iPhone and iPad
One App Store app for your iPhone and iPad, with a reading layout adapted to iPad.
App StoreiPhone, iPad, Android phones and tablets
Listen to Kindle on Your Phone or Tablet
Connect the reading platforms you use. Bring their bookshelves and article lists into CastReader, then read aloud or explore a difficult passage with Read & Explain.
- Connect bookshelves, reading lists and article sources
- iPhone, iPad, Android phones and tablets · Available now
- Synced highlighting keeps your eyes and ears on the same line
- Auto-scroll, preloading, and resume progress make long sessions feel smooth
- Background and lock-screen playback for commutes, walks, and chores
Real mobile app demo: bookshelf to book detail to Read Aloud with TTS, highlighting, auto-scroll, and mobile playback controls.
Your reading, connected
Your books and articles, together.
Connect the reading platforms you use. Bring their bookshelves and article lists into CastReader, then read aloud or explore a difficult passage with Read & Explain.
Books & libraries
- Kindle
- WeRead
- Google Play Books
- LibbyiOS preview
- Kobo
- EverandiOS preview
- O’Reilly
- Scribble HubiOS preview
Articles & subscriptions
- Medium
- Substack
- The Atlantic
- The New Yorker
New integrations roll out by app version and region. iOS previews are still in testing; see platform details for device support.
Connect a source. Come back to your reading.
Choose a source
Open Reading sources in the app and choose a book or article platform.
Connect and sync
Follow the platform’s sign-in or library-card flow, then sync its shelf, reading list or article feed.
Open, listen, understand
Choose content you can access. Follow the original text with highlighting or use Read & Explain for a difficult passage.
Platform details & availability
Kindle
iOS · iPadOS · Android
Connect your Amazon account, choose the Kindle region you use, and sync your library.
WeRead
iOS · iPadOS · Android
Connect your WeRead account and bring the books on your shelf into CastReader.
Google Play Books
iOS · iPadOS · Android
Sign in to Google Play Books and sync the books available in your account.
Medium
iOS · iPadOS · Android
Sync article lists and open the text available to your account.
Substack
iOS · iPadOS · Android
Sync article lists and open the text available to your account.
Libby
iOS preview
Android: not yet available
Connect your library card and sync eligible ebook loans.
Kobo
iOS · iPadOS · Android
Connect your Kobo account and open books from your synced Kobo library.
Everand
iOS preview
Android: not yet available
Sync saved ebooks; the iOS preview has been tested with preview pages. Full-book access depends on your subscription.
The Atlantic
iOS · iPadOS · Android
Sync the public article feed; the text you can read depends on your account access.
The New Yorker
iOS · iPadOS · Android
Sync the public article feed; the text you can read depends on your account access.
O’Reilly
iOS · iPadOS · Android
Sync books from your O’Reilly reading history. Open a book on O’Reilly first if your history is empty.
Scribble Hub
iOS preview · Android
Sync your reading list and open chapters from your shelf.
Use your own platform account or library card. Sync brings a source’s shelf or article list into this app; it does not promise shared libraries, sign-ins or progress across devices. Third-party subscriptions and reading access remain with the source.
More room for the words that matter
CastReader is available on iPad and Android tablets, with layouts adapted for a larger reading screen.
Available now
Android phones and tablets
Install the Android app from Google Play on your phone or tablet. Tablet layouts give your reading more room.
Google Play
MacBook · CastReader for MacAvailable now · App Store
iPhone · Read aloud
22s
real phone demo
App Store + Google Play
iPhone and Android
3 depths
overview, standard, deep
6 scenarios
books, papers, study, work
Android app now on Google Play
One Kindle listening flow across iPhone and Android
CastReader is no longer a browser-only workaround. The mobile app now supports smoother Kindle Read Aloud and Explain sessions with page preloading, better highlights, and native phone playback controls.
Official mobile stores
Install CastReader from the App Store on iPhone or from Google Play on Android, then keep the same reading habit on the phone you actually carry.
