The latest iPhone models have large enough screens that you can easily read a book on them. But when studying this issue, users are faced with the fact that they are constantly trying to sell them something. Either applications for reading books, or the books themselves, or something else.

Perhaps the simplest and most convenient application for reading books on iPhone is the standard iBooks application. Using iBooks, you can buy e-books, read your own books in EPub or PDF formats, and create an electronic library by cataloging existing books. This application is free and pre-installed on iPhone, iPad and iPod.

If you want to read books through iBooks for free, you first need to download them to the iBooks app. To do this, you will need a computer with iTunes installed, as well as the books themselves in EPub or PDF formats, which you can download on the Internet.

To get started, connect your iPhone to your computer using a cable and launch iTunes. After that, click on the device icon that will appear in the upper left corner of the iTunes window (screenshot below). This will take you to the iPhone settings.

After this, you need to go to the “Books” section. A link to it will be available in the left side menu of the program.

As a result, a page with a list of books on your iPhone will open. To download a new book to your iPhone, simply drag it to this list with your mouse. If the book format is supported, the book will automatically be downloaded to the iPhone’s memory and become available in the iBooks application.

After that, turn off your iPhone and check iBooks. If everything was done correctly, the downloaded books should appear in the application library.

How to read books for free using third-party apps

If the iBooks application does not suit you or you want to read books not only in EPub or PDF, but also in other formats, then you can use third-party applications for reading books. There are quite a lot of such applications, and you can easily find them in App Store.

One of the most popular applications for reading books on iPhone is the application. This application is distributed free of charge and supports almost all popular formats e-books. In particular, Kybook supports EPUB, RTF, PDF, FB2, DJVU, CBR, CHM and other formats. In general, if you don’t know which book reading application to choose, we recommend trying Kybook first.

Once you have installed the book reading application, you need to load your books into it. To do this, you will again need a computer with iTunes. Connect your iPhone to your computer, launch iTunes and click on the device icon in the upper left corner (screenshot below).

After that, go to the "Shared Files" section.

As a result, a window with two lists will appear in front of you. On the left there will be a list of applications into which you can download files, and on the right there will be a list of files that belong to the selected application. Here in the left list you need to select an application for reading books (in our case it is Kybook).

And then upload books to the selected application using the “Add file” button.

As a result, the books will be loaded into the device’s memory and will become available in the interface of the selected application. Now you can read these books absolutely free using your iPhone.

There are many different book reading apps on the App Store. However, most of them are either inconvenient to use, in particular when loading books into the application, or are paid. Not everyone knows that there is no need to look for a specialized tool for reading books on the iPhone. iOS has an excellent app for this. This manual, as you already understand, is about iBooks.

iBooks is the official Apple app for reading books. Over the past few years, iBooks has evolved from a not-so-good e-reader into an excellent tool that is both flexibly customizable and allows you to download books in the fastest possible way. Surprised to hear this about iBooks? This means you haven’t tried to use it for a long time, but now we’ll explain everything.

This is what makes iBooks scary at first glance. Lack of Russian books in the store. But this is not a problem at all.

What book formats does iBooks support?

iBooks works with two file formats - EPUB and PDF. The currently popular FB2 book format is not supported by the application, but finding an alternative on the Internet is not difficult for almost all books. Also at your service are various converters that instantly convert one file format to another without much loss of quality.

How to upload books to iBooks via iTunes

Step 1: Launch iTunes and go to " Books" If iTunes is not installed on your computer, download latest version utilities can be found on the official Apple website.

Note: if the section " Books" is not displayed, click " Edit menu" and activate the section by clicking on the switch of the same name.

Step 2. Go to the tab Media library» and transfer books or documents in EPUB or PDF formats to the iTunes window. If suddenly for some reason the transfer fails, add books manually using the menu " File» → « Add a file to your library" (or " Add a folder to your media library"if you want to download several books at once, which are collected in one directory).

Step 3: Connect your iPhone to your computer and select it in iTunes.

Step 4: Select the " Books" and activate the switch " Sync books».

Step 5: Click " All books" to transfer all books to iPhone or " Selected books» to transfer specific ones.

Step 6. After finishing the selection, click " Ready" When you open iBooks after synchronization is complete, you will see books arranged on the shelves that you can already read.

As you can see, downloading books to iBooks cannot be called the easiest operation, in particular due to the fact that you have to connect the iPhone to the computer using a cable. Fortunately, you can ditch the wires.

How to upload books to iBooks via iTunes over Wi-Fi

Step 1: Connect your iPhone to your computer and launch iTunes.

Step 2: Select your device and on the " Review» activate the switch « Sync this iPad over Wi-Fi».

Step 3: Click " Ready».

After applying the settings, you can disconnect your iPhone from your computer - the connection with iTunes will not be broken. This means that you can download books to iBooks without having to connect the device to a PC or Mac using a cable. You can also delete books from iPhone over Wi-Fi.

How to Download Books to iBooks via Mobile Safari

Step 1: Open Safari and go to any online library website that allows you to download books in EPUB or PDF format (like this one).

Step 2. Find the book you need using the search.

Step 3. On the page dedicated to the book, find a direct link to download the book in formats you already know.

