Remember when Marvin was the hot iOS app for this? It had amazing custom sync. Then the developer disappeared. That's the risk with small, independent apps. I now lean towards apps that use a sync method I can control (my own cloud) or are backed by a large platform.
I've found that sync often depends on the file. If you have a properly structured EPUB with correct chapter marks, most apps handle position sync well. If it's a PDF or a poorly made EPUB, they all struggle. So before blaming the app, check your source file with an editor like Sigil.
I wish there was a standard like 'Readium' that all apps adhered to for sync and annotations. We have EPUB as a standard for the book file, but the reading state data is a wild west. Every app invents its own method, locking you into their ecosystem.
My method is chaotic but works: I email myself the book and open the attachment on whatever device I'm on. The 'last opened' page is usually remembered by the default document viewer. It's not elegant, but it's platform-agnostic and uses infrastructure that won't shut down.
PocketBook app. It's the companion to their e-ink readers, but the mobile app is solid. It syncs reading progress and notes across their ecosystem via their cloud. If you ever decide to get one of their e-readers, you're already set up. The app itself is clean and supports a ton of formats natively.
2026-07-24 03:14:05
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Has anyone compared the actual speed? I did an unscientific test between Kindle, Google Play Books, and Apple Books on the same Wi-Fi. I'd read a page, immediately force-quit the app, open it on another device. Kindle was consistently fastest, updating within 2-3 seconds. Google Play took 5-10 seconds. Apple Books was instant between my iPhone and iPad but obviously doesn't work outside that. For the impatient, those seconds matter!
One subtle benefit of reliable sync is that it encourages 'opportunistic reading.' Waiting in line? Pull out your phone, read a page or two. Later, at home, continue on a bigger screen. Without sync, you'd likely just check social media instead because the friction of finding your place is too high. A good sync feature turns all your idle moments into potential reading sessions. It fundamentally increases your reading volume by lowering the activation energy required to start.
If you're reading fanfiction, the FanFiction.Net app has a decent sync feature for your favorites and reading history across devices. It's platform-specific, of course, but for those deep in a particular fandom, it's a lifesaver to not lose your place in a 200-chapter epic.
I just ask my partner what page they're on if we're reading the same book on different devices. Low-tech social sync. Works every time, and we get to talk about the book. Recommend.