The top 4 iPad eBooks apps are Apples’ iBooks, Amazon’s Kindle, Border’s eBooks, and Barnes & Noble. Even though the apps are free, the books are not free so it might help to have a comparison of each one. Here are the pros and cons of the three iPad eBooks apps.
A report released in July shows that 36% of iPad owners will use their device to read ebooks exclusively after trying it out; and they won’t be using their current eReader device any longer. This is a very important number because not only will it grow larger but it means that the iPad could kill the single-purpose eReader market.
It stands to reason that if eBook app developers can deliver something on par with the eReader device itself then why not just use the iPad? Afterall, you can not only read but play a game, check email, and surf the web. It’s a clear win. Here is a comparison of the three iPad eBook apps.
The iBooks app was the original one available for the iPad when it was released. It is Apple’s own app and you use it to buy books available in the iBook Store. You can also load PDF’s into iBooks.
Some things about iBooks that users are not happy with:
- App is very slow
- Tends to crash a lot
- Not enough books
- No Harry Potter Books (yes there are a lot of complaints about this)
Overall the iBooks app is a great eBook app from Apple. It feels like reading a real book. The book prices are what you would expect although there is a much less selection than, say, Amazon’s selection. I suspect the iBookstore, however, will continue to grow.
The kindle app was quite a surprise, but not when you consider the statistics above. This app gives you access to over 600,000 ebooks within the Kindle store, including the latest releases and bestsellers. The really neat thing about it is that it includes Amazon’s Whispersync technology which syncs your last page read and bookmarks across all your devices. The Kindle app does not have a nice virtual bookshelf but it has access to far more books. It also does not yet appear to have in-app purchasing.
Some features users are not happy with:
- Have to look up words outside of the app
- No search integration
- Harder on the eyes than the Kindle appliance
- No PDF import
- No ability to read in layout mode
Borders eBooks is the newest app to arrive on the scene. I think Borders sees the writing on the wall and figures that since their CD sales aren’t so great, their cafe is busier than the bookstore, and because they didn’t create their own eReader device like Barnes & Noble did (Nook), then why not join the party! Borders has had eReading capability for awhile now with their Borders.com online initiative but this is their first official app. I think this app looks great. It gives you some free books to start off with, the graphics are really nice, and there are multiple options to choose how to read the books.
Some features users are not happy with:
- No ability to use Borders gift cards to buy the books
- No ability to highlight and take notes
- Generally has some bugs to work out
- Books are expensive
The Barnes & Noble ebooks app seems to be a favorite of a lot of people and you can see why when there are so many amazing features. In fact of all of the above it has the highest ratings in the iTunes store. They have over 1 million books, free books, newspapers and magazines that you can access. And if you own a Nook, you can read items on both your iPad and your Nook.
In general, I looked at each ebook store and the prices were all about the same. Amazon had the best deals of course due to their larger selection than other two, but for best sellers or new releases the prices hovered around the $9.99 to $16.99 price range. Overall, it really comes down to your personal choice and perhaps you have all three apps. This market is not going to go away so not only will there be more e-reader apps but the volume of books available will grow and perhaps the pricing will change as they all compete.
So what is your favorite reader?
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Kindle app still delivers the most bang for the buck!
Thanks for reading! Yeah I definitely am a fan of the kindle especially with over 600'000 books!!!
I am confused. The B&N reader has been around for a long time, but it's like you have never heard of it. To me, it is the best reader app, but I will have to try the Borders one to be sure. What I really love about the B&N reader is that I get the book on my iPad and on my nook–yes, I am one of those people who will no longer be using my single- purpose device. I gave my nook to my wife and now any book I order she gets and vice-versa as long as I use my same original nook account. What the nook has going for it that will help it survive the iPad assault is the fact that it has a browser and has the capability to run android apps. The browser is in beta and sucks right now, but at least they can expand the functionality if they want. I don't believe the kindle can do that. Anyway, great blog.
Just to follow-up: I added the borders app, and I think it is inferior to all the others because (unless I am missing something) it doesn't have the ability to highlight and take notes like all the others do. If you are a student or just want to make notations when you read, this is a major drawback. It looks beautiful, however.
I don't know of any reason why you would have to pick a reader and stick with it. My primary will be the B&N because I believe it functions are better than the others, but I just bought my first Kindle book because the same book was 5 bucks more from B&N. That is unusual, but you can see how using all the apps and shopping around can be adventageous.
An iPad Kindle negative that I have come across in other reviews is that books are viewable only as single pages; landscape view and therefore dual-page view is not currently an option…
That is exactly what I have seen as well. I need to add that to the list of features that folks don't like. I know I prefer the view that looks like an actual book. Thanks for reading and commenting!!
Eric. Thanks for reading and commenting. I appreciate it! You are correct. I do need to add in the BN app. I was looking at the three newest ones but it's true that the BN app has some very compelling features. I'll add it in and thanks for mentioning it!
Absolutely! And I kind of went in that direction because I feel all these apps will be competing by adding features the others don't have. And what I would love to see is the time when the app can read the book to you as an option! That would be nice.
Mojo, I just went through all four reading apps, and I think that only iBooks has the dual page view. This isn't something I care about myself, however.
A very cool thing that kindle has that the others don't is the ability to see what the most highlighted portions of the book is.
I like and use the Kindle app a lot but probably because I used it more initially as I had a Kindle before my iPad purchase. I have tried the others and mainly use the Kindle and iBook apps. My favorite iBook feature is the sepia page color option. I find it easier on the eyes for prolonged reading sessions.
Thanks Robert!! Yeah the sepia is something that I'm sure the others will follow suit on, but it seems that those who used either a kindle or a nook before the iPad use those versions of the apps more, and iBooks is kind of the new guy on the block!
I added Barnes and Noble! And thanks Eric for your feedback!
I have a Kindle DX and an iPad, and the recent appearance of the B&N iPad App has already shifted more than a dozen book purchases from Amazon to B&N.
This is due solely to the so-far unmatched ability of the B&N iPad App to configure the display for yellow text on a black background. Some of the others can display white text on black, but the white text is too harsh and edgy.
Hopefully, Amazon will add this ability and I can switch back.
Regards, Don
Hi don. Thanks for the comment!! Yeah, I think this one reason so many people are liking the BN app as it seems to be more well thought out as a true eReader
Beware the Borders reader. They sell as ebooks pdf files that cannot be used on the iPad as they are flash based.
Wow! I did not know that. Thank You very much for that feedback. This app sure seems to need some updating to get up to par with the others.
I read 2-3 books per week, and the ibooks and B@N apps are by far the best, my issue is with the price of these books, how can they charge these prices?
Exactly! I'm sorry but I feel they should be way cheaper since there are not the large distribution costs,etc.
How is it that the iPad App still does not have a search function?
Sorry I meant the Kindle iPad App still does not have a search function?
Thanks for clarifying
I agree with you 100%. I emailed them two weeks ago and got back “in the next update” but one never knows for sure. It seems to me that it's a top feature to have! I use it all of the time in iBooks.
Here are a couple of reasons that the IPAD won’t replace the e-book reader.
1. Cost. IPAD is ridiculously priced. You can get a color e-book reader for much less.
2 The IPAD is harder to use than a simple ebook reader.
Scott. Thank you much and your comments are going to help with a big article I’m putting together!!