Best ebook app reader for iOS 2019

July 2, 2019 5:29 PM

I am in process of trying to simplify my electronic life. Right now, I have multiple reading apps to deal with my library of books. What are your favorite ebook reading apps this year? A few snowflakes inside.

I have been a Marvin user for quite a while but it is constrained in what filetypes it wants to handle i.e., PDFs. And I use other apps to handle marking up PDFs and notes. So here is what I am looking for to consolidate my reading life:

• Must be able to read a wide variety of filetypes with emphasis on epub, CBR/CBZ, and pdf but I get mobi and others now, too and do not want to fire up Calibre to do a conversion. I am getting into audiobooks and if it handles those files that would be nice.
• Able to make notes or annotations that are exportable. I am willing to keep a standalone PDF markup app/process, if necessary for doing my research based on people's answers
• Needs to be DRM free. The only DRM stuff I am willing to deal with are Overdrive/Libby and Kindle (in a very limited manner)
• Does not creep me out about my privacy with "x amount of readers have marked this passage!" or feelings that my reading is phoning home somewhere. I am looking very much at you, Kindle.
• Able to access various cloud services. The dream is getting to my seedbox and pulling direct but I understand that is a difficult one.
• The usual organizing capabilities of multiple libraries and UI customization
• I am on iOS and OSX devices. Having a universal license would be nice but I am willing to pay for the right solution for both iPad and iPhone
• Large library management capabilities. I can now bulk load books into my device using DiskAid into the appropriate app.

What are you using for your reading besides Libby, Overdrive and Calibre? Any opinions on Chunky, tiReader, Kybook, Maple Reader and any of the other stuff floating out there?

posted by jadepearl to Computers & Internet (3 answers total)

I love Chunky for my comics on iOS, but have never used it for anything else. I read books on Kindle, usually the device but occasionally on the iPad or iPhone. If I want to read ePub, I use Books on the iPad. Its also a decent PDF reader, but I don't know about markup.

Frankly, I'd like to hear about something that does all you want, though I'm on PC, not Mac. I'm skeptical that one or two apps that do all you want exist.
posted by lhauser at 10:11 PM on July 2, 2019

GoodReader is what I've used for my various PDFs and other misc doc formats I've amassed. It's pretty good on iOS, but I think I'm using an old version (very old iPad).

This may be barking up the wrong tree, but have you considered a Kobo e-reader? It's really helped me get through my backlog of e-books and other docs, and syncs with Pocket and library services like Overdrive. Very open and low on creep factor. You can annotate and such. The Clara is the best bargain right now.
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 3:23 PM on July 3, 2019

According to this Wikipedia article, the app eBookMobi ($1.99) is the only iOS e-reader that can handle CBZs, PDFs, and MOBIs -- everything but DJVU files, actually. Also, KyBook 2 (free w/ $1.99 pro upgrade) supports all that plus multiple audiobook formats (no MOBI, though). I'm a Marvin user, myself, so I can't speak to the features of either, but those are your best bets in terms of format coverage, and the Wiki article has lots more comparison charts showing how they stack up against each other and the competition in other categories.
posted by Rhaomi at 2:29 AM on July 10, 2019