# Marvin Classic (free edition) - eBook reader for epub — user reviews > 29 indexed App Store user reviews of Marvin Classic (free edition) by Appstafarian Limited, rated 2.58/5 from 12 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marvin-classic-free-edition-ebook-reader-for-epub/id711411659/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marvin-classic-free-edition-ebook-reader-for-epub/id711411659.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 3 · 4★ 2 · 3★ 0 · 2★ 1 · 1★ 6 ## Newest reviews (9 of 29) ### 2/5 — Overly Broad Dropbox Access *2015-12-20, version 2.8.5* The app asks for complete Dropbox access; this is unacceptable. A single folder, sure, but complete access is just not ok for a third party app. ### 2/5 — Neglected or dead? *2015-05-16, version 2.8.1* Falling further and further behind the author's newer app Gerty, this hasn't received any attention in a very long time, despite the author's claims that it would include scrolling. Even iBooks has gotten that feature. I suppose this version is free, but I can't add this review to the paid version so I have to leave it here. ### 3/5 — Perfect app, but I can't buy it without the ability to scroll *2015-04-10, version 2.8.1* I'd buy this instantly if you were given the ability to scroll. I also wish that you could change the overall theme, because the red is very harsh. I like the design of Gerty much better because it is easier on my eyes. However, Gerty doesn't have the features that Marvin does such as editing metadata. As a result, the apps are kind of stuck in a state of limbo. ### 2/5 — no PDF?? *2014-12-31, version 2.8.1* love the feel look and functionality of marvin and was excited of getting the paid version but no PDF reading support is a major deal breaker as, like many others out there, i have a big pdf book library that cannot be converted to pdfs. now that ibooks for mac ruined the whole ibooks experience i was looking for a solution and marvin seemed like a viable one but pdf-s are a big part of the ipad book experience ### 3/5 — Free version only displays ONE book! *2014-09-22, version 2.7.5* It's a nice eBook reader. Free version is limited to one book at a time so it's more of a try it before you buy it. Would be more helpful to display more (say...ten?) books so users could try it more easily with ore than one book at a time. Like it better than Neosoar, which I have been using for a year or more. Worth four bucks but "free" version should allow more than one book to be displayed in the library at a time. I gave the paid version five stars. ### 2/5 — No connection *2014-04-16, version 2.7* Marvin seems OK, but I can't connect to see any calibre books. I can browse the calibre library server in Safari on the iPhone, but Marvin hangs on a 'Ready...' screen. It seemed like it might be a good way to organize books between devices, but simply browsing on Safari to share between devices seems to be the way to go for me. ### 1/5 — Print too small *2014-02-24, version 2.6.5* I have been unable to determine how to increase the font size. As it is, I am unable read what is displayed. That makes it of no value to me. ### 1/5 — Get the paid version *2014-01-04, version 2.6* This app was horrible with ads, get the pro version, VERY nice and best I have seen. ### 2/5 — Too. Limited *2013-10-02, version 2.1.5* Sadly this version is way too limited. You can only see one(1) book at a time in the library. The whole point of me see ing If I like this program is to see how good the library system is and one book just doesn't cut it. I can understand a limited library (10 to 20) but one book viewing doesn't allow that. Would be nice in the author sort menu if you could preview the title of a book or 2. 1/2 the time I forget the authors name, but can remember based on a couple of book samples where a book I want is. Bugs: crashes if trying to connect to calibre and forget to turn on the calibre end the connection Shuffle books does not work (dice icon) Searching for a book does not work (is fine in the "all book" menu, but doesn't any where else that I've tried) edit: never mind doesn't work here either Really needs quick scrolling on the author/author sort/unread/selector (when you hit the upper right icon to bring up display options). The right side would work great for that because there is a lot of empty space. It would also be nice if there could be quick selection there for quick selecting a collection or something like that ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Oops, Code=400 *2019-07-06, version 2.9.1* I downloaded the free version onto my iPhone to read an ebook in Dropbox. When I connect to Dropbox, I get an “Oops” with a code 400. I can’t find anyplace to report errors. ### 1/5 — Dont bother *2017-07-21, version 2.9.1* This app is severely crippled. you can only see the first book in your "library". ### 1/5 — Stupid way to force buying *2017-01-27, version 2.9.1* I was using the free version and now you losers remove all my books from the library and I need to delete a book to read another?!!! Well, this gets thrown in the rubbish bin where it belongs, other ebook apps out there. ### 1/5 — Worthless *2015-11-01, version 2.8.5* This free eReader shows you only the first book in your library. Why bother? ### 1/5 — Useless *2015-06-10, version 2.8.1* I loaded the Marvin Free app onto my iPhone to see if Marvin had a single feature (direct sync'ing to Calibre) that other reader apps on the iPhone don't have. But the free app only allows you to read the bundled free books, so I still have no idea. I'll continue manually syncing my eBooks using a different reader app, I guess, since the developer of Marvin apparently isn't willing to put out a preview with enough functionality so that I can determine whether it's worth buying or not and I'm not wasting money on something that merely replicates what already works for me. ### 1/5 — Useless *2015-04-24, version 2.8.1* With a ONE book limit, and no searching within the library, there is no way to actually -use- this app. ### 1/5 — Terrible app highly doubt paid version is worth it *2015-01-28, version 2.8.1* The free Marvin app is completely useless. No matter what I tried I could only get the free book it offered. Wouldn't sync to calibre and after doing some reading on forums where the developer actually chimed in decided he's a mediocre developer with little to no future in the app business. I seriously hope he does an over haul or apple removes the app. Keep the paid one if you like it but the free one is virtually useless. Maybe you should think more about customer satisfaction and less about apple and your pocket book... ### 1/5 — Useless *2014-10-28, version 2.7.6* Only shows one book. Don't bother downloading this. ### 1/5 — Almost Useless *2014-09-01, version 2.7.2* Unless you're someone who reads one book at a time, cover to cover, this app is pointless. It lets you download several books from the web, but will only show you one at a time in the library. ### 1/5 — Deleted minutes after downloading re) no pdf reading *2014-08-05, version 2.7.2* Nothing else to say. If the app won't read my pdfs on my ipad then the app is useless to me no matter what else it can do. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Marving Classic is Excellent *2022-05-20, version 2.9.1* Marvin classic is an excellent ereader. Far better than the top ereaders. ### 5/5 — Terrific ebook reader that works great. *2014-11-17, version 2.8.1* No complaints. It just works, reliably. It's my ebook reader of choice, and I've tried a lot of them. ### 5/5 — A+ *2014-09-09, version 2.7.5* A+ ### 5/5 — The new standard in e-reader apps *2013-10-31, version 2.3* This app is amazing. So fluid. Very customizable reading page. Excellent library management options, wired and wireless. Calibre integration. Easy to use. ! Try this, and you WILL get the full version really soon. I know I am. ### 5/5 — Awesome app *2013-10-30, version 2.3* Best ebook reader I've had since the old Stanza. I can't imagine it doesn't have anything a user could want. Worth it. ### 4/5 — Does the job well 4 me! *2015-11-10, version 2.8.5* Reliable reader and EZ to link to Dropbox in the cloud where my ePub format books are. I like the try-B4-U-buy. Recommended! .................... Feedback: make the description better for novices who don't understand EPUB format nor Calibre and the like. Confused shoppers get frustrated. ### 4/5 — Best reading app, but needs just one more thing... *2015-03-08, version 2.8.1* I love this app. Customization is perfect, colors, ease of use, easy to switch between day and night modes, beautiful fonts like LORA, screen warming and brightness change with a swipe, ability to adjust the spacing is wonderful!!! The only reason I won't give it five stars is the lack of auto-scroll, which has already been implemented in the "I love that I am a book reader" app Gerty (by the same creator), but still not in Marvin, the reader for people who love to read. I hope this is added soon, preferably before more Gerty updates. I really love Marvin and highly recommend it! As soon as auto-scroll is added, it will be a five star app!!! ### 4/5 — Wow *2014-02-25, version 2.6.5* What a great app to read! I just wish you could see what page you are on in the book. ### 3/5 — Highlighting is painful *2016-02-21, version 2.8.5* Why highlighting is so hard? Everything else is awesome. The reading experience is by far the best in the market. However, for those who love highlighting, it is really painful. Please, fix that just copying iBooks. Then, you would be 5 star. Otherwise, unfortunately, I need to use another app. ### 3/5 — Look promising *2016-02-15, version 2.8.5* I have downloaded the app on both an iPhone 6s and iPad 3. I'm going to review Marvin for both and state difference when they are. After upgrading my Phone to 6s I noticed the absence of Stanza. A couple of blog pointed Marvin as a replacement of it so I have installed and use it. It has very good features to configure books for reading from swipe up/down to easily change brightness and two fingers to change the "temperature" of background. It's functions allows to maximize the character per pixel, meaning that you can use the whole device screen for reading to a good extent. Certainly better than iBooks, but the header and footer area is not removable, unless you can diminish its brightness and make it invisible, the area is not claimed for reading. The iPad version has additional multi touch controls not available on the iPhone and some controls are in different location. In general is a good idea to differentiate devices functionality. Caliber connection is a bit tricky since it doesn't work from the "Get Books/Calibre" it is required to go to "Get Books/OPDS/Local Network/Calibre" which is 2 additional clicks and tricky. I still don't understand why it has two methods. I'm still evaluating before purchase the paid version. I will give five stars if the following is included (in order of importance): 1. Use of iCloud to sync reading for different Apple devices. iOS users already have an iCloud account. Why is then required to open a Box account? I know is free, but there is just another password to remember and an additional step to configure if you upgrade your device. After updating a device, there is a sense to the user of which applications use iCloud and how they seamless port all settings beautifully. I do suggest to have the option for cloud services (Box or iCloud) to sync: reading progress, complete books, a none (settings only). I understand that might be users of different platforms but they are the minority. Once a user experience iOS it is most likely that if it has multiple devices they will be iOS as well. 2. The ability to read PDFs. GoodReader will be the benchmark in this area. I was surprised Marvin didn't have this capability. 3. 3D touch. I do suggest to have a quick shortcut for the following: - Current Reading - Current Cover Reading - Library - Sync Reading (force all devices to sync progress even if on blocked screen). --- *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.*