Amazon has done a great job emulating a native Kindle experience on an Android smartphone or tablet PC. You get the following benefits, too:

• The Kindle app for Android packs all the standard features like a built-in dictionary and instant lookup through Wikipedia. You can also use the translation feature with ease.
• If you already use a Kindle for eBook reading, you can connect your Amazon account to the Android app. You will get instant access to all previous purchases and subscriptions.
• It must also be noted that Amazon has one of the largest libraries of eBooks and related content. It also offers multiple free books and subscriptions, such as Kindle Unlimited.

Therefore, the eBook reading experience from Kindle is just great. On those days you don’t take your Kindle reader with you, this Android app can turn your smartphone/tablet into a better Kindle. One major limitation is that you cannot sideload eBooks.

#2 Moon+ Reader

If you think the Kindle app for Android is restrictive, you should check out Moon+ Reader for Android. It is a fully-fledged eBook reading app that packs many unique features. For starters, it works with a broader variety of eBook formats such as EPUB, MOBI, PDF, etc. Other features of the app include:

• Compared to Kindle, you get an enhanced set of display management features. For instance, you can change the tone of the screen and use multiple highlighting options for annotation.
• The visual appeal of the app enhances the reading experience. Depending on the screen size of your device, you can choose between single-page or dual-page modes as well.
• It also does a great job of automating the reading experience. The auto-scroll feature is convenient once you find the average pace of your reading. It also offers multimedia support via EPUB3.

In addition, you get typical features like annotation tools, a built-in dictionary, translation, and a fully-fledged library structure. Since you can open eBooks from any source, you can use alternate libraries as well. It is a handy feature if you want to access eBooks that are not available via Amazon or Google Play.

#3 Google Play Books

If you want the best of both worlds, you should consider Google Play Books. This application lets you read a variety of eBooks from multiple sources. One, you can purchase books from Google’s library. Alternatively, you can download an EPUB or PDF file and read it on your smartphone or tablet with ease.

• Like Amazon, Google Play Books also offers the convenience of multi-device synchronization. You get to connect your Google account to the app and resume reading from any device.
• The annotation and note-taking options in this eBook reading app are relatively better. You can also use Google Assistant to resume your audiobooks or track reading milestones.
• Google Play Books offers complete support for audiobooks and comics. When you read comics, you get features like zooming. Plus, you always have access to popular apps like Translate and Search.

Overall, Google Play Books offers a comprehensive experience for eBook enthusiasts. You can’t find a better option if you are also into audiobooks and comics. Since it’s a Google-made app, you get the best functions on tablet devices as well.

#4 Scribd

You do not have to restrict e-reading to eBooks by any means. Instead, you can explore alternative titles and magazines. If you like this idea, Scribd for Android may be the better eBook reader for you. Like Amazon and Google, Scribd also offers an impressive library of books, audiobooks, and magazines. The features include:

• Scribd claims to have a library of 170+ million documents in its collection. The number is cumulative of eBooks, audiobooks, academic papers, and other archival material in the collection.
• If you need a space where you can read these alternative titles easily, the reading features on Scribd will help. The developers have also launched a dedicated book-reading app, Everand.
• The monthly subscription from Scribd also provides offline access to the entire library. However, I won’t recommend this subscription unless you need the library content.

In the end, Scribd for Android is not for everyone. While you may find typical eBooks in its library, the library is more inclined towards official documents and academic papers. So, you may want to keep that in mind while choosing between Scribd and other eBook readers for Android.

#5 Libby

Most people don’t know that they can rent eBooks and audiobooks from local libraries. Libby, an app from OverDrive, solves the problem by becoming the mediator. You can use this Android app to find local libraries and read eBooks and audiobooks without paying anything.

• Libby for Android makes it effortless to connect to public libraries around you. It offers an effortless system where you can find desired eBook/audiobook material in a few seconds.
• The app also becomes a collaborative space for librarians. For instance, you can find curated sets and collections from local librarians, and you can choose between eBooks and audiobooks as you wish.
• But, if you do not know much about local libraries, you can use the universal search function. It makes sure you get suitable options for your reading needs.

As far as the reading interface is concerned, Libby doesn’t let us down. You get standard features like a built-in dictionary and dedicated features for reading comic books. You can always use audiobook features like speed controller and sleep timers.

