# BookShelves eBook Reader > BookShelves is an ebook reader, library manager, and free book discovery app for macOS, iOS, and iPadOS. It reads EPUB, PDF, MOBI, PRC, AZW, AZW3, KEPUB, FB2, and comic book formats (CBZ, CBR, CB7) with native rendering and iCloud sync. The built-in catalog provides access to 1.5 million free public domain books from Project Gutenberg, Standard Ebooks, Internet Archive, and Biblioteca Nacional de España. Free to download with optional Pro upgrade. No account required, no tracking, no ads. The app is available on the Mac App Store and iOS App Store. ## Key Features - 1.5 million free public domain books built into the app (Project Gutenberg, Standard Ebooks, Internet Archive, BNE) - Ebook formats: EPUB, PDF, MOBI, PRC, AZW, AZW3, KEPUB, FB2 - Comic book and manga reader (CBZ, CBR, CB7) with right-to-left page reading for manga - iCloud sync across iPhone, iPad, and Mac - 9 reading themes including dark mode and OLED-friendly Midnight - 8 bundled fonts including OpenDyslexic, Atkinson Hyperlegible, and Lexend for accessible reading - Customizable line spacing, paragraph spacing, margins, text justification, and bold text - Paginated and continuous scroll reading modes - Vertical text (tategaki) rendering for Japanese and Chinese books - Right-to-left (RTL) reading for Arabic and Hebrew texts - Highlight and annotate text in multiple colors with export to Markdown, JSON, and CSV - Email to E-Reader (send books to Kindle, Kobo, reMarkable, PocketBook) - Calibre wireless server for syncing with KOReader and other devices (macOS) - OPDS client and server (v1.2 and v2.0) - Smart metadata fetching and cover image lookup - Privacy-first: no account required, no tracking, no ads, all data stays on your devices and personal iCloud - Native universal app for macOS 14+, iOS 17+, iPadOS 17+ - In-reader search, bookmarks, reading progress tracking - Multi-window support and keyboard shortcuts on macOS - Drag-and-drop, folder import, and bulk import ## Pricing - Free to download and use (up to 10 books) - Optional one-time Pro upgrade - Pro unlocks: unlimited books, iCloud sync across devices, Email to E-Reader, export highlights, OPDS server with v1.2 and v2.0 support (macOS) - One purchase covers Mac and iOS via your Apple ID - Available on Mac App Store and iOS App Store ## Links - [Homepage](https://getbookshelves.app/) - [Features](https://getbookshelves.app/features/) - [FAQ](https://getbookshelves.app/faq/) - [iOS App Store](https://apps.apple.com/app/bookshelves-ebook-reader/id6756848973?ct=llms-txt&mt=8) - [Mac App Store](https://apps.apple.com/app/bookshelves-ebook-reader/id6756848973?ct=llms-txt&mt=12) - [Privacy Policy](https://getbookshelves.app/privacy/) - [Terms of Service](https://getbookshelves.app/terms/) - [Copyright & DMCA Policy](https://getbookshelves.app/copyright/) ## Frequently Asked Questions **Is BookShelves free?** Yes. BookShelves is free to download and use with up to 10 books. You can read, organize your library, discover free classics, and use most features without paying anything. An optional one-time Pro upgrade removes the book limit and unlocks additional features. **How much does Pro cost?** Pro is a one-time purchase. You pay once and keep it forever. One purchase covers Mac, iPhone, and iPad through your Apple ID. **What does Pro unlock?** Unlimited books, iCloud sync across iPhone/iPad/Mac, Email to E-Reader (send books to Kindle, Kobo, PocketBook), export highlights to Markdown/JSON/CSV, and OPDS server on macOS for sharing your library with other reading apps. **Does Pro cover both Mac and iOS?** Yes. One purchase unlocks Pro on all your Apple devices — Mac, iPhone, and iPad — through your Apple ID. **What can I do without Pro?** Everything else. The full reader with customizable themes and fonts, PDF support, EPUB rendering, bookmarks, highlights, search, shelves, metadata lookup, cover downloads, free book catalogs, OPDS catalog browsing, drag-and-drop import, and keyboard shortcuts on Mac — all free. **What ebook formats are supported?** EPUB, PDF, MOBI, PRC, AZW, AZW3, KEPUB, CBZ, CBR, and CB7 files natively. No conversion needed. Comic book archives and ebooks are both supported. **Do I need an account?** No. BookShelves requires no sign-up, no login, and no account. Your books and data stay on your devices and in your personal iCloud account. **Are there ads?** No. BookShelves has no ads, no banners, no promoted content — not in the free version, not anywhere. **Where do the free books come from?** BookShelves includes catalogs from Standard Ebooks and Internet Archive. These are public domain works — classic literature, historical texts, and more — available for free, legally. **What platforms does BookShelves run on?