# Marvin Classic - eBook reader for epub — user reviews > 50 indexed App Store user reviews of Marvin Classic by Appstafarian Limited, rated 2.99/5 from 71 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marvin-classic-ebook-reader-for-epub/id667361209/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marvin-classic-ebook-reader-for-epub/id667361209.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 24 · 4★ 10 · 3★ 6 · 2★ 3 · 1★ 28 ## Newest reviews (16 of 50) ### 4/5 — So much better than Marvin 3 *2019-07-22, version 2.9.1* I’ve been using this app for 5 years because it had all the functions I needed and the most user-friendly UI of any of the ePub readers I tried. However, the app developer has abandoned this app in favor of Marvin 3. As a result, without the needed updates this app no longer links to Dropbox. To justify spinning off a new app, Marvin 3 added a bunch of bells & whistles. Some of the new features are great ones (especially text-to-speech, although it has its own bugs). But Marvin 3’s lost this app’s user-friendly, streamlined UI. Now it’s as clunky as KyBook. I’ll still use this as long as newer versions of iOS will let me, but it’s sad that the developer dropped this app in favor of a new one with an inferior UI. ### 3/5 — Downloading needs some TLC. *2018-07-27, version 2.9.1* I love the app, but my one gripe is with the way it handles downloads. I’m on a slow, metered connection so downloading books from my online collection takes time. I already have several books in the app, so when browsing my cloud collection and one catches my fancy I start to download it. Not only do I have to baby sit the download so that the screen doesn’t go to sleep, but because of my slow connection, it takes time. The worst part is when after it reaches 100% it then informs me that I already had it! Why not check before starting? Also, why not continue partially downloaded books? I’ve had to restart so many times that I’ve lost count. So frustrating. ### 3/5 — Calibre upload is broken *2018-04-15, version 2.9.1* I want to move my library to this app, but until the calibre upload is fixed I can’t do that... Otherwise it seems like it will be a great app. ### 3/5 — Dropbox support? What’s that? *2018-01-07, version 2.9.1* It’s a good reader. But... Dropbox support doesn’t work... Kinda important that... ### 3/5 — Dropbox link broken *2017-12-30, version 2.9.1* Was a great application, though they seem to be pushing Marvin 3, which is not nearly as user friendly. I paid for this application and having been using it for many years. I find it hard to believe a simple link to Dropbox can not be fixed. Attempting to steer customers to your new app by not fixing the other they have paid for does not inspire trust in the developer. ### 2/5 — Need to fix Dropbox Sync! *2017-11-27, version 2.9.1* This app was the best book reader. Then the Dropbox Sync was broken a few weeks ago. An App update was provided yesterday, but not fixing this feature. I can’t use iCloud sync, as is implemented in Marvin 3. This app is being sold Without the features advertised, without the features I’ve paid for. As such it is a 2 at best. ### 1/5 — Does not work with Dropbox *2017-10-25, version 2.9.1* In spite of the claims, I cannot upload ePub books with Dropbox. All I get is a cryptic error message with no hint as to what the problem is. I paid $4 for this app and would like my money back, or I would like the problem with Dropbox to be fixed. ### 3/5 — Developer needs to update *2017-10-21, version 2.9.1* The only e-book app I use. I can't access my dropbox anymore to grab my books since dropbox deprecated their API v1 and is now on API v2. 🙄 shouldn't the app be updated to reflect this? It would be awesome if we could cloud sync the books we have and the last page read through all devices that have Marvin installed also. That would be wonderful. ### 1/5 — Can’t add any books right now. *2017-10-05, version 2.9.1* Unable to add any books with Dropbox since I purchased it so I can’t even use it to give a proper review. When that gets fixed, I will update my review. ### 1/5 — A shame... *2017-10-04, version 2.9.1* Used to be great because it USED to work. Now all of a sudden it cannot find the custom books folder I had set up for a year on Dropbox. D E L E T E D . . . ### 4/5 — Great App, But... *2017-05-17, version 2.9.1* This is by far my favorite app for reading epub format books. I use it every day. It is what made me realize how superior the epub format is over pdf. That said, there is room for improvement: 1. The developer has apparently written several epub reader apps, each of which must be purchased separately. It is not at all clear what the differences are, nor if they are significant. The developer should post a simple comparison of the various epub reader apps he/she has. 2. As far as I can tell, ALL of the developer's apps provide a way of extending the commands. However, NOWHERE is there a description of how to do this. Apparently the programmer thinks everyone knows how to do this, so there is no need for any information. Not so. E.g. I would like to underline words/phrases/sentences. How to do this ? Your guess is as good as mine -- or perhaps better, since I have not been able to do this. 3. The developer has provided many "cute" alternative views, color schemes, etc. MUCH more useful to me would be a wider selection of colors to use for highlighting, UNDERLINING, etc. I really do not need mauve letters on a peach background. A much more useful set of features is available in iAnnotate, which is one of the best pdf readers. E.g., you can choose from an infinite color palette for highlighing and/underlining. Unfortunately, pdf files to not provide the simple functionality of easily changing text size and reformating the page. So, you are either stuck with the limited feature set of Marvin -- which I do love, despite my critical comments here, or a fuller feature set that only works for pdf files. 