One of my favorite activities when I’m on the run, or perhaps even when I’m winding down after a hard day, is reading novels on my iPad (that, and playing somestrategy games). Sincerely, I much prefer reading physical books than digital ones, but that is a rant for another day. I can carry hundreds of books on one iPad, which is a major advantage of eBooks. Additionally, if you want to read your collection of eBooks on your iPad and are looking for the best apps to do so, look no further. The top 10 free ePub readers for the iPad and iPhone in 2022 are listed below.
Best ePub Readers for iPad and iPhone (2022)
Anyone wishing to read ePubs on their iOS devices has a wide range of options, and practically any of them ought to be adequate for the majority of users. We will also look at some more sophisticated ePub readers in case you need some more advanced capabilities or anything that the other applications don’t provide.
As always, you can jump to any app that interests you by using the table of contents.
1. Books
To start with, I would unquestionably advise that you give the Apple Books app a shot. Your iPad already has it pre-installed, so it is available and prepared to use.
It has a built-in store where you can find books to read and download. Additionally, it goes without saying that you can transfer your own ePub files to the iPad and view them in the Books app. It’s fantastic that the app has a simple UI without any extraneous design frills.
Additionally, you get a lovely dark mode that is ideal for reading at night. Additionally, the app has a wonderful page-turning animation to give it a more realistic feel. Of course, you have the option to prevent this animation from occurring as well.
Pros:
- Already available on iPad and iPhone
- ePub support
- Clean design and no ads
Cons:
- Can t connect to external ePub libraries such as Calibre and others.
2. Marvin 3
You should absolutely give Marvin a try if Books wasn’t the software you were hoping for. The iPad and iPhone’s Marvin 3 ebook reader is quite well-liked. The program adds functionality for ePub book reading that is DRM-free. Additionally, it supports CBR and CBX comics on your iPad, which is wonderful if you enjoy reading comics and manga.
Additionally, Marvin provides a ton of other capabilities that are absent from the Books app. You can combine it with GoodReads, side-load your own fonts, and do a lot more. In addition to a plethora of other capabilities, it provides a Karaoke option for speed reading, complete book page numbering, photo explorer, and a fully customized multi-column mode.
Pros:
- support for ePub, CBR and CBX
- Karaoke feature for speed-reading
- Customizable
- Integrates witih Calibre, OPDS, and other libraries
Cons:
- Hasn t been updated in over 3 years
- Not entirely free, some features are paywalled
Marvin 3 can be obtained via the App Store (Free, Rs. 449 for premium features)
3. KyBook 3
KyBook 3 is another another one of the top ePub readers for the iPad. Similar to Marvin, this software has a ton of features that fans of eBooks will undoubtedly enjoy. One is that I always appreciate a clean interface, which this one has.
Additionally, KyBook supports OPDS catalogs, and the Catalog part of the navbar lets you select which catalogs you want to connect with.
When reading a book, you can select from a number of page turn animations or, if you prefer, use the unlimited scrolling mode that is by default. Additionally, the app supports dark mode and offers a variety of additional themes.
KyBook has compatibility for more file types in addition to ePubs, including cbr, cbz, cbt, fb2, mobi, kindle (azw3), and pdf. Therefore, no matter what you’re trying to read, KyBook 3 should open it without any problems.
Pros:
- Support for a wide range of formats
- OPDS catalog support
- Support for Calibre servers
Cons:
- Reading interface could be better
- Ads (can be removed with subscriptions)
- Lot of pro-features are behind subscriptions
KyBook 3 can be obtained via the App Store (Free, offers subscriptions)
4. MapleRead
Another excellent ePub reader for the iPhone and iPad is MapleRead, which is designed for readers who want a highly personalized eBook experience.
The program provides options like picking different fonts for headings and paragraphs, as well as adjusting font sizes in ePub files. Additionally, you can alter the page layout and switch between day and night themes. The page turn animations can be changed, vocabulary can be collected, and highlighting is supported.
A variety of additional motions are also available in MapleRead, which you can personalize to suit your needs. Additionally, it works with OPDS catalogs, just like KyBook 3. Using a computer or the Files app on your iPhone and iPad, you may also sync your books with the app.
You can only read five books at a time on MapleRead, though, unless you purchase a paid edition. Another aspect of this site that I don’t particularly enjoy is the antiquated interface.
Pros:
- Lost of customization
- OPDS catalogs
Cons:
- Free version is limited to life-time limit of 5 books
- Interface and design look dated
Get MapleRead from the App Store now (Free, offers pro upgrade)
5. Gerty
For your ePub reading requirements, you ought to also look into Gerty. If you want a free program that has features like auto-scrolling on your eBooks, try Gerty. While auto-scrolling, Gerty may also estimate how much longer it will take you to complete a chapter.
A placeholder book is another intriguing tool that Gerty provides. You can use this as a stand-in for books that aren’t on your smartphone but are actual physical books that you possess in your Gerty library. In this manner, your Gerty library will be able to represent all of your printed and digital books. It’s really neat.
