Top 20 Best Reading Apps in 2025 for Book Lovers on the Go

In a world where everything is fitting into a palm-sized device, reading has been redefined too. It has evolved beyond libraries and shelves. Book lovers today are looking for personalization, convenience, and access, all at their fingertips. This is where the role of mobile reading apps steps in. Whether you’re traveling, vacationing, or relaxing at home, a fully designed mobile reading app turns your smartphone into a portable mini-library. 

In 2025, every mobile reading app is competing to become one of the best by integrating features such as offline access, AI-driven recommendations, audiobook integrations, and customizable fonts. Behind these seamless reading experiences is a team of skilled mobile app developers who understand not only technology but also the expectations and changing behavior of modern readers. 

This blog is for two:

• The readers who are looking to find the best reading apps
• Businesses eyeing the app development of cutting-edge reading solutions. 

If you’re a content creator, publisher, or an entrepreneur wanting to build a unique reading application, this list will help you take inspiration from the best reading app in the market today. 

Let’s first understand what a reading app is.  

What is a Reading Application?

The Google Play Store and the iOS App Store are currently filled with applications for book lovers. Each of these apps serves a unique purpose and appeals to the diverse tastes and preferences of literature. However, unlike conventional libraries, the online book reading apps allow access to audiobooks and text-to-speech engines. This unique functionality adds to a whole new level of experience, convenience, and immersion for literature lovers, setting it apart from traditional book reading. 

A reading application is an online platform developed to give users access to, manage, and read books, magazines, newspapers, or any other form of content directly from their smartphones, tablets, iPads, or other devices. These apps include features that go far beyond traditionally printed books. 

The essence of a reading app is to serve as a portable library, allowing users to carry thousands of books on their smartphones. But the current age apps are much more than this. They offer a unique set of features that work towards enhancing the overall user experience with settings like audio integration, night modes, AI recommendations, bookmarking, customizable text settings, and note-taking. 

These apps come in a variety of formats to solve various purposes, such as:

• eBooks: These support multiple file formats and offer features such as annotations, bookmarks, dark mode, and adjustable font size to ensure a comfortable reading experience. 
• Audiobook apps: This format caters to users who prefer to listen to books. They are great for multitasking readers by making reading convenient while working out, commuting, and doing other tasks. 
• Educational reading apps: such apps are customized for students and educators. They offer structured reading content to enable learning across subjects. They often incorporate gamification features, such as interactive quizzes, multimedia integration, and progress tracking. 
• News reading apps: to help readers stay informed and organized, numerous news reading apps are available in the app store in various formats, including short content and long-form articles. 
• Reading apps for children: Companies are designing apps for books with illustrations, interactive features, and voice narrations to make reading engaging, immersive, and educational for children. 
• Online comics and magazines: Digital magazines and comics offer high-resolution images and guided panels for reading, creating an immersive reading experience. 

Some of the leading reading apps include Scribd, Kindle, Audible, and Google Play Books. However, the market is not limited to these and is continually expanding with more unique reading applications that cater to the dynamic needs of consumers. Therefore, it is leading to many publishers, startups, and entrepreneurs investing in creating engaging and unique reading experiences. 

For businesses, investing in custom reading apps opens new doors of opportunities for monetization through user engagement. This is where the role of skilled mobile app development companies comes into play. The developers help them in designing, developing, and scaling intuitive, functional, and immersive online reading apps. 

Top 20 Best Reading Apps in 2025

1. Amazon Kindle

Introduced by Amazon, Kindle is the most popular reading app for eBooks and magazines. It is a free app to help readers download books, news, and other engaging content. Kindle comes with a built-in dictionary and text highlighting options to ensure an immersive reading experience. The app is directly linked with its store, aka the Kindle store to help users download books. Its availability on all platforms makes it a convenient reading option for most readers. 

Compatible with: Android, iOS, Mac, and PC.

2. Scribd

Scribd ranks #2 in the category of apps for books by online readers worldwide. It allows readers to download audiobooks, magazines, books, and documents through its app. It features a unique online multi-format document sharing capability, making it even more interesting to use. Readers who are also avid writers can write and upload it on the app to share it with the world. 

Compatible with: iOS and Android

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3. Google Play Books

Google Play Books is a free book-reading app that allows readers to access everything available on Google in the form of Google eBooks. It offers a variety of books for free download or purchase from its extensive collection, which includes over a million book titles.

Compatible with: Android and iOS

4. Goodreads

Goodreads is a free online book reading app with multiple features to enhance your reading experience. It lets you browse tailored recommendations, scan covers, and use bookmarks/progress bars while reading. It also allows readers to add book covers to the updated progress for a more comprehensive reading experience. Along with this, the app notifies you about literary events and reads reviews of different books by other readers. 

