Readest v0.12.12

Readest is a modern open source ebook reader designed for readers who want more than a basic EPUB viewer. It combines support for multiple ebook and document formats with annotations, customizable reading layouts, text-to-speech, translation, side-by-side reading, library management, and cross-device synchronization. It is available across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and the web.

Readest is built around the idea of making digital reading feel consistent across devices. Instead of maintaining separate applications for desktop, mobile, and web reading, users can keep the same library and reading progress across supported platforms.

The project is a modern rewrite of Foliate and uses Next.js and Tauri as part of its technology stack. It is released under the AGPL-3.0 license, making the source code available for inspection, modification, and contribution.

Key Features of Readest

Wide Format Support

Readest supports a broad range of formats, including:

• EPUB

• PDF

• MOBI

• AZW3

• FB2

• CBZ

• TXT

This makes it useful as a general reading application rather than an EPUB-only reader.

Customizable Reading Experience

Readers can adjust typography, fonts, margins, spacing, themes, and reading layouts. Both scrolling and paginated reading modes are available, allowing users to choose an experience that suits the book and device.

Parallel Reading

One of Readest's most interesting features is Parallel Read. It allows two books or documents to be displayed side by side with synchronized navigation.

This is particularly useful for comparing translations, studying textbooks, reading technical documentation, or working with two related documents.

Notes and Highlights

Readest provides tools for highlighting passages, creating notes, and bookmarking important sections. These features make it suitable for studying and research as well as casual reading.

Annotations can also be exported, while integrations with services such as Readwise and Hardcover provide additional ways to manage reading information.

Text to Speech

The built-in text-to-speech functionality allows users to listen to supported books instead of reading them manually. Readest supports on-device, browser, and cloud TTS options depending on the platform and configuration.

Translation and Lookup

Readers can select passages and use integrated tools for translation or terminology lookup without leaving the book. DeepL, Wikipedia, and Wiktionary integrations make this particularly useful for language learners and readers working with unfamiliar subjects.

Cross-Device Sync

Readest can synchronize reading progress, highlights, notes, and library information across supported devices. It also supports integration with OPDS catalogs and personal Calibre libraries.

The project also supports synchronization with KOReader, which is especially useful for users who read on dedicated e-ink devices.

Local-First Approach

Readest emphasizes privacy and control over personal reading data. The application can be used locally, while cloud synchronization is available when users want it. The project states that it does not require forced accounts or data harvesting.

Web Version

A web version makes it possible to access the reading experience without installing a desktop or mobile application. This complements the native applications and makes the platform more flexible for users working across different devices.

