Pick Readest if
you want free sync, open source code, one app on Android, Windows and Mac too, more book formats or whole-book translation.
justRead vs Readest: free and open source on desktop and phone, or built for the iPhone
Readest is free with sync, open source and on desktop, phone and web. justRead is iPhone and iPad only and adds lock-screen widgets, Shortcuts, goals and an assistant that runs on the device.
Try the whole app free for 14 days.
justRead.app
Reader for books, comics and audiobooks
Readest
Open-source reader for desktop, phone and web
Which should you pick?
Pick justRead.app if
you read on an iPhone or iPad and want home and lock-screen widgets, Shortcuts, reading goals, CBR comics or voices that run on the device. It costs more: $79.99 once, after a 14-day trial.
The free reader for desktop and phone, and the one made for the iPhone
Both are capable ebook readers. They differ in what they cost, where they run and how deep they go on iPhone.
Readest is an open-source reader for macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, iOS and the web. It is free with sync, and its paid plans add storage, premium voices and sync through your own cloud.
justRead runs on iPhone and iPad only. It costs more, and it goes further on the phone: widgets on the home and lock screens, Shortcuts, goals and streaks, comics and an assistant that runs on the device.
Several Readest features that sound free sit behind a paid plan or a one-time unlock. The cost section and the matrix below name each one.
What each app costs
Readest is free to start and has paid extras. justRead has a trial, then a paywall.
Readest: free, with sync
The Free plan includes sync of library, progress, highlights and notes, 500 MB of cloud storage and 10,000 characters of AI translation a day. The App Store lists the app as Free with in-app purchases.12
Readest: what the paid plans add
Plus costs $4.99 a month and Pro costs $9.99 a month. Full Customization is a one-time $19.99. It unlocks sync through your own storage such as WebDAV or iCloud Drive, offline read-aloud audio and Audiobookshelf offline downloads.1
Readest: extra storage
Extra cloud storage is sold as lifetime packs, from $9.99 for 1 GB to $49.99 for 10 GB. When a plan lapses, sync through third-party storage pauses.13
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. Readest's Plus plan is the same $4.99 a month, and Readest also has a free plan.145
justRead and Readest, row by row
A Yes or No always has a source. Click a mark to see it.
| What matters | justRead.app |
Readest |
|---|---|---|
| Price and plans | ||
| PriceWhat you pay | $79.99 onceA 14-day trial, then $4.99 a month, $29.99 a year or $79.99 once.45 | FreeA free plan with sync. Plus is $4.99 a month and Pro is $9.99 a month. A one-time Full Customization unlock costs $19.99.12 |
| What the free version holds | 14-day trialAfter it, a paywall.5 | Sync and storageThe Free plan includes sync of library, progress, highlights and notes, 500 MB of cloud storage and 10,000 characters of AI translation a day.1 |
| Where it runs | ||
| Android, Windows, Mac, Linux and webWhether your library follows you off Apple devices | NoiPhone and iPad only. Mac Catalyst and Designed for iPad on Mac are switched off.5 | YesThe README lists macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, iOS and the Web.6 |
| Oldest iOS | iOS 18.15 | iOS 16.42 |
| Books and formats | ||
| EPUB and PDF | Yes5 | Yes6 |
| MOBI, AZW3, FB2 and TXT | NoThe import list holds no MOBI, AZW3, FB2 or TXT entry.5 | YesThe README lists MOBI, KF8 (AZW3), FB2, TXT, HTML and Markdown as supported.6 |
| Comics | CBZ and CBRCBZ opens as a fixed-layout reader. CBR is repacked into CBZ on import.5 | CBZ onlyThe format table lists cbz and no cbr.7 |
| Audiobooks | Plays filesPlays m4b, m4a, mp3, aac and flac with a chapter list and speeds from 0.75x to 2x.5 | Read-alongPairs a human-narrated audiobook with an EPUB as read-along audio. Pairing works with EPUB only.8 |
| Audiobookshelf | DownloadsConnects to a self-hosted Audiobookshelf server and downloads its books, without streaming.5 | StreamsStreams audiobooks and podcasts from a self-hosted Audiobookshelf server. Offline downloads need the Full Customization unlock.13 |
