Comparison

FBReader vs eBoox

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

FBReader

A fast and versatile e-book reader supporting multiple formats like ePub, Kindle, and fb2. It offers cloud syncing for reading progress and a customizable interface. Upgrade to unlock unlimited library access and advanced features.

Highlights
  • Supports ePub, Kindle azw3, fb2, RTF, Word, HTML, and text
  • ePub3 and Readium LCP DRM support
  • Cloud syncing of library and reading positions
  • Customizable appearance and behavior options
  • Direct opening of downloaded files
  • Free version with library limits
Features
Read full description

FBReader is a fast and easy-to-use e-book reader for iPhone and iPad. It supports all major e-book formats, including ePub (with key ePub3 features), Kindle azw3, and fb2 (.zip). You can open both unprotected books and ePub files protected with Readium LCP DRM. FBReader also reads RTF, Word (.doc), HTML, and plain text, so you can keep all your books and documents in one place. Read anywhere and pick up right where you left off. FBReader can sync your library, reading positions, bookmarks, and more across devices using the FBReader Book Network, a cloud service powered by Google Drive. If you prefer managing files yourself, you can download books in your browser and open them directly with FBReader. A wide range of appearance and behavior options lets you customize the reading experience to match your preferences. Free version and upgrade options: • The free version allows up to 10 books in your library. • The built-in translation feature is disabled. Upgrade to the full version to remove these limits and enjoy the complete FBReader experience.

About

eBoox

This application provides a comfortable and customizable reading experience for a wide variety of e-book formats. It offers features like bookmarks, highlights, dark mode, and offline reading, with seamless online synchronization. Books can be easily uploaded from various sources, including cloud storage and email.

Highlights
  • Supports EPUB, MOBI, FB2, DOC, TXT, and more
  • Customizable fonts, text size, and brightness
  • Dark mode and offline reading
  • Bookmarks, highlights, and notes
  • Online auto-sync of books and progress
  • AD-FREE reading experience
Read full description

eBoox – the most pleasant book reader ever! * *according to my mom :) • Cute, simple and useful UI, • Effective reading tools: bookmarks, 3-colors highlights, interactive links and notes, • Dark mode and offline reading, • Customized settings - Fonts, Fields, Text size, screen Brightness, Page scrolling, ets. • Suppots all your e-books, even in ZIP: EPUB, MOBI, DOC, DOCX, TXT, FB2, PRC, RTF, ODT, HTML, AZW, AZW3 and others text documents, • PDF supported (beta), • !Completely AD-FREE, • !Online auto SYNC of ebooks and reading progress, • !FREE WEB e-reader available! Start reading your e-books right now! Upload books via iTunes, import your files from the email, web browser, cloud storages (iCloud, Google Drive, Dropbox, Yandex.Disk etc) or share via AirDrop. In the app you will find detailed guide How to add ebooks in different ways. And we've already added three classic welcome books so you can appreciate the e-reader right away! This is a upgraded version of eBoox. The old one is no longer supported. In order not to lose your books, progress, quotes and bookmarks, install this app version. Run it on device and wait for the data transfer to finish. When you make sure that all your books appeared in eBoox 2020, you can safely delete eBoox.old. You can turn on the synchronization for backup.

Screenshots

FBReader4 screens
eBoox4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: eBoox at 4.8 against FBReader's 3.7. eBoox also leads on review sentiment (88% vs 52%) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. FBReader sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. eBoox asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

eBoox holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: eBoox has 3.5K ratings behind it against 128, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of FBReader's written reviews are positive against 88% of eBoox's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
FBReader versus eBoox: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFBReadereBoox
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.7 (128 ratings)4.8 (3.5K ratings) — better
Positive reviews52.5% of reviews88.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1283.5K — better
Update frequencyMonthlyMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.09.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size22 MB177 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperFBReader.ORG LimitedREDIT, OOO

Customer experience

FBReader

All ratings128 ratings
Positive64.8%
Neutral9.4%
Negative25.8%
Written reviews322 reviews
Positive52.5%
Neutral14.0%
Negative33.5%

eBoox

All ratings3,544 ratings
Positive94.7%
Neutral1.7%
Negative3.6%
Written reviews799 reviews
Positive88.1%
Neutral4.6%
Negative7.3%

User reviews

FBReader

From 128 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fast and smooth reading experience
  • 👍 Simple and intuitive interface
  • 💡 Customizable font, margin, and layout options
  • 🔒 Secure syncing across devices
  • 🎨 Retro background textures

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes and freezes
  • 🔧 Lack of advanced organization features (folders, shelves)
  • 🚫 No PDF support
  • 🔍 Inconsistent search and book discovery
  • 🔒 Privacy concerns around data collection

eBoox

From 3.5K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Smooth and fast reading experience
  • 👍 Clean and intuitive interface
  • 🔒 No ads or in-app purchases
  • 💡 Ability to customize fonts and themes
  • 🚀 Seamless syncing across devices

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional issues with highlighting and annotations
  • 🔧 Limited font and customization options
  • 🔧 Lack of built-in dictionary or translation features
  • 🔧 Difficulty importing books from local storage
  • 🔧 Inconsistent page numbering and progress display

Bugs and requests

FBReader

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Syncing issues with Google Drive
  • Deletion of books from library
  • Formatting problems with large footnotes
  • Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions

Requested features

5 requests
  • Vertical scrolling mode
  • Improved bookmark and annotation tools
  • Ability to add/change book covers
  • Text-to-speech functionality
  • Better library management (read/unread, collections)

eBoox

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Highlighting and annotations sometimes behave unexpectedly
  • Syncing between devices can be unreliable at times
  • Occasional crashes or freezes when navigating the app

Requested features

7 requests
  • Add more font options, including bold and italic
  • Implement a built-in dictionary or translation tool
  • Allow direct import of books from local device storage
  • Improve page numbering and reading progress display
  • Add support for PDF files and annotations
Show 2 more
  • Introduce a grid-style library view for book covers
  • Implement automatic dark mode based on system settings

In-app purchases

1 purchases

FBReader

One-time1
  • FBReader Full Edition2 variants$12.99
None

eBoox

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is FBReader free?
FBReader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is eBoox free?
eBoox is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, FBReader or eBoox?
eBoox is rated higher. FBReader averages 3.7 out of 5 from 128 ratings, while eBoox averages 4.8 from 3.5K ratings.
Do FBReader or eBoox have ads?
Neither FBReader nor eBoox shows ads.
Which is updated more often, FBReader or eBoox?
FBReader ships an update monthly, and eBoox monthly. Most recently, FBReader was updated on September 23, 2026 and eBoox on September 22, 2026.

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