Parallel Texts Reader vs FBReader
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Parallel Texts Reader
Read books with instant, sentence-by-sentence translations in multiple languages. Listen to translations and tap words for more options like transcription and pronunciation. Features a growing library of over 370 books across various language pairs.
- Parallel text translation
- Listen to sentence translations
- Tap for word details
- Extensive book library
- Multiple language pairs
- Reverse translation mode
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Application for reading books with parallel translation. Allows you to listen and see the translation of any sentence while reading. Constantly updated library of books - we are adding books every month. Now the library has more then 370 books: - English - Russian - English - French - English - German - English - Italian - English - Spanish - English - Ukrainian - English - Polish - English - Chinese - Russian - English - Russian - French - French - Russian - French - English - French - Ukrainian - French - Polish - Spanish - Russian - Spanish - English - Spanish - Ukrainian - German - Russian - German - Ukrainian - German - English - Danish - English - Norwegian - English - Hebrew - Russian - Estonian - Russian Touch any part of the text to see the translation. To memorize, transcribe, translate or listen the word, tap and hold your finger on it. Reverse mode allows you to change the primary language into the translated language, that is, for example from English-Spanish to Spanish-English.
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: Parallel Texts Reader at none against FBReader's 2. Parallel Texts Reader also leads on rating (4.0 vs 3.7) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 13.0). FBReader's advantage is ratings volume (129 vs 10). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads 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. Parallel Texts Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.
Parallel Texts Reader holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: FBReader has 129 ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 54% of Parallel Texts Reader's written reviews are positive against 52% of FBReader's.
Parallel Texts Reader ships an update every 6 weeks, FBReader monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Parallel Texts Reader | FBReader |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.0 (10 ratings) — better | 3.7 (129 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 54.3% of reviews — better | 52.5% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 10 | 129 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | 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 | 8.0 — better | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 22 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Ivan Savchenko | FBReader.ORG Limited |
Customer experience
Parallel Texts Reader
FBReader
Bugs and requests
Parallel Texts Reader
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
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
Parallel Texts Reader
No in-app purchases
FBReader
- FBReader Full Edition2 variants$12.99
Questions
Is Parallel Texts Reader free?
Is FBReader free?
Which has better reviews, Parallel Texts Reader or FBReader?
Do Parallel Texts Reader or FBReader have ads?
Which is updated more often, Parallel Texts Reader or FBReader?
Other comparisons
