# FBReader vs Театр теней

The clearest difference is rating: Театр теней at 4.3 against FBReader's 3.7. Театр теней also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2). FBReader's advantage is ratings volume (129 vs 25) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

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

Театр теней holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: FBReader has 129 ratings behind it against 25, 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 55% of Театр теней's.

FBReader ships an update monthly, Театр теней every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | FBReader | Театр теней |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (129 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fbreader-epub-and-fb2-reader/id1067172178/reviews) | **[4.3 (25 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/id1505289766/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **129** | 25 |
| Positive reviews | 52.5% of reviews | **55.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 22 MB | 226 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [FBReader.ORG Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1067172177) | [Igor Iavorskii](https://appshunter.io/developer/1536448955) |

## 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)


### Театр теней

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/id1505289766)

Bring magical tales to life with a virtual shadow theater. The app provides story texts, atmospheric music, and narration, enhanced by your phone's flashlight. Create enchanting performances for children.

**Highlights:** Interactive shadow theater, Story texts, Atmospheric music, Character narration, Phone flashlight integration, Create performances

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is FBReader free?

FBReader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Театр теней free?

Театр теней is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, FBReader or Театр теней?

Театр теней is rated higher. FBReader averages 3.7 out of 5 from 129 ratings, while Театр теней averages 4.3 from 25 ratings.

### Do FBReader or Театр теней have ads?

Neither FBReader nor Театр теней shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, FBReader or Театр теней?

FBReader ships an update monthly, and Театр теней every 5 weeks. Most recently, FBReader was updated on November 6, 2026 and Театр теней on November 7, 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.*
