Comparison

TotalReader vs FBReader

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

TotalReader

This app is a versatile reader supporting a vast array of book, document, comic, and source code formats. It offers advanced customization for reading comfort, cloud integration, and file management tools.

Highlights
  • Wide range of supported formats
  • Cloud and network service integration
  • Speech synthesizer
  • Customizable reading experience
  • File manager with Wi-Fi transfer
  • Online book catalogs (OPDS)
Features
Read full description

The BEST application for reading books: *.fb2, *.epub, *.mobi, *.azw, *.prc, *.chm, *.fbz, *.rtf, *.txt (all encodings), documents: *.djvu, *.pdf, *.xps, office documents: *.doc, *.docx, *.xls, *.xlsx, *.ppt, *.pptx, *.pages, *.numbers, *.key, comic books: *.cbr, *.cbz, *.cb7, *.cbt and sources: *.h, *.c, *.cpp, *.m, *.java, *.cs ... All formats are thoroughly elaborated and are 100% supported by the application, including the styles, chapters, tables, links, footnotes etc. The visualization system takes into account the specific character of the formats functioning on mobile devices (memory capacity, the number of general processor units etc.), Providing a maximum productivity and comfort when working with large documents. Elegant design, extended functionality, high speed and stability of work will make reading of your favorite literature a pleasurable experience. You can contact technical support and leave a comment without quitting the application. TotalReader’s special features: ■ Wide range of supported formats (fb2, epub, mobi, azw, prc, chm, fbz, rtf, txt(all encodings), djvu, pdf, xps, doc, docx, xls, xlsx, ppt, pptx, pages, numbers, key, cbr, cbz, cb7, cbt) ■ Compatible with all popular archive formats (rar, zip, 7z, gz, tar ...) ■ Speech synthesizer ■ Large set of page turning animations for books(Slide, Fade, Curl, Flip, Cube, Ripple, Rotate) ■ Night mode ■ Integration with popular cloud services(Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, OneDrive, Yandex.Disk) ■ Integration with popular network services(SMB, FTP, SFTP, WebDAV, DLNA) ■ Open books directly from cloud services and network services ■ Hight application stability ■ Automatic recovery bad and non standard files ■ Search and highlight text options ■ Table of contents ■ Highlight and copy text options for books ■ Font, Font color, Background, font size, margins, line spacing, hyphenation, hyphenation language, skip author style options ■ User friendly navigation ■ Page layout option in documents(single page, double pages, double pages with cover) ■ Effects for documents(sepia, monochrome, color controls) ■ Brightness control ■ Rotation lock ■ Bookmarks ■ Quick document preview ■ Page scaling for documents ■ Auto scaling for adjacent pages ■ Double page view ■ Opening documents from external applications ■ Last open document list ■ Online book catalogs(OPDS) ■ Web Browser and download manager ■ Wi-Fi transfer ■ FTP transfer File Manager Features: ■ Intuitive interface ■ iTunes integration ■ File sorting(by name, by extension, by size, by date) ■ Searching files in subfolders ■ Create, move, copy, rename, pack/unpack, delete file/folder options ■ File/folder search ■ Preview book cover Wi-Fi Transfer Features: ■ Intuitive interface ■ Create, move, rename, delete file/folder options ■ Downloading/uploading few media files with one click ■ Display upload progress Online catalog(OPDS) Features: ■ Maximal support OPDS standards ■ User friendly navigation ■ Global searching ■ Full book information preview ■ Adding and editing catalog options ■ Completely popular catalog list Feel free to ask questions, report bugs or request new features: support@develsoftware.com

About

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.

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
Read full description

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

TotalReader4 screens
FBReader4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: TotalReader at 4.3 against FBReader's 3.7. TotalReader also leads on review sentiment (69% vs 52%) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 13.0). On price, ratings volume, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. TotalReader sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and FBReader sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

TotalReader holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 368 and 128 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 69% of TotalReader's written reviews are positive against 52% of FBReader's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

TotalReader ships an update every 3 weeks, FBReader monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
TotalReader versus FBReader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTotalReaderFBReader
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (368 ratings) — better3.7 (128 ratings)
Positive reviews69.0% of reviews — better52.5% of reviews
Number of ratings368 — better128
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS10.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size130 MB22 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperLTD DevelSoftwareFBReader.ORG Limited

Customer experience

TotalReader

All ratings368 ratings
Positive85.1%
Neutral2.4%
Negative12.5%
Written reviews723 reviews
Positive69.0%
Neutral5.7%
Negative25.3%

FBReader

All ratings128 ratings
Positive64.8%
Neutral9.4%
Negative25.8%
Written reviews322 reviews
Positive52.5%
Neutral14.0%
Negative33.5%

User reviews

TotalReader

From 368 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Great reader
  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 🔍 Supports many file formats
  • 💡 Integrates with cloud storage
  • 📚 Excellent for reading books

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
  • 💰 Expensive premium version
  • 📢 Intrusive ads in free version
  • 🔒 Lacks security/privacy features
  • 🔧 Poor file management and organization

FBReader

From 128 App Store ratings

What 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

TotalReader

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Crashes on startup
  • Unable to open certain file formats
  • Cloud storage integration not working
  • Ads prevent smooth reading experience
  • Purchased features not functioning properly

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add more customization options
  • Improve cloud storage integration
  • Implement better file organization tools
  • Provide better support for older devices
  • Add text-to-speech and annotation features

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

3 purchases

TotalReader

One-time3
  • Thank the Developer$0.99
  • Appearance Customization$1.99
  • Pro Version$6.99
1 purchases

FBReader

One-time1
  • FBReader Full Edition2 variants$12.99

Questions

Is TotalReader free?
TotalReader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is FBReader free?
FBReader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, TotalReader or FBReader?
TotalReader is rated higher. TotalReader averages 4.3 out of 5 from 368 ratings, while FBReader averages 3.7 from 128 ratings.
Do TotalReader or FBReader have ads?
Neither TotalReader nor FBReader shows ads.
Which is updated more often, TotalReader or FBReader?
TotalReader ships an update every 3 weeks, and FBReader monthly. Most recently, TotalReader was updated on October 7, 2026 and FBReader on October 13, 2026.

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