Download Readest v0.12.12 - Software Mirrors
Readest v0.12.12 for Windows Readest_0.12.12_x64-setup.exe | 55.21 MB Readest_0.12.12_x64-portable.exe | 88.12 MB Readest_0.12.12_arm64-setup.exe | 53.59 MB Readest_0.12.12_arm64-portable.exe | 79.3 MB
Readest v0.12.12 for macOS Readest_0.12.12_universal.dmg | 67.51 MB
Readest v0.12.12 for Linux Readest_0.12.12_arm64.deb | 173.55 MB Readest_0.12.12_amd64.deb | 170.57 MB Readest_0.12.12_amd64.AppImage | 202.72 MB Readest_0.12.12_aarch64.AppImage | 193.86 MB Readest-0.12.12-1.x86_64.rpm | 135.63 MB Readest-0.12.12-1.aarch64.rpm | 134.13 MB
Readest v0.12.12 for Android Readest_0.12.12_universal.apk | 205.59 MB Readest_0.12.12_arm64.apk | 54.36 MB
Others Download related to Readest v0.12.12 send-to-readest-0.2.1.zip | 467.07 kB Readest_0.12.12_universal.app.tar.gz | 67.1 MB Readest-0.12.12.crosspoint-plugin.zip | 8.27 kB Readest-0.12.12.calibre-plugin.zip | 43.62 kB Readest-0.12.12-1.koplugin.zip | 5.53 MB
Readest v0.12.12 Source Code Readest v0.12.12 Source code (zip) Readest v0.12.12 Source code (tar.gz)
Readest v0.12.12 Release Notes: Release Highlights Text-to-Speech: You can now listen sentence by sentence and loop a passage with A-B repeat, control playback from your desktop's Now Playing controls Reading: Added dialogue highlighting for quoted speech, a Column Gap setting for two-page spreads Sync: Added a Readest plugin for CrossPoint e-readers for reading progress sync Sync: You can now sync reading progress to Pagebound, sign in to Hardcover more easily, and note edits are no longer overwritten by older synced copies PDF: PDFs now blend smoothly with your reading theme with smart image inversion, show page thumbnails in the table of contents PDF: Highlighting and text selection on scanned PDFs is smoother and more accurate, and very large scanned pages no longer crash the reader on iOS Translation: You can now add your own translation providers with a reusable prompt library, look up words with an AI context dictionary Annotations: A global note now appears on every occurrence of its text, exports can include the sentence around each highlight Android: Added home screen widgets for your current book and bookshelf, automatic e-ink full refresh every few page turns More: Images now have a long-press and right-click menu to copy or save them, Windows shows PDF thumbnails in Explorer What's Changed fix(koplugin): fix sync on Android, library pull ANR, and Rescan library by @chrox in #6364 chore(agent): add koreader-e2e skill for on-device plugin testing by @chrox in #6366 fix(reader): fall back to saving a file when the gallery save fails by @chrox in #6367 fix(windows): drop the broken native shadow on Windows 10 by @k6G52m4Dz75W in #6362 perf(android): cut the arm64 apk from 90MB to 57MB by @chrox in #6368 fix(build): repair the Docker and Nix builds after #6368 by @chrox in #6379 fix(settings): reset update preferences with behavior settings by @hulkbig in #6369 fix(android): open Readest from TTS media controls by @kelvinalfaro in #6370 fix(reader): handle footnote links in paragraph mode by @hulkbig in #6365 feat(reader): add dialogue highlighting for quoted speech by @WantenMN in #6376 chore(deps): bump the github-actions group with 7 updates by @dependabot[bot] in #6387 fix(annotator): clear the pre-drag range when a highlight is resized by @hulkbig in #6357 fix(reader): keep the sidebar toggler in place when the sidebar opens by @chrox in #6435 fix(payment): revoke one-time Stripe purchases on refund by @chrox in #6436 fix(android): detect e-ink readers whose manufacturer prop reports the SoC vendor by @k6G52m4Dz75W in #6392 refactor(settings): organize the font panel around the role each font plays by @k6G52m4Dz75W in #6325 fix(settings): restore scroll position on reopen by @WantenMN in #6389 fix(web): decode binary files read as text by @WestXu in #6402 fix(library): skip copying a book file onto itself on import by @WestXu in #6403 fix(backup): restore orphan books whose library row was deleted by @WestXu in #6405 fix(sync): push existing notes on the first open of a book by @WestXu in #6404 fix(reader): keep the footer clear of rounded screen corners on Android by @davidfvaquero in #6429 perf(reader): parallelize the EPUB open path by @shiningsprk-arch in #6406 fix(telemetry): stop PostHog traffic when the setting is off by @itsmunzir in #6434 feat(widget): configurable Android bookshelf widget by @RedHatter in #6430 fix(windows): draw the missing window frame on Windows 10 by @k6G52m4Dz75W in #6399 fix(koplugin): prompt to log in again when the session has expired by @chrox in #6445 fix(koplugin): avoid crash when synced position can't be resolved by @stantonb in #6441 fix(sync): refuse Readest Cloud book uploads while Books sync is off by @chrox in #6446 feat(widget): improve bookshelf widget configuration by @RedHatter in #6440 feat(settings): reverse mouse wheel paging and hide e-ink bookshelf buttons by @chrox in #6448 fix(reader): update chapter pages left on every page turn by @chrox in #6447 fix(tts): let the play/pause media key resume TTS on desktop by @chrox in #6452 fix(sync): stop creating OneDrive folders that Graph now rejects by @chrox in #6451 fix(library): skip hidden subdirectories when scanning folders to import by @chrox in #6453 docs(sync): make the write-parent precondition provider-neutral by @chrox in #6455 fix(library): page the e-ink library with volume keys by @chrox in #6456 feat(tts): native desktop Now Playing for macOS, Windows and Linux by @chrox in #6457 fix(nix): add the desktop Now Playing crates to Cargo.cef.lock by @chrox in #6459 fix(reader): turn the page when tapping a page-filling image by @chrox in #6458 fix(library): skip per-book toasts for bulk downloads by @chrox in #6463 feat(annotator): make keeping the selection after an instant lookup optional by @chrox in #6460 fix(koplugin): remove sync response files left behind by exit-time syncs by @chrox in #6461 fix(ios): resume audiobook natively after a CarPlay interruption ends by @chrox in #6462 feat(reader): import MHTML web archives, closes #6413 by @chrox in #6464 fix(annotator): close selection popup after choosing a highlight color by @kelvinalfaro in #6465 fix(reader): close lookup popups when their selection is cleared by @chrox in #6467 fix(sidebar): keep the annotations list still when the clicked note is visible by @chrox in #6468 feat(tts): pause longer after questions, exclamations and ellipses, closes #6412 by @chrox in #6469 fix(library): keep Date Read order when grouping, tagging or editing metadata by @chrox in #6470 test(player): fix flaky podcast session-end tests by @chrox in #6472 fix(reader): keep the footer clear of rounded screen corners on iPhone by @chrox in #6474 fix(reader): hold the horizontal pan lock through momentum swipes on iOS by @chrox in #6475 fix(reader): keep note editor and highlight toolbar open in footnote popups, closes #6395 by @chrox in #6477 fix(transfer): allow uploads and downloads under a custom data location, closes #6383 by @chrox in #6478 chore(agent): update agent memories by @chrox in #6479 fix(library): center the empty library state again by @chrox in #6482 ci(android): give the Android build step 90 minutes by @chrox in #6483 fix: empty library state over a lingering search, and a dropped dictionary card tap by @chrox in #6485 fix(backup): save iOS backups through the share sheet instead of hanging at 0%, closes #6375 by @chrox in #6486 chore(linux): catch up the CEF runtime with upstream feat/cef, closes #6397 by @chrox in #6487 fix(library): download selected Audiobookshelf items for offline from select mode by @chrox in #6489 feat(backup): include reading statistics in library backups, closes #6488 by @chrox in #6490 fix(reader): remove the line between zoomed images in Webtoon Mode, closes #6484 by @chrox in #6491 test(paginator): rest before release so the drag test commits on distance alone by @chrox in #6493 fix(desktop): open books in a new window after closing another reader, closes #6363 by @chrox in #6496 fix(desktop): reopen the library when Readest is relaunched with only reader windows open, closes #6394 by @chrox in #6495 fix(search): ignore soft hyphens when searching book text, closes #6384 by @chrox in #6494 fix(ui): stop iOS 16 reloading to the library when a toggle or slider renders, closes #6355 by @chrox in #6497 feat(annotations): optionally export the sentence around each highlight, closes #6352 by @chrox in #6498 feat(tts): skip Hanja glosses after Hangul in Korean text by @chrox in #6500 feat(annotator): show a global note on every occurrence of its text, closes #6186 by @chrox in #6501 feat(settings): give Nearby BookDrop its own section in Integrations, closes #6360 by @chrox in #6499 fix(ios): keep swipe brightness in sync with the system brightness, closes #6374 by @chrox in #6502 feat(android): probe Hanvon eink service for full refresh by @k6G52m4Dz75W in #6505 fix(reader): animate page turns for PDF and comics on Windows and Linux, closes #6380 by @chrox in #6506 fix(reader): stop the sidebar-width flash on Windows and Linux page turns by @chrox in #6509 feat(annotator): edit highlight ranges and notes inside footnote popups, closes #6504 by @chrox in #6510 fix(reader): keep the selected word readable in dark mode, closes #6503 by @chrox in #6512 fix(annotator): open imported highlights on tap, closes #6160 by @chrox in #6515 fix(annotator): keep the highlight toolbar off the footnote popup, closes #6390 by @chrox in #6514 feat(reader): show Duokan slim covers on tall mobile screens, closes #6513 by @chrox in #6516 feat(reader): optionally mark italic text in dialogue highlighting, closes #6517 by @chrox in #6522 fix(ios): keep chrome and page content clear of iPhone Duo's side status strip by @kad-air in #6312 chore(deps): bump the github-actions group with 3 updates by @dependabot[bot] in #6523 feat(layout): Column Gap setting for two-column spreads by @kad-air in #6507 fix(ios): hide the status bar through the view controller for Xcode 27 builds by @kad-air in #6508 fix(android): focus the WebView on cold start so the first page-turn key isn't lost by @RedHatter in #6519 feat(widget): currently reading Android widget and widget options by @RedHatter in #6518 fix(pdf): stop huge scanned pages crashing or blanking the reader on iOS, closes #6521 by @chrox in #6526 feat(android): automatic e-ink full refresh every N page turns by @k6G52m4Dz75W in #6525 feat(sync): sync reading progress to Pagebound, closes #6511 by @chrox in #6528 fix(reader): show Hardcover status on the sync row and push on tap by @RedHatter in #6527 feat(windows): PDF thumbnails and Explorer preview pane, closes #6524 by @chrox in #6533 feat(dictionary): look up Wiktionary in the book language's own edition, closes #6529 by @chrox in #6534 fix(settings): align the BookOrbit sync rows with the rest of the card by @chrox in #6535 fix(library): erase cloud progress and notes when purging reading data, closes #6532 by @chrox in #6536 fix(epub): show whole pages of comics with unsized SVG page images by @chrox in #6537 fix(bookorbit): list unmatched books for linking when only progress or stats sync is on by @chrox in #6539 fix(calibre): push custom columns in the shape bookshelf filters read by @chrox in #6538 fix(reader): remove note bubbles when deleting highlights by @kelvinalfaro in #6545 fix(windows): stop the main window from growing on every launch by @k6G52m4Dz75W in #6546 feat(pdf): smooth theme colors and smart invert for PDFs by @chrox in #6550 fix(notes): keep note edits from losing to the synced copy they change, closes #6544 by @chrox in #6551 feat(crosspoint): Readest plugin for CrossPoint e-readers by @chrox in #6547 chore(agent): update agent memories by @chrox in #6554 feat(reader): turn PDF pages with the mouse wheel in Fit Width mode by @chrox in #6555 feat(reader): show PDF page thumbnails in the TOC, closes #6177 by @chrox in #6553 fix(reader): keep PDF selections from jumping across text gaps, closes #5599, closes #4945 by @chrox in #6559 feat(crosspoint): web-only sign-in, in-app linking, and recently read books first by @chrox in #6561 fix(reader): drop the horizontal scrollbar from fit-width PDFs by @chrox in #6560 fix(reader): stop the page container's fade on e-ink panels by @k6G52m4Dz75W in #6565 fix(audiobookshelf): fetch a synced audiobook's cover before shelving it by @chrox in #6564 feat(reader): copy and save book images from one right-click menu by @chrox in #6567 fix(reader): keep a selection from jumping next to a footnote marker, closes #6566 by @chrox in #6569 fix(crosspoint): paint /link in the user's theme by @chrox in #6570 fix(reader): stop annotation cards expanding while scrolling on iOS, closes #6568 by @chrox in #6571 fix(utils): treat Korean as CJK in getLanguageInfo by @sx4im in #6572 fix(deps): resolve open Dependabot alerts by @chrox in #6573 fix(reader): set plain-text footnotes in the reader font by @kelvinalfaro in #6575 fix(reader): keep a linked footnote's font in its popup, closes #3602 by @chrox in #6580 docs(readme): serve the Ask DeepWiki badge from shields.io by @chrox in #6585 fix(reader): smooth highlights on scanned PDFs and keep ones dragged past a page's end, closes #6578 by @chrox in #6581 fix(reader): keep the e-ink battery percentage readable at any charge by @chrox in #6588 feat(reader): edit a book's metadata from Book Details in the reader, closes #6584 by @chrox in #6587 fix(reader): select and deselect in the clicked chapter at scroll-mode boundaries, closes #6583 by @chrox in #6591 fix(reader): keep the dragged range when a PDF instant highlight runs past the page by @chrox in #6597 fix(windows): stop the PDF preview pane from freezing Explorer, closes #6590 by @chrox in #6594 feat(crosspoint): plugin updates, version display, and sync for optimized EPUBs by @chrox in #6592 feat(translation): custom translation providers with a prompt library by @chrox in #6582 fix(reader): remember where a locked, zoomed PDF page is panned across reopening by @chrox in #6595 feat(shortcuts): bind several keys to one action, closes #6600 by @chrox in #6603 feat(reader): open the image menu with a long press on iOS and Android, closes #6574 by @chrox in #6601 fix(koplugin): stop BookDrop start errors popping up on every launch by @chrox in #6604 feat(reader): show a PDF's header and footer only at the page's own edges, closes #6596 by @chrox in #6605 fix(reader): keep pull-to-bookmark off the top screen edge, enable it on e-ink, and size the ribbon consistently, closes #6599 by @chrox in #6606 fix(reader): return to the open book when leaving the account page, closes #6607 by @chrox in #6609 fix(reader): reject backslash redirects and retry failed books on return by @chrox in #6610 feat(dictionary): context dictionary, closes #5544 by @nphng15 in #5881 fix(crosspoint): link an optimized copy to the book being read when duplicates tie by @chrox in #6614 fix(sync): don't let a deleted copy's position pull a new copy forward by @chrox in #6615 fix(reader): apply scroll overlap to fixed-layout books only; tidy the fixed-layout view menu by @chrox in #6621 fix(windows): show the main window only after the themed page is painted by @k6G52m4Dz75W in #6611 fix(library): carousel cover spine, Rename Group, Import Books placement, reader return transition by @chrox in #6624 fix(library): keep nested groups when renaming a group by @chrox in #6625 feat(library): badge the series index on covers inside a series group by @kelvinalfaro in #6579 fix(reader): keep scrolled PDFs smooth on iOS: virtualize the strip, hide PDF chrome by layout by @chrox in #6626 feat(tts): sentence-by-sentence mode and A-B repeat by @chrox in #6627 feat(hardcover): sign in with OAuth using the device authorization flow by @RedHatter in #6612 fix(hardcover): follow API rate limits and batch journal writes by @RedHatter in #6617 fix(dictionary): lift dark text colors in dark mode by @itsmunzir in #6622 fix(widget): keep E-ink reading widget text legible in dark mode by @chrox in #6628 feat(library): hide the bookshelf page buttons by default on e-ink by @chrox in #6631 fix(reader): save library progress before the app quits (#6623) by @chrox in #6633 chore(agent): update agent memories by @chrox in #6634 fix(import): pick the declared cover when holds an href by @chrox in #6635 feat(hardcover): use the account's default visibility for new journal entries by @RedHatter in #6638 fix(opds): load plain-http covers natively on iOS/macOS (#6637) by @chrox in #6639 fix(library): keep the bookshelf column count while dragging a file in by @chrox in #6640 fix(library): search book contents only within the opened group by @chrox in #6641 fix(library): keep the shelf scroll position after opening a book by @chrox in #6642 release: version 0.12.12 by @chrox in #6644 New Contributors @hulkbig made their first contribution in #6369 @WestXu made their first contribution in #6402 @davidfvaquero made their first contribution in #6429 @shiningsprk-arch made their first contribution in #6406 @itsmunzir made their first contribution in #6434 @RedHatter made their first contribution in #6430 @stantonb made their first contribution in #6441 @sx4im made their first contribution in #6572 @nphng15 made their first contribution in #5881 Full Changelog: v0.12.10...v0.12.12