| Reading | ||
| Read-aloud voices | On the deviceApple voices read an EPUB aloud, and two sets of downloadable voices run on the device. PDFs are not read aloud.5 | Cloud by defaultEdge TTS, a cloud voice, is the default whenever the device is online. It sends the current sentence to Microsoft's servers. On iOS the on-device voices are Apple's.8 |
| Premium and custom voices | Two voice setsKokoro and Supertonic voices download to the device.5 | SubscriptionReadest Voice premium voices come with a subscription only. A custom OpenAI-compatible or local service needs a paid plan or Full Customization.8 |
| 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.5 | Time and pagesLogs reading time and pages read in a KOReader-compatible database. A search of the source finds no heatmap, reading goal, daily goal or reading streak. The README lists advanced stats as being built.36910111213 |
| Apple Intelligence | YesExplain, Who's This and Catch Me Up run with Apple Intelligence. They need iOS 26 and a device where it is switched on.5 | NoA search of the source finds no Apple Intelligence and no FoundationModels, Apple's on-device model framework.131415 |
| Translation | Selected textTranslates a selected passage with Apple's on-device Translation.5 | Whole bookA translation mode translates paragraphs inline.16 |
| Custom fonts | YesImports ttf and otf files, or a zip of fonts.5 | YesCustom fonts can be ttf, otf, ttc or woff2 files.17 |
| Drawing on the page | NojustRead does not draw ink on a page.5 | YesYou can draw on the page with a finger, stylus or Apple Pencil.18 |
| Dictionaries | Dictionary sheetA dictionary sheet with an extra Wikipedia source.5 | Custom dictionariesCustom dictionaries include Yomitan bundles.6 |
| Readwise and Hardcover | YesExports highlights to Readwise, automatically when a book closes, and syncs status and rating with Hardcover.5 | YesThe docs list Readwise export, Hardcover tracking, Pagebound and Notion export.3 |
| Library and sync | ||
| Built-in cloud sync | iCloudSyncs position, bookmarks, highlights, finished state, covers, settings and fonts.5 | Readest CloudSyncs library, progress, highlights and notes on the Free plan. It starts with signing in to a Readest account.13 |
| iCloud Drive, WebDAV and S3 | iCloud onlySyncs through iCloud, a KOReader sync server, Grimmory, BookOrbit and a Calibre server.5 | Paid unlockiCloud Drive, WebDAV, Google Drive, OneDrive and S3 sync need Plus, Pro or the one-time Full Customization unlock. When a plan lapses, that sync pauses.13 |
| Calibre | Two-way syncImports from a Calibre content server and syncs highlights, notes and bookmarks both ways.5 | Manual pushThe Calibre plugin pushes picked books into the Readest cloud library by hand. Nothing uploads in the background.19 |
| Read a book in place | YesReads a book from the folder you chose in Files without copying it.5 | YesReads a book in place from a registered folder instead of copying it.19 |
| On the iPhone | ||
| Widgets | TenFive home-screen widgets and five lock-screen widgets, plus a Control Center control.5 | OneA single static widget in small, medium and large sizes, with no lock-screen widgets.1920 |
| Shortcuts and Siri | YesExposes App Intents for Shortcuts and Siri.5 | NoA search of the source finds no AppIntent, and the Xcode project has no Siri reference.132122 |
| CarPlay | YesPlays audiobooks and Read Aloud in CarPlay as an audio app.5 | YesThe iOS entitlements include CarPlay audio.23 |
| Face ID lock | YesA book can require Face ID or Touch ID before it opens.5 | YesAn app lock with a 4-digit PIN and Face ID or Touch ID unlock.24 |
| Privacy | ||
| Analytics | NoneUses no analytics, and has no analytics framework in the app.5 | Off by defaultAnonymous usage statistics are off on new installs. The store privacy label lists data not linked to you.224 |
Every Readest cell was re-read on 28 October 2026.
Goals and streaks in justRead
Readest logs your reading time. justRead turns it into goals.
Readest logs reading time and pages read, and shares them with KOReader. Its own design note says streaks and heatmaps will come from a future screen. justRead has them now: a daily goal, a pages goal, a yearly books goal and a streak that forgives one missed day a month.
