In the age of “smarts”, most hardbound and paperback books have taken a backseat to more portable, space-saving e-books. While the experience of reading a real book is still far more fulfilling than just sliding your finger through the virtual pages of your favorite Rowling or Gaiman novel, more and more people now prefer e-book reader apps over local bookstores and libraries.
With hundreds of e-book reader apps available in Google Play Store and App Store, choosing one that best fits your reading needs can be pretty tricky. We’ve rounded up a list of some of the best e-book reader apps to help you decide:
- Kindle
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It would be wrong to create a list about e-book reader apps without putting Kindle at the top spot. The words Kindle and e-book are almost synonymous; it’s the app every bookworm should have on his smartphone. With over a million books in stock in the Kindle store, you’ll never run out of novels to read. The app lets you read free e-books, from classics like Pride and Prejudice to more recent ones like The Hunger Games. Aside from novels, Kindle also has popular magazines and newspapers in stock, such as Reader’s Digest and The Economist. It even comes with a built-in dictionary, Google, and Wikipedia in case you come across unfamiliar words or you need more information about certain books. On top of these, you can also sync your e-books across all your smartphones, tablets, and business phones (more information about office telephone systems), so you can start reading from where you left off regardless of the device you’re using. The app is free and available for iOS and Android users.
- Nook
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With over one million free e-books, customizable reading settings, and personalized book recommendations, Nook is definitely an app that could rival Kindle. Created by Barnes and Noble, the largest book retailer in the U.S., Nook has over three million e-books in its selection, with about a million of them free. It also has magazines, comics, and newspapers in stock, so there’s never a dull moment when you have this app. You can even read samples of books before buying them, and try newspapers or magazines free for 14 days. Like Kindle, Nook also syncs your e-book selection across your devices. The app is free and compatible with iOS and Android.
image source: credits to http://www.flickr.com/ by I am I.A.M.
Kobo is another e-reader (e-book reader) app that’s fit for a bookworm. It gives you access to over 3.2 million e-books, with about 1.8 million of them free. Whether you’re looking for a classic or a newly released novel, Kobo has a copy for you. You can even preview the first chapters of selected books before buying them. Like the first two apps, Kobo lets you sync your library and bookmarks across your devices so that you can continue reading from where you left off. To enhance your reading experience, Kobo allows you to customize the font size and style and switch from day to night mode. The app even comes with a Reading Life section so that you can share your favorite passages (or even the book you’re currently reading) with your friends. The app is free and available for Android and iOS users.
Which e-book reader app do you have on your smartphone? Sound off in the comments.