Summer is here, which means there’s finally some downtime to catch up on reading. Call us nerdy if you like, but, hey: you’re the one who came to a tech website looking for a new book app. The good news is we did our homework and found what you need to build out your summer reading list. Whether you’re looking for the next great beach read or hoping for a way to keep your kids’ brains engaged while they’re out of school, there are plenty of apps that can help.
We’ve been covering technology since 2008 and regularly hunt for the new best new apps on the market. In the process, we’ve become experts at distinguishing between a useful tool and an unhelpful data-sucker. For this guide, we worked our way through the major app stores in search of the best apps to help you find, read, rate, recommend, and analyze your next favorite book.
How we rated the best book apps for summer reading
WhistleOut searches for Android and iPhone apps that are easy to use and affordable. We evaluate apps through hands-on testing and rate them on a five-star scale based on the following criteria:
- User experience: We search for apps that enhance the user experience, improving the power of your phone and making your life less complicated. The apps we recommend are intuitive, allowing users to put them to use as soon as they open them.
- Price & value: We select apps that charge minimal download fees and tend to favor apps that don't charge anything. We do include some apps that charge fees, though we guarantee that they're worth the price tag.
- Efficacy: App developers like to talk a big game; we test their products to see if they deliver on their promises.
- Practicality: Your phone has a limited amount of storage, so you don't want to clog it with single-use apps that don't improve your day-to-day life. We reward apps that are worth their weight in data.
- Privacy & security: We evaluate the permissions an app requests, sussing out the legitimate from the suspect. We also scour user reviews on relevant app stores to see if customers are reporting security concerns and investigate the veracity of those complaints.
Best free reading apps
Libby
Read (and listen) for free through your local library
I didn’t need another reason to love the library. As soon as I could read, I had my own card and on my weekly trips to our local branch, I’d haul home heavy stacks to read. It’s a routine that hasn’t really changed with age. If anything, the stacks have gotten heavier. That’s fine and good (I love holding a hardcover in my hands!) but it’s impractical when I’m traveling. Who wants to lug a bunch of books around an airport? More importantly, who wants to pay for that hulking bag?
Libby solves that problem. Simply put, it’s an e-reader powered by your local library. All you need to do is download the app, enter your library card info, and you’re ready to read. Search for titles like you would search for a show on Netflix. If the title is available, you can start reading instantly. If someone else currently has the eBook, you can tap “Place Hold” and will be notified when it’s available to read.
The app also has some excellent additional features. You can link your Libby account with your Kindle, allowing you to settle in with your new book without the distraction of your phone. Depending on your library, you can also access free audiobooks, offering an excellent (read: free!) alternative to paid services like Audible or Spotify.
Gutenberg
Brush up on the classics without paying a dime
Free from Apple
If you need a title as soon as possible (maybe for that essay you put off for, oh, a few weeks), then Libby might be trouble. This app might be your best bet, offering you a treasure trove of classic works of literature. Gutenberg is named after the inventor of the printing press, of course, but it’s also a reference to the source material for these digital texts: Project Gutenberg, the massive digital library of copyright-free works.
The app isn’t perfect. For one thing, it relies more on scrolling than the cleaner and more intuitive page-turning that most e-readers use, creating a reading experience that can feel less like a book and more like the endless slog of web browsing. Secondly, if you’re expecting the latest bestsellers, you’ll be sorely disappointed: Project Gutenberg’s library is filled with works that are old enough to have fallen into the public domain, meaning they’re no longer owned by a copyright holder. Because of that fact, the library doesn’t feature authoritative editions and, as a result, sometimes features wonky formatting and poor translations. Still, it is free and, if you’re in a pinch, it’s a good way to find a classic book in just a few seconds.
Best book review apps
Goodreads
Build and rate your reading list
If you’re a voracious reader, there’s a chance you’re already familiar with this app. But if you’re looking to kickstart a healthy habit for the summer, then it might be the jolt you need. Goodreads is a dynamic book tracker, a helpful tool that allows you to keep track of the titles you read, rank them on a five-star scale, and interact with friends’ reviews and lists.
