A Kindle alternative for reading EPUBs without converting them
Kindle wants your EPUB turned into Amazon's format first. ReadHere opens the EPUB just as it is, in your browser, and your highlights stay put. It's free and needs no account.
Kindle is great for books you buy from Amazon. Your own EPUBs are another story. Maybe you got them from a publisher, a bundle, a DRM-free store or Project Gutenberg. To read one on Kindle, you send it through Send to Kindle, and Amazon converts it into its own format.
That mostly works. But you're now reading Amazon's copy of your book, not your book. And highlights on personal documents don't get the same treatment as store books. They're harder to find, sync and export.
Can you read an EPUB without converting it?
Yes. ReadHere is an EPUB reader that runs in your browser. You drag the .epub file in and start reading. No email, no waiting for a conversion, no Amazon account. The file is saved on your device, in your browser.
Highlights that stay where you put them
An EPUB has no fixed pages. When you make the text bigger, every line moves. Weak readers lose track of highlights when that happens.
ReadHere ties each highlight to the words themselves, not to a spot on the screen. Change the font, turn your phone sideways or switch to the dark theme, and your highlights stay on the right words. You get four colors, notes, a sidebar listing every highlight in the book, and a journal for longer thoughts.
Kindle vs ReadHere for your own EPUBs
| Kindle (sideloaded EPUB) | ReadHere | |
|---|---|---|
| Getting the book in | Send to Kindle, then conversion | Drag and drop in the browser |
| File you read | Amazon's converted copy | Your original EPUB |
| Highlights on your own books | Second-class next to store books | Same as any book, 4 colors and notes |
| Sync across devices | Through Amazon | Through your own Google Drive (Pro) |
| Devices | Kindle devices and apps | Any modern browser |
| Account needed | Amazon account | None to start |
Read on your phone, laptop or tablet
Because ReadHere runs in the browser, the same reader works on Android, iPhone, Windows, Mac and Chromebook. With Pro ($10/yr), your books and highlights sync between them through your own Google Drive. See how to read an EPUB on Android without an app.
Keep your Kindle for Kindle books
This isn't about throwing your Kindle away. Amazon books belong on Amazon's reader. Your own EPUBs can live somewhere that treats them as yours.
How to try it
- Open ReadHere in any browser.
- Drag in a DRM-free EPUB.
- Select a passage, pick a color, and add a note if you like.
Related: how to highlight an EPUB without a Kindle and a Kindle alternative for your own PDFs.
Common questions
Can I read EPUBs without converting them for Kindle?
Yes. ReadHere opens the .epub file as it is, in your browser. There is no Send to Kindle step and no conversion.
Is there a Kindle alternative for sideloaded EPUBs that keeps highlights properly?
Yes. In ReadHere, highlights on your own EPUBs work the same as on any other book. They are tied to the text, so they stay in place when you change the font size.
Do I need to give up my Kindle?
No. Keep it for books you buy from Amazon. Use ReadHere for the EPUBs you already own from other stores, publishers or free libraries.
Does it work with DRM-protected books?
No. ReadHere opens DRM-free EPUB and PDF files. Books locked to a store, like Kindle or Apple Books purchases, only open in that store’s app.
Open your EPUB as it is
Drag it in and start reading. No conversion, no email, no account.