Best EPUB Reader Apps for Mac (2026)
macOS has better EPUB support than most people realise — Apple Books is built in and handles EPUB natively. But there are several other options depending on whether you want library management, accessibility features, or sync with other devices.
1. Apple Books (built-in, best for most Mac users)
Best for: Casual reading, iCloud sync, no extra install
- Pre-installed on every Mac — no download needed
- Open any .epub file and it imports into your Books library automatically
- Full EPUB 3 support: reflowable text, custom fonts, night mode, highlights, bookmarks
- Syncs your library across Mac, iPhone, iPad via iCloud
- Font controls: size, typeface, spacing, background themes (white, sepia, night)
For most Mac users this is the right choice — same experience as iOS, iCloud sync included.
2. Thorium Reader (best for accessibility and EPUB 3 compliance)
Best for: Researchers, accessibility teams, EPUB 3 features
- Free, open source — download from edrlab.org
- Built by the EDRLab consortium (the team maintaining the EPUB standard)
- Outstanding typography controls: font family, size, letter spacing, word spacing, line height, column count
- WCAG 2.1 AA accessible interface, NVDA/JAWS/VoiceOver screen reader support
- Supports EPUB 2, EPUB 3, PDF, audiobooks (LCP-protected and open)
The best choice if you need EPUB accessibility compliance or work with research/academic documents.
3. Calibre (best for managing a large library)
Best for: Ebook library management, format conversion
- Free, open source — calibre-ebook.com
- Built-in EPUB viewer — functional, not beautiful
- Converts between EPUB, MOBI, PDF, AZW3, and a dozen other formats
- Metadata editor, cover art management, series tracking
- Send to Kindle directly from Calibre
Best if you have hundreds of ebooks to organise. The viewer is secondary; the library management is the main draw.
4. Kindle app for Mac
Best for: Amazon ecosystem users, syncing with Kindle devices
- Free from the Mac App Store
- Does not open local EPUB files directly — you send EPUBs to Kindle first, then read in the app
- Reading position and highlights sync via Whispersync to all Kindle devices and apps
- Good if you also have a Kindle e-reader or read on an iPhone
See how to send an EPUB to your Kindle →
How to open an EPUB on Mac
The simplest way:
- Double-click the .epub file in Finder — if Apple Books is set as the default, it opens and imports automatically
- If it opens in a different app, right-click → Open With → Books
- To change the default: right-click any .epub → Get Info → Open with → choose your preferred app → Change All
How to read a PDF on Mac like an EPUB
PDFs on Mac open in Preview, which is fine for viewing but doesn't offer adjustable fonts, dark mode, or text reflow. If you want to read a PDF on Mac with all the EPUB reader controls above, convert it first:
- Go to toolkit.bot/pdf2epub in any browser
- Upload your PDF — conversion takes 15–60 seconds
- Download the EPUB
- Double-click to open in Apple Books or Thorium Reader
You'll get adjustable fonts, dark mode, search, and highlights — all of which the PDF viewer doesn't offer.
Convert your PDF to EPUB — open it in Apple Books or Thorium on Mac.
Convert PDF to EPUB →