What is Epub Reader?
Epub Reader (full name: “Epub Reader - Read epub,chm,txt”) is a free iOS ebook reader with over 11,000 ratings (4.5 stars) on the App Store. It reads EPUB, CHM, TXT, PDF, and RTF files, and can open compressed archives (ZIP, RAR, 7Zip, GZIP, TAR, CBZ, CBR).
The app includes a table of contents viewer, bookmarks, note-taking, keyword search, dark mode, an audiobook mode with speech synthesis, and the ability to upload files via web browser, iTunes, or compressed packages. It also supports full-screen image viewing for JPG, PNG, and SVG files.
Epub Reader is free to download but supported by ads. Removing ads costs $0.99. A Pro version ($5.99 or $3.99/year) and a passcode lock ($0.99) are sold as separate in-app purchases.
Try BookShelves free
EPUB, PDF, MOBI, and comics. No ads. iCloud sync. No account needed.
The problem: ads and piecemeal upgrades
Epub Reader is a popular reader with a large user base, but its business model creates friction that affects the reading experience.
- Ads in a reading app. The free version shows ads while you read. For $0.99 you can remove them, but that is just one of several separate purchases needed to unlock the full app.
- Fragmented in-app purchases. Instead of one upgrade, Epub Reader sells features separately: Remove Ads ($0.99), Pro Version ($5.99 one-time or $3.99/year), and Passcode Lock ($0.99). Unlocking everything costs more than a single premium reader.
- No iCloud sync. Your books, reading position, and bookmarks do not sync between devices via iCloud. You can transfer files via iTunes or a web browser, but there is no automatic library sync across your iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
- No native Mac app. Epub Reader is an iOS app. It runs on Apple Silicon Macs through the iOS compatibility layer, but there is no native macOS interface with proper multi-window support, keyboard shortcuts, or Mac-native menus.
- No free book discovery. No built-in catalog for browsing or downloading free public domain books. You need to find ebooks elsewhere and transfer them to the app.
- Limited ebook format support. EPUB, CHM, TXT, PDF, and RTF are supported, but not MOBI, AZW, AZW3, or FB2. If your library includes Kindle-format files or Russian-language FB2 books, you need a different app.
- Rendering issues reported. User reviews note that images do not always display, highlights do not persist visually, text formatting can break in certain documents, and top margins cut off words on newer iPhones.
Feature comparison
| Feature | BookShelves | Epub Reader |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | macOS, iOS, iPadOS (native on all) | iOS, iPadOS, visionOS (iOS compat on Mac) |
| EPUB | Yes | Yes |
| Yes (free) | Yes | |
| MOBI / AZW / AZW3 | Yes (auto-converted on import) | No |
| FB2 | Yes (auto-converted to EPUB) | No |
| CHM / TXT / RTF | No | Yes |
| Comics (CBZ, CBR, CB7) | Yes (dedicated comic reader) | CBZ/CBR via archive support (no comic reader UI) |
| Archive support | No | Yes (ZIP, RAR, 7Zip, GZIP, TAR) |
| Ads | None | Yes ($0.99 to remove) |
| Cloud sync | iCloud (books, position, highlights) | None |
| Reading position sync | Yes (across Mac, iPhone, iPad) | No |
| Highlights & bookmarks | Yes (synced, multi-color) | Yes (device-local) |
| Export highlights | Yes (Markdown, JSON, CSV) | No |
| Free book catalogs | Built-in (Standard Ebooks, Internet Archive, 1.5M+ titles) | None |
| OPDS support | Client + Server | No |
| Accessibility fonts | OpenDyslexic, Atkinson Hyperlegible, Lexend + 7 more | System fonts only |
| Text-to-speech | No | Yes (audiobook mode) |
| Native macOS app | Yes (multi-window, keyboard shortcuts) | No (iOS compatibility layer) |
| Metadata lookup | Automatic on import | No |
| File transfer | Drag and drop, Files app, AirDrop, iCloud | Web browser upload, iTunes, compressed files |
| Price | Free (Pro: $6.99 one-time) | Free with ads + multiple IAPs ($0.99-$5.99) |
What BookShelves does differently
No ads, period
BookShelves has never shown an ad. The free tier is fully functional with no advertising, no “watch an ad” gates, and no banners during reading. The business model is a one-time Pro upgrade, not advertising revenue.
All formats included
EPUB, PDF, MOBI, AZW, AZW3, FB2, CBZ, CBR, and CB7 are supported in the free tier. MOBI and AZW files auto-convert to EPUB on import. FB2 files convert automatically too. You do not pay per format or per feature.
Real cross-device sync
BookShelves syncs your entire library between Mac, iPhone, and iPad via iCloud. Not just files, but reading positions, bookmarks, highlights, and library organization. Close a book on your Mac and continue on your iPhone. Epub Reader has no sync between devices.
Native on every Apple platform
BookShelves is built in Swift with separate, purpose-built interfaces for macOS and iOS. On macOS, you get proper multi-window support, keyboard shortcuts, and a native menu bar. On iOS, the interface is designed for touch. It is not an iOS app running in compatibility mode.
Discover free books inside the app
Browse and download from Standard Ebooks (professionally typeset classics), Internet Archive, and more, directly in the app. Over 1.5 million free public domain books, no account required. Search by title, author, or subject.
Dedicated comic book reader
BookShelves has a purpose-built comic reader with page-by-page rendering, right-to-left reading for manga, spread mode, and single-page mode. Epub Reader can open CBZ/CBR files through its archive support, but has no dedicated comic reading interface.
Accessibility fonts built in
Ten font options including OpenDyslexic (for dyslexia), Atkinson Hyperlegible (for low vision), and Lexend (for reading fluency), alongside traditional book fonts. Adjustable line spacing, margins, paragraph spacing, and text weight.
Where Epub Reader is the better choice
You read CHM or RTF files
Epub Reader supports CHM (compiled HTML help) and RTF files natively. If you have technical documentation in CHM format or documents in RTF, Epub Reader opens them directly. BookShelves does not support these formats.
You want text-to-speech
Epub Reader includes an audiobook mode with speech synthesis. BookShelves does not currently have text-to-speech. If listening to books is part of your workflow, Epub Reader has the advantage.
You work with compressed archives
Epub Reader opens ZIP, RAR, 7Zip, GZIP, and TAR files directly, letting you browse and read ebooks inside archives without extracting them first. BookShelves expects extracted ebook files.
You use visionOS
Epub Reader lists visionOS 1.0 compatibility. BookShelves does not have a visionOS app.
Switching to BookShelves
- Find your EPUB files in the Files app or wherever you have them saved.
- Open BookShelves and tap the import button, or share files to BookShelves from the Files app.
- Metadata fills in automatically. BookShelves looks up titles, authors, and covers during import.
- iCloud handles the rest. Your books sync across all your Apple devices. No accounts to create, no cloud storage to configure.
Highlights and bookmarks from Epub Reader will not transfer, as each app uses its own format. Export or screenshot anything you want to keep before switching.
See the full feature list to explore everything BookShelves offers, or check out our guide to the best ad-free EPUB readers for iPhone.