Comparison

A FB2 Reader vs ShortBook²

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

Head to head
About

A FB2 Reader

This free application allows you to read your favorite FB2 format ebooks on your iPad and iPhone. Easily import books from various sources, customize your reading experience with adjustable fonts and color schemes, and navigate your library with ease.

Highlights
  • Read FB2 ebooks
  • Import from web, iTunes, and cloud drives
  • Adjustable fonts, spacing, and width
  • Three color schemes
  • Easy navigation and page turning
  • Sort books by various criteria
  • Book image gallery
Features
Read full description

A FB2 Reader lets you read your favorite books on iPad without any restrictions and hidden fees. A FB2 Reader completely free ebook reading application, you can collect unlimited number of titles in your Library and read them for you own pleasure. Application optimized for all iPad and iPhone models and high resolution Retina Display graphics. It is possible to load ebooks in fb2 format into application by a number of way, like: - download fb2 books using your favorite web browser application and open it with A FB2 Reader using "Open In..." iSO feature - use iTunes file sharing to copy files from you computer - import books from you preferred cloud drive - Dropbox, OneDrive and Google Drive currently supported, more options coming in next versions A FB2 Reader features: - Turn pages with a tap or swipe - Easy navigation inside the book - Open electronic books from any source - Automatically expands fb2 files from zip archive - Adjustable fonts and font sizes - Adjustable line spacing - Adjustable page width - Three color schemes - Sort books by File name, Book Title, Author or Recently opened - Book Information Page - Book Images Gallery View - all embedded images on one page - Book sharing - possible to transfer book to any destination supported by iOS or any application which can handle this file type

About

ShortBook²

This reader app offers a unique approach to text display on smaller screens, optimizing comfort and reducing eye strain. It allows extensive customization of text layout and includes decorative elements to enhance the reading experience. Supports FB2 format and provides reading statistics.

Highlights
  • Optimized text layout for small screens
  • Customizable text placement options
  • Decorative elements for atmosphere
  • FB2 format support (contents, footnotes, figures)
  • Rich settings with dozens of parameters
  • Reading statistics and monitoring
  • Quick restart after breaks
Features
Read full description

Reading books on portable devices is always a compromise between comfort of reading and text availability. ShortBook² offers an original way of solving this problem with its careful approach to text makeup on the limited screen area of iPhone or iPad. A lot of experiments with various text compositions and interface layouts have jelled the unique match for convenient reading. If you need to read for a long time, with comfort and without any considerable damage to the sight take advantage of the ShortBook² program — a high-end reader. ShortBook² focuses on the layout process, allowing the user to control virtually all text placement options. Moreover, the program analyzes the text and places decorative elements in various places, which not only decorate the book and bring their atmosphere into it, but also simplify the reading process. Thus, in ShortBook², even "picture-free" books look attractive and do not tire with the external monotony while reading, which not only increases reader comfort, but also reduces eye fatigue from the reading process. The program fully supports FB2 electronic books format including contents, footnotes and figures. Any electronic book can be easily converted to this format with free utilities though using a variety of web libraries with books already in this format is much more simple. To meet personal preferences, the application has rich settings, including several dozens of customizable parameters. The book index has several sorting modes allowing to find a required writing easily. Reading can be quickly restarted after a break with one touch of the screen. The reader keeps reading statistics and offers developed means of monitoring the reading process. The application was developed using the latest technologies, therefore it is not available for users of iOS 12 and below. These users can use the classic ShortBook application. ShortBook² is available by subscription. The subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Subscribers gain access to all Short Review materials that will be published during the subscription period. Short Review materials contain reviews of the book market of electronic publications in Russia, book ratings and recommendations for organizing reading. Terms of use of the subscription: http://www.shortki.com/ShortBook/terms.html

Screenshots

A FB2 Reader3 screens
ShortBook²4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: ShortBook² at 4.6 against A FB2 Reader's 3.4. A FB2 Reader's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and review sentiment (67% vs 40%). On price, ratings volume, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. ShortBook² sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per year. A FB2 Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ShortBook² holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 13 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 67% of A FB2 Reader's written reviews are positive against 40% of ShortBook²'s, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

A FB2 Reader ships an update every 2 weeks, ShortBook² every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
A FB2 Reader versus ShortBook²: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterA FB2 ReaderShortBook²
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.4 (5 ratings)4.6 (13 ratings) — better
Positive reviews67.1% of reviews — better39.7% of reviews
Number of ratings513 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS9.0 — better14.0
Further details — not scored
Size18 MB67 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperYuri StaloverovJury Shortki

Customer experience

A FB2 Reader

All ratings5 ratings
Positive60.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative40.0%
Written reviews70 reviews
Positive67.1%
Neutral5.7%
Negative27.1%

ShortBook²

All ratings13 ratings
Positive84.6%
Neutral15.4%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews73 reviews
Positive39.7%
Neutral6.8%
Negative53.4%

In-app purchases

None

A FB2 Reader

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

ShortBook²

Subscriptions1
  • Annual1 Month trial$9.991 Year

Questions

Is A FB2 Reader free?
A FB2 Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ShortBook² free?
ShortBook² is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, A FB2 Reader or ShortBook²?
ShortBook² is rated higher. A FB2 Reader averages 3.4 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while ShortBook² averages 4.6 from 13 ratings.
Do A FB2 Reader or ShortBook² have ads?
Neither A FB2 Reader nor ShortBook² shows ads.
Which is updated more often, A FB2 Reader or ShortBook²?
A FB2 Reader ships an update every 2 weeks, and ShortBook² every 2 months. Most recently, A FB2 Reader was updated on September 24, 2026 and ShortBook² on September 21, 2026.

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