# Bluefire Reader vs FBReader

The clearest difference is price: FBReader at Free against Bluefire Reader's $4.99. FBReader also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months). Bluefire Reader's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 3.7) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). On review sentiment, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

FBReader is free to download; Bluefire Reader costs $4.99 up front. FBReader sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Bluefire Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

Bluefire Reader holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bluefire Reader has 4.1K ratings behind it against 128, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 55% of Bluefire Reader's written reviews are positive against 52% of FBReader's.

Bluefire Reader ships an update every 2 months, FBReader monthly. Both last shipped on September 23, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bluefire Reader | FBReader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.6 (4.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bluefire-reader/id394275498/reviews)** | [3.7 (128 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fbreader-epub-and-fb2-reader/id1067172178/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **4.1K** | 128 |
| Positive reviews | **55.3% of reviews** | 52.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#17** | — |
| Size | 21 MB | 22 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Bluefire Productions](https://appshunter.io/developer/394275501) | [FBReader.ORG Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1067172177) |

## What reviewers say

### Bluefire Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bluefire-reader/id394275498)

**Currently charting:** #17 Top Paid · Book (US App Store)

This application allows users to read EPUB and PDF ebooks on their iPhone or iPad. It supports Adobe® Content Server protected content from various retailers, publishers, and libraries, offering features like bookmarking, notes, and search for a customized reading experience.

**Highlights:** Read EPUB and PDF ebooks, Supports Adobe Content Server protected content, Bookmarking and notes, Search functionality, Customizable reading experience, Collections management

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💻 Excellent ePub reader
- 🌙 Useful night mode
- 📚 Organizes library well
- 🎨 Customizable font and layout
- 🔍 Convenient search and navigation

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 📍 Loses page position when reopening
- 🔍 Inconsistent search and bookmark behavior
- 🔧 Outdated and lacking updates
- 🔒 Adobe DRM integration issues

**Reported bugs**

- Incompatible with latest iOS versions
- Blank pages when opening some books
- Incorrect page numbering and navigation
- Unreliable bookmarking and note-taking

**Requested features**

- Sync reading progress across devices
- Improved highlighting and annotation tools
- Vertical scrolling option
- Customizable highlight colors
- Integrated dictionary/reference lookup


### 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)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bluefire Reader free?

Bluefire Reader costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is FBReader free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Bluefire Reader or FBReader?

Bluefire Reader is rated higher. Bluefire Reader averages 4.6 out of 5 from 4.1K ratings, while FBReader averages 3.7 from 128 ratings.

### Do Bluefire Reader or FBReader have ads?

Neither Bluefire Reader nor FBReader shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Bluefire Reader or FBReader?

Bluefire Reader ships an update every 2 months, and FBReader monthly. Most recently, Bluefire Reader was updated on September 23, 2026 and FBReader on September 23, 2026.

---

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