The Article Tells The Story of Best Book Apps:
- How audiobooks replaced podcasts with one surprising app
- Why a tiny bookstore in New York gets paid when you buy a bestseller
- The library app that gives you free ebooks and audiobooks with no hidden cost
- Which reading tracker app shows your yearly reading stats in actual charts
- Why one book app feels like digital nostalgia — and why users love it
1. Libro.fm: Best App for Buying Audiobooks That Support Bookstores
Libro.fm is a top pick for anyone who wants to support local bookstores while buying audiobooks. It gives users full ownership of the files with no DRM restrictions.
You can:
- Subscribe for $15/month to get 1 audiobook credit
- Get 30% off additional purchases
- Buy audiobook credit bundles without subscribing
- Choose which bookstore gets a share of the money
Libro.fm gives you access to bestselling titles and free books. The platform also includes small independent stores. One user even found a bookstore from a tiny town in New York.
Libro.fm supports MP3 downloads, making it easy to listen offline anywhere — at home, on walks, or during road trips.
2. Bookshop.org: Best App for Buying Ebooks That Fund Local Shops
Bookshop.org now offers ebooks through its new app. Just like its print book store, this app helps fund independent bookstores.
Explore the Best Book Apps that can transform your reading experience.
Here’s how it works:
- You browse and read through the app
- You buy through the Bookshop.org website
- You choose which store benefits from your purchase
So far, Bookshop.org has raised over $38 million for bookstores.
Limitations:
- You can’t sync with Kindle or Kobo (yet)
- You can only read on Android, iOS, or browser
- Kobo sync may launch later this year
Still, if you care about supporting small sellers, this app is the most direct way to do it while reading digital books.
3. Libby: Best Free App for Borrowing Ebooks and Audiobooks
Libby is the best free book app if you want to borrow books from your local library.
You can:
- Link multiple library cards
- Borrow ebooks and audiobooks at no cost
- Sync ebooks with your Kindle
- Read or listen in the app or on other devices
Libby works best for:
- Older books with low demand
- Random browsing when you’re not sure what to read
- Magazines and special editions
Libby also has custom tags to help organize your books. You can create your own tags like “To Read” or “Fantasy Picks” to stay organized.
It’s the best choice if you want a free app that doesn’t require any subscription or payment.
4. Moon+ Reader: Best App for Reading EPUBs and PDF Files (Android Only)
Moon+ Reader is the most flexible app for reading ebooks stored on your device. It works best if you already have ebook files in formats like EPUB, PDF, MOBI, or AZW3.
Moon+ Reader lets you:
- Customize font, colors, margins, and spacing
- Use auto scroll or text-to-speech features
- Highlight and annotate passages
- Save custom reading themes
Moon+ Reader has a free version and a paid version. The paid version ($10 one-time purchase) removes ads and unlocks more customization tools.
It also includes access to Project Gutenberg, which gives you over 75,000 free public-domain books.
Bonus: The app has a retro bookshelf design that looks like a real library shelf.
5. The StoryGraph: Best App for Tracking Reading and Analyzing Stats
The StoryGraph helps you track your reading habits using data. It’s the best app for people who read multiple books at the same time and want to stay organized.
Key features:
- Log books in progress
- Track how far along you are in each title
- Set reading goals and challenges
- See visual graphs of your habits
You can also:
- Leave detailed reviews
- Mark books as “Did Not Finish”
- Add content warnings
- Tag books by mood, pace, or genre
The app’s best feature is the stats dashboard. It shows how many books you’ve read, your preferred genres, and how fast you read. It even gives you a reading wrap-up at the end of each year.
StoryGraph includes light social features but keeps them separate from the main tools. You can join book clubs, buddy reads, or just read quietly.
Final Thoughts: Which Book App Should You Use?
Here’s a quick summary to help you decide:
| App Name | Best For | Key Benefit | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Libro.fm | Buying audiobooks | Supports local bookstores, DRM-free files | $15/month or a la carte |
| Bookshop.org | Buying ebooks | Funds indie sellers, clean interface | Pay-per-book |
| Libby | Borrowing books for free | Full library access with no subscription | Free |
| Moon+ Reader | Reading local ebook files (Android only) | Total control over reading format | Free or $10 one-time |
| The StoryGraph | Tracking your reading | Data graphs, mood filters, DNF option | Free or optional donation |
Each app fits a specific need. Use Libro.fm or Bookshop.org if you want to support small stores. Use Libby if you want everything for free. Choose Moon+ Reader if you own ebook files. Use The StoryGraph if you want clean tracking and reading stats.
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