Pick Anx Reader if
you also read on Android, Windows or a Mac, want WebDAV sync, want AI chat on your own key, or want the lowest price. The store build asks for $4.99 once, after a 7-day trial.
justRead vs Anx Reader: open source on phone and desktop, or built for the iPhone
Anx Reader costs less, runs on more devices and its code is public. justRead is for iPhone and iPad only and adds iCloud sync, widgets, comics and audiobooks.
Try the whole app free for 14 days.
justRead.app
Reader for books, comics and audiobooks
Anx Reader
Open-source reader for Android, iOS, macOS and Windows
Which should you pick?
Pick justRead.app if
you read on an iPhone or iPad and want iCloud sync, home-screen widgets, comics, audiobooks or a Calibre library. It costs more: $79.99 once, after a 14-day trial.
One reader for phone and desktop, one for the iPhone
Both are ebook readers with notes, statistics and read aloud. They differ in where they run and in what they do around the book.
Anx Reader is an open-source reader for Android, iOS, macOS and Windows. It opens six book formats, keeps reading statistics and syncs over WebDAV. Its AI assistant works with an API key you supply.
justRead runs on iPhone and iPad only. It opens books, comics and audiobooks and syncs through iCloud. It adds widgets, a Control Center control, Shortcuts and CarPlay.
Three things set them apart on an iPhone: the price after the trial, how the library syncs, and what sits on the home screen. The rows below show each.
What each app costs
Anx Reader is the cheaper app. The store says Free, but there is a trial and then a purchase.
Anx Reader: free for 7 days, then $4.99 once
The store price line says Free with in-app purchases. The app starts a 7-day trial. When it ends, tapping a book opens the purchase screen and the book stays shut. The one purchase is called Permanent Full Access and costs $4.99 in the US store.123
The paywall is only in store builds
The paywall is switched on only in builds made for the App Store or Google Play. The code on GitHub is MIT licensed.45
Early users keep access
People who installed an early version keep access without paying. The app calls them early users.6
justRead: free for 14 days, then paid
justRead costs $4.99 a month, $29.99 a year or $79.99 once, after a 14-day trial. That is more than Anx Reader's $4.99 once.78
Both work with Family Sharing
Anx Reader's purchase supports Family Sharing. So do justRead's subscription and its lifetime purchase.18
justRead and Anx Reader, row by row
A Yes or No always has a source. Click a mark to see it.
| What matters | justRead.app |
Anx Reader |
|---|---|---|
| Price and plans | ||
| Price after the trialWhat you pay once the trial is over | $79.99 onceA 14-day trial, then $4.99 a month, $29.99 a year or $79.99 once.78 | $4.99 onceA 7-day trial, then one purchase called Permanent Full Access at $4.99 in the US store.12 |
| Family Sharing | YesCovers the subscription and the lifetime purchase.8 | YesThe store listing supports Family Sharing for in-app purchases.1 |
| Where it runs | ||
| iPhone and iPad | YesRuns on iPhone and iPad.8 | YesThe store text promises one experience across iPhone, iPad and Mac.9 |
| Android, Windows and MacWhether your library follows you off Apple devices | NoiPhone and iPad only. Mac Catalyst and Designed for iPad on Mac are switched off.8 | YesThe README lists Android, iOS, macOS and Windows.10 |
| Oldest iOS | iOS 18.1811 | iOS 15.21 |
| Books and formats | ||
| EPUB and PDF | YesEPUB reflows in the Readium reader. PDF opens through PDFKit.8 | YesBoth are on the README's list of fully supported formats.10 |
| MOBI, AZW3, FB2 and TXT | NoThe import list holds no MOBI, AZW3, FB2 or TXT entry.8 | YesThe code accepts epub, mobi, azw3, fb2, txt and pdf, and nothing else.3 |
| Comics (CBZ and CBR) | YesCBZ opens as a fixed-layout reader. CBR is repacked into CBZ on import.8 | NoThe code accepts six file types and CBZ and CBR are not among them.3 |
| Audiobooks | YesPlays m4b, m4a, mp3, aac and flac with a chapter list and speeds from 0.75x to 2x.8 | NoThe book importer accepts six file types and none of them is audio.3 |
| Reading | ||
| Read aloud | YesApple voices read an EPUB aloud and highlight the sentence. Two sets of downloadable voices run on the device. PDFs are not read aloud.8 | YesSeveral voices, speed, tone and a sleep timer. The source holds backends for the system voice, Azure, OpenAI and Aliyun.1012 |
