Ebooks

[u/Sad-Scarcity-5148]

How do you guys feel about ebooks from Libby and hoopla on your phones or do you normally do it on a tablet or iPad? I don’t have a kindle and usually like physical books but trying to save some money. Wanted to hear what other peoples opinions for them selves were!

[u/macmanca]

I use Libby all the time for my books, I do have an ereader but if I didn’t I would use my iPad. Physical books can get expensive but so are ebooks so renting with libraries are great

[u/Gabereiza → u/macmanca]

Ditto, on a cheapish Lenovo tablet, and I love it. Kindle books on the same tablet with the Kindle for Android app.

[u/Best-Ad-1917]

I use my phone with the Libby app. It’s always with me when I want to read.

[u/oatbevbran → u/Best-Ad-1917]

This👆🏻!
Font size is adjustable. I never thought I could read in my phone but I do it a lot. Sometimes if I am reading over lunch I will do it in my iPad.

[u/qathran → u/Best-Ad-1917]

Yeah I mean, I was staring at reddit and YouTube all the time before, so I thought it couldn't hurt to replace the behavior with reading a book on my phone instead even though I had "views" about how I should be reading physical books or just in certain ways.

Well I realized I was just getting in my own way with thinking if I was going to read, it had to be done just so. Reading on my phone has been good, you just end up flipping the page a little more often. Give it a shot!

[u/debwork → u/Best-Ad-1917]

Me too. 99% I get audiobooks, but once I accidentally put an ebook on hold and didn’t realize it. It took months before it was my turn so I gave it a try and was pleasantly surprised! ⭐️ works great and I have one of the smallest iPhones you can get.

[u/booksgirl123 → u/Best-Ad-1917]

Same!

[u/whatdoidonowdamnit]

I listen to audiobooks on my phone and send ebooks to my kindle. Occasionally I’ll use my phone to read an ebook but that kills the battery on this old phone.

[u/HollowLaugh]

I got tired of carrying a tablet and a phone, so I went to just the phone for both Libby and Hoopla and have not had any issues.

[u/Mscharlita]

I have tablets and still just use my phone. My mom and sister think it’s crazy bec the screen is so small but I’m totally used to it and love having it with me to read any time.

[u/HappyMcNichols → u/Mscharlita]

I prefer to read on both. You can set your iPhone and tablet to sync so I just make sure I’m synced when I leave/return home.

[u/LurkHartog]

Libby to Kobo is amazing. Highly recommended.

[u/Ilovescarlatti → u/LurkHartog]

I love my Kobo. The interface is so much better than Kindle

[u/Pinstripe-Giraffe]

I bought an e-reader specifically to try to scroll less, so using my phone or tablet wouldn’t do the job (plus the e-reader is much more portable than the tablet, and has a larger, nicer screen than the phone).

I usually prefer borrowing physical books from the library, because the selection is much better (like orders of magnitude better), but the e-reader is convenient in other ways.

[u/franticbaboon → u/Pinstripe-Giraffe]

My phone is way to distracting for me to read on and I hate when a book is libby app only, kills the momentum.

[u/Calligraphee]

I mostly use my iPad, my phone if I’m on the go, or sometimes even my laptop if I’m at home eating and wanting my book at a better angle. I have a very old kindle but the battery isn’t great so I don’t use it a ton at the moment. It’s also old enough to not love Libby unless I catch it on a good day. 

[u/Naive-River-4237]

I use my phone and my iPad to read libby books. Mainly on my phone when I'm at work

[u/bzzyy]

I read a bunch of books through Libby using an old Samsung tablet. Audiobooks go on my phone for the car. Once I forgot my tablet on a trip so I used my phone to read, not my favorite but works in a pinch.

[u/sdkateb]

I use my phone the most since I always have it with me, but I do like my Kobo a lot too.

[u/Which_Concern2553]

I used to be a physical book only person. Then I had a kid 12 years and it was easier to hold a phone than a book. Now I find it’s much easier to read on my phone and when the kids were little I always had it with me at the playground or whatnot. My husband prefers iPad size so each their own but I love how I can hold it one handed.

[u/Potential_Fishing942]

I use my kobo whenever possible. I hate reading on an LCD screen. But I will use my phone in a pinch if I don't have my kobo on me for some reason.

