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Kindle

An app that opens the ebooks you buy on any phone, no e-reader needed.

Read & listenEbook readersFree planFree trial
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What Kindle does

Kindle is Amazon's free reading app. It holds the books you buy from Amazon, keeps your place across devices, and works with Kindle Unlimited, a $11.99 a month subscription. You don't need a Kindle device to use it.

Read Amazon ebooks on iPhone, iPad and Android
Kindle Unlimited and Prime Reading for borrowing
Your page syncs across phone, tablet and Kindle
Adjust font, brightness and colors
Add your own EPUB and PDF files through Send to Kindle

If you already buy ebooks from Amazon, the Kindle app is the obvious home for them. You can change the font, brightness and colors, and your page stays in sync between your phone, tablet and Kindle device.

What you pay depends on how you read. Books are sold one at a time. Kindle Unlimited costs $11.99 a month after a 30-day trial and gives you a large rotating library to borrow from. If you have Amazon Prime, Prime Reading adds a smaller rotating selection at no extra cost.

Your own files are possible but not as easy as in other readers. You send EPUB and PDF files through Amazon's Send to Kindle service instead of opening them straight in the app. Most store books come with copy protection, so they stay inside Amazon's apps and devices.

Alternatives to Kindle

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Kobo BooksKobo's ebook and audiobook store, with an optional Kobo Plus plan
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EverandAudiobooks and ebooks in one monthly subscription
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Google Play BooksBuy books, upload your own EPUBs and PDFs, read on any device
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Who it's for

People who already buy books from Amazon
Heavy readers who would use Kindle Unlimited

Skip it if: Anyone who wants an open reader for their own files.

Pricing

Free plan
Free, paid from $11.99/mo

The Kindle app is free. You buy books one at a time, or pay $11.99 a month for Kindle Unlimited after a 30-day free trial. Prime members also get Prime Reading included.

Prices can vary by country. Checked 16 Oct 2026.

What people like

  • Huge store and subscription library
  • Reliable sync between devices
  • Free app, no Kindle device needed

Watch out for

  • Store books are locked to Amazon's apps and devices
  • Adding your own files takes an extra step
  • Kindle Unlimited is a monthly cost on top

Want a reading log that fits how you read? Build your own.

Describe your app idea and Bilt builds it. Free to start, on your phone in minutes.

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Try this idea: “a reading app where I pick a book and a finish date, and it tells me how many pages to read each day”

Questions people ask

Is the Kindle app free?

Yes. The app is free. You pay for books you buy, or for a Kindle Unlimited subscription if you want one.

How much is Kindle Unlimited?

$11.99 a month in the US, with a 30-day free trial.

Can I read EPUB files in the Kindle app?

Yes, but you send them through Amazon's Send to Kindle service first. They don't open directly from your files.

Do I need a Kindle device?

No. The app works on its own on iPhone, iPad and Android.