FBReader is a fast, highly customizable e-book reader for Android devices.
Versions
Since June 2015, FBReader for Android has been available in two versions: free version and Premium Edition. The table lists the differences between versions:
| FBReader | Premium Edition | |
|---|---|---|
 |
|
|
| Android Versions | 1.5 and above, new versions are released for 4.1 and above. | 4.0 and above, new versions are released for 4.1 and above. |
| Library | List. The bookshelf can be installed as a separate module that contains advertisements. | Choice of list or bookshelf. There are no ads. |
| PDF support | An additional module is required. | Built in. |
| Comic Support | An additional module is required. | Built in. |
| Automatic reading aloud | - | Built in. Can use any of the speech synthesis engines installed in the system. Doesn't work for PDF and DjVu yet. |
| Dictionaries and translators | You can look up the word in the additionally installed dictionary. | You can look up the word in the additionally installed dictionary. You can translate a whole phrase with a Yandex or Google translator without leaving the program. |
| Advertising | There are no third-party ads, sometimes the program advises you to buy a Premium Edition or install some additional module. | No ads. |
| Additional features | - | By purchasing the paid version, you support the FBReader project. Thank you in advance! |
Key Features
- opens books in popular formats: fb2, ePub, Kindle (mobipocket, unprotected files only), rtf, MS doc, html, plain text
- opens books in PDF formats, DjVu, CBR/CBZ using additional modules (PDF module, DjVu module, comics module (CBR/CBZ)). In FBReader Premium, support for PDF and comics is built into the main program. It is not possible to embed DjVu support, it would violate the license terms for the DjVu library.
- supports synchronization with the FBReader Book Network, a cloud storage service currently based on Google Drive™. You can optionally include:
- book synchronization
- synchronization of reading positions
- bookmark synchronization
- reads books directly from zip archives
- arranges books in the library by title, author, series, etc.
- colorful look for the library (bookshelf) available as a separate module
- provides direct access to well-known online libraries and stores
- allows you to add your own OPDS catalogs
- makes it possible to translate text or individual words in the dictionaries Dictan, ColorDict, SlovoEd, Lingvo, and others
- allows you to include your own TrueType/OpenType fonts
- has an interface in 29 languages
- can hyphenate for 16 languages
Future plans
History and versions of the program
FBReader for Android was first written as a Java clone of the original (C++) version of FBReader. We used to call it FBReaderJ, but now we prefer to write and say "FBReader for Android". The first version was partly written as a student project at the Academy of Modern Programming.
The latest stable version of FBReader for Android is 3.0.5. FBReader Premium is only available from Google Play. The free version can be installed from the same Google Play, from many other stores, or downloaded from this page.
Reading books is helpful. Moreover, now you don’t need to carry weighty volumes with you at all. A smartphone can easily fit several thousand books. It's a whole library. And the user will always be able to choose what to read to him. However, to read books in popular electronic formats (FB2, EPUB, and so on), you will need an appropriate application. There are a lot of them on Google Play. But not all of them meet the requirements of the user. In this review, we have collected the best readers for smartphones running the Android OS. Some of them are very simple free programs, as well as fancy applications that can do a lot. Here is a list of programs.
Now let's look at each application in more detail. After all, all the salt in the functions and the quality of the text display. Yes, and illustrations play an important role. Let's start with perhaps the most popular application on Google versions play.
No. 1. Google Play Books
Google Play Books 
Google Play Books Google Play Books
First on the list is a reader from Google called Google Play Books. But it has very poor functionality. Yes, and you can read it only those books that are located in Google Play. And there are very few settings. And it’s better to keep silent about the possibility of reading from the internal storage.
Probably, this reader got the first place in downloads solely because it is automatically installed on many smartphones without user demand. However, for reading content from Google Play, it is just perfect.
Present intuitively clear interface, Russian language and a number of settings to improve the quality of text display. The app itself is free. But there is targeted advertising from Google.
PROS:
- Ideal for reading books from Google Play
- Has a clear interface
- There is a Russian language
- Fast work on various devices
- Huge selection of books in the electronic online library
MINUSES:
- Almost all books need to be bought
- Unable to read from device
- No interface customization options
No. 2. eReader Prestigio
eReader Prestigio 
eReader Prestigio eReader Prestigio
One of the best free readers today. It features a pleasant design, a well-organized library with a colorful display of books and excellent text display quality on all types of screens.
The reader allows you to find a book on the Internet or start reading the one that is already on the device. There are very flexible settings appearance applications. There are no ads. The program works very quickly.
It is worth noting that the program does an excellent job of reading various formats. Including DOCX and TXT. There is also PDF support. In general, this is a decent reader. And you can easily download it on Google Play.
PROS:
- Excellent design
- Reading a huge number of formats
- Lots of customization options
- Fast work even on weak devices
- Ability to download books from the Internet
- Quick chapter navigation
- There is no ad
- The program is completely free
MINUSES:
- Not seen
No. 3. FBReader
FBReader 
FBReader FBReader
Another great free reader. But this one, unlike the previous one, has a paid version with advanced functionality. However, it is not necessary to purchase it. For normal reading, there is enough functionality free version.