Where Readest is the better pick
Eight places where Readest is better.
Free sync
The Free plan syncs library, progress, highlights and notes across devices. justRead has a 14-day trial and then a paywall.15
Open source, on desktop and phone
The code is under the GNU Affero General Public License version 3. The README lists macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, iOS and the Web. justRead is iPhone and iPad only.5625
More book formats
It opens MOBI, AZW3, FB2, TXT, HTML and Markdown as well as EPUB and PDF. justRead has no import for MOBI, AZW3, FB2 or TXT.56
Whole-book translation
A translation mode translates paragraphs inline, and the Free plan includes 10,000 characters of AI translation a day. justRead translates a passage you select.1516
Audiobookshelf streaming and read-along
Readest streams audiobooks and podcasts from a self-hosted Audiobookshelf server, and pairs a narrated audiobook with an EPUB. justRead downloads Audiobookshelf books and does not stream them.358
Drawing on the page
You can draw on the page with a finger, stylus or Apple Pencil. justRead does not draw ink on a page.518
Custom dictionaries
Custom dictionaries include Yomitan bundles, which matters if you read in a language you are learning. justRead has a dictionary sheet with a Wikipedia source.56
More choice of voices
Premium Readest Voice voices come with a subscription, and a custom OpenAI-compatible or local service works with a paid plan or Full Customization. justRead reads with Apple's voices and two sets of voices that run on the device.58
Where justRead is the better pick
Six places where justRead is better.
Widgets and the lock screen
Five home-screen widgets, five lock-screen widgets and a Control Center control that continues your book. Readest has one widget in three sizes and none on the lock screen.51920
Shortcuts and Siri
justRead exposes App Intents for Shortcuts and Siri. A search of Readest's source finds no AppIntent, and its Xcode project has no Siri reference.5132122
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. A search of Readest's source finds neither Apple Intelligence nor FoundationModels.5131415
Goals and streaks
A daily goal, a pages goal, a yearly books goal and a streak. A search of Readest's source finds no heatmap, reading goal, daily goal or reading streak, and the README lists advanced stats as being built.56910111213
CBR comics
CBR files are repacked into CBZ on import and read like any comic. Readest's format table lists cbz and no cbr.57
Voices that stay on the device
justRead reads with Apple's voices and two sets of downloadable voices, all on the device. Readest uses Edge TTS, a cloud voice, whenever the phone is online, and that sends the current sentence to Microsoft's servers.58
How to move from Readest to justRead
Your books are files, and your highlights can leave through Readwise.
-
Send your highlights out first
Readest lists Readwise and Notion export. justRead also exports highlights to Readwise, so a Readwise account keeps your notes in one place while you switch.35
-
Find your book files
If you registered a folder in Readest, the files are already in it, because Readest can read a book in place. Otherwise use the files you added in the first place.19
-
Convert other formats
justRead does not open MOBI, AZW3, FB2 or TXT files. Convert them to EPUB first, for example with Calibre.56
-
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.5
-
Reconnect your servers
justRead connects to an Audiobookshelf server and downloads its books, and syncs highlights, notes and bookmarks both ways with a Calibre server.5
-
Try it before you pay
The app starts with a 14-day free trial, so you can test it on your own books first.5
Note the page you are on in each book first, because reading positions stay inside the app that made them.
What Readest's users say
Five App Store reviews from the US store, quoted as written. Three praise Readest and two name a limit, each from one reviewer.
The free version basically already has every feature I need
TTS has natural voice, hard working developer that keeps up with latest trends!
Minimal bloat this is one of the readers you can just download and immediately use no bloat great app love it
In the recent update they made WebDAV sync a premium feature
TTS will skip over dialogue on pdf files
Readest questions
Is Readest free?
Yes, with limits. The App Store lists it as Free with in-app purchases. The Free plan includes sync of library, progress, highlights and notes, 500 MB of cloud storage and 10,000 characters of AI translation a day. Plus costs $4.99 a month, Pro costs $9.99 a month, and a one-time Full Customization unlock costs $19.99.12
Is Readest open source?
Yes. The licence is the GNU Affero General Public License version 3.25
Does Readest sync with iCloud?