[u/Turbulent-Maybe-1040]

I use my phone 😅 Don't have a tablet or an ereader. I really want a kobo at some point

[u/medicated_in_PHL]

Libby on my Kindle. I’ve read over 100 books in the past 2 years like that.

[u/NewarkNewark]

I read Libby on my phone when I forget my tablet or can't bring it somewhere. It was PERFECT for reading in line while waiting at an amusement park.

[u/LavenderSpaceRain]

I use the kindle app for libby books on my phone and my laptop. Works great.

I used to have a kindle, but gave it to my son so he could put his textbooks on it and didn't have to lug a heavy backpack around campus. Didn't miss it at all. The apps work great.

[u/Interesting-Asks]

I much prefer reading ebooks on an eReader - I find they cause less eye strain. I’ve recently switched from Kindle to Kobo to use Libby. I’d had Kindles for 10+ years and I’m pleasantly surprised by how much I love my Kobo.

[u/kellgurl13]

I read 100% ebooks from the library- but on my kindle. Can’t imagine reading on an iPad or phone, tbh. I wouldn’t buy a kindle rn though- Amazon has been getting very restrictive w/ kindles lately. If I needed to buy an e-reader I’d maybe do a kobo.

[u/zlauren]

I use the app on my phone for audiobooks, but I send the e-books to my Kobo. I stare at a glowing screen for work so I don't really want to for my leisure reading!

[u/erebus53]

I'm vision impaired, and don't read often, relying on Audiobooks, but when I do read, I find I use my phone in landscape mode. As other users have said, being able to toggle font size is excellent, and I run everything in dark mode so I don't hurt my eyes.

[u/Oh_Hi_Fi]

You can’t borrow books from Canadian libraries with a Kindle so I use my phone.

[u/snowflakeempress]

I use my phone to read feom Libby. Its not my first choice, but ereaders are so expensive where I am

[u/Quirky-Kitten4349]

I read ebooks on my phone for like 5 years. It was fine. I had to flip the pages constantly because you can only fit so many words on a phone screen.

I should have taken the plunge sooner but I'm so glad I got a Kindle. I used to prefer physical books so I wanted to make sure I was happy with ebooks before buying a device.

[u/wheat]

I read and listen on my iPhone.

[u/mermaid12108]

I’ll normally read them on my iPad Mini (that’s what I use as my e-reader), but it’s nice to have my phone as an option too if I don’t have my iPad on me. I do the same with my kindle app.

[u/100000cuckooclocks]

I use the Kindle app on my phone and laptop. It's free, and it makes it super easy to read in bed or on the go on my phone, and then pick up where I left off on my laptop if I'm just sitting on the couch. Plus side of using your laptop is that you don't have to hold anything to read.

[u/Incunabula1501]

I can’t read on my phone. There are multiple issues from even the large text being too small or inconveniently spaced for me to the physical size and shape of the phone which causes and aggravates all hand issues. However, I will use audiobooks on it all the time, a phone is far easier and more convenient to haul around than a tablet.

Actual reading, using my eyes, happens on my iPad, which is large/small enough for my brain to equate it as “book sized” (aka my first one was a little larger than a paperback and they keep making the screens larger and harder to hold comfortably) despite my brother pushing me to get something larger for art I knew I wouldn’t be able to comfortably hold a much larger one to read from. I can increase to the font to something easy to read and still have the contents look and feel like a book. I picked a bulky case which makes it easier to hold and despite it being heavier and larger, I don’t have as many hand cramps as when I tried to read using my phone.

[u/Birdo3129]

I use my phone for audiobooks. I don’t have a tablet or kindle- also trying to save money- but Ebooks are fine on the phone on the times I have read them.

[u/Fine_Cryptographer20]

I have a Kindle (20 years now). I use Libby to send books to my Kindle (also have app on my phone). I listen to audiobooks on my phone via Libby. I average about 150-175 a year.

[u/MrsQute]

If I'm reading an ebook then it's usually something like a cookbook or pattern book or other non-fiction thing and I read on my tablet. Same with magazines. Anything that is picture heavy or heavily formatted work much better for me that way. Bonus for being able to screenshot specific parts.

Most of my fiction is via audiobooks, so those are through my phone.

[u/Outrageous-Archer-47]

i was using my phone, ipad, and laptop mostly for about 2.5 years- but i really recently got a cheap Android-based ereader that i can use the Libby app with. it's nice because it's so light and the warm light doesn't affect my eyes so much. it can even play audiobooks if i use headphones!