Compatible with: Web, iOS, and Android

5. Kobo Books

Download thousands of free fiction and literature eBooks available on Kobo Books without paying any charges. It also has a chargeable book menu to choose from and customized reading options by clicking on the menu. 

Readers can adjust modes, font size, and reading styles seamlessly. It has an interesting bookshelf option that stores the last-read book separately for easy accessibility. 

Compatible with: Android and iOS

6. Aldiko

This reading app enables you to add books directly to your phone’s library. The app enhances the reading experience by allowing users to configure margin size, fonts, brightness, page flipping, and more. 

It also allows users to use its built-in features to add bookmarks, track reading progress, adjust display size, and manage their library through tags. 

Compatible with: iOS and Android, both

7. Inkitt

Inkitt is a popular platform for publishing novels as eBooks. It lets readers to browse through bestsellers and upcoming novels on the basis of their reviews. Additionally, its AI-driven recommendations suggest books based on search history and reading preferences. 

Compatible with: Android and iOS

8. Blinkist

Blinkist is a free app for books used for downloading non-fiction books. The name of this online book reading app is based on its unique feature of offering key insights for every page of the book, accessible through the “Blink Here” feature. 

It allows you to download thousands of titles and save them for future reading. It also allows you to use the Evernote option to highlight text and listen to its audio version. 

Compatible with: iOS and Android

9. Oodles

Oodles is a reading app with thousands of free books available for download. Readers can find several classic books for free in this app. It supports multiple languages and has a unique search filter option. It allows users to download books from various categories, including popularity, author, and publisher. The user interface is friendly and saves readers from the hassle of navigating multiple options. 

Compatible with: iOS and Android

10. Wattpad

Wattpad is an excellent platform for fiction reading among young adults. It works on bringing together teen writers and readers. The app offers data encryption to ensure its safety for use among the young audience. It helps users navigate between several categories and find classic and popular books, such as Harry Potter, Sherlock Holmes, and Alice in Wonderland, among others. 

Additionally, it allows users to share their writing talent with others who are interested in storytelling. It also allows users to share their views and vote to help generate more accurate recommendations. 

Compatible with: iOS and Android

11. Libby

Libby, the online book reading app, works on a different concept. It allows users to borrow eBooks, magazines, and audiobooks from public library. It lets you stream the app online or offline as per your convenience. All you require is a library card to access the app. 

One of the unique features of Libby is that it lets readers to read books online directly from their Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. Also, you can connect it to your app via your phone’s bluetooth.

Compatible with: iOS and Android, and Web

12. Litsy

Litsy is an excellent option for those who want to discover and share interesting eBooks with peers. It works on building a community that connects avid readers and enables them to share books. 

Additionally, it allows you to post comments, snippets, and reviews on the community platform for fellow readers. You can easily search for your friend’s name on the app to connect with them. After they accept your request, you can start collaborating. 

Compatible with: iOS

13. ReadEra

ReadEra is a free book reading app that lets readers download thousands of articles, journals, and eBooks for free. One of the best features of this app is that it allows readers to consume content without registration and in various file formats, including Word, ePub, and PDF. 

One can easily create their reading list, segregate it by author names, or create their own collection with various books, documents, journals, articles, and more. 

Compatible with: Android

14. FBReader

FBReader is an interesting online book reading platform that supports multiple formats, including mobi, fb2, ePub, RTF, and plain text. It also features a customizable option that allows readers to create their own personalized reading space. Moreover, on FBReader, one can read books both online and offline. 

If a user likes a book, they can easily download it from FBReader and save it on their devices. 

Compatible with: iOS, Android, Linux, Windows, Mac OS, and Chrome OS 

15. Prolific Works

The prolific work app makes it easier for readers to browse and download new books from various authors in one place. It allows you to choose from multiple genres, including fiction, horror, romance, crime, and more. 

It is a multi-level book reading app that lets you share your reading list with your subscribers. Once your user base grows, you can also create a subscribers’ mailing list to stay connected. 

Compatible with: iOS, Android, and Web

16. Apple Books

For iOS users, Apple Books is one of the top choices for reading books online. It is packed with a wide variety of eBooks and audiobooks to choose from. Its integration with other Apple apps makes the user journey seamless. One can easily navigate, acquire, and manage their personal eBook collection. Additionally, it tracks reading progress, sets goals, and makes reading more adventurous. Apple uses AI to personalize recommendations, offering AI librarians to its readers, making it the top choice amongst Apple users. 

