readest
An open-source, cross-platform ebook reader with multi-format support, annotations, sync, and accessibility features.
What is readest?
Readest is an open-source ebook reader application designed for immersive reading across macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, iOS, and the web. It solves the problem of fragmented reading experiences by offering a unified platform with powerful tools like annotations, cross-device sync, and multi-format support.
Avid readers, students, researchers, and anyone who manages a digital ebook library and wants a customizable, cross-platform reading tool with advanced features like annotations and sync.
Developers choose Readest for its modern tech stack (Next.js/Tauri), active open-source development, and extensive feature set that rivals commercial readers while remaining free and privacy-focused.
Overview
Readest is a modern, feature-rich ebook reader designed for avid readers offering seamless cross-platform access, powerful tools, and an intuitive interface to elevate your reading experience.
Use Cases
Best For
- Managing and reading a large personal ebook library across multiple devices
- Academic reading and research with annotation and note-taking tools
- Accessible reading with screen reader and keyboard navigation support
- Reading technical manuals with code syntax highlighting
- Language learners using translation and dictionary lookup features
- Users seeking a free, open-source alternative to commercial ebook platforms
Not Ideal For
- Users on legacy Windows systems without WebView2 runtime, which is a hard dependency
- Projects requiring immediate audiobook support, as this is still a planned feature
- Developers seeking a lightweight, single-binary app without complex Node.js/Rust toolchains
- Environments with strict offline requirements for all features, as sync and some lookups need internet
Pros & Cons
Pros
Runs on macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, iOS, and web via Tauri and Next.js, providing a consistent experience across all major platforms as highlighted in the badges and description.
Includes highlights, bookmarks, notes with instant interaction modes, enhancing study and research workflows, as detailed in the features table.
Reads EPUB, MOBI, PDF, CBZ, and more, making it versatile for diverse ebook libraries without conversion hassles.
Synchronizes books, progress, and annotations across devices and integrates with Koreader, offering seamless continuity as confirmed in the features list.
Cons
Requires Node.js, Rust, pnpm, and platform-specific tools like Visual Studio for Windows, making local builds cumbersome and error-prone, as outlined in the Getting Started section.
On Windows, it fails without WebView2 runtime, and on Linux, Wayland compatibility problems require workarounds like LD_PRELOAD or Flatpak, as noted in troubleshooting.
Planned features like audiobook support, handwriting annotations, and in-library full-text search are not yet implemented, limiting functionality for users needing them now.
Frequently Asked Questions
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