| Reading statistics | YesA Statistics tab with a goal calendar heatmap, reading speed and recap pages. A daily goal, a pages goal, a yearly books goal and a streak.8 | YesThe README lists statistics with a heatmap of reading habits.10 |
| Translation | Selected textTranslates a selected passage with Apple's on-device Translation.8 | Whole bookThe README lists full-book translation with a side-by-side view.10 |
| AI assistantWhere the text you read goes | On the deviceExplain, Who's This, Catch Me Up and Highlights Digest run with Apple Intelligence. They need iOS 26 and a device where it is switched on.8 | Your own API keyAI chat, mind maps, a shelf organiser and a dictionary run on a key you supply. Chat messages and selected text go to the provider you set up.91013 |
| Custom fonts | YesImports ttf and otf files, or a zip of fonts.8 | YesThe font picker accepts ttf and otf files.14 |
| Highlights and notes | YesHighlights from a selection in EPUB and PDF, with notes.8 | YesNotes with colour presets, filters and shareable cards.10 |
| Export notes | Markdown, PDF, ReadwiseMarkdown and PDF files, and Readwise, automatically when a book closes.8 | TXT, Markdown, CSVThe README lists export to TXT, Markdown and CSV.10 |
| Library and sync | ||
| iCloud sync | YesPosition, bookmarks, highlights, finished state, covers, settings and fonts.8 | NoThe iOS entitlements list an app group and nothing about iCloud.15 |
| WebDAV sync | NojustRead syncs through iCloud, a KOReader sync server, Grimmory, BookOrbit and a Calibre server.8 | YesBooks, notes and reading progress sync over WebDAV.10 |
| Calibre | YesImports from a Calibre content server and syncs highlights, notes and bookmarks both ways.8 | Community projectsThe README links two community Calibre projects and says they are not officially supported.10 |
| OPDS catalogs | YesProject Gutenberg is built in, and books download from any OPDS catalog.8 | In progress10 |
| On the iPhone | ||
| Widgets | YesFive home-screen widgets and five lock-screen widgets, plus a Control Center control.8 | NoThe iOS project has one app extension, a share extension, and none for widgets.16 |
| Shortcuts and Siri | YesExposes App Intents for Shortcuts and Siri.8 | NoThe iOS project has no App Intents or Siri extension.16 |
| CarPlay | YesPlays audiobooks and Read Aloud in CarPlay as an audio app.8 | NoThe iOS project has no CarPlay support.16 |
| Privacy | ||
| Analytics | NoneUses no analytics, and has no analytics framework in the app.8 | NoneThe store privacy label reads Data Not Collected.1 |
Every Anx Reader cell was re-read on 28 October 2026.
Goals and streaks in justRead
Both apps track your reading. justRead adds goals and a streak.
Anx Reader lists statistics with a heatmap of your reading habits. justRead has a daily goal, a pages goal and a yearly books goal, and a streak that forgives one missed day a month.
Where Anx Reader is the better pick
Nine places where Anx Reader is better.
It costs less
$4.99 once, after a 7-day trial, against justRead's $79.99 once after 14 days. justRead also sells a $4.99 monthly plan and a $29.99 yearly one.127
It runs beyond iPhone and iPad
The README lists Android, iOS, macOS and Windows. justRead is iPhone and iPad only.810
More book formats
It opens MOBI, AZW3, FB2 and TXT as well as EPUB and PDF. justRead has no import for MOBI, AZW3, FB2 or TXT.38
WebDAV sync
Books, notes and reading progress sync over WebDAV, so anyone with a WebDAV server can keep the library there. justRead has no WebDAV.810
AI chat on a model you choose
Chat, mind maps and a dictionary run on an API key you supply. The 1.14.0 release adds a settings page for OpenAI, Claude and Gemini. justRead's assistant runs on the device, so it needs iOS 26 and a device with Apple Intelligence.8910
Cloud voices for read aloud
Its text to speech reaches Azure, OpenAI and Aliyun voices as well as the system voice, and the README lists a sleep timer. justRead reads with Apple's voices and two sets of voices that run on the device.81012
Whole-book translation
It translates a full book with a side-by-side view. justRead translates a passage you select.810
Older iPhones
Public code
The code is MIT licensed, so you can read it, fork it and build it yourself.5
Where justRead is the better pick
Six places where justRead is better.
