The best reading apps for the iPhone cover three different jobs: Libby borrows free ebooks and audiobooks through your local library, Readwise Reader collects digital articles and newsletters, and Bookovery serves…
This comparison focuses on apps and prices in the German App Store. Availability and prices can differ in other regions.
The best reading apps for the iPhone cover three different jobs: Libby borrows free ebooks and audiobooks through your local library, Readwise Reader collects digital articles and newsletters, and Bookovery serves personalized book recommendations. Whether you read novels, nonfiction or long-form journalism, this list brings together the tools that make reading more accessible, from ebook readers to smart reading trackers. March 2026: Readwise Reader now has improved RSS support, while Libby remains unbeatable for anyone with a library card. If you want to read more but do not know where to start, or you already read a lot and want better tools, this is the complete digital reading setup: simple ebook apps as well as advanced tools that help you actually remember what you read. It is aimed at book lovers and at anyone who reads more, whether on screen, through audiobooks or across a mix of formats.
BookPlayer is an open-source audiobook player built around audiobook files you already own, rather than a tied store catalog. It is aimed at listeners who manage their own library and want a clean, capable player on the iPhone, and the app is offered as freemium.
Libby lets you borrow ebooks and audiobooks from your public library for free, straight from the iPhone. A valid library card is all it takes, making it one of the cheapest ways to read or listen to current titles, and the app itself is free.
Substack is the home for independent newsletters: you can read, write and discover publications in one app. Readers follow individual writers, while publishers can run a newsletter from the same place, and the app is free to use.
Pocket is a read-it-later app for saving articles and videos you come across during the day. Saved items are gathered in one queue to read on the iPhone later, and the freemium model keeps the core features free.
Readwise Reader is a read-it-later app aimed at power readers who want to consolidate articles, newsletters, RSS feeds and highlights in one place. According to the listing it starts at around €8 per month, and the March 2026 update improved its RSS support.
GoodLinks is an elegant bookmarking app that saves articles and links without forcing you to create an account. It is aimed at readers who want a private, fast way to collect links, and it is available as a one-time purchase for €9,99.
LookUp Dictionary is described by the source as the most beautiful dictionary in the App Store. It helps readers look up words while reading and build vocabulary through curated word collections, and the app is free.
Nextory offers unlimited audiobooks and ebooks under one subscription and is positioned as a fairer alternative to Audible. It suits listeners and readers who consume a lot and prefer a flat rate, and the app runs on a freemium model.
The Thalia app ties into the German bookstore chain: buy physical books, read ebooks and listen to audiobooks in one place. It is aimed at shoppers who already buy from Thalia and want their digital content alongside their orders, and the app is free.
Medium is a platform for curated articles from experts and independent authors. Readers find writing on technology, business, culture and more, while writers can publish on the same platform, and the app uses a freemium model with a paid membership.
Unread is an RSS reader with a strong focus on reading pleasure and typography. It is for readers who follow sites directly through feeds rather than algorithms, and the freemium app presents articles in a clean, magazine-like layout.
Goodreads is the large social catalog for readers: discover and rate books, keep reading lists and track what you have read. It is useful for choosing the next book and seeing friends' reviews, and the app is free.
Audible runs the largest audiobook library in the comparison, with thousands of German titles and exclusive productions. According to the listing subscriptions start at around €11 per month, making it the obvious choice for listeners who want the widest catalog of German audiobooks.
Blinkist condenses nonfiction books into roughly 15-minute summaries across more than 8,000 titles. It is aimed at readers who want key ideas quickly, and subscriptions start at around €13 per month according to the listing.
Some apps were not returned for this store region.
Download price only. In-app purchases and subscriptions may cost extra.
App library · United States App Store. Prices and availability reflect the last check.
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