Best Windows Epub Readers to Use in 2022
Here, we have curated the best Epub readers for a range of Windows versions including Windows 11, Windows 10, all the way down to Windows XP. For quick navigation, you can click on the link below to move to the corresponding program. Apart from that, if you are interested in learning about Epub readers then you can go through our explainer below.
What is an Epub Reader?
In simple terms, a PC Epub Reader is a program that can open and process e-books (a digital version of a physical book). It’s a file format just like PDF, but XML-based so it has wide compatibility with programs from different platforms. In summation, an Epub reader is a program that allows you to read digital books on your computer, smartphone or any other electronic device.
How to Open Epub Files on Windows 10?
The process to open Epub files on Windows 11/Windows 10 is similar to opening a PDF file. The older Edge browser supported the Epub files but the new Edge Browser that’s based-on-Chromium cannot open it. So, you will need to install an app to open the Epub files.
List of Top Epub Readers for Windows
1. Calibre
Calibre is one of the oldest and the best Epub reader for your Windows 11 machine. The app is packed with features allowing you to do things like downloading Epubs, managing metadata, downloading covers for books, transferring books from one device to another, and even converting books from one format to another.
Calibre is not only good for reading normal Epub novels but also magazines, comics, and more. If you are looking for a good Epub reader for your Windows PC, Calibre is certainly the topmost contender for the job.
Supported Platforms: Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Vista and Windows 7 ProsConsFeature packedOutdated UIAllows you to fix the book metadataSlow loading speedKeyboard shortcut for looking up wordsSupports custom reading themes using CSS
Download: Free
2. Sumatra PDF Reader
While Calibre is pretty great and works for most people, but some have reported that book opening is a bit slow on Calibre and it has been a long-standing issue. So if you want an alternative just like Calibre, but with faster performance and modern features, the Sumatra PDF Reader has you covered as one of the best PDF editor and reader out there. It’s an extremely lightweight Epub reader that just works out of the box.
It supports bookmarks, background color change, automatic text scaling, tab support and much more. The best part is that it can even open large Epub files without breaking a sweat with correct indentation, tree-like chapters and more. I would say, if you are looking for a Windows 11/10 Epub reader that just works without any frills then Sumatra PDF Reader is the best pick.
Supported Platforms: Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, 8.1, Windows 7, Vista. and XP ProsConsClutter-free user interfaceDoesn’t support annotations on bookGood reading experienceDoesn’t have advanced features like metadata editingLight application (comes under 5 MB)Super-fast loading timeSupports comic book formats (CBZ and CBR)
Download: Free
3. Freda
Freda is one of my most favorite Epub readers for Windows just because of its looks. The app looks like a native Windows 11 app and makes Epubs really stand out when you read them on it. One of my favorite features of this app is its theming capabilities which allow users to customize the look and feel of the app to make it exactly how they like it.
Apart from supporting Epub, the app also supports a ton of other formats including Mobi, FB2, HTML, and TXT. The app also gives you access to more than 50,000 public domain classic books free of charge from Feedbooks, Gutenberg, and other online catalogs. If looks matter to you, do give Freda a try.
Supported Platforms: Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8.1 (ARM, x86, x64)
Download: Free with in-app purchases
4. Icecream Epub Reader
Icecream apps is an app studio which has developed some really fine apps for Windows PC and of all the apps that come from the studio, their Epub reader is my favorite. Not only their Epub reader looks good but it also brings a ton of features including full-screen mode support, exceptional search capabilities, easy page turning mechanics, reading progress tracking, support for multiple languages, and more.
Apart from all the above features, I also love the fact that the reader not only supports Epub format but also other major ebook formats including Mobi, FB2, and, more.
Supported Platforms: Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows Vista and Windows 7 ProsConsSupports multiple file formats and languagesAll the good features are behind paywallSupports bookmarks and annotationsFrequently asks you to upgrade to pro versionMake search on Google and Wikipedia for selected textGood search feature
Download: Free, $19.95
5. Cover
Cover is primarily an app made for reading comic books on your Windows 11 PC, but since the app also supports Epub format, it has made its way on the list. The main reason why Cover is on the list is that since the app is made for comics, it is great for reading books that are image-heavy.
While all the other apps on the list can handle images, they can’t do it as well as Cover can. So, if you are into books that feature a ton of images, Cover will be good for you. On the other hand, if you are into comics and manga, there is no better app that you can get.
Supported Platforms: Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8.1 (ARM, x86, x64) ProsConsGood reading experienceGeared more towards comic book readersExcellent library managementReading mode is fully customizable
Download: Free with in-app purchases
6. Kobo
Like Kindle, Kobo is not only an ebook reader app but a service which also allows you to buy books from its store. However, unlike Kindle, which doesn’t support Epub formats, Kobo does support both Epub and Epub 3 formats. The app brings all the usual features that we have come to expect from an Epub reader including, search, bookmarks, progress tracking, theming, and more, making it one of the best epub readers for Windows 11 that you can find.
