Readest

Readest is an open-source EPUB and PDF reader that provides highlights, notes, split-screen reading, and cross-device sync.

Readest is a free, open-source EPUB and PDF reader designed for deep reading across macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, iOS, and the Web. It allows users to read two books side by side using a split-screen view, highlight passages, take notes, and search across their entire library. Built-in tools include text-to-speech for listening to books, Wikipedia lookups, and paragraph translations via DeepL integration. Users can customize themes, fonts, margins, and line spacing for a comfortable reading experience. The platform offers a free tier alongside paid Plus and Pro plans, as well as one-time purchase options for extra storage and advanced features.

Readest at a glance

Best for: Student, Researcher, Writer
Runs on: Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
Pricing: Free plan; Plus plan; Pro plan; One-time purchase options available.
Released: October 2024
Category: AI productivity tool
Website: readest.com

Key features

Split-screen parallel reading
Text-to-speech read aloud
DeepL translation and Wikipedia lookup
Cloud sync and library search
Customizable themes, fonts, and layouts
Highlighting, note-taking, and bookmarking

Use it for

Compare texts and translations side by side
Listen to ebooks like audiobooks
Translate foreign language paragraphs instantly
Sync reading progress across multiple devices

Alternatives to Readest

ReadAny — It keeps your books and notes private using a local vector store and offline capability.
NaturalReader — It offers content-aware AI voices in over 90 languages with cross-device compatibility.
PDF Craft — It preserves formulas, tables, and document structure during conversion.
Pdf2epub — Uses Apple's PDFKit, Vision, and Foundation Models for precise conversion.
Docling — Provides advanced PDF understanding and local execution for sensitive data.
Folio — It combines local document reading with built-in AI assistance and open-source code.
Epilude Narrator — Read text aloud with on-device or cloud voices and dictate anywhere on your Mac.
Yedoo AI — Read and discuss PDF and EPUB books in one workspace
MinerU — Parses complex documents and tables into structured markdown for agents.
Karakeep — Provides AI-based automatic tagging and semantic search for saved content.
PixLate — Translates documents and images while preserving the original layout and structure.
Yarareads — Stories match the exact phonics sounds your child knows.

All Readest alternatives