# FBReader vs Bookoscope

The clearest difference is review sentiment: FBReader at 52% against Bookoscope's 0%. FBReader also leads on price (Free vs $2.99) and ratings volume (128 vs 1). Bookoscope's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 3.7) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). On ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

FBReader is free to download; Bookoscope costs $2.99 up front. FBReader sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Bookoscope asks for nothing beyond the download.

Bookoscope holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: FBReader has 128 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 52% of FBReader's written reviews are positive against 0% of Bookoscope's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

FBReader ships an update monthly, Bookoscope every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | FBReader | Bookoscope |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $2.99 |
| Rating | [3.7 (128 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fbreader-epub-and-fb2-reader/id1067172178/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookoscope-opds-crawler/id6476512234/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **128** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | **52.5% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Size | 22 MB | 35 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [FBReader.ORG Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1067172177) | [Isaac Lyman](https://appshunter.io/developer/1644594506) |

## 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)


### Bookoscope

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookoscope-opds-crawler/id6476512234)

Browse and download public domain ebooks or access your own self-hosted library. This app crawls OPDS endpoints, caches book data, and allows quick export to your preferred ereader.

**Highlights:** Browse self-hosted ebook libraries, Download public domain classics, Searchable by metadata, Cached feeds, Quick download and export, Compatible with Calibre-web, Kavita, Ubooquity

**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 Bookoscope free?

Bookoscope costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, FBReader or Bookoscope?

Bookoscope is rated higher. FBReader averages 3.7 out of 5 from 128 ratings, while Bookoscope averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do FBReader or Bookoscope have ads?

Neither FBReader nor Bookoscope shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, FBReader or Bookoscope?

FBReader ships an update monthly, and Bookoscope every 5 days. Most recently, FBReader was updated on October 15, 2026 and Bookoscope on October 16, 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.*