If you have a Kindle at home and are considering using it almost like a tablet , or if you want to turn your phone or iPad into a Kindle-like reader, you've come to the right place. These days, you're not tied to a single device: you can read on your Kindle, continue on your phone, and finish on your tablet without missing a beat.
The key is understanding how the Kindle app and other reading apps work , what limitations they have compared to an e-ink eReader, and how to adjust your tablet or phone screen for a much more comfortable experience. We'll also look at a good number of websites where you can get free and legal ebooks to start reading without spending a penny.
Kindle as an ecosystem: much more than an eReader
When we think of Kindle, we usually imagine the e-ink reader, but in reality, what matters is the Kindle app ecosystem , which is free and can be installed on almost any device: Android phones, iPhones, tablets, iPads, and even computers.
This app gives you access to one of the largest ebook stores currently available, with millions of titles, magazines, comics, and even some books with integrated Audible narration. The best part is that downloading and using the app is free and ad-free ; you only pay for the books or subscriptions you want to use (like Kindle Unlimited or Prime).
For those who already own a physical Kindle, the app is the perfect complement: everything syncs automatically across devices . Whether you're reading on your Kindle, your phone on the bus, or your tablet on the sofa, you'll always pick up right where you left off, with your notes and highlights intact.
Furthermore, the Kindle ecosystem isn't just focused on the books you buy: you can also try free samples of any title from within the app, explore the Amazon Charts with the most-read books, review recommendations based on your reading history, and take advantage of the books included in Kindle Unlimited or the Amazon Prime subscription.
Install and update the Kindle app on your tablet or mobile device.
The first step to using your Kindle as a tablet, or turning your tablet into a Kindle-like device, is to install the official Kindle app on the device where you want to read. The process is very simple and straightforward.
On Android, simply go to the Google Play Store and search for "Kindle ." The Amazon Kindle app usually appears first; install it and you're done. On iPhone or iPad, the process is the same, but from the Apple App Store . There are no paid versions or anything unusual: you download the official app, which is free.
The first time you open the app, it will ask you to sign in with your Amazon account . If you already use Amazon on that phone or tablet, it will usually detect your account and offer to use it, saving you several steps. If you don't have an account, you can create a new one in a snap.
As soon as you sign in with your account, the app will begin syncing your entire Kindle library : purchased books, books borrowed from the library, Kindle Unlimited titles, samples, etc. You'll see the covers appear, and if you've already read those books on another device, your reading progress and annotations will be preserved.
When you want to add new titles from your mobile phone or tablet, simply tap the "Store" option within the Kindle app or follow a tutorial to download books for the Kindle app . From there, you can access the entire catalog, with sections by genre, new releases, personalized recommendations, and best-seller or most-read rankings.
Advanced reading features in the Kindle app
The beauty of using a Kindle as a tablet (or vice versa, the tablet as a Kindle) is to take advantage of all the reading tools included in the app , which are very similar to those of Amazon eReaders and even expand upon them in some aspects.
While you're reading, you can open the "Aa" menu to adjust almost everything: font type and size, margins, text alignment, and screen orientation (portrait or landscape). You can also switch between classic page turning and continuous scrolling , more like a website.
The app lets you choose different backgrounds and screen colors (light, dark, sepia, and some extra modes depending on the version), and adjust the brightness from within the app itself. The internal brightness can even be lowered below the system minimum on many phones, ideal if you like to read in the dark without the screen being too bright.
If you get lost with so many characters or unfamiliar terms, Kindle has features like X-Ray, a built-in dictionary, Wikipedia search, and translations . Just press and hold a word or name to bring up options for definition, translation, or searching for more information.
Regarding reading productivity, the app shows the percentage read, the actual page number (for many titles), and the estimated time remaining in the chapter or book, calculated based on your reading speed. This gives you a quick idea of whether you have enough time to finish a chapter before going to bed.
You can also underline passages, make notes, and add bookmarks . All of this is neatly organized in the "My Notebook" section, where all your annotations and underlines from that book appear, indicating the title and page number, like an index of key ideas.
Configure reading in the Kindle app for greater convenience.
