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Kairo
What it is
Kairo is a free Android app for reading DRM-free ebooks and documents, with standard reading, adaptive RSVP and Bionic Reading modes. Its reader includes scrollable chapters, inline images, a table of contents, bookmarks, progress tracking and a movable focus word. Adaptive RSVP aligns words using ORP and adjusts display timing based on punctuation, word length, syllables, clauses and readability. Bionic Reading presents timed text chunks with emphasized word beginnings while keeping more sentence context visible. Readers can use profiles to adjust pacing, typography, brightness and focus, and choose from six themes. Focus mode provides a full-screen reader and can optionally engage Android Do Not Disturb during a session. Kairo 1.1 supports EPUB, MOBI, PRC, AZW, FB2 and FB2.ZIP, DOCX, text-based PDF, TXT, Markdown, HTML and HTM. Imported files, extracted content, progress, bookmarks and preferences stay in app-private device storage. Kairo says it has no account system, ads or analytics SDKs and does not upload libraries or reading activity to its server. The app is free on Android 7.0 and newer.
For and against
For
- Supports multiple ebook and document formats
- Offers adaptive RSVP and Bionic Reading
- Reading data stays in app-private storage
- Free on Android 7.0 and newer
Against
- Requires DRM-free files
- PDFs need selectable text
- Scanned PDFs and OCR are unsupported
The verdict
Kairo offers varied reading modes and controls while keeping imported files and reading information on the device. Check file restrictions first, especially if your documents are scanned PDFs or DRM-protected.
Who it suits
It suits Android users who want to read their own DRM-free ebooks and documents with standard or accelerated reading modes.
Plans and prices
Kairo
Free on Android 7.0 and newer · DRM-free files only
Read 9 Oct 2026 · kairoreader.com
On the record
- Adaptive RSVP
- Adaptive RSVP uses ORP alignment and adjusts timing based on punctuation, word length, syllables, clauses and readability.kairoreader.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Audience
- Kairo is for Android users who want to read their own DRM-free ebooks and documents using standard or accelerated reading modes.kairoreader.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Bionic Reading
- Bionic Reading displays timed text chunks with emphasized word beginnings while keeping more sentence context visible.kairoreader.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- File formats
- Kairo 1.1 supports EPUB, MOBI, PRC, AZW, FB2 and FB2.ZIP, DOCX, text-based PDF, TXT, Markdown, HTML and HTM files.kairoreader.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- File limitations
- Files must be DRM-free; PDFs need selectable text, and Kairo does not support scanned PDFs or perform OCR.kairoreader.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Focus mode
- Focus mode provides a full-screen reader and can optionally engage Android Do Not Disturb during reading sessions.kairoreader.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Internet use
- Internet access supports Google Play’s flexible update flow; the site says it is not used to send reading data to a Kairo server.kairoreader.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Local storage
- Imported files, extracted content, reading progress, bookmarks and preferences stay in app-private storage on the device.kairoreader.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Open source
- Kairo is described as a native Kotlin and Jetpack Compose project whose code is available on GitHub.kairoreader.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- Kairo says it has no account system, ads or analytics SDKs and does not upload users’ libraries or reading activity to a Kairo server.kairoreader.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Product
- Kairo is a free Android reading app for DRM-free ebooks and documents, with standard reading, adaptive RSVP and Bionic Reading modes.kairoreader.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Reader
- The reader supports scrollable chapters, inline images, a table of contents, bookmarks, reading progress and a movable focus word.kairoreader.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Reading controls
- Kairo offers reading profiles and controls for pacing, typography, brightness and focus, plus six reader themes.kairoreader.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Support
- The site directs users with questions about files or features to [email protected] and links to a page to support Kairo.kairoreader.com · read 9 Oct 2026