However, the biggest reason to get Kobo over other Epub readers is its store which allows you to browse and buy from over 5 million free and affordable eBooks, comics, and children’s books. So, if you want to be able to access and buy all the new ebooks that are released, this is one of the best epub readers for Windows that you can get.
Supported Platforms: Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8.1 (ARM, x86, x64) ProsConsExcellent reading modes which are easier on the eyesMakes it harder to manage imported booksModern UIMakes it easy to access the bookmarkBuilt-in store to buy ebooks
Download: Free
7. Nook
With Nook app, you are not only getting an app to read Epub books, but also a store to buy them, just like you do with Kobo.
When you sign up for the service, you get a 14-day trial period during which you can test out any book or news magazine that you want. After the trial period ends, you can buy the books or subscribe to magazines that you are interested in.
Other features of the app include the ability to customize your reading experience to view books with different fonts, line spacing, and themes, online sync across devices, access to thousands of classics, and more.
Supported Platforms: Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8 (x86) ProsConsExcellent reading modes which are easier on the eyesMakes it harder to manage imported booksModern UIOnly one highlight color is supportedMakes it easy to access the bookmarkBuilt-in store to buy ebooks
Download: Free
8. Adobe Digital Editions
If there is one company which makes software for almost all form of creating and consuming creative content, it’s Adobe, and its Adobe Digital Editions is a great Epub reader for Windows PC which allows users to consume their favorite titles.
One of the best reasons for using Adobe Digital Editions is its support for EPUB 3 standard which gives users a richer reading experience by bringing support for right to left reading, dynamic image resizing without loss in clarity, interactive quizzes, better rendering of math formulas, and more.
Adobe Digital Editions also brings a ton of other convenient features like exceptional search capabilities, the ability to rent or borrow Epub version of books from your local and public libraries, multi-lingual support, bookmarking, highlighting, notes, and more. If you are looking for a full-fledged, Epub reading experience, Adobe Digital Edition is the right app to do that.
Supported Platforms: Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Vista and Windows 7 ProsConsEasily sync books across devicesThe reading mode is not user customizableGood book organization featuresSlow to load if you have a large libraryGood reading experience with support for EPUB 3 standardNeed an Adobe account to use itSupport for bookmarks, highlights, and notes
Download: Free
9. Bibliovore
Bibliovore is yet another great free Epub reader for your Windows machine. The app can be easily downloaded from the Windows app store and is completely free to download and use. I love this app because it brings fantastic organizational features allowing you to manage even a large library of books with ease.
The app also allows you to easily adjust font parameters, manage reading themes, edit book metadata, use day/night reading mode, and more. One of my favorite features of this app is that despite being free, it syncs all your books across devices using OneDrive. I think this is one of the best epub readers for Windows 10 that you can use right now.
Supported Platforms: Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8.1 (x86, x64) ProsConsGood reading expereince with support for themesNeeds more customization features for fonts, spacing, etc.Good organization featuresSupport for book metadata editingGroups books in a series
Download: Free
10. Bookviser
Bookviser is an Epub reader for Windows which wants to give you a reading experience that is similar to reading physical books. It does that by designing its UI in such a way that it looks like a real book. That said, if you are not fond of such a UI, you can easily get into the settings to get a more traditional Epub reader experience.
Just like Freda, Bookviser also allows you to download free classics from public catalogs including Feedbooks, Project Gutenberg, and Smashwords. Rest of the Epub reader features like progress tracking, theming, dictionary support and more can also be found here.
Supported Platforms: Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8.1 (ARM, x86, x64) ProsConsSimple and clean user interfaceDoesn’t allow you to edit book metadataLets you adjust margin, font-type, spacing, and moreSupport for multiple page turning animationsSupport for book downloads from integrated public catalog
Download: Free
11. EpubReader
Another epub reader for Windows you can consider trying out is EpubReader which is the only paid app on the list. The app is a fairly simple app for reading Epub books on your Windows PC which also allows you to download books from preconfigured and personal sources, easily manage your book library, tracks reading progress, and more.
One of the biggest features of this app is that you can easily transfer your whole library onto either an SD Card or to OneDrive. EpubReader is a great app to manage a large library of books without eating any storage on your Windows PC.
Supported Platforms: Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8.1 (x86, x64)
Download: $2.49
12. Readium
Readium is an open-source Epub reader made for all your web reading needs. If you don’t want to install any app on your device but still want to consume Epub books, Readium is the way to do it. Readium is a Chrome extension that allows you to read Epubs online. You can even upload your own books to Readium and read them there. It’s a great way to read books without having to install any app on your device.
And since the new Microsoft Edge is using the Chromium engine, the extension will work with the browser without any problem. If you have not used the new Edge browser before, I advice you to give it a try. And to get you started, here is an article on installing chrome extensions on the Edge browser.
