Used Readr AI for iOS?
Editors’ Review
Readr AI, from Anusree Jayakrishnan, is an open-source ebook reader for iPhone and iPad that pairs reading with AI-assisted research and note workflows. The app lets users chat with passages, request context-aware summaries, and export highlights into editable Markdown drafts while offering an on-device neural narrator for offline listening. Key capabilities include a BYOK model for AI interactions, spoiler-aware recaps, and support for DRM-free EPUB, PDF, plain-text, and Markdown files. It targets students, researchers, and avid readers seeking private, local-first reading tools.
What tasks can you actually use the app for?
The app functions as an interactive reading companion that connects selected text to AI-assisted outputs. Users can ask questions about specific passages, generate spoiler-free recaps tied to current progress, and convert highlights into editable Markdown drafts. The outputs attach directly to captured highlights so the reading-to-writing step avoids manual copy-paste, and built-in layouts support continuous scroll, single or double page reading during research sessions.
How accurate are the app's AI summaries and answers?
The app generates answers and summaries based on the text the user has opened, and those responses include citations drawn from the document. Early community feedback highlights the accuracy of in-text citations. The spoiler-aware recap logic constrains summaries to already-read passages, reducing inadvertent plot reveals. Accuracy of synthesized answers depends on the selected external model when a user supplies an API key, so response reliability varies with the model's capabilities.
Does the app protect my data and what inputs does it accept?
The app follows a local-first design that requires no account and stores user-supplied API keys in the device Keychain. Narration runs on-device so audio stays local. Users must provide DRM-free EPUB, PDF, plain-text, or Markdown files; the app does not handle DRM-protected books. The code is MIT-licensed and available on GitHub, enabling inspection of data flows. The app requires iOS 17.0 or later to run.
Pros
- On-device neural narration keeps audio processing local
- Supports DRM-free EPUB, PDF, plain-text, and Markdown imports
- Exports highlights and notes to editable Markdown drafts
- MIT-licensed open-source code available on GitHub
Cons
- Requires DRM-free files; does not handle DRM-protected books
- AI answer quality depends on the external model supplied via BYOK
- Requires iOS 17.0 or later, limiting older devices
Bottom Line
A practical choice for privacy-minded readers and researchers
The app is a practical option for students, researchers, and avid readers who prioritize local control over reading workflows and note drafting. Expect to verify complex or contested claims because output reliability depends on the external model a user supplies via BYOK. For best results, select precise passages before querying and route AI requests through a model you trust. This approach rewards deliberate prompting and careful model selection.
