ebook reader / reading application
Readest is a modern, cross-platform ebook reader supporting EPUB, PDF, MOBI and other formats, built as a rewrite of Foliate with Tauri and Next.js, offering sync and web/desktop/mobile clients.
Same problem, same approach. Swapping one for another is a config change, not a rewrite.
Choose it for a mature cross-platform reader with sync if you prefer its library management and UI.
A modern ebook manager and reader with sync and backup capacities for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS and Web
Choose it for a mobile-friendly reader with integrated AI features if that's a priority.
Featuring powerful AI capabilities and supporting various e-book formats, it makes reading smarter and more focused.
Choose it for a standards-driven Readium-based desktop reader if you prefer that ecosystem.
A cross platform desktop reading app, based on the Readium Desktop toolkit
Solves the same problem with a different architecture or at a different layer. Expect to rewrite the integration.
Choose it when you want a self-hosted multi-user reading server instead of a client-side app.
Kavita is a fast, feature rich, cross platform reading server. Built with the goal of being a full solution for all your reading needs. Setup your own server and share your reading collection with your friends and family.
Choose it for a keyboard-driven terminal reader when you want to read without a GUI.
A terminal EPUB / PDF Book Reader (+djvu)
An earlier or more limited way to do the job. Still the right call when you need something small, proven, or CPU-only.
Choose it for a lightweight Windows-only PDF/EPUB viewer when you don't need library or sync features.
SumatraPDF reader
Choose it for a powerful Android-only reader if you don't need desktop or web access.
Book Reader for Android
Choose it for a self-hosted PDF-only manager and editor instead of a multi-format reader.
Selfhosted PDF manager, viewer and editor offering a seamless user experience on multiple devices.
Choose it for a minimalist document reader on e-ink devices like reMarkable.
Document reader
Choose it for a simple Qt desktop reader if you want something lightweight and offline.
Qt based ebook reader
Choose it for an Android PDF/DjVu viewer if you don't need EPUB or multi-format support.
Orion Viewer is pdf, djvu, xps, cbz and tiff file viewer for Android devices based on mupdf and DjVuLibre libraries
Previous-generation GTK reader that Readest rewrote; choose it if you want the older Linux-native app.
Read e-books in style
Choose it for a Kobo-specific open firmware/reader if you use Kobo hardware.
Free/libre software for Kobo ebook readers
These projects were analysed and named readest among their alternatives. The relationship is not symmetric — how readest rates them is a separate judgement, made when readest is analysed in its own right.
calls readest “choose for a modern cross-platform reader with sync and AI features if e-ink is not required.”
An ebook reader application supporting PDF, DjVu, EPUB, FB2 and many more formats, running on Cervantes, Kindle, Kobo, PocketBook and Android devices
calls readest “Choose it if you want cross-platform support (Windows/Android/web) and a modern UI rather than a Linux-only GTK app.”
Read e-books in style
calls readest “Use it as a modern cross-platform reader with AGPL if you don't require AI features.”
Featuring powerful AI capabilities and supporting various e-book formats, it makes reading smarter and more focused.
calls readest “Choose for a simpler reader-only cross-platform app when you don't need Koodo's cloud backup and multi-format library management.”
A modern ebook manager and reader with sync and backup capacities for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS and Web
calls readest “Choose it for a currently maintained Tauri-based reader with a modern UI; it is an end-user app.”
A minimalistic cross-platform eBook reader built with Tauri, Epub.js, and Typescript