Hello! I'm Boris.
I like to read.

I'm a nostr-native app designed for reading and highlighting.

Get it on Zapstore

Also as an APK on GitHub, or read in the browser.

Information does not just want to be free, it longs to be free. Information expands to fill the available storage space. Information is Rumor's younger, stronger cousin; Information is fleeter of foot, has more eyes, knows more, and understands less than Rumor.

Eric Hughes, A Cypherpunk's Manifesto
  • you
  • friends
  • nostrverse
Boris on Android in light mode: an essay in serif type with a passage highlighted in orange by a friend Reading in light mode with your own yellow highlights and purple ones from the nostrverse Reading with text-to-speech playing, the current passage highlighted Highlight settings: pick a color for your own, your friends', and nostrverse highlights

Features

Everything a reading app needs, and none of the things that make reading worse.

  • Read Anywhere

    Boris is a native Android app, built for the phone you already carry. Paste a URL, share a link from any app, or open a nostr article, and read it in peace.

    Boris also runs in any browser on desktop or tablet, and the web version installs as a PWA.

  • Distraction-Free

    Boris aims to be a calm reader app with clean typography, beautiful design, and a focus on readability.

    Boris does not and will never have ads, trackers, paywalls, subscriptions, or any other distractions.

  • Airplane Mode

    Boris is offline-first by design. With a local relay you can read, create highlights, and browse your library without a network. When in Airplane Mode or offline, Boris will store changes locally and sync later.

    Run Citrine on your phone or nostr-relay-tray on your desktop to use Boris offline.

  • Social Highlights

    Discover highlights from your friends and others, as well as long-form content from the nostrverse.

    "Swarm highlights" help you discover the most interesting passages, while the explore page will show you nostr-native long-form content.

  • Lists, Libraries, and More

    Boris turns your bookmarks into a focused reading queue. It supports public and private bookmarks, RSS feeds, as well as regular web URLs.

    Keep track of reading progress, jump to specific passages, and mark articles (and other stuff) as read.

  • Zap Splits

    When creating highlights, Boris automatically sets up zap splits so that value flows to authors and curators alike.

    You have full control over all zap splits. You can change the splits as you wish or use one of the predefined presets.

  • Comforting Colors

    Read during the day or late at night. Boris has multiple light and dark themes tuned for long reads. Choose fonts and sizes, highlight styles, and pick colors that fit your personal choice.

  • Peace of Mind

    No signups, no accounts, no lock-ins. Your data lives on Nostr, and Boris renders it locally through an opinionated lens. Boris never holds your key; Amber or a bunker signs for you.

    You will never be locked out, no matter what. Boris will never rugpull you, because it can't rugpull you. You are in full control of your data. All the highlights, bookmarks, and reading metadata you create will forever be your own.

  • Free as in Freedom

    Boris is free and open-source and always will be. You can do with it what you want. Fork it, modify it, contribute to it, or just use it as is.

    Boris is free as in beer too, but you can send me sats if you appreciate my work. #v4v

Standing on the shoulders of giants

Pricing Zaps

Boris is a labor of love and is developed by one guy. If you can't send zaps, send memes. Or things to read.

  • Free

    0 sats

    • All the features
    • Open-source forever
    • Full freedom

  • Support Boris

    2.1k sats

    • Still all the features
    • Feel great about it
    • Show up as a supporter
    • Marvel at your avatar

  • Legend

    69,420 sats

    • Fantastic numerology
    • Massive bragging rights
    • Flames around your avatar
Zap Boris

Opens the Boris profile in your nostr client. Don't have one yet? Pick a client.

FAQ

What is Nostr?
Nostr is an open protocol with a chance of working. A simple standard that defines a scalable architecture of clients and servers that can be used to spread information freely. Anyone can build on it, and anyone can use it.
Why Boris?
Boris is the reading app I always wanted to have. I had this idea for a reading app for a long time, and now I finally sat down and built it. The name comes from a hallucinated answer to the question "Who invented the highlight marker?".
What about privacy?
Boris is a nostr client, which means that all highlights and annotations are public by default. While nostr supports private bookmarks, your highlights and annotations are public, just like your notes and posts. Boris adheres to NIP-84 and publishes highlights and annotations to your relays.

Why are you still here?

You could be highlighting stuff!

Get it on Zapstore

Also as an APK on GitHub, or read in the browser.