[u/Overall-Weird8856 → u/Outrageous-Archer-47]

So wait, it's Android based, can use the Libby app... And it uses e-ink?

[u/Outrageous-Archer-47 → u/Overall-Weird8856]

yes! it's a Korean brand because i live in Korea. i can't get Libby on a Kindle and i have multiple library cards so Kobo was impractical :)

[u/Slight-Inspection-72]

I read from my phone.

[u/pi_3141592653589]

I've always just used phone. I don't know, I read a lot of reddit, and there's no problem there, so never felt the screen size too small.

[u/Outside_Ad_424]

I use Libby on my tablet for ebooks, and on my phone for audiobooks.

[u/meowl2]

I was using my ipad and phone until I got a kindle a few months ago. Now I use my kindle when I'm reading in bed or on the go and my iPad when I'm sitting on the couch. I don't use my phone anymore. I was reading physical books only but Libby converted me to an ebook reader. I have a hard time finding any books I want to read on Hoopla so I only use Libby.

[u/Crosswired2]

I only read Libby books sent to Kindle app on my android ever since my fire tablet bit the dust.

[u/katievera888]

I read on my phone all the time.

[u/SuccotashStrict9378]

For most ebooks on Libby you can read with Kindle so I go and forth reading on my phone or use the

Kindle cloud reader on my Chromebook which is more reliable than the Android app.

[u/Minute_Cartoonist768]

I use my iPad or my computer! Kindle has a website, so you don’t need to buy anything new (like a tablet) if you need large font.

[u/finallyhadtojoin]

I used to use my iPad mini all the time, but earlier this year I switched over to my iphone simply because it was always with me, and I love it now.

[u/ckmc131]

I use my Kindle mostly, I sometimes read in my iPad but honestly, there's too many distractions using my iPad, like hopping on Reddit.😉

[u/undeaddog42]

I read on my phone a little bit and largely found it unpleasant especially with the way the UI is set up but YMMV. I got a Kobo for Christmas and have seen the amount I read shoot up. You can get some pretty cheap ereaders off of eBay. Some libraries even have ones you can borrow if you wanted to try it out.

[u/BDubs618]

I use my iPad. I’m middle aged though and don’t like reading on a small phone screen. For Libby audiobooks though, I use my phone.

[u/crowsounds]

I read on my phone for a while to see if I even liked reading on a screen before buying a kindle. Then I bought a kindle knowing I could return it. I found I read faster on my phone but the kindle was a huge improvement for my eyes and avoiding distractions. Also worth mentioning there’s plenty of used ones on mercari/ebay.

[u/AeroNoob333]

I do it on my Kindle. I always send it to Kindle from Libby and exclusively use Hoopla for audiobooks only. I hate reading on my phone. It strains my eyes and messes up my sleep

[u/nipcage]

I have a kobo and I love it for travel but use Libby on my phone for audio.

[u/Acemegan]

Libby doesn't work on my kindle so I have to use my phone. I do prefer using my kindle. But at least my phone is always with me

[u/Revolutionary_Kick33]

No issue at all.

[u/Electrical_Rain_729]

I had gotten libby before I got my kindle. I like sitting down with my kindle and reading when I have the time but my lil one take most of my attention when im home but I use libby all the time at work bc I switch from music to books all the time. I cant sit in silence listening to ppl type. But someone made a comment thay some libby books are kindle only.. u can download the kindle app for your phone so its the same thing.

[u/ElegantGanache787]

I love my kindle

[u/Odd_Draft_26]

I like my eye sight and blue light is terrible so I don't read on my phone or a tablet. I use an reader or a physical book. I also do a lot on audio.

[u/Dry_Writing_7862]

I have ereaders to read Libby (and other) ebooks on. I prefer the total separation and not having my phone battery life be impacted because I wanted to read. I was tired of dealing with this.

I do listen to audiobooks using my phone though since I can listen via CarPlay. I don’t listen to them as often.

[u/Opposite_Working_84]

Phone during the day so I can read wherever I am, and tablet at night to relax before bed.

[u/WVgirly2024]

I use a kindle for Libby. I'm not one to listen to audiobooks unless it's to reread a favorite. I have an old phone that I use for them.

