Despite trying multiple alternatives, I think Apple Books is by far the best iOS app that allows me to read books for free. From usability to in-app features, listed in this article are some of the reasons I recommend using it.
Content
- 1. Rarely Encounter Bugs
- 2. Apple Books Is Much Easier to Use
- 3. Reading Timer to Regulate Time Spent
- 4. Easy to Use Across Apple Devices
1. Rarely Encounter Bugs
When I have used the Kindle app, I would constantly encounter issues with the app crashing. It didn’t matter whether I used my smartphone or tablet, and over time, I became increasingly frustrated.
Apple Books, on the other hand, has almost never crashed. For this reason, I think it’s the best ebook reader for iOS. I can use it to import PDFs from elsewhere without issues, and it’s also ideal if I download a book within the app.
On those few occasions that I have encountered problems with Apple Books, the issues were fixed without delay.
2. Apple Books Is Much Easier to Use
Besides not constantly encountering bugs, I find Apple Books much easier to use than other ebooks/PDF readers. For example, while the Kindle app has become much more user friendly over the years, I still find navigating to my settings and elsewhere challenging at times.
I also tried Adobe Digital Editions. While I love Adobe’s other products (e.g., Photoshop and InDesign), I found Digital Editions to be borderline unusable: I had to try uploading a book multiple times before it stayed in the app. The interface was also very clunky.
Apple Books, meanwhile, has a streamlined interface that makes it very easy to find what you’re looking for. You can also navigate to your saved books without problems, and I’m a big fan of being able to change the fonts and sizes when reading.
3. Reading Timer to Regulate Time Spent
Apple Books has a reading timer that is great for increasing how much you read and measuring your results. You can set goals that match your skill level and increase these as you level up. I suggest starting with around five minutes and slowly increasing the minutes each week.
When using the Apple Books reading timer, you can see how long you have to read each day. As a result, you’ll find it easier to stick with your goals. It’s very motivating to see the number go down as you accumulate more reading time, and you’ll also start thinking of ways to fit more reading in to your daily life.
If you want accountability, you can also use the Share feature to let your friends and family know what you’re trying to achieve.
4. Easy to Use Across Apple Devices
I know that this point only counts if you have multiple Apple devices, but it’s worth mentioning how easy Apple Books is to use across iPhones, iPads, and Macs. Everything syncs without problem, and thanks to features like Continuity, I don’t have to worry about closing the app and reopening it elsewhere.
Another option is using Apple Books across multiple devices with different Apple IDs. For example, you can use your iPad for fun reading and your Mac for work or study-related books. I’ve done this in the past to divide my library into different categories more easily, and it’s made a huge difference.
You can also listen to audiobooks across multiple devices, making Apple Books one of the best alternatives to Audible.
Apple Books is one of my favorite apps because of its simplicity and usability, and I think it’s an absolute must-have if you use an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. You can use it to add ebooks and other PDFs from elsewhere, in addition to downloading content within the app. If you need to read ePubs, consider checking out the best ePub readers for students.
Image credit: Canva. All screenshots by Danny Maiorca.
Danny Maiorca –
Contributor
Danny has written for online audiences for 10+ years. He specializes in Apple products and loves writing on his MacBook, keeping in touch on his iPhone, and measuring his workouts on his Apple Watch. Danny’s work has featured in multiple places online, including MUO, Lifewire, and Guiding Tech. Away from the keyboard, he’s passionate about photography and leading an active lifestyle outdoors.
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