# Calibre (open-source education and reference app)

> Calibre is a free, open-source education and reference app for Windows, macOS and Linux. The official source code repository for the calibre ebook manager. It has 26,087 GitHub stars and is released under the GPL-3.0 license, and people use it instead of Kindle and Adobe Digital Editions.

calibre is an e-book manager. It can view, convert, edit and catalog e-books in all of the major e-book formats. It can also talk to e-book reader devices. It can go out to the internet and fetch metadata for your books. It can download newspapers and convert them into e-books for convenient reading. It is cross platform, running on Linux, Windows and macOS.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Repository | https://github.com/kovidgoyal/calibre |
| Platforms | Linux, macOS, Windows |
| Interface | desktop GUI |
| GitHub stars | 26,087 |
| License | GPL-3.0 (open source) |
| Replaces | Kindle, Adobe Digital Editions |
| Language | Python |
| Website | https://calibre-ebook.com |
| Official | yes (published by the project behind the app) |
| Category | Education, flashcards & reference |
| Latest release | v9.15.0 (Sep 18, 2026) |
| Last commit | Oct 8, 2026 |

## Install

Download a build for your system from the project's releases (https://github.com/kovidgoyal/calibre/releases) or website, or build it from source by following the README.

## Similar desktop apps

- [Anki](https://appsgit.com/desktop-apps/anki): Anki is a smart spaced repetition flashcard program. (31,840 stars, AGPL-3.0-or-later, official)
- [Koodo Reader](https://appsgit.com/desktop-apps/koodo-reader): A modern ebook manager and reader with sync and backup capacities for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS and Web. (28,433 stars, AGPL-3.0)
- [Readest](https://appsgit.com/desktop-apps/readest): Readest is a modern, feature-rich ebook reader designed for avid readers offering seamless cross-platform access, powerful tools, and an intuitive interface to elevate your reading experience. (24,945 stars, AGPL-3.0)
- [Calibre Web](https://appsgit.com/desktop-apps/calibre-web): Web app for browsing, reading and downloading eBooks stored in a Calibre database. (18,349 stars, GPL-3.0)
- [Zotero](https://appsgit.com/desktop-apps/zotero): Zotero is a free, easy-to-use tool to help you collect, organize, annotate, cite, and share your research sources. (15,493 stars, AGPL-3.0-or-later, official)
- [Anx Reader](https://appsgit.com/desktop-apps/anx-reader): Featuring powerful AI capabilities and supporting various e-book formats, it makes reading smarter and more focused. (8,926 stars, MIT)

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