Just because you don’t have a book on you doesn’t mean you have to stop reading. All you need is your phone to try social networking apps dedicated to bookworms and find your next read.
Wattpad
If you’re tired of reading paperback books, you should check out Wattpad. It’s a platform for the digital age where writers can directly connect with their readers. Wattpad brings a community element to reading.
You can interact with other readers by commenting on a certain section, a sentence, or a phrase inside a book.
Every genre takes the user to a new community to explore or receive inspiration. The app encourages you to participate in writing contests, increase your fan base, or be a part of the app’s selected stories.
Wattpad will help you go from a reader to a writer as well. Using the Wattpad community, you can build an audience for yourself. Some stories even get made into films and are available on movie streaming sites!
Download: Wattpad for iOS | Android (Free, subscription available)
Libby
Originally known as Overdrive, Libby lets you carry your local library in your pocket. All of this is available with your local library card. Why buy a book from Amazon when you can borrow a digital copy of it from your local library?
Libby has managed to shift offline libraries into the online world. The catalog differs based on your location or the content your library offers. Besides e-books, you can listen to audiobooks as well.
Download: Libby for iOS | Android (Free)
Inkitt
Inkitt is an app specifically designed for reading fiction, and it consists largely of work from indie writers. It covers only a few fiction genres, like romance, fantasy, sci-fi, and similar. The app is beautiful to look at and a joy to use.
The app is purely for reading and does not run a social network. The company behind the app is a publishing house that helps a writer publish their novel.
The reading experience is well-thought-out as well. It monitors your monthly and weekly reading stats, shows a history of the books you have read, and lets you create a list of the ones you want to read.
Download: Inkitt for iOS | Android (Free)
Yomu Ebook Reader
Yomu Ebook Reader is the best third-party EPUB reader for iOS. If you’re not satisfied with the basic features in Apple Books or Kindle, take a look at Yomu. This app lets you customize the entire reading interface.
Yomu will open any book format you throw at it, from an EPUB file to a CBX comic. There’s a host of free classic literature available from websites like Project Gutenberg, and you can also import your own files!
For $6.99, you can have unlimited files on the app and access all features, including the cloud library. There are lots of ways to maximize your book reading for free, which will allow you to transfer files to Yomu.
Download: Yomu Ebook Reader for iOS (Free, premium version available)
Leio
Leio is the best reading tracker for iPhone. It’s the easiest way to pen down everything related to your book reading stats. In one place, you can keep track of multiple books you’re reading.The app has a time-tracking feature as well, so you can see exactly how long it took you to finish a book.
Once you’ve added the data, Leio helps you analyze your reading patterns, too. You can use the Goals feature to plan your reading marathons, improve your reading time, and unlock achievements.
Leio has a modern interface that’s easy to use. If you find the other reading apps too cumbersome and don’t care about the community aspect, Leio is a great alternative book tracker.
Download: Leio for iOS (Free, premium version available)
Serial Reader
Serial Reader makes reading simpler. It’s the perfect app for both newbies and avid readers alike. The app gives you classic literature to read every day in 20-minute, bite-sized pieces.
If you find it difficult to focus on reading a book for a long time, use this app to form a daily reading habit. Since reading 19th-century works can be daunting, this app breaks it down just into the right amount of words per day.
Download: Serial Reader for iOS | Android (Free, premium version available)
Fable
Fable is yet another social media literature app, but with a visual twist. It’s a mix of Instagram and Twitter for books. Fable is a user-friendly app where you can post photos of your book moments, post questions or thoughts, and pull quotes from books you’re reading.
You can also log books you’re reading and have read, make custom lists, and even join virtual book clubs! Here are some reasons why I recently left Goodreads and switched to Fable.
Download: Fable for iOS | Android (Free)
Poetizer
Books aren’t limited to novels. If you enjoy poems, check out Poetizer to share your appreciation for poetry with fellow enthusiasts. Discover heartfelt pieces about life and love written by people around the world. You can give a heart, leave comments, and follow authors whose poems you love.
You can also share your thoughts and musings by writing and publishing your own poems on Poetizer.
Download: Poetizer for iOS | Android (Free, subscription available)
Amazon Kindle
Amazon Kindle lets you access your Kindle library on your smartphone. If you feel that the comments, constant recommendations, and social networking elements in other book apps are distracting, rest assured that it’s just you and your e-book when you’re using Amazon Kindle.
When reading, you can adjust the font, layout, and theme of the pages to the style that best suits your needs. If you’re on the fence about buying a Kindle, we have an article comparing the differences between the Kindle device and the Kindle app.
Download: Amazon Kindle for iOS | Android (Free, subscription and in-app purchases available)
Blinkist
Blinkist is an app for professionals who want to learn but don’t have time to read. The app provides key points along with the entire gist of a book in 15 minutes. Each summary of the book is called a blink, and you can either read or listen to it.
If you use sites to find books recommended by experts and famous people and identified some that piqued your interest, you can try looking them up here on Blinkist.
Download: Blinkist for iOS | Android (Free, subscription available)
As a book lover, you likely experience reading as second nature. You simply can’t get enough of the different stories, characters, and worlds that are woven into existence from written words.
But as you delve into e-books, you probably won’t say no to more physical books either. The comforting weight in your hands, the woody smell of the pages. While you explore these apps, remember to keep your bookshelf in order!