Compatible with: iOS 

17. Moon+ Reader

Moon+ Reader is a phenomenal e-reading app for Android. It personalizes your reading experience with a variety of fonts, themes, and effects. It is a versatile platform and supports most ebook formats such as mobi, PDF, ePub, and Text-to-Speech (TTS). It has dual modes to enable reading at different times and lets users access the library freely. 

Compatible with: Android

18. Project Gutenberg 

It is a non-profit virtual library that gives you free access to more than 60,000 eBooks, including the most popular classics from the biggest literary houses such as Charles Dickens and Jane Austin. Its unique features of no signups, no fees, and compatibility with other ereaders make it a prime choice among readers. Along with this, you will also find books with beautiful formats, multiple languages, and illustrations. 

Compatible with: Android

19. Bookly

Bookly is an interesting app that keeps users motivated to read. It tracks reading sessions, time spent, pages read, and pages left to complete the goal. Like many other reading apps, Bookly also features a bookshelf and rating system to help readers organize and rate their digital libraries. 

Compatible with: iOS and Android

20. ComiXology

Most comic book lovers rate ComiXology as the best comic reading app. It features an extensive library of over 230,000 comics, manga, and graphic novels from renowned publishers, including Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, and Image, among others. From its collection, one can read the latest or classic stories easily of their favorite superheroes. 

Through its unique set of features, you can link Amazon Prime and Kindle Unlimited to get access to even more books. 

Compatible with: iOS and Android

Well, that was a long list of 20 best reading apps in 2025, each with distinctive features to ensure an engaging experience for readers. eBooks play a crucial role in enhancing the reading experience. This is why readers are widely picking them up. Let us now understand how these apps make a difference. 

Role of book apps in enhancing the reading experience

Online book reading apps have revolutionized the way people read. They are offering a highly personalized, flexible, and interactive experience that conventional reading methods cannot match. In 2025, when smartphones dominate how we consume content, online reading apps play a crucial role in making content more engaging, efficient, and accessible to users across diverse age groups. 

Here is how online reading apps are enhancing the reading experience in 2025: 

1. Ease of accessibility: 

Digital book reading apps make it convenient for readers to carry an entire library in their smartphones. Whether you’re commuting, travelling, vacationing, or relaxing at home, these apps make you start reading in seconds. With offline reading modes, readers can access content even without an internet connection. 

2. Hyper-personalization and control

Modern-day book reading apps offer multiple unique features to attract readers. While font size, modes, background, and colors are standard eBook features, current-day apps are also supporting AI-powered recommendations and text-to-speech features to stand out. 

3. Multisensory engagement and interactive models

The present age mobile reading apps are combining text with videos, animations, and audio to make book reading more immersive. This feature is getting exceptional acceptance amongst children and educators. Other features, such as audiobooks, read-along tools, and text-to-speech, are redefining the way people interact with books. 

4. Enhances productivity and learning

Features such as built-in dictionaries, highlighting, bookmarking, note-taking, and syncing across multiple devices help readers stay organized and retain more information by engaging with the app. For professionals and students, it means a more streamlined workflow, alike. 

5. Community and social sharing features

As an additional feature, many apps allow readers to join clubs, leave reviews, or share their reading lists with peers. This dimension fosters a sense of community and increases attraction to the app. 

Book apps blend modern technology with traditional reading to preserve and elevate the reading experience for avid readers. For businesses looking to develop a book app, it is crucial to create an intuitive, feature-rich reading app that engages users effectively. They must partner with or hire mobile app developers to ensure a seamless, impactful, and scalable app. 

Online Reading Apps rank amongst top downloaded apps

If you also want to capitalize on the growing online readership market, this is the ideal time to develop your E-Reading app.

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Build your Online Reading App with Xicom

Xicom Technologies is a leading online reading apps development company, providing Android app development and custom iOS app development services to businesses. We have a team on seasoned and expert AI and blockchain developers to build intuitive, secure, scalable, and customizable apps for your business. 

• 20+ Years of Experience
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If you’re looking for a reliable, scalable, and unique reading app, similar to the top 20 mentioned above, connect with our experts now to develop an app for your business exactly as you’ve envisioned it. Get in touch with us now!

Conclusion

Online book reading apps continue to rank among the most popular mobile apps in the market today. If you’re also looking to build a custom reading app with a unique set of features, Xicom Technologies is here to help. We have extensive experience in app development, with a proven track record of delivering high-quality apps. 

With 20+ years of industry experience, our team of skilled professionals handles every stage of the development cycle cautiously. Starting from concept, to design, development, and post-launch maintenance, Xicom Technologies focuses on giving thorough support to its clients. Whether you need a standard app or a fully customizable solution, our mobile app development company in India ensures innovation, scalability, and quality. 

Contact our team today to discover how we can bring your vision to life with a cutting-edge reading app that stands out in the market.