Read

Two-column papers, reshaped for reading on the iPad

Two columns are a layout for print. Rectoly reflows a paper into one column, in reading order — no zooming, no hopping up and down between columns. Text size, typeface and line spacing are yours to choose.

Rectoly on iPad reflowing a two-column paper into one-column Reading Mode
How it works

See it in use

01

One tap to one column

Tap the button at the bottom right, or press ⌘R. Headings, text, figures and tables fall into reading order, and running headers and footers are left out.

A PDF page switching to Reading Mode
02

Your size, your typeface, your spacing

Pinch to enlarge the text and it reflows to the width of the screen. Under “Aa”, choose a typeface (standard, serif or rounded) and the line spacing.

Changing the text size and typeface in Reading Mode
03

The original page, always beside you

Press ⌘⇧R to open the original PDF page next to the text — side by side or stacked, with a divider you can drag.

Reading Mode beside the original PDF page
04

Rest your eyes, keep reading by ear

Read Aloud speaks the text and highlights the sentence being read. Skip back or ahead by sentence or by paragraph.

Reading Mode with the sentence being read aloud highlighted
When you'd use it

Where it fits in your day

On the commute

A whole paper, on an iPhone

In one column there's no zooming or sideways scrolling, even on a small screen. Pick up where you left off on the iPad at home.

The night before seminar

Your assigned paper, wherever you like

Read it through with the iPad in your hands, not at a desk — and highlight as you go, right in Reading Mode.

Reading in a second language

Follow each sentence by eye and by ear

The highlight moves with the voice, so you never lose your place in a long paragraph.

The details

Figures and tables in the flow
Figures and tables sit near where the text refers to them — no hunting across pages.
Easy on the eyes at night
In dark mode, PDF pages can be dimmed too.
Offline
Downloaded papers and annotations stay on the device, so you can read without a connection.
Scanned PDFs
The Zotero edition recognises the text of scanned PDFs on the device.
From the keyboard
⌘R for Reading Mode, ⌘⇧R for the original page, ⌘+ / ⌘− for text size. Shortcuts can be reassigned.
20 languages
Use the app in English, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, German, French and 14 more languages.

Every feature, free for 14 days

Download it free from the App Store and try everything. If it earns a place in your day, buy it once. No subscription.