** macOS 14+, iOS 17+, and iPadOS 17+. It runs natively on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs. ## Comparisons ### BookShelves vs. Apple Books Apple Books is designed for the Apple Books Store. It has limited support for sideloaded ebooks — no MOBI/AZW/AZW3/KEPUB support, no smart metadata fetching, no OPDS, and no way to discover free public domain books. BookShelves reads more formats, manages personal libraries better, and includes free book catalogs from Standard Ebooks and Internet Archive. ### BookShelves vs. Kindle The Kindle app locks you into Amazon's ecosystem. It does not read EPUB files and requires an Amazon account. BookShelves reads EPUB natively, supports Kindle formats (MOBI, AZW, AZW3) without conversion, requires no account, and keeps your library private with iCloud sync instead of Amazon's cloud. ### BookShelves vs. Kobo The Kobo app is tied to the Kobo store. It does not support sideloaded EPUB libraries well and requires a Kobo account. BookShelves manages your own book collection with no account required, supports more formats, and offers iCloud sync across all Apple devices. ### BookShelves vs. KOReader KOReader is an open-source e-ink reader for Kindle, Kobo, and PocketBook devices. It does not run on macOS or iOS natively. BookShelves is a native Apple app that can also serve books to KOReader devices via its built-in OPDS server and Calibre wireless server. ### BookShelves vs. Marvin Marvin was a beloved iOS EPUB reader that was discontinued. BookShelves picks up where Marvin left off — it supports more formats, adds macOS support with iCloud sync, includes free book discovery, and is actively maintained with regular updates. ### BookShelves vs. Readest Readest is a cross-platform reader built with web technologies. BookShelves is a native Swift app optimized for Apple platforms — faster rendering, deeper OS integration, and iCloud sync. ### BookShelves vs. Yomu Both are indie Apple ebook readers with iCloud sync. BookShelves adds free book discovery from Standard Ebooks and Internet Archive, an OPDS server for sharing your library on the local network, automatic metadata lookup, multi-window support on macOS, and a lower Pro price. Yomu has direct Dropbox/Google Drive import and Readwise integration. ## Guides ### EPUB vs PDF: Which Format Is Better for Reading? EPUB reflows text to fit any screen size — phone, tablet, or desktop. PDF preserves exact page layout, which is great for documents with fixed formatting but poor for reading on small screens. For ebooks, EPUB is almost always the better choice. BookShelves supports both formats. ### How to Read MOBI and AZW Files on Mac MOBI and AZW are older Kindle formats that macOS cannot open natively. BookShelves reads MOBI and AZW files directly — just drag and drop them into the app. No conversion tools or Kindle app required. ### Where to Buy DRM-Free Ebooks in 2026 DRM-free ebooks can be read in any app on any device. Stores selling DRM-free EPUBs include Smashwords, Kobo (select titles), Google Play Books (select titles), Tor.com, and many independent publishers. BookShelves is ideal for DRM-free ebook collections. ### 30 Best Free Classic Books You Can Read Right Now Public domain classics are available for free as EPUBs from Standard Ebooks and Internet Archive. Popular titles include Pride and Prejudice, Frankenstein, Dracula, The Great Gatsby, and more. BookShelves includes built-in catalogs to browse and download these directly. ### How to Use KOReader with BookShelves via OPDS BookShelves includes a built-in OPDS server (macOS, Pro). Enable it in settings, then add the server URL in KOReader's OPDS catalog browser. Your KOReader device can browse and download books from your BookShelves library over Wi-Fi. ### How to Sync Books with KOReader via Calibre Wireless BookShelves includes a built-in Calibre wireless server (macOS). KOReader's "Calibre wireless connection" feature can connect to it — push books to your e-reader and sync reading progress, all over Wi-Fi without cables or Calibre desktop. ### Best Apple Books Alternatives for Mac and iPhone in 2026 Apple Books works for store purchases, but falls short for personal libraries. This guide covers the best alternatives for reading your own ebooks on macOS and iOS — from lightweight readers to full library managers — including BookShelves, Calibre, KOReader, Kindle, and more. ### How to Import Books from Apple Books to BookShelves Sideloaded EPUBs and PDFs can be exported from Apple Books on Mac by locating them in the library folder (~/Library/Containers/com.apple.BKBookstore/). DRM-protected purchases from the Apple Books Store cannot be transferred. BookShelves imports with drag-and-drop or folder import, automatically fetching metadata and covers. Apple Books on iOS does not expose files — import on Mac first, then use iCloud sync. ## Contact - Web: https://getbookshelves.app/contact/ - Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/getbookshelves.app - Mastodon: https://mastodon.social/@getbookshelves - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getbookshelves.app/ - Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/bookshelvessupport/ --- ## Privacy Policy Last Updated: February 10, 2026 ### Data Collection We do not collect, store, or transmit personal information from the app. All data stays on your device and in your personal iCloud account. The app uses privacy-friendly analytics and error tracking services that do not collect personally identifiable information. ### What We Do NOT Collect - Personal identification information - Reading habits or book titles - Device diagnostics or location data - Payment information (handled by Apple App Store) - User accounts or