Supported Browsers: Google Chrome, Mozilla, Microsoft Edge ProsConsDon’t need to install a separate appGoogle has deprecated Chrome Apps so it won’t receive any updates in the futureGood reading experienceSimple and easy-to-use UI
Download: Free (Chrome / Edge, Mozilla)
13. EPubor
Another Windows eBook reader app that you can check out, Epubor brings most of the features you’d want in an ePub reader app. The app supports all the popular eBook formats, including EPUB, MOBI, AZW, AZW3, PRC, TXT, HTMLZ, and others. It also comes with a bunch of customisation options. You can change the fonts and colors, highlight text, make notes, and even bookmark pages. Plus, the app supports both vertical and horizontal reading, making it more versatile.
Reading with EPubor is quite nice as well. The app remembers your last reading position, so you can pick up where you left off. It also brings a handy table of contents so you can navigate through long books more easily (I’m looking at you, Lord of The Rings); and based on the size of your screen, the app can even automatically switch between single-page view and double page view.
There are also a plethora of library management features within the app. You can easily import books, and once you have your library set up, you can search through it easily as well. The app supports searching for books by title, authors, ISBN, publisher, and more. Overall, EPubor is one of the best ePub readers for Windows 11 that you can get.
Supported platforms: Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, macOS ProsConsSupports almost every popular ebook formatDoesn’t support encrypted ebooksPlenty of customisation optionsEasy to manage even large libraries of books
Download: Free trial; paid version starts at $4.99
14. Neat Reader
Neat Reader is an aptly named app, because this definitely is one of the best looking ePub readers for Windows (or for Mac, for that matter), that I have found thus far. The app comes with clean, intuitive interface that makes it much easier to use. Moreover, it supports almost every EPUB 2 and EPUB 3 standard out there, which means most of your books should be easily readable in the app.
Neet Reader also brings support for annotations, so if you like taking notes or highlighting important parts of a book, you can do so with Neet Reader. You can also place bookmarks to mark important pages or things you want to come back to, and obviously, there’s a search feature as well.
Best of all, the app is completely free to use, forever. However, if you do feel up to paying for it, you can get additional features including 10GB cloud storage to store your ebooks across devices, export notes, and an ad-free experience while reading your book — which, by the way is important. I do not like the fact that there are ads in the free version of the app, because it takes away attention from the book, and that’s why this app is towards the bottom of our list. Apart from that particular issue though, Neet Reader is definitely an ePub reader for Windows that I’d recommend you to try.
Supported platforms: Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, macOS, Android, iPhone, Web ProsConsFree to useFree version has adsSupport for annotations, bookmarks, and moreSupports EPUB 2 and EPUB 3 formatsSearch feature is useful
Download: Free; paid version starts at $19.99/year or $49.99 for lifetime
15. Read Ebooks in the Command Line with Epy
If you feel more at home in the commandline rather than with a GUI, and you love showing off your favourite command prompt tricks to your friends, Epy is definitely the Windows 11 epub reader you should try. Technically a fork of the EPR repo, EPY brings support for ebooks in the EPUB, FictionBook (FB2), MOBI, and AZW3 formats. Moreover, it can even read ebooks from their URLs.
The command line program has plenty of features as well. It shows you the reading progress percentage, supports bookmarks, integrations with external dictionaries (such as dict, wkdict, etc), text to speech, and more. What’s more, installing it on Windows 11 is a breeze thanks to the standalone binary that’s readily available. You can even check out its GitHub repo (visit) to learn how it works, and even fork it to add features that you want to see in the app.
Supported platforms: macOS, Linux, Windows ProsConsFeature richDoesn’t have the kind of feature set you’d find in other epub readersOpen source and completely free
Download: Free
Q. Which is the Best EPUB Reader?
In my opinion, Calibre is truly the best Windows Epub reader for most users. However, if you are looking for a modern Epub reader for Windows 11 then go for Freda.
Q. What eReaders Can Read EPUB files?
While Kindle is a popular eReader device, it can’t read Epub files natively so keep that in mind. With Kindle out of the way, I would recommend Kobo Clara HD and Onyx Boox Note2 as ePub readers for Windows 11.
Q. Is Epub Reader for Windows Free?
There are a number of Epub readers for Windows and most of them are free. I would recommend you to go through the list and find an Epub reader that fits your need.
Q. Is Epub Reader for Windows Safe?
Yes. Epub Readers don’t pose a security threat unless downloaded from shady sources. Make sure to download programs from their official website.
Q. How do I Install Epub Reader for Windows?
You just need to click on the link that is mentioned below each Epub reader and then move to the Download page. Here, depending on your OS version and architecture, download the setup file. After that, run the setup file to install the Epub reader. You can find the architecture of your machine by right-clicking on My Computer and opening “Properties”.
Q. Does ePUB Reader for Windows Support Other File Types?
Yes. For example, Sumatra PDF Reader can read Epub, PDF, MOBI, FB2, CBZ, and multiple other file types.
Read Ebooks with Best Epub Readers for Windows PC
I am a fan of audiobooks and ebooks, as they allow you to carry your whole library with your where ever you go. One of the best parts about using Epub readers for reading ebooks is that you get thousands of classic titles for free. Do check these apps out and let us know which is your favorite Windows Epub reader. Also, if you want to suggest an app that should be on the list but isn’t, drop its name in the comments section below.