Smoother Kindle Read Aloud
Recent Android updates focus on smoother page turns, preloading, replay, multilingual text, and better highlights during Kindle-style listening.
Listen and explain
When a chapter gets dense, switch from read aloud into AI explanation for books, papers, reports, contracts, study notes, and technical material.
From a reading source to your next chapter or article
Open Reading sources from the app home, connect a platform and sync the shelves or article lists you can access.
1
Choose a platform
Choose a book or article platform in Reading sources. Availability follows your app version.
2
Sign in and sync
Follow the platform’s sign-in or library-card flow, then sync its shelf, reading list or article feed.
3
Open a book or article
Choose content from the synced list that your account can read.
4
Read or explain
Tap Read Aloud to hear the original text, or use Read & Explain to work through a difficult passage.
5
Return to your sources
Return to Reading sources to refresh a shelf or article list and continue reading.
Built for long-form reading on phones and tablets
The page is not just converted into audio. It stays readable, trackable, and easy to resume.
Mobile app playback
Open books from your connected shelves and read along on iPhone, iPad, or Android.
Synced highlighting
Words and passages stay visually connected to the voice so you can read along, skim back, or refocus quickly.
Auto-scroll
The reading view moves with the audio instead of forcing you to keep nudging the page by hand.
Background and lock screen
Keep listening while the phone is locked or while you move between apps during a commute or walk.
Resume progress
Return to the same book and continue from where the listening session left off.
AI explanations
Switch from read aloud to guided explanation when a chapter, argument, term, or character relationship needs unpacking.
AI Explain, not just TTS
When a passage gets hard, CastReader can explain it
Plain text-to-speech pronounces the words. CastReader keeps the original text visible and helps you understand dense, foreign, technical, or literary passages as you listen.
Explain on the original page
Keep the book, PDF, or article in view while CastReader calls out the key idea instead of moving you into a detached audio file.
Tutor-style summaries
Use Overview, Standard, or Deep explanation depth for characters, arguments, formulas, terms, and difficult paragraphs.
Listen first, dig deeper when needed
Stay in read-aloud mode for easy sections, then ask for an explanation only when the text slows you down.
Why Not Just Kindle, Audible, or Plain TTS?
Option
What breaks
What CastReader adds
Kindle's native reading
Great for visual reading, but read-aloud availability depends on device, language, book support, and the exact Kindle surface.
A phone-first listening flow with highlights, scrolling, progress, and AI explanation layered around the reading session.
Audible
Only helps when a separate audiobook edition exists and you have access to it. It also separates listening from the page you were reading.
Lets your existing reading queue become listenable while preserving the original page context.
Plain text-to-speech
Reads text aloud but usually loses layout, progress, highlight synchronization, and long-session controls.
Combines TTS with synced highlighting, auto-scroll, mobile playback, resume progress, and AI explanations for hard passages.
Six Reading Scenarios
Kindle is the main doorway. The same mobile read-aloud and explanation system also handles documents, papers, and serious reading workflows.
Papers and Academic Reading
Listen to abstracts, methods, findings, and citations while asking CastReader to explain dense passages.
Inputs: URL, PDF, DOCX, EPUB, image, text
Depths: Overview for skim, Standard for section-level understanding, Deep for methods and claims
Explore this reading workflowBooks and Long-form
Turn novels, nonfiction, and saved long reads into sessions you can read, listen to, and resume.
Inputs: URL, PDF, DOCX, EPUB, image, text
Depths: Overview summary, Standard chapter explanation, Deep themes and character analysis
Explore this reading workflowReports and Business
Listen through reports, memos, market notes, and strategy docs while preserving the document structure.
Inputs: URL, PDF, DOCX, EPUB, image, text
Depths: Overview for decisions, Standard for key points, Deep for risks and assumptions
Explore this reading workflowContracts and Legal
Use audio plus explanation to slow down around obligations, exceptions, definitions, and risky clauses.