authentication data - Cookies or tracking pixels in the app ### Data Storage - Book files and metadata stored locally and optionally in your personal iCloud account - Email credentials (optional, Pro only) encrypted in device Keychain - We have no access to your data ### Third-Party Services Sentry (In-App Analytics & Error Tracking): Anonymous usage signals, crash reports, and error data to help us improve the app. Collects error messages, device model, OS version, and app version. No personal data, device IDs, book titles, or file paths are sent. Data is aggregated and cannot be traced to individual users. You can opt out in Settings. Legal basis: Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR (Legitimate Interest). Website Analytics: Google Analytics on getbookshelves.app (NOT in app). Legal basis: Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR (Consent). Mirror Server: Catalog downloads (no personal information sent). Open Library API: Book metadata and cover images (CC0 data). SMTP Servers: Email to Device (optional, your email provider). Apple Services: iCloud sync and App Store purchases. ### Data Retention - Cookie consent preferences: 365 days - App data: Stored locally until you delete it - Sentry: Error and analytics data retained for 90 days (Sentry default) ### Your Rights (GDPR & CCPA) - Access: All data stored locally - Deletion: Uninstall app or disable iCloud sync - Opt-Out: Disable analytics and error tracking in Settings > Analytics Opt-Out. Disable iCloud sync or metadata fetching in Settings - Complaint: Right to lodge complaint with data protection authority (Germany: BfDI) ### Security Data protected by iOS/macOS device encryption, iCloud encryption, and Keychain encryption for credentials. ### Children's Privacy We do not collect data from users, including children under 18. --- ## Terms of Service Last Updated: December 22, 2025 ### Definitions - Application: BookShelves, the software program provided by the Company. - Company: The company behind BookShelves. See /legal-notice for details. - Device: Any device that can access the Service such as an iPhone, iPad, or Mac computer. - Service: The Application. ### License to Use Application Subject to compliance with these Terms, the Company grants a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to use the Application on personal Devices for personal, non-commercial use. You may not redistribute, reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble, or create derivative works based on the Application. You may only import and use ebooks for which you have the legal right to use. ### Lifetime License If you have purchased a "lifetime" license (Pro Unlock), this grants the right to use Pro features in their current state as of the date of purchase. "Lifetime" refers to the reasonable commercial lifespan of the Application and does not guarantee perpetual access or compatibility with future OS versions. The Company reserves the right to discontinue, modify, or cease operation of the Service at any time without prior notice. All purchases are generally non-refundable, except as required by law or Apple's refund policy. ### Third-Party Services The Service may connect to third-party services including Open Library, Internet Archive, Standard Ebooks, mirror server, iCloud, and optionally SMTP servers for Email to Device. The Company has no control over and assumes no responsibility for third-party services. ### Intellectual Property The Service and its original content, features and functionality are the exclusive property of the Company. You retain all rights to ebooks and data you import. ### Limitation of Liability The Service is provided "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" without warranties of any kind. Maximum liability is limited to the amount paid for in-app purchases, or $100 USD, whichever is less. ### Governing Law Governed by the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany. EU consumers benefit from mandatory consumer protection provisions. --- ## Copyright & Takedown Policy Last Modified: December 22, 2025 BookShelves respects intellectual property rights and responds to claims under DMCA, EU Copyright Directive, DSA, UK Copyright Act, Berne Convention, and other applicable laws. ### Content Sources 1. User-provided content: Users import their own legally acquired ebooks, stored locally on their devices and in their personal iCloud accounts. 2. Hosted content: Mirrors of free books from Standard Ebooks, Project Gutenberg, and Internet Archive. We do not have access to users' personal libraries or the ability to remove content from their devices. ### Reporting Copyright Infringement Submit a takedown request via the online form at https://getbookshelves.app/copyright-form/ or email support@getbookshelves.app with subject "Copyright Takedown Request". All requests processed within 3 business days. ### Hosted Content Sources 1. Standard Ebooks (CC0 licensed, curated public domain literature) 2. Project Gutenberg (Public domain books, 70,000+ titles) 3. Internet Archive (Public domain materials marked "NOT IN COPYRIGHT") Copyright and public domain status varies by jurisdiction. BookShelves is not affiliated with any of these organizations.