This Trick Lets You Read E-Books Without an E-Reader

Here's how to turn various devices into e-readers.

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Karla Bowsher • September 25, 2019

It’s not something that e-reader companies tend to advertise, but you don’t need to buy an e-reader to enjoy e-books.

A variety of free apps from reputable companies — including e-reader companies — enables various devices to double as e-readers. In other words, you can use your smartphone, tablet or desktop computer as an e-reader.

Let’s take the well-known Kindle, Amazon's line of e-readers, for example. You don’t need any of them to be able to read Kindle e-books or other e-reading material that’s available for Kindle.

You can just download the free Kindle app to a device you already own. The app enables you to read all the same content on your device.

Of course, e-readers have screens that are optimized for reading. That might not be true of the screens on your phone or computer.

For some people, though, that may be a small sacrifice to pay for not having to buy an e-reader or not having to lug around an extra device.

So, we’ve rounded up free e-reading apps and listed the devices for which each app is available.

All you need now is some free e-books — and we can help you with that, too. Just check out “10 Websites That Offer Free E-Books.”

Kindle app

You can download the free Kindle app to any of the following types of devices:

Android mobile devices
iPads and iPhones
Mac computers
Windows computers

Nook Reading App

Nook is Barnes & Noble’s line of e-readers. The free Nook Reading App is compatible with the following types of devices:

Android mobile devices
iPads and iPhones
Windows computers

Kobo App

Kobo is a line of e-readers from Rakuten Kobo, a company that now partners with Walmart. But downloading the free Kobo App to devices like the following will enable you to read e-books on them:

Android mobile devices
iPad and iPhone

Adobe Digital Editions app

Adobe Digital Editions software and the free Adobe Digital Editions app are made by software company Adobe Systems. The app allows you to read e-books on devices like: