As most poems are usually (though not always) shorter than a short story, these bite-sized chunks of literary beauty seem like they were destined to be enjoyed in our tiny handheld screens.
OK, so that’s probably not what Byron or Keats ever imagined, but you get the picture. If you’re into reading or writing poetry, your phone is a pretty convenient place to do so.
It’s no surprise, then, that some creative geniuses out there already developed mobile apps for devoted readers and daydreaming poets. In this post, we’ll take a look at what they’ve done with the best poetry apps.
What Are the Best Poetry Apps?
Below is a list of fun and helpful poetry apps for poetry readers who want to enjoy old and new poems, as well as aspiring poets who need a little organization or inspiration.
Poetry Apps for Readers
These poetry apps offer readers no shortage of reading material and inspiration. Some boast libraries of thousands of classic poems, while others supply a new poem each day.
Poetry Foundation App
Poetry Foundation is one of the best websites for free poetry. With their mobile app, you can get hundreds of classic and contemporary poems on the go, and have your very own poetry library right in your phone.
You can save your favorites and easily share them via Facebook, Twitter, or email. Search for an old favorite by entering a few keywords or lines, or treat yourself to a surprise by shaking your phone to discover new poems to fit any mood.
Price: Free
Poemhunter
Poemhunter features a portable library of over 1.4 million poems by over 100,000 professional and amateur poets.
Search for specific poems and poets, or tap on Random Poem to discover new poems at random. You may find a treasured work by the likes of Maya Angelou, William Shakespeare, or Langston Hughes, or you might be pleasantly surprised by new and rising talent.
Price: Free
Wings
Wings allows you to read poetry, discover interesting facts and information about that work or poet, list your favorites, and even pair your own photos with poems.
Available for: iOS
Price: Free
THF Haiku
If you’re a fan of the short and simple, haikus may be just the poem for you. The Haiku Foundation now has its own app that gives you a portable library of haiku.
THF Haiku features hundreds of beautiful, 3-line poems from around the world that you can enjoy anywhere. Search poems by author or content, or shake your phone to see a haiku at random.
Available for: iOS
Price: Free
The Poetry Hour
With this free app developed by the Josephine Hart Poetry Foundation, you can listen to hundreds of poems by 16 of the greatest poets of all time, including Lord Byron, Sylvia Plath, and T.S Eliot.
Perhaps the best part is that the poems have been recited (in audio and video format) by over 30 world-class actors and performers, including Bono, Rosamund Pike, and Eddie Redmayne, to name a few.
Price: Free
Poesie
Poesie partners with publishers around the world to provide a curated daily program highlighting some the best classic and contemporary poetry. They feature a new poet each week, exploring a bit about that poet’s life and writing style.
With each poem you’ll also find informational blurbs, audio recordings, and visual artwork. Save your favorites to your profile, or discuss them with other users. A portion of your subscription fee will go to featured poets and independent publishing houses.
Available for: iOS
Price: $1.99/month, or $14.99/year
Poetry Apps for Poets
If you’re a poet yourself, these apps will ensure you have all the help and inspiration you need right in your pocket.
Word Palette
If you’re feeling bogged down by writer’s block, Word Palette can help you experiment and find new inspiration by dragging around “palettes” of scrambled words to create poems.
You can even collect parts of your favorite lyrics, articles, and stories to convert them into Palettes.
Available for: iOS
Price: Free
Rhymers’ Block
Rhymers’ Block is a real-time rhyme suggestion engine and dictionary that suggests rhymes as you write, making this a go-to tool for poets, songwriters, and those times you find yourself in an on-the-spot rap battle.
Available for: iOS
Price: Free
Poet Assistant
Very similar to Rhymers’ Block, Poet Assistant is another great rhyme dictionary, but for Android users. The dictionaries are built into the app, so you can easily use them offline!
Available for: Android
Price: Free
Cannonball
Cannonball is a fun game that allows aspiring poets to create poems and add images and hashtags, then then share those poems with friends.
Start with an image from the gallery, then choose words around a particular tag, such as #adventure, #romance, #nature, or #mystery to complete the story and share it with friends. You can also browse the top creations of other users for inspiration.
Available for: iOS
Price: Free
PortaPoet
PortaPoet is a social network for poets. Here, you can discover new and top-rated poems to get inspired, save your favorites, then write and share your own creations.
Available for: iOS
Price: Free
Poetry Slam
Poetry Slam allows two poets to duel it out with their words. Build creative poems using the tens of thousands of combinations available in the app, then get ready for battle.
Available for: Android
Price: Free
Poet’s Pad
Poet’s Pad was designed to help fight writer’s block by helping you generate new ideas using their emotion-based word and phrase generator.
You’ll also never be short on rhymes, since the app features a rhyming dictionary of over 70,000 words. The digital audio recorder allows you to refine your spoken word poetry and practice your storytelling skills.
Available for: iOS
Price: $9.99
More Reading and Writing Resources
There’s an app for everything, and literature is no exception. If you’re looking for more ways to improve your writing, check out our list of the best writing apps.
Or, if you’d like more ways to read on your mobile device, we’ve got your covered with these 10 great ebook apps that make it easy to read on the go.
Did you find this post helpful? Let us know in the comments below!
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
- 33 Poems for Kids of All Ages
- 9 Best Sites for Free Poetry
- 14 Feminist Poems to Inspire Strong Women
- Wedding Poems: The Best Poems About Love and Marriage
As a blog writer for TCK Publishing, Kaelyn loves crafting fun and helpful content for writers, readers, and creative minds alike. She has a degree in International Affairs with a minor in Italian Studies, but her true passion has always been writing. Working remotely allows her to do even more of the things she loves, like traveling, cooking, and spending time with her family.