To get the most out of that tablet you want to use almost like a Kindle, it's worth spending a few minutes adjusting the app settings to your liking. This makes a big difference in reducing eye strain and making long reading sessions much more comfortable.
Within a book, tapping the top of the screen will reveal several options. The "Aa" icon gives you access to the most important settings: font types, sizes, line spacing, and margins . The goal is to find a combination that allows you to read comfortably without straining your eyes or having to flip pages every two seconds.
Another key section is the theme or background settings . There are usually light, sepia, and dark modes; if you read at night or indoors in low light, it's best to choose a dark or sepia mode and lower the brightness. If you read outdoors on a bright day, a combination of a light background and higher brightness usually works better.
From this same settings area, you can also decide whether you want to see your reading progress (percentage, estimated time, pages) or if you prefer a more minimalist experience without so much data on screen. You can experiment with all of this as you go; you don't need to get it perfect the first time.
The app's interface is designed so that anyone, even those who aren't tech-savvy, can personalize their reading experience in just a couple of taps . Don't be afraid to experiment, because if something doesn't suit you, you can always revert to the default settings.
Using your mobile phone or tablet as an eReader: advantages and limitations
Many people wonder whether to use a Fire tablet , an iPad, or a large smartphone instead of a Kindle Paperwhite or similar device. It's important to understand that the experience will never be identical , because a tablet's LCD/OLED screen emits light and is more tiring than e-ink, especially during extended use.
Even so, a mobile phone, an Android tablet, or an iPad can offer a fairly similar experience if the screen and apps are configured correctly. Furthermore, these are devices you probably already have at home or might want to reuse, saving you the expense of buying a new eReader.
With the right reading apps, not only is the lighting adjusted, but the interface is also adapted to the book format , with backgrounds designed for reading, brightness control within the app itself, and page-turning systems that mimic paper quite well.
Another advantage of reading apps is that they usually accept a wide variety of formats : ePub, MOBI, AZW3, PDF, FB2, DOC, TXT, etc. In many cases, you won't even have to convert files, something that can be more tedious with some e-ink eReaders.
However, it's important to keep in mind that a regular tablet won't be as comfortable in extreme situations, such as reading in direct sunlight at the beach or by the pool . In those cases, e-ink displays remain unbeatable thanks to their matte screen and low glare, and many current Kindles are water-resistant and designed specifically for that use. If you're looking for screens that mimic paper, check out the TCL Note A1 Nxtpaper.
General tips for reading better on mobile or tablet
If you're going to use your phone or tablet as your main eReader, there are a few basic settings to protect your eyes and avoid distractions . They're not complicated and they greatly improve your daily reading experience.
To begin with, most reading apps already work to offer the best possible contrast , but if you still experience eye strain, you can manually adjust the device's brightness. As a general rule, the less light there is in the room, the lower the screen brightness should be to avoid glare.
If your phone or tablet has a night mode or reading mode , it's highly recommended to activate it when you're going to read for a while. These modes reduce the blue light emitted by the screen, giving everything warmer tones that are generally easier on the eyes during extended reading sessions.
Some devices allow you to change the screen refresh rate . Although reading isn't a fast-moving activity, some people find a medium refresh rate more comfortable than the highest or lowest. If your device allows it, you can try different settings and choose the one that's least tiring for your eyes.
Don't forget to check the customization options of each reading app . Often, an app that doesn't initially appeal to you improves dramatically when you adjust the font type and size, backgrounds, margins, and page-turn gestures. Spending a few minutes on this can save you a lot of headaches.
Finally, if you're really going to use the device primarily for reading, it might be a good idea to limit notifications or use a "Do Not Disturb" mode while you read. Nothing kills the mood more than a constant barrage of email, message, and social media alerts in the middle of an interesting chapter.
From Kindle to any app: Read Kindle books on Android and other readers
If you already have a large library of Kindle books and want to read them on a reader other than the official app, things get a bit complicated due to DRM and the proprietary formats used by Amazon (AZW, KFX, etc.).
