4 Free Apps to Read eBooks from Your Phone

How many of you know that there are apps (both android and iOS) which allow you to read books from your phone? That too free of cost?

I have quite a good number of friends who aren’t aware of this simple fact though they would love to read free books.

This post is an answer to that question. I personally use these apps that I am going to list and can assure you they give the best reading experience ever. I am linking the apps to the Google Playstore. 

You can find them in the Apple Store too.

KOBO Books

Kobo Books is an app that provides you with over five million eBooks that you can purchase and read. The app will sync your bookmarks and library, recommend new books based on your reading habits, and it comes with a few extra features like Night Mode. It’s not bad once you get a few books in your collection. Being a very basic app, it doesn’t allow you to read books that you already own. There are books that are permanently free too. Also, they also provide audio books too.

AMAZON KINDLE APP

The Amazon Kindle app leads me to my favourite online bookstore, Amazon. I am a Kindle Unlimited subscriber as well. They also have separate eBook reader devices like Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle Fire etc to give you a hassle free, close to paperback type reading experience.

Kindle, like Kobo, is a standalone book store to buy and read eBooks. It has a gigantic selection of free as well as paid books. It will sync your bookmarks and library and you can also use a built-in dictionary, sample books before buying them. Kindle Unlimited subscribers can “borrow” books from their library.

JUGGERNAUT BOOKS

Juggernaut is India’s answer to Amazon’s Kindle app. Their moto is to provide books to Indian readers at never before discounts. You can purchase books for amount as low as 10 Rs. How cool is that? They have a good collection of classics which are free to download. They also encourage users to upload their own stories onto their writer’s platform. If your story is good, you might end up with a publishing contract with Juggernaut.

GOOGLE PLAY BOOKS

This isn’t one of my favourites. But they have a good collection of books. They have free eBooks to download and also you can purchase the latest offerings from best selling authors. The books also sync across devices like Amazon Kindle.

Because of all these apps, I have stopped buying paperbacks these days. Unless it is a book which doesn’t have an eBook edition, I don’t purchase paperback. I love bookmarking, highlighting and taking notes from the books I read. 

With these, I have my highlights and notes from each book saved, with easy to refer and search options.

I am hence a complete eBook lover these days.

Should I mention the huge discounts and free eBooks too to entice you?

Five Apps I Thank Every Day

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In this age, apps have replaced everything. Apps help you with everything starting from paying your bill, hire a trainer, beautician or monitor your health. For writers, there are many apps that help you write better. For the artists, there are apps that can guide you to draw better. For the book lover, reading apps are godsend. Social media apps help the social butterfly connect and glitter.

For me, the app in need is the app indeed. I am listing here five of my favorite apps:

Merriam-Webster Dictionary:

Being a writer and reader, I am always using this app. I hunt for synonyms, antonyms, word origins and update my vocabulary with the word of the day. I don't think a day passes without this app helping me climb over another word hurdle.

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Youtube:

This is my favorite go-to app to relax. I watch music videos, cookery videos, inspirational videos, interviews, movies, and TED talks here. I watch channels of celebrity writers, bloggers looking for tips to better my writing skills. 

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Goodreads:

As a published author, I connect with my readers on Goodreads. Also, I look up books that I wish to read using this app. The reviews are sometimes helpful, sometimes deceiving. But still, I check the reviews before deciding to spend my time and money on any book.

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Amazon Kindle:

If you want to write better you have to read better. Nothing better than eBooks which arrive in your phone within seconds once you order them on Amazon. It helps you bookmark, highlight favorite passages, and also helps you post your review on Amazon. I have self-published three books on Amazon Kindle. You can check them out here.

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Juggernaut

This is one eReader app any book lover should have on their phone. Juggernaut brings books at low cost to the Indian reader with short stories, fiction and non-fiction books added every day into its already rich book collection. You can buy books starting Rs 10. Their collection of free reads contains many classics from English literature like Animal farm, Catcher in the Rye, Pride and Prejudice. I get my daily dose of inspirational reading from here too. I have one of my short stories up there already. Search for 'Persephone' there. Another one will soon be published there.

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Uber

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Another app which has become a must have one for me is the Uber app. I can travel anywhere without the hassle of running behind autos and haggling with the drivers. The cab comes to me and is very cheap when compared to private taxis. I can monitor the route being taken by the cab, send updates to family and also use my credit card to pay. 

This post is a part of #ThankfulThursdays being hosted by Tina, Amrita, Mayuri and Deepa