The best part of the app is its recommendations. Your homepage is a social media feed populated with the activities (rankings, current reading, and more) of the friends and writers you follow. Additionally, every book’s page also has a Readers Also Enjoyed section, which allows you to fall into rabbit holes of similar titles. Likewise, the Discover tab allows you to search for your next favorite book, with recommendations based on your ratings alongside the most popular titles across all users.
We do wish Goodreads’ rating system was a little more authoritative to cut down on the nonsensical or bad-faith reviews that stalk certain titles and, as a result, throw off the algorithm. (Maybe a proof of purchase, like Amazon does? Maybe more content moderation?) Still, the app is a solid tool for building out your beach reads in spite of these problems.
Storygraph
Nerd out on your reading data
If Goodreads is a little too basic for you, Storygraph might satisfy your need to track, organize, and analyze your reading habits. Like Goodreads, Storygraph has social and ranking functions, though its primary difference is the intricate data points it offers about a book, breaking down the moods, pace, and character development of a book based on user input.
Personally, that’s all a bit much (and a bit unnecessary) for me. I like to discover these kinds of things while, you know, reading a book, but if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume of stories to choose from, the app might make your life a bit easier. More helpful, though just as nerdy, is the Reading Stats tab, which allows you to set goals and analyze your habits. It might not do much for building a list, but it’ll be interesting nonetheless.
Best reading apps for kids
Epic!
An e-reader for young readers
Free 7-day trial from Apple and Google, then $13.99/month
I have plenty of nieces and nephews, and my favorite thing to do is read with them. (I will admit that this is often because it means bedtime is just around the corner.) Although we love the tactile feel of picture books, this children’s e-reader is a great tool for road trips and restaurants. I was at first skeptical about how the vivid illustrations would translate to an iPhone screen, I was impressed with the way the reader looks when you flip your phone: the app suddenly feels like an actual book, with the two open pages spanning the entirety of the screen.
The app’s Read-to-Me feature is another great tool for emerging readers, like an audiobook that highlights each word being read so a child can start to associate the sounds of words with their letters. While Epic!’s subscription price is steep, it’s worthwhile if you’ve been searching for a way to turn your phone or tablet from a problematic distraction into a pragmatic solution.
Best manga reading apps
Viz Manga
Free chapters from the best series, without the annoying ads
Free from Apple and Google, premium version available for $1.99/month
Manga fans looking for their favorite series online have long relied on the kindness of message boards, namely the anonymous usernames who would post illegally uploaded .pdfs of the latest books. While that’s a solution that might’ve worked in the past, it’s one that’s now filled with headaches: copyright takedowns are more common these days and, more importantly, there’s a better option that won’t cost much. In the process, you’ll also be paying the artists—clean conscience unlocked!
There are a number of manga reader apps out there, but we think Viz Manga is the best of the bunch. It’s got a large collection of excellent titles, like Call of the Night and Komi Can’t Communicate, including free chapters for people looking to browse for free. Most importantly, it’s got a sleek interface that is about the closest you can get to the actual experience of turning a page, one that’s smoother and more reliable than whatever .pdf reader you were using for your bootlegs.
How WhistleOut reviews apps
Our mobile experts scour the app stores every month, looking for the best new apps for Android and iPhone. Before recommending an app, we use the app for at least one full workday, testing its basic functionality and evaluating whether or not it delivers on its promises. From there, we weigh the app's pros and cons, and then determine whether or not it's a worthwhile download for basic cell phone users.
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Easy to use
Great apps simplify your phone. We selected the tools that don't require a complicated instructional manual. -
Affordability
The internet is filled with expensive price tags, but we're not buying what they're selling. We leaned into inexpensive, quality apps. Extra points if they're free! -
Hands-on testing
We played around with these before recommending them, ensuring they're worth your download.
From there, we weigh the app's pros and cons and then determine whether or not it's a worthwhile download for the wider population of cell phone users.
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