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Q. I’m curious to try reading Kindle books but I don’t have a Kindle. My best friend is a big fan of Kindle books and wants me to try reading one.
She read an article you wrote recently about lending ebooks and told me she could lend me a Kindle book for free to get started.
I told her I don’t have a Kindle but she said I didn’t need one to read a Kindle book. Can you please explain how I can read a Kindle book without owning a Kindle?
A. Your friend is correct, you don’t need a Kindle ereader to read a Kindle book. You can read a Kindle book on your computer, phone and/or tablet without needing to own a Kindle ereader.
Kindle books can be read using the Kindle app or the Kindle Cloud Reader. All you need is an Internet connection to download the Kindle book. You don’t need an Internet connection to read a Kindle book after it has been downloaded.
Check out => How to Lend an Ebook to a Friend for Free! to find out how to lend and borrow ebooks.
Kindle App
Amazon has made the Kindle app available for mobile devices as well as computers. The Kindle app is free, as are many Kindle books.
The app has many useful features to make reading more enjoyable. You can change font, background color (white, black or sepia), margins, font size and more to get the reading experience that works best for you.
Tap on a word to see the definition of the word in the dictionary and in Wikipedia. You can also see translations of words in other languages.
You can highlight passages and take notes within a Kindle book using the app. You can share your highlights and notes with others via email, text message and social media from within the app.
The Kindle app is available free for:
Note that you cannot buy a Kindle book within the iPhone and iPad Kindle app.
Learn more at => Want to Buy Kindle Books on Your iPad or iPhone? Here’s How!
You can also listen to an Audible audiobook while you read the Kindle book.
⇒ Check out How to Listen to Audiobooks on Your Kindle App.
Reading a Kindle Book Using Cloud Reader
You don’t need a Kindle app to read a Kindle book. You can read Kindle books with the Kindle Cloud Reader, using a phone, tablet or computer. This comes in handy when you’re using a computer or mobile device that isn’t your own.
To get started, go to the Kindle Cloud Reader website and log into your Amazon account. Click or tap on Library to see your Kindle books. You can begin reading immediately or download your books to read them when you’re not connected to the Internet.
Using the Cloud Reader you can change fonts, background color, layout and more. Highlight a word to see the dictionary definition. You can add notes and highlights to passages.
⇒ For more information, check out How to Read a Kindle Book on a Computer.
Whispersync
Whispersync for Books means that you can stop reading on one device and pick up where you left off reading on another device. This feature works on the app, Cloud Reader and Kindle ereader.
You can even use Whispersync to sync between the Kindle book and Audible audiobook versions of a book, so you can switch between reading and listening without losing your place in the book.
⇒ See, Whispersync for Voice: The Marriage of Kindle and Audible to learn more about switching between Kindle books and audiobooks.
Your Thoughts
Did you know that you could read a Kindle book without a Kindle? Have you ever read a Kindle book on your computer, phone or tablet? What’s your favorite way to read a Kindle book?
Share your thoughts in the Comments section below!
* iPad Coffee image (edited) courtesy of Elizabeth Thomsen via Flickr and Creative Commons
Ting News
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The Ting Price Calculator helps you compare prices for different plans for voice, text and data.
For more information about Ting, see: Ten Reasons Why Ting May Be Your Next Cell Phone Provider.
Hello Carolyn,
I didn’t know you could read kindle books without having a kindle. Thanks for sharing this with us!
Hi Maketta, You’re not the only one! I’ve received many comments from people on social media that they were not aware that they could read Kindle books without a Kindle. I’m grateful to the reader who asked such a relevant question.
Happy reading, Maketta!
Okay… I am going to be honest here… reading large amounts of text on any screen is extremely unappealing for me.
Am I the only one? And yes I am only 40.
Hi Geoff, Maybe that’s what it is! I can finish a Kindle book on an iPhone or Kindle, but not on my computer or iPad. I don’t know if it’s getting lost in a large expanse of text or the distraction of other apps but I’m an inefficient reader of ebooks on larger screens.
So, no, you’re not the only one!