Step 4. In the window that opens, scroll up and click on the button Open in iBooks" The book will be added to your library.

First article in the series How to Read Books on iPhone completed. Now you can download your favorite books to iBooks in three different ways. However, alternative applications are no less good and we talked about them in these articles:

Branded digital library iBooks developed by by Apple specifically for iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch, not adapted to the readership needs of residents of Russia and the CIS. Artistic, journalistic and scientific literature, presented on the virtual shelves of iBooks, as a rule, is not translated into other languages ​​(only English or “American”, an even more unfamiliar option, and rarely perceived even in Europe, and there is no point in looking for Russian), it is inconveniently formatted, Moreover, it suffers from a bunch of shortcomings - such as a limited number of authors and a long response to already published works.

But the main disadvantage is, perhaps, the price - Apple developers offer to pay fabulous sums (and even in dollars) for outdated literature that has not attracted attention for a long time. And, if you want to save money, you will have to be content with rare free books, which are also out of fashion.

And finally, it’s inconvenient to add other files to iBooks - the procedure is too confusing and not intuitive. Hence the conclusion - Apple’s tool should be put aside and, finally, focus on the main thing: the ability to read for free on the iPhone or iPad, which you need at the moment.

You will have to figure out your goal with the help of third-party readers, which can be easily downloaded from the App Store (it is pointless to list each option - the list will stretch to thousands of positions, but if recommended, then it is a good option for those who are just starting to understand electronic literature).

Step-by-step instruction

1. Preparation. First of all, you will have to look directly at the digital App Store and, using the search, find a suitable e-reader - for example, iBouquiniste. Click “Download” and wait for the installation to complete;
2. Using iTunes. If your personal computer has long had an impressive collection of works by different authors, which you don’t want to lose under any circumstances, then you should immediately turn to iTunes by first connecting your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch to the computer using a USB cable;
3. Next – a standard transition to setting up the device using the button located in the upper left corner;
4. After the transition – select the “Shared Files” menu item on the left side of the interface;
5. And, among the variety of programs offered, choose iBouquiniste. The list on the right will immediately display the current set of files already added to the reader. If you wish, here you can study the already generated library for protection against duplicates. But it is important to understand that you cannot part with unnecessary information through iTunes - you will have to use either the built-in iOS tools or download assistants from the App Store;
6. The last step is to scroll through the menu and find the “Add File” button, and then begin to select those books that need to be downloaded. iBouquiniste easily copes with the FB2 extension, knows ePub, and digests DOC and PDF. There will definitely be no problems with reading. After adding files through the menu, you can safely unfasten your smartphone, tablet or player from the computer and start reading;
7. Third party sources. If iTunes is far away, no library has been assembled in advance, or the USB cable is lost in the depths of an unassembled backpack, then there are alternative methods for adding books to Apple equipment;
8. The browser can easily help you with the task of breaking your literary fast. The main thing is to find the right source with an easy search or download that allows you to bypass some additional checks or advertising. And, if you have to choose, then Flibusta will definitely not leave anyone indifferent;
9. The first step is to open online home page service. The second is to go to the search located in the upper right corner. Next, view the results and proceed to download through the links located at the top of the page. FB2, ePub, MOBI – there will definitely be suitable options;
10. After clicking on the link, the browser will automatically offer to transfer the information directly to iBouquiniste. The procedure will take exactly 5 minutes!

It’s even more convenient to interact with the Flibusta bot for Telegram. The idea is the same - a message is sent to the bot, which provides a download link in the required format - but the search speed is much higher, and you don’t have to run the browser again.

The App Store has such a large selection of applications that it's dizzying. That's why I collected 10 for you best readers books, articles, documents and even comics, among which you will definitely find something interesting.

Apple Books, free

Books works with ePub and PDF formats.

KyBooks, free+

Not all interesting books are available in ePub format, and there is not always time to specifically convert them. KyBooks will be an excellent solution to this situation.

This program allows you to read FB2, TXT, HTML, RTF, PDF, iWork and Microsoft Office formats on iPad and iPhone. And the Pro version also opens DJVU, CHM and works with the TOR network (!). There is integration with Google Books, Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive and Yandex Drive.

True, the application has not been updated since mid-2016, so support new iPhones there is no.

TotalReader Pro, $4.99

If you want even more, then check out TotalReader Pro. This is a truly omnivorous thing that will allow you to read FB2, ePub, MOBI, CHM, FBZ, RTF, TXT, DJVU, PDF, XPS, MS Office, iWork, KEY and even comics in CBR, CBZ, CB7 formats on iPad and iPhone and CBT. And there’s just a ton of geeky tricks and abbreviations that neither you nor I will most likely understand.

Unfortunately, the application has not been updated since mid-2017.

The Book Converter, free+

Are you leaning towards iBooks, but the limited number of supported formats is holding you back? Install The Book Converter. This thing will convert any documents into ePub, FB2, MOBI, AZW, PDF, LRF, LIT, PDB and TCR format. The coolest thing is that you don’t have to download the book yourself, just insert the download link into the application and everything will happen automatically.