The application has a very simple interface and a huge number of settings. You can customize almost everything: font, anti-aliasing, background, behavior, and so on. The program works exclusively with books in FB2 and EPUB formats.
There are no ads in the app. The reader works perfectly even on old and weak devices. In addition, there are plugins for this application on Google Play, which greatly expand the functionality. And even allow you to read other formats.
PROS:
- Simple and clear interface
- Nice design
- Support for the most common formats
- Connected plugins
- Ability to customize anything and everything
- The application is completely free
- There is a Russian language
- There is no ad
MINUSES:
- Not seen
No. 4. Cool Reader
Cool Reader 
Cool Reader Cool Reader
Excellent reader with excellent design. The main weapon of this application is a thoughtful design. Here everything is done so that the user thinks that he is reading a real book. Everything is based on excellent textures and colors.
The reader supports almost all known formats and can be successfully used even for reading official documents. The program has an excellently organized library and is very easy to use.
. It can be easily downloaded from Google Play. At the same time, there is no advertising content, and the interface contains the Russian language. The program works stably on devices of any level.
PROS:
- Incredibly beautiful decor
- Simple interface with Russian language
- Support for almost all formats
- The application is completely free
- Reader works great on older devices
- There is no ad
MINUSES:
- Not seen
No. 5. Librera
Librera 
Librera Another application for reading e-books in various formats. Almost all formats of electronic documents are supported. However, the interface is a little frustrating. It feels like it was created "on the knee."
But the library is well done. It uses the presentation style of applications from Google Play. It looks amazing. The program has a lot of settings. They can even be confusing. But the fonts are kind of weird.
However, this free app quite popular among users. It's just that the ads are a bit annoying. She's distracting from reading. But the Russian language is in the interface.
PROS:
- Work with almost all formats of electronic documents
- Huge number of settings
- Normal operation with illustrations
- Well designed library
- Convenient navigation
- Fast work on all devices
- The application is completely free
Reading 4 min.
Greetings, dear reader and user of wonderful devices based on the popular operating system Android. Today I will tell you about five popular, and most importantly, convenient readers for opening books and documents in one of the most popular formats - FB2.
FB2 is a popular e-book distribution format, the name of the format stands for FeedBook. This format provides books in video XML documents. All elements of the book are described by tags, which one or another FB2 reader converts into a visual design. The largest libraries on the Internet distribute books in this format.
I think you understand what FB2 is and why it is so important to have on your mobile device a reader for viewing documents in these formats. Below I made a kind of TOP in which I brought you, in my opinion, the five best readers for viewing documents in FB2 format.
Also, below, you can use a special voting form to leave your vote for a particular application. Your voice will help the readers of the article decide and quickly choose the right tool for them.
In my opinion, given Android the program is best suited for working with the FB2 format. Actually it is called FBReader. The program is absolutely free and you can download it from the official source - Google Play, the download link for this reader is above. Of the features of the program, I would like to note the following, important points:
- Full support for FB2 format as well as FB2 ZIP format. It would be strange if a reader with that name could not open the FB2 file;
- The reader has its own database of background images that will make the reading process even more pleasant and comfortable;
- If any word is unknown to you, then you can use special function and look for the meaning of this word in external sources.
The next reader (program) about which I want to tell today is called eReader Prestigio. This reader, like the previous one, allows you to comfortably work with FB2, download and open books in this format. Below are some interesting features that this reader has:
- In addition to the FB2 format, this reader also supports a very large number of various formats;
- built-in file manager will allow you not to get confused in the collection of your books;
- TTS technology. This technology will allow the application to read books aloud, which is very convenient in some circumstances.
Another reader (program) that allows you to comfortably work with the popular FB2 e-book format. I will highlight the following functions:
- In addition to the FB2 format, this reader will allow you to open on your mobile Android the device of the book in many other formats;
- There is support for network libraries using OPDS technology;
- The ability to select one of four profiles for comfortable reading e-books.
The next reader that I want to bring in today's selection is called Moon + Reader. As the name implies, this reader is made for comfortable night reading.. I will highlight the following possibilities:
- More than ten themes for convenient and comfortable reading of your favorite books;
- Easy one-touch brightness adjustment;
- Ability to download books from SD card.
And our today's selection is completed by an Android reader called Cool Reader. Allows you to open FB2. I will highlight the following features of the Android program:
- The ability to create your own styles using advanced CSS functions;
- It is possible to export bookmarks to text file;
- Built-in browser.
Vote
In this collection, we will look at applications that will help you open e-books in fb2 format. Let's find out the key features, the main advantages and disadvantages.
Cool Reader
The application supports 12 e-book formats including fb2. The distribution model is free, there are no ads.
Cool Reader Features:
- Required android version – 1.5.
- Use of space on internal storage- 18.5 MB.
