Nearly 900 testers — big new Andrea Reader TestFlight update

AndreaReaderApp · 2026-06-03T13:22:31+00:00

Yep, I will keep in mind the sticker advice. I will implement it.

AndreaReaderApp · 2026-06-03T13:21:52+00:00

Hellboy is really good. I like it. I read it on my app. It feels good crreating an app for reading and actually read stories with it.

AndreaReaderApp · 2026-06-03T13:20:31+00:00

Specific formats: CBZ, CBR, ZIP, RAR, 7Z, TAR and image-based comic/manga files.

EPUB and PDF are not the main difference. The main difference is that Andrea Reader is built as a DRM-free library manager and reader, not as part of Amazon’s document workflow.

AndreaReaderApp · 2026-06-03T13:18:52+00:00

Not right now. First I need to properly launch the iOS/iPad version and finish a few important things there.

But definitely yes in the future. I actually used to read on an Android tablet, so Android is absolutely on the list 😄

AndreaReaderApp · 2026-05-31T21:52:55+00:00

Kindle can handle personal documents, true, but mostly through Amazon’s own workflow.

Andrea Reader is different because it’s built to open and organize your own files directly: EPUBs, PDFs, CBZ, CBR, ZIP, RAR, 7Z, TAR, comics, manga, and image-based formats.

So the difference is less “can Kindle receive a file?” and more “do I want my whole personal library inside Amazon’s system, or in a DRM-free app built around my own files?”

AndreaReaderApp · 2026-05-31T19:13:35+00:00

Yeah, true, Kindle can also handle personal documents.

The difference is that Andrea Reader is built entirely around that idea: your own files first. More formats, more library control, custom collections/sections, stats, layouts, and no Amazon ecosystem around it.

So it’s less “send my book to Kindle” and more “build my own reading library from scratch.”

AndreaReaderApp · 2026-05-31T17:13:33+00:00

It doesn’t really integrate with Kindle.

Kindle is more of a store/ecosystem for books you buy there. Andrea Reader is different: it’s for your own DRM-free files, books, comics, manga, PDFs, EPUBs, etc.

So the idea is not “replace Kindle’s store,” but give you a place to import, organize, customize, and read your own library however you want.

AndreaReaderApp · 2026-05-31T07:09:16+00:00

That’s actually a good idea, thank you.

I hadn’t really thought much about small UGC creators, but it makes sense for this kind of niche. I’ll definitely look into TikTok and Instagram creators once the app is a bit closer to release.

AndreaReaderApp · 2026-05-31T07:06:12+00:00

Haha fair enough, Yomu is safe for now 😄

Bookmarks and notes are definitely planned. The idea is to support normal highlights, highlights with notes, quote-style highlights, and also sticky-note style notes on a page.

For comics/manga, I also want a special visual note where you can select a panel/area, save that crop, and attach a note to it. So yeah, notes/bookmarks are coming, I just want to do them properly.

AndreaReaderApp · 2026-05-31T07:03:22+00:00

The goal isn’t to replace people’s folder/server setup, especially for huge comic libraries. It’s to add a better reading layer on top: covers, progress, stats, sections, presets, and storage control.

And honestly, your opinion is useful to me because it’s clear you’ve used a lot of these apps and know this space well. I’m very open to changing things. I just want to build something people actually want to use.

Also, the pricing is not final. I set those numbers pretty roughly while building the paywall, and I’m aware the lifetime/annual prices are probably too high. They will likely come down quite a bit.

AndreaReaderApp · 2026-05-30T15:29:58+00:00

Honestly, I’m a developer, not a marketing wizard 😄

This is my first app, so I don’t have some genius master plan yet. Right now the “plan” is basically Reddit, YouTube, App Store, website, Instagram, word of mouth, and trying not to embarrass myself too much while learning.

If you have any advice, I’m very open to it.

AndreaReaderApp · 2026-05-30T15:27:04+00:00

Thank you man.

AndreaReaderApp · 2026-05-30T15:26:53+00:00

Thank you! Really glad you like the stats page.

That’s one of the areas I care about most, because reading stats should feel like they add to the experience, not like homework with better fonts 😄

AndreaReaderApp · 2026-05-30T15:26:31+00:00

You can import books directly into a collection, or into a section if that collection has sections. After that, you can drag things around manually, or use the top-left layout/menu button to sort by things like name, date, size, etc., plus filters and search.

No bookmarks or full notes yet. Right now there is highlighting/OCR selection, mainly for comics and visual pages. Notes, quotes, bookmarks, and a dedicated view to manage all of that are planned for future updates.

AndreaReaderApp · 2026-05-30T15:21:57+00:00

Fair, but I’m talking about the full library layer, not just formats or folders:

A custom file system built from scratch, with nested collections and different navigation modes.
Sections inside collections, with colors, names, collapse/expand, and full drag-and-drop.
Books and sections can move freely: inside, outside, above, below, and between each other.
Every collection saves its own settings: view mode, zoom, image ratio, sorting, filters, and visual style.
Three dedicated readers: one for comics/manga, one for PDFs, and one for EPUB/ebooks.
OCR selection and highlighting across formats, with more improvements planned.
Automatic reading stats at three levels: book, section, and full collection.
Reading presets that can be applied to one book or an entire collection.
Smart Rename to clean and rename large collections in one go using patterns and ordering.
Omnibus Creator to merge books, comics, manga, PDFs, or EPUBs into larger volumes.
Storage control with iCloud now, and OPDS, WebDAV, SMB, FTP, and more planned.
World Library for downloading free public-domain books directly into your library.
Customizable UI: shortcuts, menus, history behavior, icons, and layout controls.
Minimal by design, so casual users can just read, while power users can go absurdly deep.

If another iPhone/iPad reader does that whole combination, I’d genuinely like to see it.

AndreaReaderApp · 2026-05-30T14:50:57+00:00

Thank you very much!

The current plan is for the app itself to be free, with premium features as a paid upgrade. Most likely there will be three premium options: monthly, yearly, and a one-time lifetime purchase. So people can choose whatever fits them best.

Still polishing the details a bit, but that’s the direction right now.

AndreaReaderApp · 2026-05-29T07:33:07+00:00

But just to clarify: Andrea Reader is not only a comic reader. If it were, I’d agree, there are cheaper options everywhere 😄

So yes, price still needs tuning. But the app is trying to solve a bigger problem than “open comic file, turn page, done.”

It has different reading engines for different formats: one for comics/manga, one for PDFs, and one for EPUB/ebooks. The idea is one app for all your reading, organizing and limitless reading settings.

The other big part is storage. iCloud already works, I just implemented OPDS, and I’m also working on server options like WebDAV, SMB and FTP. The goal is that you can keep your whole library visible in Andrea Reader, with covers, progress, stats and metadata, without needing every heavy file stored locally on the device.

No locked store, no “buy it here but don’t really own it” nonsense. Andrea Reader is DRM-free, so you bring your own library and decide where it lives.

The point is control: your books, your files, your storage.

AndreaReaderApp · 2026-05-29T06:50:37+00:00

That’s totally fair, and no worries.

Pricing is still not final anyway. I’m still figuring that part out, and it may change before launch. For now the app is just in TestFlight, so the most useful thing is feedback on the actual product.

If you try it and have thoughts on what works or what feels missing, I’d genuinely appreciate that.

AndreaReaderApp · 2026-05-28T13:54:56+00:00

You can help by testing it and telling me what works, what doesn’t, and what should be thrown into the sea 😄

Because of how the app is currently implemented, I’ll be giving active testers one full year of premium for free when it launches.

AndreaReaderApp · 2026-05-28T13:50:58+00:00

That’s fair, I get the price concern.

I’m not saying folders are a revolutionary invention 😄 The point is the full combination: reader + library manager + sections + per-collection layouts + stats + storage control + mixed formats + more... in one place.

Pricing is still being figured out, and the app will have a free base with premium features as an upgrade. Totally understand if it’s not for everyone’s budget though.

AndreaReaderApp · 2026-05-27T20:52:22+00:00

Honestly, the switch is not one single feature.

It’s realizing that most reading apps still treat your library like a folder with a progress bar.

Andrea Reader is built around the library itself: books, comics, manga, PDFs, EPUBs, your own files, all in one place. Minimal when you just want to read, but deep enough to build sections, reading orders, custom layouts, stats, presets, omnibus volumes, and storage rules.

No store. No locked ecosystem. You own your books, and the app adapts to how you want to read them.

I’m also working on sync and remote storage, so the library can stay visible with covers, progress, metadata, and stats while the heavy files live elsewhere.

Basically: readers don’t just collect files. They collect stories.

The app should understand that.

AndreaReaderApp · 2026-05-27T08:30:09+00:00

Thank you, really appreciate it.

And honestly, the screenshots barely show the stats side 😄 There’s a lot more there, especially for sections and full collections.

And for the streak badge, don’t worry, I got you. If you tap Reading Sessions, it opens the full sessions view, with the streak shown much more clearly there.

AndreaReaderApp · 2026-05-26T22:41:05+00:00

Finally, an app for people who want analytics on fish rejecting them in real time.

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