Best EPUB Reader Apps for iPhone and iOS (2026)
iOS has solid EPUB support — better than most people realise. Apple Books is built into every iPhone and iPad and opens EPUB files natively. But there are several other options worth knowing depending on how you read and what device you also own.
1. Apple Books (built-in, best for most iPhone users)
Best for: Casual reading, iCloud sync, no extra install
- Pre-installed on every iPhone and iPad — no download needed
- Open any .epub file from Files, Mail, Safari, or AirDrop and it imports automatically
- Full EPUB 3 support: reflowable text, custom fonts, night mode, highlights, bookmarks
- Syncs across all your Apple devices via iCloud
- Reading goals, notes, and a library shelf built in
For most iPhone users this is the right answer. EPUB opens in Apple Books the same way a photo opens in Photos.
2. Kindle app (best if you also have a Kindle device)
Best for: Amazon ecosystem users, Whispersync reading position
- Free from the App Store — Amazon Kindle on the App Store
- As of 2022, Kindle devices and the Send to Kindle service accept EPUB files directly
- Send an EPUB to your Kindle email address and it appears on all your Kindle devices and the iOS app
- Syncs reading position, highlights, and notes via Whispersync
- Note: the Kindle iOS app itself does not open .epub files directly — you send them to Kindle first, then read in the app
3. Kobo Books (best for Kobo device owners)
Best for: Kobo e-reader users, OverDrive library books
- Free from the App Store — reads EPUB and Kobo's own format
- Integrated with OverDrive: borrow library EPUB books directly inside the app
- Syncs with your Kobo e-reader
- Sideloading: email or use the Kobo desktop app to transfer local EPUBs
4. Readium (open source, EPUB 3 specialist)
Best for: EPUB 3 compliance, accessibility, research documents
- Open source reader by EDRLab, the same team behind Thorium Reader on Windows
- Excellent EPUB 3 support including MathML, SVG, and accessibility features
- Good choice for academic papers and complex layouts
How to open an EPUB on iPhone
There are several ways to get an EPUB file into Apple Books or another reader:
- From Safari: tap a .epub download link — iOS will offer to open it in Books
- From Files app: tap any .epub file and choose Open in Books (or another app)
- From Mail: tap the attachment and share it to Books
- AirDrop: share from a Mac or another iPhone
- iCloud Drive: save the EPUB to iCloud and open it on any device
How to get a PDF onto your iPhone as a readable EPUB
PDFs are difficult to read on a phone — the text is fixed-size and you have to zoom and scroll. Converting to EPUB first makes the text reflow to your screen size:
- On your iPhone, open Safari and go to toolkit.bot/pdf2epub
- Tap "Upload PDF" and select your file from Files
- Wait 15–60 seconds for the conversion
- Tap the download link — iOS will offer to open the EPUB in Books
The converted EPUB opens with proper font sizing, night mode, and tap navigation — much easier to read than a PDF on a small screen.
EPUB vs PDF on iPhone
The Files app and Safari can open PDFs directly, but the reading experience is poor: fixed font size, no reflowing, no custom fonts, and harder to navigate on a 6-inch screen. EPUB solves all of these. See EPUB vs PDF comparison →
Convert your PDF to EPUB — open it in Apple Books on your iPhone.
Convert PDF to EPUB →