- Consumption random access memory- 100-130 MB.
home page is a shelf with previously read books. The page also displays the last open book and the amount of text read in%. There are also buttons with a search and a directory where all the material is stored.
The interface of the program is close to the initial versions of Android. At the same time, the user can change the background color and backlight brightness. Much more settings are offered for easy reading: font type and size, boldness, anti-aliasing, text and background color, backlight duration, etc. Supports chapter selection, search and notes.
Main advantages:
- Support for 12 e-book formats.
- Free to use, no ads.
- Low system requirements.
- Moderate use of RAM and flash memory.
- Extensive display settings.
- Automatic page turning.
Main disadvantages:
- Outdated interface design.
final grade
Cool Reader - better or one of the best apps for reading. The program is free, functional and with low system requirements, thanks to which it works on low-powered devices. The only minor drawback is the outdated interface.
AlReader
The reader supports up to 13 book formats, as well as ZIP and GZ archives. The distribution model is free and without ads.
AlReader features:
- The cost is free, no ads.
- The required Android version is 2.3.
- Use of space on the internal drive - 10 MB.
- RAM consumption - 146-198 MB.
The start window of the program meets the reader with the last read page of the book. At the top, there is a toolbar with quick toggles between light and dark, chapter selection, search, bookmarks, and a hidden control panel. The latter allows you to open or find books, configure the program, enable text scrolling or activate reading a book.
In the settings, individual parameters for displaying text and color scheme are set. The speed and effects of automatic page turning, setting up an additional toolbar, etc.
Main advantages:
Main disadvantages:
- Mediocre interface.
- RAM usage sometimes reaches 198 MB.
- Last updated May 2018.
final grade
AlReader does not stand out for its modern design, but it contains the necessary set of functions for reading books of various formats. The program is free, without ads and with a sufficient set of settings. There are no significant shortcomings, with the exception of an outdated interface and sharp jumps in RAM consumption.
eReader Prestigio: Reader
The application supports 10 major e-book formats, as well as 3 audio formats. The reader is downloaded for free and does not contain noticeable advertising. At the same time, for disabling advertising, which may appear over time, the developers ask for 3 USD.
eReader Prestigio Features:
- The cost is free, for disabling ads - 3 USD. Individual payment for the purchase of books within the application.
- The required Android version is 4.0.3.
- Use of space on the internal drive - 52 MB.
- RAM consumption - 609 MB.
The interface of the eReader Prestigio looks nice and modern. The start page is a shelf with previously added books. If desired, the standard design is easy to replace, a total of 5 color schemes are supported. It is not necessary to specify a folder with books, it is enough to mark the format, and the application will find books according to the specified criteria. Adding books is also available from cloud storage, or , and also from the network library. The latter contains up to 50,000 books in different languages with mostly free access, but after pre-registration in the service.
For easy reading eReader Prestigio adjusts scrolling, font size and style, background and text color. Moreover, the main parameters - size, font and screen orientation are changed in a pop-up window, which eliminates the need to go to full settings.
The application also supports audio playback of text. Voice, tempo and other parameters are adjusted individually.
Main advantages:
- Nice visual design.
- Support for common e-book formats.
- 5 options for the color scheme of the program.
- Customization of book text display.
- Low system requirements for installation.
- Online library with books.
- Ability to connect a cloud drive.
Main disadvantages:
- The presence of advertising.
- High consumption of RAM.
- Frequent crashes.
final grade
eReader Prestigio is a functional reader with a modern and pleasant design. At the same time, the application is poorly optimized and often freezes. Not happy with the consumption of RAM. In some cases, the use of RAM reaches 536-609 MB, which at the same time noticeably heats up the phone and speeds up battery discharge. Therefore, until the developers fix such problems, it is better to use analogues.
FBReader
Features of FBRreader:
- Cost - Basic version is free with non-aggressive ads, premium version is $4.55.
- The required Android version is 4.1.
- Use of space on the internal drive - 15 MB.
- RAM consumption - up to 250 MB.
The FBReader start page contains several categories for sorting books. The sparse visuals are easily changed with the FBReader Bookshelf add-on, which needs separate installation. At the same time, the add-on increases the consumption of system resources of the mobile device.
In FBReader, individual book display settings are available. In particular, the size and style of the font, the color of the background and text. Adding bookmarks, searching and jumping to a specific chapter is supported. Reading aloud is also available, but only in the paid version of the application.
Main advantages:
- Customization of font style, size and color.
- Low system requirements for installation.
- Connection of additional modules.
Main disadvantages:
- Poor interface.
- Few supported e-book formats.
- The presence of advertising.
- Some features are implemented through add-ons.
- Some of the functionality is not available in the free version.
- There is no trial period to get acquainted.
final grade
FBReader lacks a modern interface, but contains a set of necessary settings for easy reading. Another part of the functions is not in the basic version, and the developers do not allow you to get acquainted with the capabilities of the paid version of the program. If support for the fb2 format is enough for you, then the free version is enough for normal reading. Otherwise, it is better to consider an alternative application.