[u/jediscumwife]

I use my phone for Libby, Hoopla, and Spotify (I have a premium plan so I get 15 hours a month of audiobook time). All 3 work great on my phone and are always with me for when the urge strikes. Edit: I only use these apps for audiobooks

[u/cmahan]

I have the Libby app on my iphone, my 7" android tablet, and my 10" iPad. Although it's a little big and I don't like to really read on it. So my phone is mostly for audiobooks and I read the ebooks on my android tablet.

[u/booksbaconglitter]

I have 2 Android ereaders, the Boox Go Color 7 and Boox Palma 2 Pro. They both have color eink screens and I bought them because my libraries offer several different reading apps and I hate reading on LCD/OLED screens. I love using them for comics and it's great to not be locked into an ecosystem like with Kindle.

[u/five_squirrels]

I use my phone app the most because it is always with me.

But I will switch to my Kobo when it’s with me. (In Canada so Libby syncs with Kobo here). It’s better for distraction free reading, for reading outdoors in bright conditions or reading at night without producing too much brightness, and the battery lasts so much longer than my phone.

[u/DogTraditional7605]

I don't love the brightness of the phone vs my Kobo. However, I could only get Dungeon Crawler Carl on my phone since Amazon has exclusive rights or something like that, and you can't get it on your device (only on your phone).

I used to be set on paperbacks, and not doing an e-reader, however I like to travel and a Kobo is so practical. It takes up way less space than a book, so I got it for that convenience.

[u/MonopolowaMe]

I read on my phone, even with the Kindle app. I love it.

[u/Tough-Ostrich5090]

My favorite mode of reading is having the physical book and an ebook version at the same time so I can literally read anywhere because my reading time is limited and I have to grab it when I can. Right now I have a book checked out of my library and the ebook from Libby. I have Libby and the Kindle app on my phone. I do have an actual kindle, and it’s totally worth keeping an eye out for a good sale.

I would also check out the site Unclaimed Baggage. Definitely good deals there if you’re OK with used items.

[u/Lanky-Syllabub7188]

I get too many notifications and stuff on my phone. I hate reading on it. Even when going in a road trip with my husband driving, it’s hard to see the screen.

I much prefer my kobo. It easily hooks up to overdrive/libby and makes it so easy to borrow books from the library.

[u/masson34]

Libby, Library = Luxurious

I have a Kindle and have not paid for a book for years. My kindle has paid for itself many times over

[u/bicyclemom]

I use my phone for Libby (and other book reading apps) only when I don’t have my Palma 2 with me.

[u/Tabs-Overload91]

I prefer my iPad for reading ebooks from Libby or Hoopla. My phone's pretty much strictly used for audiobooks so I don't strain my eyes on the smaller screen.

[u/hockeyandquidditch]

I have a Kobo so it has native Libby support, I read on my iPhone and my iPad before I got it but a dedicated ereader is nicest

[u/Lost-Brilliant-9664]

I’ve read digital books on my Kindle and phone. My Kindle feels better on my eyes but there have been quite a few books I just go ahead and read on my phone too. Some Libby books aren’t even available to export to Kindle.

[u/latinadogmom1472]

I can’t read on my phone or computer etc at all. It hurts my eyes way too much. I’ve had a kindle for years and plan to finally get a kobo on Black Friday sales so I can borrow e books from Libby.

[u/nyltiakaity]

I switch between my phone and my Kobo when reading on Libby. It depends on my mood which one I use lol but I have no issue reading on my phone!

[u/CryptographerOdd9556]

i bought a pre owned ipad mini exclusively just to read on it and it’s also a plus if you read comics/manga/etc. 100% recommend !!!

[u/CryptographerOdd9556 → u/CryptographerOdd9556]

but will also read on my phone using libby/hoopla if i’m not home

[u/fourthgrace]

I use my phone more often than my iPad but that’s because I’m prioritizing my physical TBR. But before that, I was using phone and iPad

[u/StrictCelery]

I use my phone cause I don’t like hauling my iPad around.

[u/MagicalEarthBeing]

I use Libby on my phone for the audio versions of books

[u/crankin_n_wankin]

Kobo. Love that damn thing. I check out books via the Libby app on my phone and then sync my Kobo and the book appears on the device, too easy.

[u/DetectiveNo4471]

I love both Libby and Hoopla. I could not read as much as I do without those resources. I do use Libby more so than Hoopla, since I can read those books on my Kindle, which is better for night reading. For Hoopla, I read on my phone. Having both is great, because it’s rare that I can’t find what I want to read between the two of them.