Additionally, the program provides export choices, dark mode support, reading statistics, and a lot more. The UI, which can be a little difficult to understand, is the only problem I can see with this.
Pros:
- Auto-scrolling eBooks
- Placeholder books
Cons:
- Interface could be better
Get Gerty from the App Store now (Free)
6. Scribd
The app Scribd doesn’t require any introduction. For good reason, it’s been dubbed “Netflix for books” by many people. For a monthly membership, the app provides an almost endless selection of eBooks and audiobooks for you to read.
Because you cannot sideload your own ePubs onto this app to read them, Scribd is not an ePub reader in the traditional sense. However, Scribd should unquestionably be on your iPad and iPhone for reading eBooks if you’re a voracious reader.
Additionally, it has a helpful Snapshots feature that gives you key passages from non-fiction books so you can quickly grasp the feel of them without having to read the whole thing, which is pretty great.
Pros:
- Huge catalog of books to read
- Audiobook support
Cons:
- No sideloading
- Subscription only, no free tier
Visit the App Store to download Scribd (Free to download, requires subscription)
7. Bluefire Reader
If you want paid ePub readers for iPad and iPhone that can read DRM-protected Adobe content in addition to the standard ePub and PDF support, you can also take a look at Bluefire Reader.
You may read many books at once with the app’s support for highlights, annotations, and bookmarking, and you can use bookmarks to track your progress if you wish.
This program is premium, as I already indicated, but if you’re seeking for capabilities like batch import of ePubs from the iPad Files app, support for iTunes file sharing, etc., this is unquestionably an app you should think about using.
Pros:
- Support for DRM protected Adobe files
- Highlight, annotate, and bookmark support
Cons:
- Paid only
Visit the App Store to purchase Bluefire Reader (Rs. 349)
8. Google Play Books
This is a choice you should think about whether you enjoy using Google apps or if your Android phone has already integrated you into the Google ecosystem. Google Play Books is one of the ePub readers for iPad and iPhone that will let you read your eBooks on your iPad or iPhone as well as on your other Android devices.
Since Play Books comes with its own store of eBooks and audiobooks to choose from (sort of similar to Scribd, but not really), it also doesn t let you sync your own ePubs to read on the app. This app isn’t for you if you already have an ePub library.
It also won t let you use external servers like a Calibre server or an OPDS catalog to get eBooks from.
Pros:
- Sync across Android and iOS
- Catalog of both audiobooks and ebooks
Cons:
- No support for sideloading ePubs
- No Calibre or OPDS support
Download Google Play Books from the App Store (Free)
9. Kindle
Kindle readers from Amazon are one of the most popular eBook readers out there, and the Kindle app can let you read eBooks on your iPad and iPhone as well. You will need to sign in with an Amazon account, however.
The app needs basically no introduction because it s pretty much the first eBook reader that comes to mind. The reason this isn t at the top of the list is because it doesn t support ePub files. Instead, you will have to convert your ePubs to AZW3 or MOBI files to read them on the Kindle app.
It s still really good though, with enough reading features to satisfy most users, as well as a dark and light mode so you don t have to strain your eyes at night. Plus, you can obviously get books from Amazon when you need more reading material.
Pros:
- Huge catalog to choose from
- Supports adding other eBooks
Cons:
- No support for ePub files
Download Kindle from the App Store (Free)
10. Kobo Books
If you re more of a Kobo reader person than a Kindle person, there s a Kobo Books app as well. Once again, since this is both an eBook reader and store app, you won t be able to side-load just any ePub file you have here. However, you can look through the huge catalog of books available from the app.
There are both free and paid books here, and what s more, you can start reading the free ones without creating an account as well. There are a bunch of features, including a dictionary that pops up when you long press on a word along with features like page transition animations, reading themes, and a variety of fonts to choose from.
Pros:
- Clean design
- Start reading without an account
- Built-in dictionary
Cons:
- No support for adding external ePub files
Download Kobo Books from the App Store (Free)
Bonus: Use Overdrive to Borrow eBooks from Libraries
A lot of libraries these days offer their books as digital copies to members. If you ve been a library goer (like me) and you miss borrowing books from the library and reading them, you should check out Overdrive. This isn t strictly an ePub reader for iPad or iPhone, but it s close.
This free app allows you to add library systems to your catalog and read books from their collection. Obviously, you will need to be a member of the library you re trying to borrow books from, but this is a great way to support your favourite libraries, while also getting access to their collection of books and novels.
Download Overdrive from the App Store (Free)
Best ePub Readers for iPad to Get Your Reading Fix
There are a lot of eBook readers out there, however not all of them support ePub files. Take Kindle for example, it s one of the most popular eBook readers but it only supports AZW3 formats and MOBI formats. However, there are ePub readers that support those formats too, making them a better choice for reading apps on your iPhone and iPad.
So, which app are you planning on using for reading ePubs on iPad and iPhone? Let us know in the comments below.