2026 Buyer's Guide
The best reading apps for your own books
Six apps that read the EPUBs and PDFs you already own, compared on what happens after page one: syncing, stores, and whether the app actually helps you stay inside the story.
The contenders
Six apps, in brief
Storieta
Best for staying immersed in the story
A reader for your own EPUBs and PDFs that illustrates scenes inline, keeps consistent portraits of every character, and recaps the story so far, all scoped to your page so nothing spoils ahead.
Web · Free → Pro $9.99/mo → Power $19.99/mo
- Scene illustrations as you read
- Character cast, portraits, and relationships
- Spoiler-safe recaps and companion
- Works in any browser, free to start
Kindle
Best store and hardware ecosystem
iOS, Android, web, e-ink · Free apps
The biggest bookstore plus Send to Kindle for your own EPUBs and PDFs. Personal documents are second-class citizens, and the app does nothing to help you follow the story.
Apple Books
Best on Apple devices
iPhone, iPad, Mac · Free
Polished rendering, easy EPUB and PDF import, iCloud sync. Stops at Apple's walls: no Android, no Windows, no web, and no story features.
Google Play Books
Best free cloud sync
Android, iOS, web · Free
Upload up to 1,000 of your own EPUB and PDF files and read them anywhere with synced progress. Utilitarian and reliable, but just a page-turner.
Kobo
Best Kindle alternative store
iOS, Android, e-ink · Free apps
EPUB-native store, library borrowing via OverDrive, and friendly sideloading. Shines with Kobo hardware; the phone app alone is unremarkable.
Moon+ Reader
Best Android power reader
Android · Free + Pro one-time
Endless customization, wide format support, and offline everything. Android-only, dated design, and no help remembering who anyone is.
Feature matrix
Everything, side by side
| Feature | Storieta | Kindle | Apple Books | Play Books | Kobo | Moon+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upload your own EPUB | Yes | Via Send to Kindle | Yes | Yes | Sideload | Yes |
| PDF support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Basic | Yes |
| Works on any device | Browser | Yes | Apple only | Yes | Yes | Android only |
| Scene illustrations | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Character help | Cast + relationships | X-Ray, store books only | No | No | No | No |
| Spoiler-safe recaps | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Ask about the story | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Read chapters as comics | Pro | No | No | No | No | No |
| Built-in bookstore | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Offline reading | iOS beta | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Free option | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |