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:
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 v0.12.16 - Software Mirrors |
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Readest v0.12.16 for WindowsReadest_0.12.16_x64-setup.exe | 55.5 MB Readest_0.12.16_x64-portable.exe | 88.55 MB Readest_0.12.16_arm64-setup.exe | 54.12 MB Readest_0.12.16_arm64-portable.exe | 79.69 MB |
Readest v0.12.16 for macOSReadest_0.12.16_universal.dmg | 67.7 MB |
Readest v0.12.16 for LinuxReadest_0.12.16_arm64.deb | 173.68 MB Readest_0.12.16_amd64.deb | 170.7 MB Readest_0.12.16_amd64.AppImage | 202.83 MB Readest_0.12.16_aarch64.AppImage | 193.98 MB Readest-0.12.16-1.x86_64.rpm | 135.75 MB Readest-0.12.16-1.aarch64.rpm | 134.27 MB |
Readest v0.12.16 for AndroidReadest_0.12.16_legacy.apk | 116.45 MB Readest_0.12.16_armv7.apk | 44.12 MB Readest_0.12.16_arm64.apk | 54.52 MB |
Others Download related to Readest v0.12.16send-to-readest-0.2.1.zip | 467.07 kB Readest_0.12.16_universal.app.tar.gz | 67.36 MB Readest-0.12.16.crosspoint-plugin.zip | 8.27 kB Readest-0.12.16.calibre-plugin.zip | 80.48 kB Readest-0.12.16-1.koplugin.zip | 5.55 MB |
Readest v0.12.16 Source Code
Readest v0.12.16 Source code (zip)
Readest v0.12.16 Source code (tar.gz)
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Readest v0.12.16 Release Notes: Release Highlights- Text-to-Speech: Added Readest Voice premium read-aloud voices for Plus and Pro, you can now connect your own OpenAI-compatible voice service, and Edge voices work again
- Annotations: You can now handwrite and draw on your pages, and share passages as quote card images
- Library: Books now show their page count with a new Pages sort and filter that syncs across devices, and numbered titles sort in natural order
- Sync: Custom fonts download when you need them and can be removed from the cloud, custom theme edits now sync, and deleted books no longer come back
- Sync: KOReader progress sync and WebDAV sync are more reliable, and signing out only logs out the current device
- Reading: Very large or link-heavy chapters no longer freeze the reader, and fixed layout issues with headings, blockquotes, footnotes, and background textures
- Audiobooks: Audiobookshelf playback now works in the web app, chapters are detected more reliably, and you can pair audiobooks with books streamed from Audiobookshelf
- Linux: Fixed a freeze with two open windows, the main window reopens maximized, and Reveal in Folder works again
- PDF: You can hide page thumbnails in the PDF table of contents
- More: The share sheet opens again on iOS 16, with polish for the drawing tools, bottom sheets, and bookshelf header
What's Changed- chore(android): link WebView APK downloads in the outdated-WebView dialog by @chrox in #6649
- chore(deps): bump DeterminateSystems/determinate-nix-action from 3.22.5 to 3.23.0 in the github-actions group by @dependabot[bot] in #6679
- ui: place the "Log out" item in the second sub menu by @5w5 in #6645
- fix(reader): stop link-heavy single-file sections from hanging by @chrox in #6678
- refactor(ai): drop write-only indexingStates map in ragService by @irontaek in #6687
- Use music-metadata for audiobook chapters by @Borewit in #6686
- feat(reader): render huge sections in chunks by @chrox in #6680
- fix(koreader): reliable progress sync with hardened auth and error handling by @ivanovsergey93 in #6684
- fix(linux): stop the CEF focus loop that froze two-window sessions by @chrox in #6691
- fix(bookorbit): stamp the chapter on synced notes and bookmarks (#6655) by @bianyukun1213 in #6658
- fix(reader): read section text when a non-CJK lang hides CJK content by @k6G52m4Dz75W in #6672
- fix(library): stamp deletes so the sync merge cannot undelete the book, closes #6663 by @itsmunzir in #6682
- fix(opds): keep the feed scroll position after opening a book by @jadhavgaurav in #6683
- fix(library): use natural sorting for numbered titles by @kelvinalfaro in #6693
- fix(nix): refresh pnpmDeps hash for music-metadata by @chrox in #6688
- fix(kosync): keep the server path when proxying KOSync requests by @chrox in #6698
- fix(build): keep music-metadata out of the web server bundle by @chrox in #6699
- fix(reader): offer Pair Audiobook for EPUBs streamed from Audiobookshelf (#6695) by @ts-eva in #6697
- feat(reader): share passages as quote card images by @chrox in #6701
- fix(send): poll the inbox every 5 minutes instead of every minute by @chrox in #6706
- feat(tts): Readest Voice, premium read-aloud voices for Plus and Pro by @chrox in #6720
- fix(tts): connect Edge TTS to the new api.msedgeservices.com endpoint by @chrox in #6722
- fix(tts): count queued Readest Voice downloads against the listening quota by @chrox in #6721
- Support handwriting annotation by @esmaeelE in #6674
- perf(api): verify access tokens locally with getClaims by @chrox in #6724
- chore(agent): update agent memories by @chrox in #6725
- fix(auth): limit explicit logout to the current session by @hulkbig in #6709
- chore(auth): point clients at the Supabase project URL by @chrox in #6729
- feat(tts): move Readest Voice into its own service by @chrox in #6732
- fix(tts): make Readest Voice downloads responsive and tell users about quota by @chrox in #6736
- fix(tts): Readest Voice downloads that resume and follow the voice, and read aloud that survives a slow engine by @chrox in #6738
- fix(tts): resume queued downloads with the session's voice by @chrox in #6739
- fix(sync): decode XML entities in WebDAV PROPFIND hrefs by @smist37 in #6741
- fix(reader): keep the CJK widow/orphan lift alive under Use Book Layout by @k6G52m4Dz75W in #6711
- fix(rss): rebuild feed book TOC on every open instead of using the nav cache by @christi4nity in #6718
- fix(android): resolve Temp to the app cache so narration and file staging work on older Android by @ChristophWally in #6714
- fix(reader): honor justification overrides in footnote popups by @kelvinalfaro in #6708
- fix(audiobook): request Audiobookshelf audio with CORS on the web app (#6696) by @ts-eva in #6707
- docs(tts): drop the RunPod settings from the web env example by @chrox in #6744
- fix(library): retire re-keyed book hashes with a tombstone row (last import wins) by @k6G52m4Dz75W in #6703
- fix(tts): send Sec-MS-GEC v2 tokens to Edge TTS by @chrox in #6751
- feat(tts): custom OpenAI-compatible TTS services by @chrox in #6746
- fix(reader): suppress the webview context menu in the desktop app by @chrox in #6752
- fix(linux): make Reveal in Folder work again, closes #6660 by @chrox in #6754
- feat(reader): add a toggle to hide PDF page thumbnails in the TOC, closes #6650 by @chrox in #6756
- fix(linux): restore the maximized main window on launch, closes #6657 by @chrox in #6757
- fix(layout): give inline-only blockquotes the paragraph margin under Override Book Layout by @chrox in #6759
- fix(settings): reset the animation style to Push with Reset Behavior, closes #6753 by @chrox in #6760
- fix(tts): keep Read Aloud and its highlights intact after the sign-in detour by @chrox in #6758
- feat(sync): download synced custom fonts on demand, delete them from the cloud by @chrox in #6761
- fix(layout): let a more specific left-align beat a centered heading rule, closes #6723 by @chrox in #6763
- fix(metadata): allow 0 as a series index by @chrox in #6764
- fix(reader): keep the progress label in place while dragging the slider, closes #6646 by @chrox in #6766
- fix(style): keep Override Book Color working over a background texture, closes #6712 by @chrox in #6765
- fix(reader): measure image tap zones on its column in a two-page spread, closes #6745 by @chrox in #6769
- feat(calibre): add multi-language support by @GOSENGWONG in #6768
- fix(reader): keep the image long-press menu working on Android PDF pages by @chrox in #6771
- fix(ios): open the share sheet on iOS 16 for files with spaces or non-ASCII names, closes #6719 by @chrox in #6770
- build(android): ship per-ABI APKs (arm64, armv7, legacy) instead of universal by @chrox in #6772
- feat(library): count pages at import, add Pages sort and filter, closes #6662 by @chrox in #6774
- feat(sync): sync the import-time page count across devices by @chrox in #6775
- chore(agent): update agent memories by @chrox in #6776
- fix(sync): detect in-place custom theme changes by @anirudhqwerty in #6777
- fix: iOS reader polish for drawing dock, short sheets, bookshelf header and read aloud by @chrox in #6778
- release: version 0.12.16 by @chrox in #6779
New Contributors- @5w5 made their first contribution in #6645
- @irontaek made their first contribution in #6687
- @Borewit made their first contribution in #6686
- @ivanovsergey93 made their first contribution in #6684
- @bianyukun1213 made their first contribution in #6658
- @ts-eva made their first contribution in #6697
- @esmaeelE made their first contribution in #6674
- @smist37 made their first contribution in #6741
- @christi4nity made their first contribution in #6718
- @ChristophWally made their first contribution in #6714
- @GOSENGWONG made their first contribution in #6768
- @anirudhqwerty made their first contribution in #6777
Full Changelog: v0.12.12...v0.12.16 |
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.
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