MelonReader is an iOS ebook reader for language learners. Bring your own TXT or EPUB books in any language, or start from a curated public-domain library. Tap any word or phrase while reading for an instant translation in your native language that reads the surrounding sentence for context, hear pronunciation with dictionary readings such as pinyin and kana, and save words to a vocabulary list organized by language. Review saved words with spaced-repetition flashcards. MelonReader is local-first and private: your books, vocabulary, and reading progress stay on your device, with no account required. Free to start; MelonReader Plus unlocks unlimited imported books.
MelonReader
Read the books you want. Learn the language as you go.
MelonReader is an iOS ebook reader built for language learners. Bring any EPUB or TXT book — or start from a curated public-domain library — and read in the language you're learning. Tap any word or phrase for an instant translation in your native language, hear how it sounds, and turn what you read into vocabulary you actually remember.
Private by design: your books, words, and progress stay on your device. Free to start — MelonReader Plus unlocks unlimited books.
Features
Tap to Translate
Tap any word or phrase while reading for an instant translation in your native language, right there on the page. No copy-pasting into another app.
Context That Fits
Translations read the surrounding sentence, so you get the meaning that fits the passage you're reading — not just a dictionary definition out of context.
Hear It Spoken
Hear any word or phrase read aloud, with pronunciation readings like pinyin and kana from optional dictionary packs. Learn how it actually sounds.
Your Word Bank
Save words and phrases as you read. They're collected in a personal word bank, organized by language — and you can export it to CSV anytime.
Spaced-Repetition Review
Turn saved words into built-in flashcards, with separate decks per language. Spaced repetition brings them back at the right time so they stick.
Bring Any Book
Import your own EPUB or TXT files in any language, or start from a curated public-domain library. Read what you actually want to read — every book you bring stays yours.
Private by Design
Your reading is yours. MelonReader is local-first — your books, saved words, and progress live on your device, not on our servers.
There's no account and no sign-in. Translation runs on-device, so the words and passages you tap aren't sent off to be translated. We collect only anonymous, optional usage data to fix bugs and improve the app — never your books or the words you read. Read the privacy policy →
On your device. No account required.
On-device. Your reading stays private.
No ads. No data sold. Ever.
How It Works
Bring a Book You Want to Read
Import any EPUB or TXT file, or pick something from the curated public-domain library. Japanese, Spanish, French, Korean, Mandarin — read whatever you're learning, at the level you enjoy.
Tap to Understand
Stuck on a word or phrase? Tap it for an instant translation in your native language — one that reads the surrounding sentence for context — and hear how it's pronounced. Stay in the story instead of reaching for a dictionary.
Save and Remember
Save new words to your word bank as you go, then review them with spaced-repetition flashcards. The vocabulary you meet in your books becomes vocabulary you keep.
Be the First to Know
MelonReader is launching soon on the App Store. Drop us a line and we'll let you know the moment it's ready.
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