Reeder 2, free

Despite the closure of the Google Reader service, RSS remains popular. It's still the same The best way follow updates of your favorite blogs and sites. Well, Reeder 2 is perhaps the best representative of RSS readers for iOS. It works with Feedbin, Feedly, Fever, Feed Wrangler, Minimal Reader, Readability, FeedHQ, The Old Reader and others. Its highlight is its nice design and gesture controls.

Pocket, free+

The program solves a typical problem for a busy person: you found an interesting article, but there is absolutely no time to read it right now. Pocket allows you to save publications “for later”, and during this “later” the Internet will no longer be needed - all articles are stored offline and automatically downloaded in the background via WiFi. This way you can read articles from the web on your iPad and iPhone even in an elevator shaft.

Of course, the service has a couple of serious competitors, and the main one is Instapaper. Not better, not worse, just different. Perhaps you will like its interface more, be sure to try it.

Comic Zeal, $2.99

Alternatively, look at iComics. This client can skillfully split and join pages so that they occupy a larger screen area. Many people will like Dropbox support.

GoodReader, $2.99

Great for reading PDF on iPad and iPhone. It will be useful to everyone who encounters this format every day for work or study. You can easily download files from attachments Email, work with clouds, use WebDAV and FTP.

The GoodReader engine allows you to process massive PDF documents containing hundreds of megabytes in a matter of seconds. It has annotation support: adding comments and geometric shapes, drawing, etc.

Alpina.Business, free+

Another application focused on business literature. A huge library from major publishing houses, where in addition to text versions, you can listen to audio versions. Moreover, the reader itself understands where you stopped and synchronizes them. As in the case of MYTH, everything purchased remains within the program.

Bookmate. Books and audiobooks, free+

A universal library on a variety of topics: from classics to school curriculum. In it you will find most of the books from the same publishing houses MIF and Alpitna. There is support for offline reading and synchronization with other devices, including Windows Phone, Android and PC/Mac (via browser). The ability to upload your books to FB2 and ePub deserves special praise.

Bookmate also has a great social component: you can always see books recommended by friends, critics, editors, and celebrities. And a very cool subscription system - for 169+ rubles per month you will get unlimited access to the entire library.

Documents by Readdle, free+

A universal combine for working with PDF files, office documents Word, Excel and reading books in ePub and FB2. Documents can work with archives and annotations, and is suitable for viewing images, videos, listening to music, and even downloading files from the Internet.

They can download entire web pages for further reading, a kind of analogue of Pocket, GoodReader and KyBooks rolled into one.

In conclusion

If you are used to looking for versions of books online, then the ideal option for you would be iBooks in conjunction with The Book Converter, or free KyBooks. With the TotalReader Pro reader you can kill all the birds with one stone, because it even works with comics. Well, if you are a real “bookworm,” then your choice is Bookmate subscription. There is no need to think about formats here, just download what you want and go! In general, you can now read on your iPad or iPhone 24/7.

If you like the minimalism of the standard iBooks reader, but don't like fixed indents in texts and limited format support, you can try eBoox. This program is just as airy and easy to use, but it also reads FB2, MOBI and other popular file types not available in iBooks. In addition, eBoox gives you more control over the visual side of the text: adjust the indentation to suit your needs.

The only thing eBoox may be missing is synchronization of reading positions, bookmarks and other metadata between devices. The program is free.

2.Bookmate

• Supported formats: FB2, EPUB.

The Bookmate app is a convenient reader with basic settings display text. You can adjust the side padding, font size and type, line spacing, and background color. Moreover, Bookmate is also a social service with book recommendations and a library with . A very interesting combination.

Despite having an internal book store, Bookmate allows you to upload your own texts for free. The service automatically synchronizes data between different devices and platforms. As for file compatibility, the reader is limited to only the most popular formats.

3. PocketBook Reader

• Supported formats: EPUB, FB2, PDF, DJVU, TXT, FB2.ZIP, CHM, HTML (basic), CBZ, CBR, СBT, RTF.

The PocketBook reader cannot be called minimalistic, but it is unlikely to confuse you with a large number of settings and functions. In addition to the typical options, you get control over auto-scrolling and paging zones. There is a quick export of words to Google, Wikipedia and a built-in . You can include reading aloud. It is very convenient to change the text scale by pinch.

PocketBook supports synchronization between devices via Dropbox. In addition, the application has a built-in ReadRate recommendation service, where you can view reviews, ratings and other information about books. Support for DJVU, a popular illustrated book format, deserves special attention. The application is available without advertising and for free.

4. KyBook 2

• Supported formats: EPUB, FB2, RTF, PDF, DJVU, MOBI, AZW3, CBR, CBZ, CBT, MP3, M4A, M4B.

It seems that this monstrous reader can boast of all the settings and functions that could be useful when reading from a mobile device. Changing interface themes, managing headers and footers, sorting downloaded books by different criteria, connecting various dictionaries, speed reading mode - this is just a small part of everything that is in KyBook 2.

Not every reader needs such an arsenal, but if you like customization, you can try this program. KyBook 2 is available free of charge for a month, after which some functions are disabled. You can unblock them and at the same time remove ads for 299 rubles.