Oyster, an e-book subscription service that originally launched on a limited basis for the iPhone last month, has been expanded to the iPad and is now available for all users.

Described as Netflix for e-books, Oyster offers access to more than 100,000 e-books for a $9.95 monthly fee. The service is currently limited to iOS and is growing rapidly, with additional titles being added on a regular basis.

Oyster for iPad functions similarly to other e-book reading apps like iBooks, allowing users to select content from a dedicated library that can be read within the app. Pages are turned via scrolling, and it incorporates a darker night time reading mode. The app functions in both landscape and portrait mode, and books that are downloaded can be synced between devices.

oyster

Download the app to get unlimited access to thousands of books, available anytime, anywhere. Requires an Oyster paid subscription.

With Oyster, members enjoy instant access to more than 100,000 titles including everything from international bestsellers and celebrated classics, to cult sci-fi and seminal biographies. Designed and developed for mobile reading, our editorial sets, related titles, and personalized recommendations get you into a book you’ll love in as few taps as possible.

In addition to iPad support, the new update also brings an iOS 7-style redesign and better content discovery in the form of additional recommendations and genre-based recommendations. Newly added books are also readily available, featured directly on the home screen. Book opening animations have been improved, and a number of bug fixes have also been included.

Oyster is a universal app that can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link] The service costs $9.95 per month, but the company is currently offering all new users 30 days of free access.

Top Rated Comments

wolfshades Avatar
153 months ago
Found some answers

First off, it's only available in the. U.S. - though they have plans to expand.
Secondly, you can have up to 10 books in your collection at at any one time (you download what you want and read at your leisure - no need for constant connectivity).
Third - and this one's a deal breaker for me, even if it were offered in my country - they seek out the rights to distribute a few months after the book is released. So if you're excited about a Barry Eisler book that was just released (for example) - you have to wait around for a while before you can access it.

The full set of FAQs can be found here: Oyster for iPad FAQs (https://www.oysterbooks.com/help/customer-faq#q5)
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
testcard Avatar
153 months ago
I may have missed this, but is there a limit on the number of books you can borrow each month, and how long do you have to read them before they expire? Is this a better deal than Amazon Prime lending library?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
OldSchoolMacGuy Avatar
153 months ago
I've been reading everything - a ton of books, newspapers and magazines - on my iPad but have been thinking about getting a Kindle, mostly for the extended battery life, and because it's lighter. Tell me: did you use your iPad a lot for reading before or have you always had a Kindle? Does it bother you to have to carry around two devices for different purposes? (The latter scenario is the one thing holding me back at the moment).

I've used the iPad for reading PDFs as it does that much better (they never convert well for the Kindle). Anything color is obviously better on the iPad. Carrying both with isn't bad at all. The Kindle takes up very little extra room and can almost be stuffed in the same sleeve with the iPad really. The weight difference when holding it while laying down is huge. It's also much easier when reading in low light or even out in bright light. iPad is great for most everything but for reading I really do prefer my Kindle.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
FelixAng Avatar
153 months ago
I've been reading everything - a ton of books, newspapers and magazines - on my iPad but have been thinking about getting a Kindle, mostly for the extended battery life, and because it's lighter. Tell me: did you use your iPad a lot for reading before or have you always had a Kindle? Does it bother you to have to carry around two devices for different purposes? (The latter scenario is the one thing holding me back at the moment).

I can say that it's nice to read in an iPad, but the Kindle Paperwhite is more "real" and it's nice to be able to read in sunlight, not to mention I only charge it once a month. It's also nice that it's purely for books, so no disturbances leak in or entice me to jump into Safari---questions I might have are readily available tapping X-Ray.

I just signed up for Oyster on my iPad---it's pretty good
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Sharkus Avatar
153 months ago
I love the very subtle and possibly sneaky "Request Invite" option on the launch page, which prompts for email and then sends you a link to sign up. It's not as if you cannot go to the website and sign up (you can).

