The best reading apps for when you’re on the go

If you're packing or boarding a long flight, don't forget your next book. The right reading app will keep your next reads within reach from anywhere. We rounded up the best apps for travel or busy schedules including eBooks, audiobooks, comics, kids' titles, and book tracking, plus the tech that helps each one shine. Every app below is free to download on iOS, Android, or both, so your only decision is which book to read first.

Ever heard that the best things in life are free? Libby proves it. Libby connects your phone to your local library, and all you need is a library card to browse the digital shelves. Here you can borrow eBooks and audiobooks without a subscription or late fees and download them for offline reading.

In the U.S. you can send most of your Libby borrowed books straight to the Kindle app. Then, adjust the font, text size, and lighting until every page feels right. These comfort settings work even better on the bigger screen of one of the latest tablets, making it easier on your eyes when you want one more chapter.

The Kindle app packs the world's biggest bookstore into the palm of your hand. The Kindle store makes it easy to find and buy eBooks in a couple of taps. As you read, your place in your book, notes, and highlighting sync automatically across devices.

The customization options are great, too, letting you change the font, spacing, and background color until reading eBooks feels just as relaxing as a physical book.

For the comics fans, the Kindle app also lets you read manga and graphic novels, which look great on a Samsung Galaxy smartphone, with a big screen that stays crisp and clear even in bright sunlight.

Sometimes you want a story read aloud while your eyes stay on the road, the trail, or elsewhere. Audible was made for exactly that experience. Stream or download thousands of audiobooks, from thrillers to language learning, and listen at whatever pace you enjoy. The standard subscription includes one audiobook a month plus a rotating listening library, while Premium Plus adds a monthly credit so you can keep any title you love.

Slip on a set of wireless earbuds, and a workout, commute, or red-eye flight becomes a private reading room.

Sometimes you want a story read aloud while your eyes stay on the road, the trail, or elsewhere. Audible was made for exactly that experience. Stream or download thousands of audiobooks, from thrillers to language learning, and listen at whatever pace you enjoy. The standard subscription includes one audiobook a month plus a rotating listening library, while Premium Plus adds a monthly credit so you can keep any title you love.

Slip on a set of wireless earbuds, and a workout, commute, or red-eye flight becomes a private reading room.

Are you raising a reader? Epic! is built for children 12 and under, and it offers well over 40,000 books, audiobooks, and learning videos in one kid-friendly app. Daily picks match your child's age and reading level, and progress tracking lets the whole family celebrate every finished chapter.

It's a fun, user-friendly way to help your children fall in love with reading books from an early age. Hand them an Apple iPad, just right for smaller hands and big stories, and watch the long car rides fly by.

It you’re carrying an iPhone you're one tap away from a built-in bookstore. Apple Books features thousands of titles. You can buy eBooks and audiobooks individually, and plenty of free classics are there to browse. Your reading progress syncs through iCloud, so your iPhone and iPad always agree about which page you're on.

The Apple Books design stays clean and clear, making it easy to sink into a story while you’re en route and pick it up again once you arrive. Pair it with the right Apple accessories, and reading or listening stays easy from anywhere.

Android readers, this one's for you. Google Play Books puts more than 10 million eBooks and audiobooks right at your fingertips, with support for the files you already own. Upload your own EPUB or PDF files to follow you across devices, with bookmarks, notes, and highlighting included. The experience stays simple whether you read on your phone or a Samsung Galaxy Tab that makes every story feel larger than life.

After taking a break, the app's built-in AI companion, Book Insights, can catch you up on what you've read so far or even clarify a confusing passage, so there's no need to keep flipping back through old chapters.

"What should I read next?" is the eternal, and these two bookish apps help answer it. Goodreads is the world's largest community for book lovers. Track your progress on a virtual bookshelf, create custom shelves, write book reviews, join yearly reading challenges, comment on friends’ posts, and discover new books through reviews from other readers. The StoryGraph takes the experience further, with quarter-star ratings, mood-based stats, and tailored recommendations.

Neither is technically a reading app, but no reading life feels complete without one. These reading trackers are book clubs that never close, no membership fee required.

With the above apps either work, as long as the app is compatible. It comes down to preference. Phones are ultra-portable, and a phone with a larger screen gives you more room to read without an extra device to carry. However, tablets do offer the biggest screens. That makes a real difference for comics, kids' books, or long stretches of reading, since the comfort features in apps like Libby and Apple Books shine even brighter on the larger screen.

They serve different readers. Libby is best for borrowing eBooks from your library for free, though popular books can have wait times. The Kindle app is best for owning, since purchases stay in your library and sync everywhere.

The StoryGraph is the strongest alternative, with more options for ratings and smart recommendations, while Goodreads leads in community. Choose The StoryGraph for data-driven tracking, Goodreads for connecting with friends, or happily run both apps side by side.

Whether you read eBooks, audiobooks, comics, or bedtime stories with the kids, the best apps turn downtime into story time. Check out our top deals to find the right device that has the features you need to read. Or stop by your neighborhood Cellular Sales store and let our team match you with tech that fits your lifestyle. We'll help you build a reading setup that’s as ready to take on anything, anywhere.