As long as you use the official Kindle app on Android or iOS, you won't have any problems: your books sync automatically , and you can download and read them without further ado. But if you try to open those same files directly in another app, you'll find they're incompatible due to copyright protection.
There are programs that can remove DRM and convert Kindle books to other formats like ePub or PDF, which you could then transfer to your phone or tablet to read in any app. However, it's important to remember that this type of manipulation may violate Amazon's terms of service and the laws of your country, so it's advisable to research the regulations thoroughly before proceeding.
If you want to avoid any hassle, the simplest option is to use the Kindle app or Kindle Cloud Reader (the web version in your browser), which allow you to access your library without any complicated conversions. Kindle Cloud Reader works in many modern browsers and can be a good alternative when you can't or don't want to install the app.
The best apps to turn your mobile phone or tablet into an eReader
Besides the Kindle app, there are a good number of excellent apps for reading on your phone or tablet. Each has its own advantages, compatible formats, and business model, so it's worth trying several until you find the one that suits you best.
The Amazon Kindle app is practically essential if you regularly buy books on Amazon or use Kindle Unlimited. It's heavily focused on Amazon's catalog, though it does allow you to import some external files. In return, it offers complete reading customization, notes, a dictionary, X-Ray, and synchronization across all your devices.
Google Play Books is another very interesting option available on both Android and iOS. It allows you to read books purchased from Google Play and also upload your own PDFs and ePubs . From the app, you can adjust font size, font type, background colors, use dark mode, add bookmarks, and activate the read-aloud function so the device reads the book to you.
If you're in the Apple ecosystem, Apple Books is the native app for iPhone and iPad. It's heavily focused on books from its own store , and while you can import PDFs and some ePubs, it's a bit more limited. In return, it offers a polished interface, synchronization across Apple devices, and interesting features like daily reading goals to motivate you to read for a certain number of minutes each day.
Another powerful alternative is Kobo Books , which replicates the Kobo eReader experience on your phone or tablet. It's linked to the Kobo store, learns your preferences, and recommends books based on your tastes . If you already use a Kobo reader, it's a very convenient app thanks to its synchronization.
Among the standalone apps for Android , Moon+ Reader stands out as one of the most comprehensive on the market. It supports a wide variety of formats, offers numerous visual themes , auto-scrolling modes, the option to use volume buttons to turn pages, and compatibility with various online libraries. There's a free version with ads and a fairly complete Pro version.
For iOS users, KyBook 3 is a very powerful option. It supports most book and comic book formats, offers access to OPDS catalogs and open libraries (including some accessible from the Dark Web), features several themes, automatic page turning, and text-to-speech technology to turn any book into something close to an audiobook.
If you're looking for something simple and ad-free on Android, ReadEra is a gem. It's completely free and ad-free , with support for PDF, EPUB, MOBI, DOC, FB2, TXT, ODT, and other formats. It automatically detects the documents on your device, lets you organize them by author or series, and offers various reading themes.
The Lithium app , also for Android, stands out for its simplicity and its very affordable Pro version . It automatically detects the books in your memory, lets you switch between page-by-page and continuous scrolling views, and offers basic highlighting and note-taking options. Ideal if you want something simple.
Finally, eReader Prestigio offers a visually appealing interface and support for all major formats. It allows you to create a user account to sync your reading across multiple devices , provides access to its own store with thousands of books, and integrates with services like Dropbox and Google Drive so you can easily read books stored in the cloud.
Turning an iPad into a “near Kindle”: key settings
The iPad can be a worthy Kindle replacement if you configure it properly. In fact, some users have switched from using a Kindle to reading almost everything directly on the iPad, because it allows them to have books, notes, apps, and the entire Apple ecosystem all in one device.
One of the most noticeable changes is activating a black and white filter to reduce the impact of the screen's colors. From Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size > Color Filters, you can activate the option and select "Grayscale." This makes the screen feel closer to ink, even though it remains backlit.
Another interesting feature is Guided Access , which locks your iPad to a single app and prevents you from accidentally tapping outside of it. You can activate it in Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access, where you also set a passcode. Then, when you're in the reading app, you can start this mode by triple-tapping the lock button.
