Ebook Reader vs FBReader
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Ebook Reader
Access and read your favorite books on the go with this free application. Enjoy a vast collection of popular titles, read online, or download them for offline access. Features include intuitive page turning, adjustable fonts, and synchronized reading progress across devices.
- Read books online or offline
- Sync reading progress across devices
- Adjustable font size and night mode
- Page turning with tap or swipe
- Search text within books
- Organize books into collections
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Ebook Reader is replaced by our new app, eBooks.com. It is free on the App Store for iPhones and iPads running iOS 16 or later. It is faster and made for the newest devices and gets all our new features. Sign in with your eBooks.com account, and your bookshelf comes with you. This app is still available for readers on older devices. It is no longer updated, but it still works like before. Ebook Reader lets you read your favourite books while you are out. Go to eBooks.com and pick from a huge list of popular books you can download right away, or read your books online from any device with internet. Ebook Reader is free and made for the iPad and iPhone.
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.
- 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
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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.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Ebook Reader at none against FBReader's 2. Ebook Reader also leads on ratings volume (583 vs 128). FBReader's advantage is rating (3.7 vs 3.4) and update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months). On price, review sentiment, 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
Both are free to download. FBReader sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Ebook Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.
FBReader holds the better App Store score, 3.7 against 3.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 583 and 128 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 51% of Ebook Reader's written reviews are positive against 52% of FBReader's.
Ebook Reader ships an update every 3 months, FBReader monthly. Both last shipped on October 11, 2026.
| Parameter | Ebook Reader | FBReader |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.4 (583 ratings) | 3.7 (128 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 51.0% of reviews | 52.5% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 583 — better | 128 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 73 MB | 22 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | EBOOKS.COM PTY LIMITED | FBReader.ORG Limited |
Customer experience
Ebook Reader
FBReader
User reviews
Ebook Reader
From 583 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Convenient app
- 📚 Variety of books
- 👍 Simple interface
- 💡 Customizable reading experience
Room to improve
- 🐛 Buggy and unstable
- 📏 Poor formatting and layout
- 🔍 Limited search and navigation
- 🔧 Lack of basic features
FBReader
From 128 App Store ratingsWhat 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
Bugs and requests
Ebook Reader
Reported bugs
4 issues- Crashes and freezes
- Losing page position
- Incorrect chapter/page display
- Incompatibility with newer devices
Requested features
4 requests- Ability to adjust font size and spacing
- Improved page navigation and bookmarking
- Sync across devices
- Dictionary and annotation tools
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)
In-app purchases
Ebook Reader
No in-app purchases
FBReader
- FBReader Full Edition2 variants$12.99
