BetterReads: Classic Books

BetterReads is a reading app for people who want to read classic literature with clarity, focus, and depth.

It brings together carefully curated public-domain works with tools that help you understand what you're reading—without turning reading into a task or a distraction.

Read timeless classics

Discover a growing library of classic literature—1,600+ titles, thoughtfully selected and presented in a calm, book-first interface. Browse by genre, region, or curated lists including reading pathways and editorial collections. Download books for offline reading and pick up where you left off on any device when you're signed in.

Listen along with audiobooks

Hundreds of catalog titles include free public-domain narration from LibriVox. Play in the built-in audio player or use Listen Along to follow the text while you read—the reader scrolls with the narration so you can read and listen together. A growing audiobook shelf in Discover makes it easy to find titles with audio.

Bring your own books

Import EPUBs and PDFs from your device—essays, scans, magazines, or editions you already own. PDFs open in a fast native reader with highlights, notes, and the same reading tools as EPUBs. You can also track books you're reading elsewhere (print, Kindle, other apps) and keep progress in one library.

Cultivate a lasting reading habit

BetterReads supports consistent, meaningful reading. Set daily goals, build streaks, and see your time add up across books and PDFs. The interface removes noise so you can focus on the text. Over time, highlights, notes, and reflections accumulate into a personal reading history.

Organize your library

Create custom collections—your own shelves for themes, courses, or reading projects—and share them with friends. Mark books finished, edit finish dates, and keep everything synced when you sign in.

Understand themes and ideas

Explore the major themes and concepts of a book as they develop across chapters. See how ideas connect and evolve, helping you build a clearer understanding of the work as a whole.

Chapter companions

Each chapter includes optional context and guidance to support deeper reading. These companions provide historical background, thematic hints, and interpretive insights designed to sit alongside the text—not replace it.

Semantic annotation

BetterReads uses structured semantic annotation to connect characters, themes, events, and concepts across the book. Important ideas and references surface naturally while you read, helping you grasp the structure and meaning of complex works.

Characters and glossary, inline

Tap on characters, names, and key terms to see clear explanations in place—without leaving the page or interrupting your reading flow.

A continuous reading timeline

Your highlights, notes, and reading moments live together in a single timeline. App-provided context and your own reflections accumulate as you read, creating a personal record of your journey through the book.

Study what you save

The Study tab turns your highlights, glossary entries, and saved passages into spaced review—so ideas from your reading come back when you're ready to recall them, not only when turning pages.

Visual tools for deeper exploration

Explore story structure with:

• Character Web — visualize relationships between characters and see how they interact throughout the narrative • Narrative Arc — follow the progression of the story and understand how key events build toward the climax • Theme Heatmap — see where important themes appear and intensify across the chapters

These tools help reveal patterns that are often difficult to see when reading line by line.

Built for deep reading

BetterReads is intentionally simple. No feeds, no rankings, no distractions—just a thoughtful environment for reading and understanding great books.

Some advanced features may require a subscription.

Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/