Brightness is one of the factors that most influences comfort. In many cases, it's best to disable automatic brightness (in Settings > Display & Brightness or from the accessibility options) and adjust it manually until the screen is comfortable but also doesn't strain your eyes.
The system's dark mode can also help, especially at night. You can set it permanently in Settings > Display & Brightness or activate it from Control Center. Some reading apps also have their own built-in dark mode, and ideally, you should combine them so that the entire iPad interface is optimized for reading.
Finally, if you don't want to be disturbed while you're engrossed in your book, you can set up a specific Focus Mode for reading (or use the classic "Do Not Disturb") in Settings > Focus Modes. This blocks notifications from WhatsApp, email, social media, etc., during your reading time.
Organize your digital library and save battery life
Reading on a tablet or mobile phone isn't just about installing apps: it helps a lot to have your book library well organized so you don't waste time looking for each title you want to read.
A good idea is to save your eBooks in a single folder on your device or in the cloud (iCloud Drive, Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.) and name the files meaningfully: at least with the title and author. This will make it easier for apps that automatically scan folders to catalog them correctly.
Many apps allow you to sort by author, collection, genre, or tag . Taking advantage of these features from the start will save you from future chaos when you have dozens or hundreds of books spread across multiple apps.
If you're going to repurpose an old phone or tablet almost exclusively for reading, consider resetting it to factory settings and then installing only the essential reading apps. Avoid messaging, email, or social media apps that are constantly updating, as these are the main culprits behind battery drain in the background.
The fewer apps running, the smoother the experience and the longer your battery will last . An older device, without too many apps installed, can become a perfectly capable eReader that can last for many hours of reading without needing to be recharged.
Where to download free and legal ebooks
Once you have your Kindle, tablet, or mobile device ready to read, it's time to feed the beast. There are plenty of completely legal websites where you can get free ebooks , either because they are in the public domain or because the authors or publishers decide to give them away.
On Amazon.es you can find many free books by searching "Free Books" in the store. Many are classics, and some current titles are on sale. From the product page, you can send them to your Kindle or the app with a single tap.
The Casa del Libro online store also offers a section of free ebooks. Some are DRM-protected in ePub format and restricted to their ecosystem, but others can be downloaded and imported to your mobile phone, tablet, or e-reader without any problems.
Project Gutenberg is a massive project that compiles over 60.000 public domain books in various languages. It typically offers Kindle and ePub versions, making it very convenient to download classics to any device for free.
The National Library of Spain has a portal with a multitude of digitized documents, from books and prints to photographs and drawings. These resources are free, although sometimes they are not in standard eBook format and you will have to convert them if you want to read them comfortably on your device.
The Miguel de Cervantes Virtual Library also offers a vast collection of digitized works, mostly classics of Spanish literature. Many are in formats more suited to academic research, so you might be interested in converting them to ePub or a similar format to read them in your favorite app.
Platforms like Bubok and Literanda allow authors to self-publish their books. While most are paid services, both offer free titles that let you discover new authors without spending a penny.
If you're into technical and IT topics, OpenLibra compiles eBooks specializing in these subjects. They're all free and cover everything from programming and networking to design and security, so it could be a goldmine if you're interested in that field.
Other websites, such as The eReader Cafe or BookBub , are dedicated to tracking and listing temporary offers of free eBooks , especially from stores like Amazon (often the US version). They're good for checking out from time to time and snagging bargains.
Projects like Open Library and Open Culture offer, respectively, a vast library of copyright-free classics and collections of free works in various formats. Open Library even allows online reading and often provides multiple formats per title; Open Culture links to other platforms where the books are hosted.
Finally, in Spain there is eBiblio , a public e-book lending platform linked to the libraries of each autonomous community. There are also international services like Book Lending and ManyBooks.net , the latter mainly in English, with many classics and titles with review systems to help guide you.
Between the Kindle ecosystem, mobile and tablet reading apps, appropriate screen settings, and the vast number of websites with free books, today it is possible to read virtually anywhere and on any device with an experience very close to that of a dedicated eReader, adapting every detail to your tastes and your eyesight without having to spend a fortune on new hardware.