Performance and User Experience

Readest has a clean interface that focuses on reading rather than surrounding the user with unnecessary controls. The application feels closer to a modern productivity tool than a traditional ebook utility.

Its biggest strength is the combination of simple reading features with tools aimed at deeper study. Side-by-side reading, annotations, translation, TTS, and customizable typography make it useful for everything from casual novels to technical books and academic material.

The project is also developing quickly. Recent releases have improved library performance, PDF support, reading layouts, synchronization, OPDS management, and accessibility.

Because Readest is still actively evolving, users should expect some features and interfaces to change over time.

Pros

• Free and open source.

• Supports EPUB, PDF, MOBI, AZW3, FB2, CBZ, and TXT.

• Available on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and the web.

• Clean and customizable reading interface.

• Side-by-side Parallel Read mode.

• Highlights, notes, and bookmarks.

• Text-to-speech support.

• Translation and dictionary tools.

• Cross-device synchronization.

• OPDS and Calibre support.

• KOReader synchronization.

• Local-first and privacy-focused design.

• Active development.

Cons

• Some advanced functionality is still evolving.

• Cloud-based features may require additional configuration or services.

• Users looking for a very minimal ebook reader may find the feature set extensive.

• The ecosystem is smaller than established commercial ebook platforms.

Who Should Use Readest?

Readest is an excellent choice for students, researchers, developers, language learners, academics, and anyone who reads across multiple devices.

It is particularly appealing to people who want more control over their ebook library while still having modern conveniences such as synchronization, text-to-speech, annotations, translation, and OPDS support.

For users who already have a Calibre library or use KOReader on an e-ink device, Readest is also worth considering because of its interoperability with those ecosystems.

Final Verdict

Readest is one of the most impressive open source ebook readers currently available. It combines the simplicity of a traditional reader with features normally found across several separate applications.

The ability to read multiple formats, compare books side by side, annotate documents, translate passages, listen through TTS, and synchronize reading progress across platforms gives Readest a strong advantage over basic ebook readers.

It is not simply trying to replace a conventional EPUB viewer. Its focus on deep reading, study, interoperability, and cross-platform access makes it a compelling choice for anyone who wants a more complete reading environment while keeping their books and data under their control.

Free

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Software Informations:
Developer:
Bilingify LLC
Operating System:
Windows / macOS / Linux / Android
Date Added:
2026-10-05T13:03:29.041Z
Categories:

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