Readest

Readest is an ebook reader built for people who read seriously. It handles EPUB and PDF files across macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, iOS, and the web, keeping your highlights, notes, and reading position in sync wherever you pick up.

The standout feature is Parallel Read: a split-screen mode that lets you open two books or documents side by side with synchronized scrolling. It's genuinely useful for comparing translations, reading a commentary alongside a source text, or working through two related books at once. Most readers don't offer this at all.

Beyond that, Readest covers the full set of reading essentials:

• Annotations, highlight passages, bookmark pages, and attach notes, all searchable across your library
• Customization, adjust fonts, margins, line spacing, and choose between light, dark, or sepia themes
• Smart lookup, translate paragraphs with DeepL or pull up Wikipedia definitions without leaving your book
• Text-to-speech, AI-powered TTS turns any ebook into audio, handy for commutes or accessibility needs
• Cross-device sync, reading progress, highlights, and notes carry over automatically between devices

The DeepL and Wikipedia integration is worth calling out specifically. For language learners or anyone reading in a second language, having inline translation and reference lookup removes the friction of switching apps constantly. It's a practical edge over tools like Readwise Reader that focus more on web articles than long-form books.

Readest is built on Tauri and supports KOReader and CrossPoint devices in addition to mainstream platforms, giving it unusually broad hardware reach for a free tool. The interface stays clean and distraction-free by default, with customization available when you want it.