Why subtly / sneaky? well, most apps that can consume content that is purchased outside of the app - think any ebook app - , and do not use IAP (In App Purchase) cannot have any kind of account creation / sign up functionality within them, lest they be rejected by Apple.

Of course I'm assuming they aren't using IAP, anyone from the US care to have a look and see if there is an IAP system in the app?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
street.cory Avatar
153 months ago
Wow

This would be perfect for so many people in my family. Does anyone know if the Game of Thrones series is available here? I can't seem to search through their library unless I use the app.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro to Reverse iPhone X Design Decision

Monday July 7, 2025 9:46 am PDT by
Since the iPhone X in 2017, all of Apple's highest-end iPhone models have featured either stainless steel or titanium frames, but it has now been rumored that this design decision will be coming to an end with the iPhone 17 Pro models later this year. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo today, the account Instant Digital said that the iPhone 17 Pro models will have an aluminum...
iOS 26 Feature

Everything New in iOS 26 Beta 3

Monday July 7, 2025 1:20 pm PDT by
Apple is continuing to refine and update iOS 26, and beta three features smaller changes than we saw in beta 2, plus further tweaks to the Liquid Glass design. Apple is gearing up for the next phase of beta testing, and the company has promised that a public beta is set to come out in July. Transparency In some apps like Apple Music, Podcasts, and the App Store, Apple has toned down the...
imac video apple feature

Apple Launching These 15+ Products Later This Year

Sunday July 6, 2025 8:05 am PDT by
The calendar has turned to July, meaning that 2025 is now more than half over. And while the summer months are often quiet for Apple, the company still has more than a dozen products coming later this year, according to rumors. Below, we have outlined at least 15 new Apple products that are expected to launch later this year, along with key rumored features for each. iPhone 17 Series iPho...
iphone 16 pro models 1

Here's How the iPhone 17 Pro Max Will Compare to the iPhone 17 Pro

Saturday July 5, 2025 1:00 pm PDT by
Apple should unveil the iPhone 17 series in September, and there might be one bigger difference between the Pro and Pro Max models this year. As always, the Pro Max model will be larger than the Pro model:iPhone 17 Pro: 6.3-inch display iPhone 17 Pro Max: 6.9-inch displayGiven the Pro Max is physically larger than the Pro, it has more internal space, allowing for a larger battery and...
iPhone Car Key Kia

Here's Which Vehicles Offer iPhone Car Keys

Sunday July 6, 2025 3:03 pm PDT by
In 2020, Apple added a digital car key feature to its Wallet app, allowing users to lock, unlock, and start a compatible vehicle with an iPhone or Apple Watch. The feature is currently offered by select automakers, including Audi, BMW, Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and a handful of others, and it is set to expand further. Apple has a web page with a list of vehicle models that ...
iphone 17 pro render majin bu

New iPhone 17 Pro Renders Highlight Apple Logo and MagSafe Design Changes

Sunday July 6, 2025 8:43 pm PDT by
New renders today provide the best look yet relocated Apple logo and redesigned MagSafe magnet array of the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Image via Majin Bu. Several of the design changes coming to the iPhone 17 Pro model have been rumored for some time, such as the elongated camera bump that spans the full width of the device, with the LiDAR Scanner and flash moving to the right side. ...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro Coming Soon With These 14 New Features

Friday July 4, 2025 1:05 pm PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are just over two months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models. Latest Rumors These rumors surfaced in June and July:Apple logo repositioned: Apple's logo may have a lower position on the back of the iPhone 17 Pro models, compared to previous...
apple account card feature

Apple Account Card Expanding to More Countries

Tuesday July 8, 2025 7:34 pm PDT by
Apple is expanding the ability to add an Apple Account Card to the Wallet app to more countries, according to backend Apple Pay changes. With iOS 15.5, Apple updated the Wallet app to allow users to add an Apple Account Card, which displays the Apple credit balance associated with an Apple ID. If you receive an Apple gift card, for example, it is added to an Apple Account that is also...