The Kindle app is functional but the sync bugs are persistent and you still can't buy books on iOS. These ebook readers offer reliable cross-device sync, in-app purchases, and — in Libby's case — free access to thousands of library books without ever paying Amazon.
Each app below addresses a specific gap in Amazon Kindle's offering. We picked them based on real user review patterns and feature differentiation.
Libby by OverDrive is the single best reason to rethink buying Kindle books. Most US and UK public libraries lend ebooks and audiobooks through Libby for free — all you need is a library card. The reader is excellent, sync works reliably, and you can return books early to free up holds for other readers. If Kindle sync keeps failing you, Libby is a revelation.
Explore Libby (OverDrive) data →Apple Books comes pre-installed on every iOS device and offers the smoothest cross-device sync on the list — it's built into iCloud, so highlights, bookmarks, and reading progress sync automatically. You can buy books directly in the app (something Kindle won't let you do on iOS) and Apple's reader has cleaner typography than the Kindle app.
Explore Apple Books data →Kobo is the closest direct competitor to Kindle — it has a dedicated ebook reader, a large catalog, and built-in store. Kobo Plus offers a Kindle Unlimited equivalent. Readers who prefer indie books tend to find more of what they want on Kobo than on Kindle, and the reader app has received fewer complaints about sync issues.
Explore Kobo Books & Audiobooks data →The NOOK app is Barnes & Noble's ebook reader and is strong enough that some readers prefer it to Kindle. Its catalog overlaps heavily with Amazon's. In-app purchases work (unlike Kindle on iOS). Smaller than Kindle's library but not by much for mainstream titles.
Explore Barnes & Noble NOOK data →Google Play Books is the cleanest Android-side alternative to Kindle. You can buy books directly in the app, upload your own PDFs and EPUBs, and get Google Drive-backed sync across devices. Reader UI is clean and Material-designed. A solid Kindle alternative for readers who don't need Kindle Unlimited.
Explore Google Play Books data →CloudLibrary from OCLC is the other major public library ebook lending platform. If your local library uses CloudLibrary instead of OverDrive, this is how you access free library ebooks. Not as polished as Libby but the catalog at your library may be different, so it's worth checking both.
Explore CloudLibrary data →We found these alternatives by analyzing review patterns across ebook reading apps. The most common reasons Kindle users switch are sync issues between devices, persistent bugs through updates, and frustration with the inability to buy books in the iOS app. Each alternative below addresses at least one of those friction points.
Libby is the clear winner for most readers — if you have a US or UK public library card, you can borrow thousands of ebooks and audiobooks for free. It completely eliminates Kindle's "rent or buy" decision. Apple Books is the best free default reader if you're on iOS and want everything to just work.
Kindle's DRM makes it hard to read Amazon purchases in another reader without stripping the DRM first (a legal gray area). If you're frustrated with Kindle app bugs, your options are to sideload calibre and convert, or to stop buying Kindle books going forward and use Libby, Apple Books, or Kobo for new purchases.
Amazon removed in-app purchasing from the Kindle iOS app to avoid paying Apple's 30% commission. They've never restored it, even after the Epic v. Apple ruling. If in-app purchasing matters to you, Apple Books, Kobo, and Google Play Books all support it and are better mobile ebook experiences because of it.
App Vulture uses AI-powered review intelligence to analyze what real users say about apps — their pain points, feature requests, and reasons for switching. We identified these alternatives by analyzing review patterns across ebook reader apps and validated each candidate against Kindle's most common churn reasons.
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