iCloud sync
Position, bookmarks, highlights, finished state, covers, settings and fonts follow you across devices. Anx Reader's iOS entitlements list an app group and nothing about iCloud.815
Widgets, Control Center, Shortcuts and CarPlay
Five home-screen widgets, five lock-screen widgets, a Control Center control that continues your book, Siri and Shortcuts, and CarPlay for audiobooks and Read Aloud. The Anx Reader iOS project has one app extension, a share extension.816
Comics and audiobooks
CBZ and CBR comics open in a fixed-layout reader. Audiobooks play with chapters and speeds from 0.75x to 2x. Anx Reader accepts six file types and neither is one of them.38
Calibre and OPDS
Highlights, notes and bookmarks sync both ways with a Calibre server, and Project Gutenberg is built in as an OPDS catalog. Anx Reader links community Calibre projects and marks OPDS as in progress.810
An assistant that stays on the device
Explain, Who's This and Catch Me Up run with Apple Intelligence, and nothing you read leaves the device. They need iOS 26 and a device where it is on. Anx Reader sends chat messages and selected text to the AI provider you set up.813
Readwise
Highlights export to Readwise by themselves when you close a book. Anx Reader's dependency list has no Readwise package.817
How to move from Anx Reader to justRead
Your books are files, so nothing is locked in.
-
Find your original book files
Use the files you added to Anx Reader in the first place. MOBI, AZW3, FB2 and TXT files need converting to EPUB first, for example with Calibre, because justRead does not import them.38
-
Export your notes
Anx Reader exports notes to TXT, Markdown and CSV. Do that for each book you marked up and keep the file as a reference.10
-
Add the books to justRead
Open them from the Files app, point justRead at a folder in iCloud Drive, or drop them onto the iPad. justRead can read a book in place from a folder you chose, without copying it.8
-
Set up sync
Turn on iCloud, or connect a Calibre server or an OPDS catalog if your library lives on one.8
-
Try it before you pay
The app starts with a 14-day free trial, so you can test it on your own books first.8
Note the page you are on in each book first, because reading positions stay inside the app that made them.
What Anx Reader's users say
Five App Store reviews from the US store, quoted as written. One is translated from Chinese.
it gives you WebDAV cloud sync method and AI Services needs you self configure. but it works perfectly in my workflow 10/10
Quit importing stuff to reduce space - just use existing directory: - how hard is this? This app has an excellent potential.
After the trial period it cannot be used at all.
Need support for a toggle to quickly enable audio. Currently, turning on audio requires several steps, which is quite inconvenient.
Great app to read along with AI
Anx Reader questions
Is Anx Reader free?
Is Anx Reader open source?
Does Anx Reader sync with iCloud?
Does Anx Reader have widgets on iPhone?
No. The iOS project has one app extension, a share extension, and nothing for widgets, App Intents, Siri or CarPlay.16
Can Anx Reader open CBZ comics?
No. The code accepts six file types: epub, mobi, azw3, fb2, txt and pdf.3
Does Anx Reader send my books to an AI service?
Only text you choose to send. The privacy policy says chat messages and selected text go to the AI provider you configured, and that Anx Reader itself does not collect, store or process personal data.13
Is Anx Reader still updated?
Does Anx Reader work with Calibre?
Other readers worth a look
If neither app fits, these four have a page of their own.
Yomu: a $7.99 one-time price and a Mac app
Yomu Pro costs $7.99 once and works on iPhone, iPad and Mac. Yomu opens EPUB, Mobi, Kindle and PDF files, and CBZ and CBR comics. See justRead vs Yomu.2021
Readest: free sync on desktop and phone
Readest is open source, and its Free plan syncs library, progress, highlights and notes across devices. It runs on macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, iOS and the web. See justRead vs Readest.222324
KyBook 3: DjVu, FB2 and RTF files
KyBook 3 opens DjVu, FB2, RTF and CBT comics as well as EPUB and PDF, and it needs only iOS 11.0 or later. Its newest release is dated 23 February 2019. See justRead vs KyBook 3.252627
BookFusion: one library on web, iOS and Android
BookFusion reads on the web, iOS and Android, and has an E Ink mode for Android tablets. Plans start at $1.99 a month and the pricing page shows no one-time purchase. See justRead vs BookFusion.2829
Sources and how we checked
29 sources
justRead.app makes justRead. Every justRead cell comes from the app's source code at the 5.6 release.