Inputs: URL, PDF, DOCX, EPUB, image, text
Depths: Overview for parties and terms, Standard for clause meaning, Deep for issue spotting
Explore this reading workflowStudy and Exam Prep
Convert readings into review sessions with listening, highlights, and explanation depth that matches your study goal.
Inputs: URL, PDF, DOCX, EPUB, image, text
Depths: Overview flash review, Standard concept pass, Deep step-by-step explanation
Explore this reading workflowManuals and Technical Docs
Listen to docs, specs, and manuals while preserving headings, instructions, and technical terms.
Inputs: URL, PDF, DOCX, EPUB, image, text
Depths: Overview map, Standard procedure explanation, Deep troubleshooting walkthrough
Explore this reading workflowVideo Transcript and Indexable Summary
The demo starts in the CastReader mobile app with a bookshelf. A reader opens a book from the library instead of searching for a separate audiobook edition.
The book detail screen leads into a Read Aloud action. CastReader starts TTS on the phone, keeps the original reading context visible, and highlights text as the voice reads.
During playback, the page advances with auto-scroll so the active passage stays in view. The experience is designed for long sessions where you may switch between reading and listening.
When you leave the app or lock the phone, playback can continue in the background. CastReader remembers progress so you can resume the book later without hunting for the paragraph again.
CastReader App FAQ
Which book and article platforms can I connect on iOS and Android?
Kindle, WeRead, Google Play Books, Kobo, O’Reilly, Substack, Medium, The Atlantic, and The New Yorker have iOS and Android adapters. Scribble Hub is supported on Android and is in iOS preview. Libby and Everand are in iOS preview; Android support is not yet available. Availability varies by app version and region. See the platform details above for the shelves, reading lists, or feeds each source can sync.
Where do I connect a source or refresh its books and articles?
Open Reading sources from the CastReader app home, choose a platform, and follow its sign-in or library-card flow. Sync the shelf, reading list, or article feed, then open content your account can access. Return to Reading sources to refresh or disconnect the source.
Does connecting a source include a subscription or its full catalog?
No. Use your own platform account or library card with access to the content you want to read. Purchases, subscriptions, loans, and access restrictions still apply. O’Reilly syncs reading history; The Atlantic and The New Yorker sync public article feeds, with article text subject to your access. Everand’s iOS preview has been tested with preview pages; full-book access depends on your subscription.
Can I listen to Kindle books on iPhone?
Yes. CastReader is designed for phone listening, including iPhone. Open your Kindle reading flow in CastReader, choose a book, tap Read Aloud, and listen with synced highlighting, auto-scroll, background playback, and resume progress.
Is CastReader available on Android?
Yes. Download CastReader for Android on Google Play to use Kindle read aloud, synced highlighting, background playback, and AI explanations on Android.
Can I listen to Kindle books on Android?
Yes. Download CastReader for Android on Google Play, open your reading flow, and use Read Aloud with highlighting, auto-scroll, background playback, and AI explanations.
Can Kindle books be read aloud?
Kindle read-aloud support varies by device, app, language, and book. CastReader provides a mobile read-aloud layer focused on listening to books from your library with highlighting and progress controls.
Does it work with my Kindle library?
CastReader is built around your existing reading library workflow. The goal is to let books you already keep in your Kindle shelf become listenable on your phone without starting from a separate audiobook catalog.
Is CastReader affiliated with Amazon or Kindle?
No. CastReader is not affiliated with Amazon or Kindle. Amazon and Kindle are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.
Can it play in the background?
Yes. The mobile experience is designed for background and lock-screen listening so you can continue during commutes, walks, chores, or study breaks.
Does it highlight words while reading?
Yes. CastReader keeps audio and text synchronized with visible highlighting and auto-scroll so you can follow the original reading position.
Can it explain books and papers?
Yes. CastReader supports Overview, Standard, and Deep explanation modes for books, papers, reports, contracts, study materials, manuals, and technical docs.
Does it replace Audible?
No. Audible is professionally produced audiobook content. CastReader is for listening to reading material you already have, while keeping the original text, highlights, scrolling, and explanation tools available.