4. It would be good to have a simple converter from pdf to epub and back, but that is apparaently not so easy to write. ### 1/5 — Not a reader *2017-05-13, version 2.9.1* I could not get this app to read anything. Natural Read is a good app if you want to listen to books while you drive. ### 1/5 — Almost perfect *2017-05-10, version 2.9.1* Have to knock down to a low rating. Instead of continued support it the author just makes newer versions. Fragmentation is a plague on software and the features being implemented in new "premium" versions should have made their way to this version. Make it the best 5 dollar ebook app and people will keep buying it. Very disappointed ### 4/5 — Great app! *2016-12-17, version 2.9.1* Just purchased Marvin then discovered Marvin 3. I'd love a refund so I could purchase the 3. ### 1/5 — Crap *2016-11-01, version 2.9.1* No page curl, no PDF import, have to buy themes if you want more options. iBooks is better, if you want fifty different font colors, this is for you. That's about all it's good for. ### 1/5 — Needs fix *2016-10-07, version 2.9.1* Paid for it, no longer works well. Avoid until updated. (4/15) Edit: issues are not addressed. Rendering a math text takes FORRRREEEEEVVVVVVVEEEEEERRRRRRR. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Poor support and calibre connectivity *2019-12-24, version 2.9.1* I tried the free app and was pleased with the overall design. My reason for purchasing the full version was to make use of the calibre plugin functionality only to find out that it has not been working for some time. I have contacted customer support and have yet to hear back from them. So many people recommend this app and I want to give it a fair try but it is failing to meet the basic needs for accessing and holding an ePub library. ### 1/5 — Not support for iOS 13 *2019-12-07, version 2.9.1* Developers need to update to the new Dropbox api and ios13 ### 1/5 — Broken in iOS 13 *2019-10-27, version 2.9.1* Worked perfectly yesterday before I upgraded from iOS 12. I’ve been using it for years... no longer shows up in list of apps under “open in” for an epub I also get an error when I try to connect to Dropbox. I literally have no way to load books on now What a bummer. This was my favorite app ... no response from developer. Will go back to 5 star if I can actually use this previously perfect app again ### 1/5 — Was onc a Great app *2019-10-11, version 2.9.1* Was at one time my favorite ebook reader. But it has gone from a 5 star to a one star as it has been abandoned by its owner. With the release os ios 13.1.2 one can no longer load books into it from email or Dropbox. Sad ### 1/5 — No longer supports Dropbox. *2019-03-18, version 2.9.1* There is an error when trying to find books stored on Dropbox. The developer will not fix it, instead you need to pay for an upgrade instead. Not happening. ### 1/5 — Developer abandoned this app *2019-02-01, version 2.9.1* This was my favorite ebook app. In 2017, however, Dropbox updated their API, breaking integration with Marvin. I decided to be patient. The newer (not "classic") version of the app got patched almost immediately. Two years later, still nothing. And because one of the few real weaknesses of the app was the inconvenience of importing books through any other method, this loss of functionality basically ruins the app. I'm obviously not going to buy a new version of an app when the developer's made it clear they're not going to maintain their product, so today I finally delete this now-useless app from my phone. May god have mercy on your soul. ### 1/5 — Worthless AP *2018-01-07, version 2.9.1* Does not work with Dropbox. Won’t import anything. I’m guessing it’s not updated past IOS 9. Waste of money. ### 1/5 — Used to be very good *2017-12-26, version 2.9.1* I used Marvin flawlessly for a couple of years. I was able to import hundreds of books from my Dropbox account easily and efficiently. But that’s all gone now. I am heartbroken to report that Marvin no longer works with Dropbox. When I attempt to connect to Dropbox, I get a very long error message. I am unable to copy/paste the error, and it would take me hours to transcribe the cryptic message accurately. Only now do I discover that there is no obvious way to report the error to Marvin support, and even if there were, I could not possibly provide the long error message to them. Simply put: Marvin is no longer useful to me. I purchased it because of their Dropbox support, and that no longer works. I don’t know if it was broken due to recent updates to iOS, but no matter what caused the failure, it simply doesn’t work anymore, and there seems to be no way to report the error. My Marvin rating has gone from 5 stars to 1 star; I would make it 0 stars now if that were an option. ### 1/5 — Used to be great! *2017-11-29, version 2.9.1* I'm very suspicious that now all of a sudden the original Marvin doesn't sync to Dropbox. I can see by the reviews that users have asked for the sync to be fixed several times (as I have) and it has not - even with a recent update. Is Appstafarian trying to force users into a paid upgrade to Marvin 3?? Very suspect that this doesn't work now. Try tiReader folks. That's a great app with a creator who is responsive to his customers. Marvin 3 is an over-developed money grab with its own issues. ### 1/5 — Dropbox *2017-10-31, version 2.9.1* Don't work books from Dropbox latest time :( Please, fix it!!! PS But Marvin 3 syncing books from Dropbox without any problem. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Marvin is the best reason to use iPad as an ereader. *2018-08-02, version 2.9.1* Marvin is the goto ereader especially with it's ability to sync across devices and integrate with Calibre. It's a wonderful tool. No need to look for another tool. ### 5/5 — ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜 *2017-11-27, version 2.9.1* I love it! This has been my favorite app for years. ### 5/5 — Excellent app *2017-11-27, version 2.9.1* The "sort by author" option -- the real kind, where you see the author names & tap to see that author's works -- was a little hard for me to find once, but it's awesome. This is the best ePub reader. It is worth the $. (In fact, I should see about supporting them by buying another color-option.) ### 5/5 — Best reader app yet. *2016-10-10, version 2.9.1* Mini great features and customization. Love the scrolling on iPhone and love the feature to put more text on a page. ### 5/5 — The app that convinced me to replace Stanza *2016-08-27, version 2.9.1* Because many former Stanza users recommended Marvin's iPad version, I decided to risk the $5 when the iPod/Phone version became available. And after less than a day of use, I'm sold. I was able to load my 800ish books easily via the Marvin plugin for Calibre, and I'm finding it overall usable. Why four stars and not five? Two reasons. First, there's a bug that quits the program every time the Pod goes to sleep; the developer says it's been confirmed and fixed, though, so I'm looking forward to the update! Second, the one thing I miss from Stanza is being able to look at my library and see which books are partially read without having to open them to check; again, though, this seems to be on the developer's radar. Overall, I do think it's $4.99 well spent, and I expect to spend many hours using it. 27 Aug 2016 update: Upgrading my rating to 5 stars. I use this app every day and have hundred of books in my library, which it manages happily. All the things I missed from Stanza have long since been added. And they're still maintaining a version that runs on my old iPod Touch that can't be upgraded above iOS 6! As long as I'm using an iOS device, this will be my epub reader. ### 5/5 — Great Reading App -- Far Superior to Marvin 3 *2016-07-30, version 2.9.1* This is a great, user friendly app with the best customizations I've seen. It is much better than the new Marvin 3 version, so if you have to choose one I'd definitely choose this one. This is probably the most user friendly reading app that I've tried (and I've tried a lot of them) and Marvin 3 is one of the least user friendly reading apps I've tried. ### 5/5 — Yes this is a great app! *2016-07-07, version 2.9.1* On the iOS platform, this is the app to go to for reading .epub publications. It is intuitive to use and has great features. ### 5/5 — The Best I've Seen *2015-08-12, version 2.8.5* I jumped on the ebook train once I first learned of the Kindle. Today, I carry my phone everywhere (rather than an ereader) and I find the epub book format much more convenient. This app fills that need and it does it splendidly. You can format the text however you desire as you read. It has a night time mode (that I now use all the time). It has a multitude of convenient methods to help download books on to your device and ready to read. It's friendly to my battery. The screen brightness can auto adjust based upon your surrounding environment. It has everything one expects from an ereader app and it does it all well. This is my favorite ereader app. And you can try it yourself with the free version. It's the same as the pro, but you're limited to storing one book in your Marvin library at a time. So give it a shot and maybe you'll fall in love with Marvin like me. I upgraded to pro and am glad I did. ### 5/5 — Best iOS ebook reader bar none *2015-08-09, version 2.8.5* It has its glitches, but the versatility and customization just can't be compared. The only thing that still really bothers me is that you can't set it to show descriptions YOU write in the main book listings, which is a problem when dealing with a large number of books that have no covers, and are therefore just a long list of unidentifiable text. The easiest way for me to figure out what any given book in my library actually is, is to just open it and quickly go to the preface where a summary usually sits for me. This is inconvenient and aggravatingly slow. This is a problem in *every* ereader I've ever used, though, and not particular to Marvin. (Please add as much customization to the book listings as you have to the actual reading experience! I love you!) ### 5/5 — Marvin epub reader *2015-08-09, version 2.8.5* After using iBooks and getting dissatisfied with its performance I looked at almost every EPUB reader available. I have not found any that come close to Marvin. As someone who has vision problems Marvin has the flexibility and the features that are perfect for me. I especially love having the ability to choose from a multitude of page colors and text colors in order to customize a comfortable reading page that suits my needs. The other very important feature that Is especially helpful is the references feature. When you tap on a reference or footnote the screen comes up in the same font that you set the reading page to. In most other EPUB readers all you get is a little box with very small writing. If you need a larger font what good is that little box? Marvin got this one right. I recommend Marvin to everyone I talk to. DJN --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*