TotalReader vs FBReader
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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)
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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
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 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
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.
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.
TotalReader ships an update every 3 weeks, FBReader monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | TotalReader | FBReader |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3 (368 ratings) — better | 3.7 (128 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 69.0% of reviews — better | 52.5% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 368 — better | 128 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Monthly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 10.0 — better | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 130 MB | 22 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | LTD DevelSoftware | FBReader.ORG Limited |
Customer experience
TotalReader
FBReader
User reviews
TotalReader
From 368 App Store ratingsWhat 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 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
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
TotalReader
- Thank the Developer$0.99
- Appearance Customization$1.99
- Pro Version$6.99
FBReader
- FBReader Full Edition2 variants$12.99
Questions
Is TotalReader free?
Is FBReader free?
Which has better reviews, TotalReader or FBReader?
Do TotalReader or FBReader have ads?
Which is updated more often, TotalReader or FBReader?
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