Does Readest have text to speech?
Yes. On iOS the on-device voices are Apple's speech engine. Edge TTS, a cloud voice that sends the current sentence to Microsoft's servers, is the default whenever the device is online. Premium Readest Voice voices come with a subscription only.8
Does Readest play audiobooks?
Does Readest have widgets on iPhone?
Does Readest have reading goals or a streak?
Can Readest open CBR comics?
No. The format table lists cbz and no cbr.7
Does Readest 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.2829
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 3.303132
Anx Reader: open source with AI on your own key
Anx Reader is MIT licensed, syncs through WebDAV and runs on Android, iOS, macOS and Windows. Its AI assistant needs your own API key. See justRead vs Anx Reader.333435
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.3637
Sources and how we checked
37 sources
justRead.app makes justRead. Every justRead cell comes from the app's source code at the 5.6 release.
Readest's cells come from its docs and pricing pages at readest.com, its README and source code at the v0.12.16 tag, which is the version on the App Store, and its US store listing, all re-read on 28 October 2026.
"No" on a feature in the source means a search of the whole app source at that tag found nothing. The same checkout returns many lines for the word bookmark, so the searches can find a word that is there.
We did not install Readest or test it on a device. Its lines describe what its pages and code say, not how the app behaves for you.
Prices change. Readest's come from its pricing page, justRead's 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 Readest 0.12.16.
- Readest pricing page: the Free, Plus and Pro plans and the one-time Full Customization unlock. readest.com accessed 2026-10-28
- Readest, App Store listing (US): price line, iOS version, privacy label. apps.apple.com accessed 2026-10-28
- Readest docs: sync, integrations, Audiobookshelf and statistics. readest.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
- Readest README at the v0.12.16 tag (the version on the App Store). raw.githubusercontent.com accessed 2026-10-28
- Readest source, document format table at v0.12.16. raw.githubusercontent.com accessed 2026-10-28
- Readest docs: listening, text to speech and read-along audio. readest.com accessed 2026-10-28
- Readest source at v0.12.16, searched for heatmap (no match). github.com accessed 2026-10-28
- Readest source at v0.12.16, searched for reading goal (no match). github.com accessed 2026-10-28
- Readest source at v0.12.16, searched for daily goal (no match). github.com accessed 2026-10-28
- Readest source at v0.12.16, searched for reading streak (no match). github.com accessed 2026-10-28
- Readest source at v0.12.16, control search for bookmark (many matches, so the searches work). github.com accessed 2026-10-28
- Readest source at v0.12.16, searched for Apple Intelligence (no match). github.com accessed 2026-10-28
- Readest source at v0.12.16, searched for FoundationModels (no match). github.com accessed 2026-10-28
- Readest docs: translation. readest.com accessed 2026-10-28
- Readest docs: customization and custom fonts. readest.com accessed 2026-10-28
- Readest docs: reading and drawing on the page. readest.com accessed 2026-10-28
- Readest docs: library, widget, folders, Calibre plugin and Send to Readest. readest.com accessed 2026-10-28
- Readest iOS widget bundle at v0.12.16. raw.githubusercontent.com accessed 2026-10-28
- Readest source at v0.12.16, searched for AppIntent (no match). github.com accessed 2026-10-28
- Readest iOS Xcode project at v0.12.16 (app extensions). raw.githubusercontent.com accessed 2026-10-28
- Readest iOS entitlements at v0.12.16. raw.githubusercontent.com accessed 2026-10-28
- Readest docs: advanced settings, app lock and usage statistics. readest.com accessed 2026-10-28
- Readest licence file at v0.12.16. raw.githubusercontent.com accessed 2026-10-28
- Readest, App Store reviews (US storefront), quoted as written. apps.apple.com accessed 2026-10-28
- Readest design note for KOReader statistics sync, in the repository at v0.12.16. raw.githubusercontent.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
- 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
- Anx Reader licence file at the v1.14.0 tag. raw.githubusercontent.com accessed 2026-10-28
- Anx Reader README at the v1.14.0 tag: sync and platforms. raw.githubusercontent.com accessed 2026-10-28
- Apple's lookup record for Anx Reader: the AI key note. 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-readest.md.