Stanza

• Lexcycle's Stanza ereader platform is a long-established application for a variety of different devices, including the iPad. Stanza features some of the best ebook file format compatibility seen on the iPad, and is able to load most digital documents including ePub, Mobi, AWZ, PDF, plain text and HTML files. It also has direct access to various free online ebook repositories for downloading new content, and allows you to transfer your existing ebook library to the app via USB cable.
  
  

Kindle

• Kindle is Amazon.com's digital publishing and reading platform, which is accompanied by a host of Kindle apps for devices such as the iPad. The iPad's Kindle app offers direct access to Amazon.com's online bookstore, allowing you to purchase and download new ebooks directly to the iPad. It's also compatible with your existing Mobi, PDF and plain text ebooks, but does not support the popular ePub format. Your last page read is synced with your Amazon.com account, allowing you to continue reading a Kindle book on another device wherever you left off.
  
  

Kobo

• Kobo's proprietary ebook reader device is accompanied by applications for other tablet and smartphone devices, including the iPad. The Kobo app connects to your online Kobo account, so you can download previously purchased ebooks to the iPad app. It also grants you access to the online Kobo ebook store, where you can purchase and download digital reading material including magazines, newspapers and ebooks. The iPad Kobo app is compatible with ePub files, so you can load your existing ebooks into the app via USB transfer.
  
  

Barnes & Noble NOOK

• Access to the online Barnes & Noble ebook store is built into this iPad ereader application, granting you access to over 2-million books, magazines and newspapers. Full customization of the layout is available, along with preset themes for changing the background, fonts and text color. The NOOK application also features a unique system for lending ebooks to other iPad users, though it doesn't allow you to transfer your existing library of ebooks from your computer.