#6 Kobo Books

Kobo Books is another recommended way to read eBooks on your Android smartphone or tablet PC. The app offers a beautiful collection of digital content, like the ones you would find on Kobo devices. Similar to Kindle, Kobo also lets you sign in using a single account.

• The multi-million library from Kobo is impressive and you can find the eBook or audiobook versions of most titles out there. You can easily synchronize your library and reading records via the account.
• The search function in the Kobo Books app is impressive in terms of its sheer functionality. You can filter all options and easily categorize the collections until you find the best title.
• The reading interface on the Kobo Books app also offers support for notes, highlights, and dictionary look-up of words.

As you can imagine, Kobo Books works better if you have an Android device. Alternatively, if you have one of those foldable smartphones, you can benefit from the dual-page mode. In the end, you can also choose between individual purchases and a subscription.

#7 Ploter

Plotter is not the most popular Android eBook-reading app out there. However, it packs some unique ways to enhance your eBook and audiobook experience. At its crux, Ploter works as a cloud library for your eBooks and audiobooks. But its additional features make all the difference.

• You have to think of Ploter as an all-in-one e-reading solution. It means you can get the convenience of audiobooks even while seeing a live transcript of what you are listening to.
• Similarly, the reading interface packs all the features you could ask for. Highlighting and annotation options are rich, and you get quite a few features like dictionary and translation.
• Ploter also works fine with your Notion account. The text you highlight on eBooks can be synced to your Notion workspace. This will be a convenient feature if you read for work.

Overall, Ploter takes a unique approach to all-in-one reading. The free account gives you 500MB of cloud storage space, which is sufficient for around 200 eBooks. What’s more, the Ploter app is available for Mac, Windows, iOS, and some eReader devices.

#8 PocketBook Reader

PocketBook Reader is another option if you want to try a variety of eBooks in different formats. The app supports a total of 19 book formats, including DJVU, RTF, HTML, and FB2. It goes a step further by giving you access to DRM-protected files as well.

• PocketBook Reader lets you create a library consisting of eBooks and audiobooks. You can search and find content as you wish and access all the annotation features from the same interface.
• As far as audiobooks are concerned, the app offers support for MP3 and M4B. There is also a unique TTS engine that lets you listen to PDF documents instead of reading them.
• Some other features of the app include multi-device sync, access to network libraries, options to lend books and journals, and instant synchronization with eBook reader content as well.

In short, PocketBook Reader packs all the features an advanced eBook reader can ask for. You can even sync your files from third-party drives like Google Drive and Dropbox. While there may be some performance-based issues, the app works just fine most of the time.

#9 Aldiko Book Reader

If you do not want a feature-rich eBook reading app like PocketBook Reader, you should check out the Aldiko Book Reader. This app has been designed to give you a customizable eBook reading experience, thanks to a curated collection of themes and flexible UI design.

• You can download and open a variety of eBooks from multiple sources and formats, including EPUB, PDF, and even files protected by Adobe DRM. This is a feature I cannot find in many apps.
• Aldiko also makes it easy to manage your entire library. There is no need to worry about confusing between titles. Instead, you can use tags and categories to organize your library.
• The latest version of the app, now called Cantook, offers support for audiobooks as well. Overall, you can go full-blown when arranging your library.

There are a few bugs that Aldiko needs to take care of, though. However, I am optimistic about the eBook reader app. It has been designed by some bookworms, and you can see the difference in how the app takes care of your books and the library.

#10 ReadEra

ReadEra is another highly regarded option for reading eBooks on your Android smartphone. There is no need to worry about the number of features. For most people, the ReadEra feature set is overkill. But it also means that you can enable only those features you need.

• ReadEra is also one of the few reading apps that don’t annoy you with ads. It happens despite its rich feature set. You do not have to register for an account, either.
• You get full support for standard file formats from different devices like PC, Kindle, and PDF. The list of eBook formats includes EPUB, MOBI, and DJVU as well.
• I am also a big fan of the built-in book manager. When you want to group your books based on some categories and tags, ReadEra does an impressive job.

In the end, ReadEra does not consume a lot of resources, either. Even when you use most of its features, it does not take a toll on your device. The modern UI makes it easy to keep track of your reading tasks without doing so much.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

What do you think of these eBook-reading apps on this list? I did not want to give you a typical list. So, I have included some of the lesser-known eReading apps as well. This way, you can ensure the best experience no matter where you get your eBooks from. I love the option to download some eBooks because all collections are not the same on exclusive libraries like Kindle or Kobo.