justRead.app is a native iOS reader that puts your EPUB, PDF, and audiobook files into one fully customizable library, with progress synced across iPhone and iPad and two-way Calibre sync.
What is justRead.app?
justRead.app is a native EPUB, PDF, and audiobook reader for iPhone and iPad, built with SwiftUI and designed to disappear so you can simply read. It takes your own files from cloud storage (iCloud Drive, Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive) or a Calibre server and provides a unified library with cross-device progress sync, deep typography controls, and automatic statistics—no account required. Developed by an independent father-and-son team, the app is available on the App Store with a 14-day free trial.
Key Features
justRead.app packs a long list of reader-specific tools that go well beyond the basics. Here are the ones that matter most:
- Complete typography control — Adjust font, size, weight, spacing, margins, and alignment; choose from 200+ built-in fonts or import custom font files; save separate presets for day and night reading, with per-book settings.
- Smart dark mode — Dark mode with intelligent image inversion that adapts covers and illustrations, plus brightness adjustment without leaving the book and automatic theme switching by time of day.
- Library management at scale — Handles 5,000+ books without slowdowns; search by title, author, series, or tags; automatic series detection; sort with 10+ criteria; organize with custom collections, smart tags, and saved filters.
- Calibre and cloud sync — Connect to a Calibre Content Server for two-way sync of books, reading progress, ratings, and highlights; or read directly from any folder in iCloud Drive, Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive.
- OPDS catalogs — Browse and download free public-domain books from Project Gutenberg, Standard Ebooks, calibre-web, Kavita, Komga, and COPS directly inside the app.
- Reading statistics and achievements — Automatically track pages read, time spent, reading speed, streaks, and heatmaps; earn badges and reach daily goals.
- Native iOS experience — Built for iPhone and iPad with two-column iPad reading layout, edge-to-edge mode, screen rotation lock, keep-awake toggle, full VoiceOver accessibility, and home/lock screen widgets.
- Eye care — Built-in 20-20-20 reminders prompt you to look away every 20 minutes to reduce eye strain.
Who is it for?
justRead.app is designed for readers who want control over their files, their reading environment, and their progress data. The following groups will get the most out of it:
- Calibre power users who manage large libraries on Mac or PC and want to read on iPhone without re-importing; they get two-way sync of progress, ratings, and highlights.
- Typography enthusiasts who want a reading experience that matches their preferences; they get 200+ built-in fonts, custom font import, and fine-grained control over layout.
- Privacy-conscious readers who want to own their book files; they can read from their own cloud storage and don’t need an account or any data sent to external servers.
- Data-driven readers who want to build habits; they get automatic reading statistics, streaks, achievements, and daily goals.
What can you do with justRead.app?
With justRead.app, you can turn your existing book collection into a usable, syncable, and measurable reading life. These are the concrete tasks it supports:
- Sync a Calibre library both ways: Wirelessly import your Calibre library into justRead on iPhone and iPad, then push reading progress, ratings, and highlights back into Calibre’s custom columns.
- Read free public-domain books: Discover and download classics from Project Gutenberg, Standard Ebooks, and other OPDS catalogs with one tap, no browser needed.
- Export highlights: Connect justRead to Readwise to send highlights to your knowledge base, or export them as Markdown for use elsewhere.
- Track reading habits: See pages read, time spent, reading speed, streaks, and heatmaps; set daily goals and earn achievement badges.
How does justRead.app work?
justRead.app works with files you already own: point it at a cloud folder or a Calibre server, customize your reading settings, and your books sync automatically across devices. For Calibre users, justRead connects to a Calibre Content Server for bidirectional sync of books and metadata. Reading positions sync so you can continue on your iPhone exactly where you left off on your iPad.
Pricing
justRead.app uses a subscription model with two plans, both including a 14-day free trial and all features:
- Monthly: $2.99/month
- Yearly: $24.99/year (saves 17% compared to monthly)
Pricing may differ by App Store country or localization.
Alternatives
While justRead.app is designed as a complete replacement for the readers that come with your device or favorite store, a few alternatives exist:
- Apple Books — Apple’s default reader, tightly integrated with the Apple Books store.
- Kindle — Amazon’s reader tied to the Kindle ecosystem.
- Marvin 3 — A once-popular iOS EPUB reader known for typography, now discontinued according to the justRead blog.
FAQ
The official FAQ covers the most common questions about file support, cloud sync, dark mode, and privacy. Here are the essentials:
Does justRead.app support MOBI or AZW3 files?
No. justRead.app supports EPUB and PDF files. If you have books in other formats like MOBI or AZW3, you can use Calibre on Mac or PC to convert them to EPUB before importing.
Can I use iCloud to store my books?
Yes. You can use any cloud provider—iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, or others—as long as you have access to that cloud folder from your iPhone. Simply point justRead.app to your cloud folder and your books will sync automatically.
Does justRead.app have a dark mode?
Yes. justRead.app offers dark mode with intelligent image inversion to protect your eyes during night reading. You can also adjust brightness without leaving your book.
Is my privacy protected?
Yes. All your app settings are saved only on your iPhone. justRead doesn’t collect or transmit your personal reading data to external servers.
Are there any free alternatives to justRead?
Yes, there are free ebook readers like Apple Books and Kindle, but they lack the deep customization, Calibre sync, and reading statistics that justRead offers. justRead does provide a 14-day free trial so you can test all features before subscribing.
