Barnes & Noble NOOK icon
Barnes & Noble NOOK App: Comprehensive Review of iOS E-Reading Platform

by Barnes & Noble

4.7
IOSBooks
Barnes & Noble's NOOK app delivers robust e-reading capabilities for iOS users, featuring cross-device synchronization, extensive content library, and customizable reading experience tailored for dedicated readers and existing B&N customers.

Detailed Review

The Barnes & Noble NOOK app serves as the company's flagship digital reading platform for iOS devices, positioning itself as a comprehensive alternative to Amazon's Kindle ecosystem. With access to over 4 million eBooks, graphic novels, comics, manga, and magazines plus 300,000 audiobooks, the app provides substantial content depth rivaling major competitors in the e-reading market. Core functionality includes robust reading customization options with multiple font styles, size adjustments, and page layout configurations. The platform supports personalized bookshelves for content organization and social sharing tools for community engagement. A notable strength lies in its cross-device synchronization, allowing users to maintain reading progress across multiple Apple devices seamlessly. The app also incorporates expert-curated recommendations and supports sideloading of EPUB and PDF files, expanding its utility beyond the native ecosystem. User experience demonstrates generally intuitive navigation with a clean interface design prioritizing reading immersion. The page-turning mechanics receive particular praise from users, with one reviewer noting superior implementation compared to competing platforms. Real-world usage patterns indicate strong adoption among existing Barnes & Noble customers transitioning from physical NOOK devices to iOS applications, though some users report occasional technical hiccups during device migration or annotation management. User feedback trends reveal high satisfaction with library access and synchronization features, exemplified by shibbysloth's July 17, 2025 review expressing 'blissful relief' at account accessibility across devices. However, technical issues surface in multiple reviews, including PetePf's August 14, 2025 report of annotation editing problems post-update and 3xstk's July 17, 2025 experience with library transfer difficulties between iPad devices. The audiobook functionality receives mixed assessments, with AmyA77's June 5, 2025 review noting it 'needs some tweaks to compete with Audible.' The app demonstrates strongest performance for existing Barnes & Noble ecosystem users seeking continuity across devices, though occasional synchronization and annotation issues warrant consideration. Its extensive content library and reading customization options provide compelling value, particularly for readers invested in the B&N ecosystem, while audiobook features and occasional technical inconsistencies represent areas for potential improvement.

Key Features

  • Cross-device synchronization maintains reading progress across all Apple devices, ensuring seamless transition between iPhone and iPad
  • Customizable reading interface offers multiple font styles, sizes, and page layouts for personalized reading comfort
  • Extensive content library provides access to over 4 million eBooks plus comics, manga, and 300,000 audiobooks
  • Expert-curated recommendations deliver personalized content discovery based on reading preferences and history
  • Sideloading support for EPUB and PDF files enables integration of external content alongside purchased materials
  • Social sharing tools and customizable bookshelves facilitate community engagement and content organization

Why Users Love It

Extensive content library
Seamless cross-device sync

Perfect for: Existing Barnes & Noble customers and dedicated readers seeking comprehensive e-reading capabilities

Screenshots

Barnes & Noble NOOK screenshot 1Barnes & Noble NOOK screenshot 2Barnes & Noble NOOK screenshot 3Barnes & Noble NOOK screenshot 4

Ranking History

Track Barnes & Noble NOOK's performance in Books over the last 30 days

Top 5
Top 10
Top 15
Below 15

Current Rank

#48

3 from last week

Best Rank

#40

All-time high

Average Rank

#46

30-day average

User Reviews

PetePf
Jul 22, 2025

Having issues editing annotations. The app locks up when I try to edit or even scroll in my annotations. I’m able to start new ones, but cannot access old ones. I recently updated the app and now this is the result. Please advise. Thank you. Annotation edits Having issues editing annotations. The app locks up when I try to edit or even scroll in my annotations. I’m able to start new ones, but cannot access old ones. I recently updated the app and now this is the result. Please advise. Thank you.

Put Put Junior
Aug 15, 2025

I own both the kindle and nook ! I love how the nook changes pages , it would be nice if they added the time like kindle though Hands down the best ebook reader I own both the kindle and nook ! I love how the nook changes pages , it would be nice if they added the time like kindle though

Grapes 123456789
May 11, 2025

This is a good app if you want to escape the world for a few hours. ❤️ This is a good app if you want to escape the world for a few hours.

AmyA77
Jun 5, 2025

It has so many different ways to enhance your reading experience. Hands down it beats any other reading app that I have tried! The audio book part of it needs some tweaks to compete with Audible. I expect great things from it if they take action on my suggestions. You can sideload PDR & ePub’s, and use the app’s features on them. The best thing is that you actually OWN these books unlike Kindle. I will 𝗡𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥 pay for a book that can be taken away for any reason by a money grubbing 🤑💵💶corporation‼️ Nook app is my absolute favorite ebook app It has so many different ways to enhance your reading experience. Hands down it beats any other reading app that I have tried!The audio book part of it needs some tweaks to compete with Audible. I expect great things from it if they take action on my suggestions.You can sideload PDR & ePub’s, and use the app’s features on them. The best thing is that you actually OWN these books unlike Kindle. I will 𝗡𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥 pay for a book that can be taken away for any reason by a money grubbing 🤑💵💶corporation‼️

AFWV
May 5, 2025

I so appreciate this very handy way to read my books. The only thing I'm lacking is the ability to share my good book. Love it! My friend I so appreciate this very handy way to read my books. The only thing I'm lacking is the ability to share my good book. Love it!

App Details

Developer

Barnes & Noble

Platform

ios

Rating

4.7

Last Updated

10/7/2025

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