The Best Reading Apps and Online Resources for Adults

If you're looking for engaging and effective ways to improve your reading skills, these apps and online resources offer structured and interactive options.

Whether you prefer bilingual reading, news, stories, or structured comprehension exercises, these tools will keep you motivated!

1. Beelinguapp

Beelinguapp is an excellent tool for bilingual reading, offering texts in your learning language with translation and audio support. The provided translations allows for a smooth learning process as a beginner.

• Features:
  • Three levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced.
  • Two reading modes:
    • Journey route: Customized for your level.
    • Open learning: Choose any book or news story available.
  • Translations available with audio support.
  • Glossary and flashcard feature to save and review words.
  • Supports multiple languages.
• Best For:
  • Learners looking for text translation while reading.
  • Those who prefer guided learning paths.
  • Those who prefer self-directed reading.

2. Readable: Read English Stories

Readable provides simple reading materials with audio and news stories for learners of all levels.

• Features:
  • Basic story and book settings.
  • Audio and pictures included.
  • News stories for real-world reading practice.
  • Uses a heart system in the free version (3 hearts daily), and they’re used up when you get questions wrong during the comprehension tests.
• Best For:
  • Learners who enjoy simple stories and reading the news.
  • Those looking for a structured app.

3. British Council: Reading section

The British Council website provides reading practice with different levels of difficulty in their reading section.

• Features:
  • Activities from A1 (beginner) to C1 (advanced).
  • Step-by-step approach:
    • Pre-reading activities.
    • Read text accompanied by an image.
    • Comprehension tasks.
  • Optional downloadable worksheets for extra practice.
• Best For:
  • Self-learners who want structured reading exercises.
  • Those practicing for reading tests.

4. Lingua: Reading section

Lingua is a website that provides practice for different skills, including reading. The reading section provides text, tests, and audio features.

• Features:
  • Texts with multiple speaker accents.
  • Comprehension tests included.
  • Audio-supported reading materials.
• Best For:
  • Learners who want to develop comprehension alongside listening skills.
  • Those who prefer structured self-study exercises.
  • Those practicing for reading tests.

Other helpful tools

Here are some honorable mentions that can aid in your English reading journey.

Flashcard and vocabulary tools

• Memrise - Vocabulary and language learning through interactive flashcards.
• Quizlet - Flashcard app for vocabulary and grammar building.

Applications

• The StoryGraph
  • Tracks reading habits, challenges, and moods with data presented in a user-friendly way.
  • Provides data insights on reading progress.
  • Allows social reading with friends.
  • See reviews for other books and add them to your "to-read" list.

If you'd like something for your child or younger learners, check out our post on recommended reading apps for kids!

Conclusion

With these apps and online resources, you can take control of your reading practice and enhance your skills in a structured and enjoyable way.

Whether you’re looking for bilingual support, interactive reading, or comprehension exercises, there’s an option for every learning style!