Anx Reader's cells come from its source code at the v1.14.0 tag, which is the version on the App Store, and from its store listing, privacy policy and release notes, all re-read on 28 October 2026. The default branch on GitHub is ahead of the store, so we read the tag.
We did not install Anx Reader or test it on a device. Its lines describe what the code and the developer say, not how the app behaves for you.
Prices change. Anx Reader's is the US storefront price on 28 October 2026. justRead's comes from its own site.
The reviews come from the US App Store feed and are quoted as written.
Checked 28 October 2026 against justRead 5.6 and Anx Reader 1.14.0.
- Anx Reader, App Store listing (US): price, in-app purchase, iOS version, languages, rating. apps.apple.com accessed 2026-10-28
- Anx Reader source, in-app purchase module at v1.14.0. raw.githubusercontent.com accessed 2026-10-28
- Anx Reader source, book import code at v1.14.0. raw.githubusercontent.com accessed 2026-10-28
- Anx Reader source, build flags at v1.14.0 (which builds carry the paywall). raw.githubusercontent.com accessed 2026-10-28
- Anx Reader licence file at v1.14.0. raw.githubusercontent.com accessed 2026-10-28
- Anx Reader English strings at v1.14.0 (trial and purchase screens). raw.githubusercontent.com accessed 2026-10-28
- justRead pricing and trial, from the justRead site. justread.app accessed 2026-10-28
- justRead 5.6 app behavior, read from the app's source code at the release build (our own review). accessed 2026-10-28
- Anx Reader, App Store listing text and release notes (US lookup data). itunes.apple.com accessed 2026-10-28
- Anx Reader README at the v1.14.0 tag (the version on the App Store). raw.githubusercontent.com accessed 2026-10-28
- justRead, App Store listing (US): version 5.6, minimum iOS and last update. apps.apple.com accessed 2026-10-28
- Anx Reader source tree at v1.14.0, text to speech backends. github.com accessed 2026-10-28
- Anx Reader privacy policy. anx.anxcye.com accessed 2026-10-28
- Anx Reader source, font import at v1.14.0. raw.githubusercontent.com accessed 2026-10-28
- Anx Reader iOS entitlements at v1.14.0. raw.githubusercontent.com accessed 2026-10-28
- Anx Reader iOS Xcode project at v1.14.0 (app extensions). raw.githubusercontent.com accessed 2026-10-28
- Anx Reader dependency list at v1.14.0. raw.githubusercontent.com accessed 2026-10-28
- Anx Reader, App Store reviews (US storefront), quoted as written. apps.apple.com accessed 2026-10-28
- Anx Reader GitHub issue 985, maintainer reply. github.com accessed 2026-10-28
- Yomu maker's FAQ: the Pro purchase, its price and the devices it covers. yomu-reader.com accessed 2026-10-28
- Yomu home page: supported formats. yomu-reader.com accessed 2026-10-28
- Readest pricing page: what the Free plan includes. readest.com accessed 2026-10-28
- Readest README at the v0.12.16 tag: platforms. raw.githubusercontent.com accessed 2026-10-28
- Readest licence file at v0.12.16. raw.githubusercontent.com accessed 2026-10-28
- The KyBook maker's site, Internet Archive copy (captured 22 December 2024): formats. web.archive.org accessed 2026-10-28
- KyBook 3, App Store listing (US): minimum iOS. apps.apple.com accessed 2026-10-28
- Apple's lookup record for KyBook 3: release date. itunes.apple.com accessed 2026-10-28
- BookFusion, reading apps page: platforms and E Ink mode. bookfusion.com accessed 2026-10-28
- BookFusion pricing page: plan prices. bookfusion.com accessed 2026-10-28
A plain-text version of this page is at https://justread.app/en/compare/justread-vs-anx-reader.md.