Readest logo
Readest

Getting Started

Readest is an open-source ebook reader that runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and in the browser. All builds share the same reading engine and the same file formats — a book you import on one device works everywhere.

Download & install

Grab the latest build from the downloads page. Platform-specific notes:

  • Windows — installer (.exe) for x64 and ARM64. Double-click to install.
  • macOS — universal .dmg. Drag Readest into Applications, then open. Intel and Apple Silicon are both supported.
  • Linux — AppImage, .deb, and Flatpak. Flatpak is published on Flathub. If Chinese or Japanese text renders as boxes under Flatpak, see Flatpak CJK font fix.
  • iOS — install from the App Store.
  • Android — Google Play, or the APK from the downloads page.
  • Web — no install: open web.readest.com and sign in. Works offline after the first visit.

Once installed, open Readest. The first screen is an empty bookshelf.

Prefer building from source? The repository at github.com/readest/readest has full build instructions.

Open your first book

You can add books to Readest in several ways:

  1. File picker — click the + button on the bookshelf (or press Ctrl+O / Cmd+O) and pick one or more files.
  2. Drag & drop — drop files onto the Readest window.
  3. Share to Readest (mobile) — use the system share sheet from Files, Safari, or any other app.
  4. Open With — double-click a supported book if Readest is set as the default handler. See File associations.
  5. URL import — paste an HTTP(S) URL pointing to an EPUB.
  6. OPDS catalog — browse and download from any OPDS server. See OPDS catalogs.

Tap an imported book to start reading. Readest remembers your position automatically — next time you open the book, you pick up exactly where you left off.

Supported formats

FormatNotes
EPUBRecommended. Full support for annotations, TOC, typography, reflow.
MOBI / AZW / AZW3Amazon Kindle formats.
FB2Russian and Eastern European ebook format.
CBZ / ZIPComic Book Zip — image-based.
PDFPaginated PDFs. Text-based PDFs allow selection, highlighting, and lookup.
TXTPlain text, rendered with your chosen typography settings.

If your book comes as a different format (AZW4, KFX, EPUB3 with DRM), convert it first with Calibre and import the EPUB.

A quick tour

The main screens in Readest:

  • Library — your bookshelf, with search, grouping, and filters. See Library.
  • Main menu (library) — tap the menu icon in the top-right of the library. Quick access to sync, settings, help, and about.
  • Reader — the book view. Tap or click the center of the page to reveal toolbars.
  • View menu (reader) — tap the view icon in the top toolbar. Jump to theme, font, layout, and other appearance options.
  • Sidebar (reader) — tap the TOC icon in the bottom toolbar or press S to open it. Holds TOC, bookmarks, notes, and search.
  • Book menu (reader) — tap the menu icon in the sidebar. Book-specific actions: sync, export, proofread, and more.
  • Notebook — tap the Note icon in the top toolbar or press N in the reader to open. Lists every excerpt and note for the current book.
  • Command palette — Cmd+Shift+P / Ctrl+Shift+P. Type to find any action or setting.

Ready to go deeper? Keep reading: