# FBReader vs eBoox

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.

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

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | FBReader | eBoox |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (128 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fbreader-epub-and-fb2-reader/id1067172178/reviews) | **[4.8 (3.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/eboox-fb2-epub-book-reader/id1489172068/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 128 | **3.5K** |
| Positive reviews | 52.5% of reviews | **88.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 22 MB | 177 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **9.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [FBReader.ORG Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1067172177) | [REDIT, OOO](https://appshunter.io/developer/1527115266) |

## What reviewers say

### FBReader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fbreader-epub-and-fb2-reader/id1067172178)

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:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| FBReader Full Edition | $12.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

- 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

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/eboox-fb2-epub-book-reader/id1489172068)

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

- 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


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*