Does CastReader support iPad and Android tablets?
Yes. The iPad and Android tablet apps are available now. Use the App Store for iPhone and iPad, or Google Play for Android phones and tablets. Check the store listing for current system requirements.
Internal Reading Paths
Kindle Cloud Reader troubleshooting
Fix cases where Kindle Cloud Reader is not reading aloud.
EPUB to audio reader
Read EPUB books aloud with mobile-friendly listening.
PDF to audiobook
Turn PDFs into structured audio sessions.
Read with AI
Listen, summarize, and explain long documents.
Text to speech for students
Study with TTS, highlighting, and explanation.
Listen to Claude
Hear AI responses aloud with inline controls.
Reading voice library
Preview the real English and Mandarin reading voices before choosing one in the app.
Connect your bookshelf. Start your next chapter.
Download CastReader, connect a supported reading account, and open a book from your shelf for read aloud with highlighting and AI explanations.
CastReader is not affiliated with Amazon or Kindle. Amazon and Kindle are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.
Listening to Kindle Books on a Phone: What Amazon Gives You, and What It Does Not
The question behind almost every search that lands here is narrower than it looks. It is not "can my phone read books aloud" — it is "I already bought this book on Kindle, why can I not just listen to it." That gap is real, and it is worth understanding before installing anything.
Amazon does sell narration, but separately. Audible audiobooks are their own purchase, recorded by a human narrator, and a Kindle ebook does not include one. For titles that offer Whispersync for Voice you can add the narration at a reduced price after buying the ebook — reduced, not free, and only for the subset of books where a recording exists. A backlist title or a technical manual usually has no audio edition at all.
Older Kindle hardware did have built-in text-to-speech; the Kindle 2, DX and Keyboard could read a book aloud in a synthetic voice. That feature did not carry forward to the modern lineup, which is why people who remember it go looking for where it went.
What the Kindle apps offer today on iPhone and Android is accessibility support: VoiceOver on iOS, TalkBack on Android. These do read book text aloud and they are free, so they are worth trying first. The catch is what they are built for — a screen reader narrates the interface as you move through it, announcing buttons and controls along with the prose, and it changes how the whole phone responds to touch. Excellent as an accessibility tool; heavy if you only want to hear a chapter while you cook.
CastReader adds a reading-focused layer instead: a bookshelf you can play from, natural voices, highlighting that follows the audio, and playback that keeps going from the lock screen with your position saved. Speed runs 0.75×–3× (above 1.25× is a Pro feature). It is available for iPhone and iPad on the App Store and for Android on Google Play.
Two boundaries worth stating plainly. CastReader is not affiliated with Amazon or Kindle, and it does not bypass DRM, paywalls, or a platform's access rules — where a book is protected, the protection stands. Amazon and Kindle are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.
A note on expectations if you are coming from audiobooks: synthetic narration and a human recording are not the same experience. For a novel you want to savour, a good Audible recording is better and worth the money. For getting through a business book, a textbook chapter, or the pile of titles you bought and never opened, listening at 1.5× while walking is the difference between reading it and not.
Read, listen and understand — on your phone or tablet
CastReader is available on iPad and Android tablets, with layouts adapted for a larger reading screen.
Use CastReader on every reading surface
Start with the mobile app for Kindle listening, then keep Chrome, iOS, and Android connected for PDFs, web pages, docs, long-form reading, and AI explanations.
Browser extensions
Listen to supported articles, Kindle books and AI conversations right on the page.
Your first read in Safari
Phone and tablet apps
iPhone, iPad, Android phones and tablets
Explore the appDesktop apps
CastReader for Mac is available on the App Store for macOS 14.6 or later. The Safari extension is a separate download. CastReader for Windows is available on Microsoft Store.
CastReader for Mac
Mac App StoreAvailable now · macOS 14.6+
CastReader for Windows
Microsoft StoreAvailable now
Online reader
Paste text and listen in your browser. No installation needed.
Open the reader