FBReader is a free ebook reader for ePub, FB2, and Mobi files on Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux, with an optional one-time Premium upgrade.
FBReader is an ebook reader application that supports a wide range of file formats, including ePub, FB2, Mobi, and plain text, making it useful for readers whose libraries are not locked to a single retailer's format. The project was first released in 2005 by Russian developer Nikolay Pultsin and has since been ported to nearly every major desktop and mobile platform.
The software is currently maintained by FBReader.ORG Limited, a company Pultsin established in the United Kingdom in 2013 after relocating from Russia. An earlier company behind the project, Geometer Plus, was based in St. Petersburg and ceased operations following the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022, after which FBReader.ORG Limited continued the project's development and distribution.
FBReader's main strength is format flexibility: it can open ePub, FB2, Mobi, plain text, and several other ebook formats without needing separate apps or conversion tools, and it is distributed across Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux. It supports custom network catalogs and OPDS feeds, letting readers browse and download books from external libraries directly inside the app.
The optional FBReader book network adds cloud sync of a user's library, reading positions, and bookmarks across devices using a Google Drive-based backend. The paid Premium version layers on improved text formatting and rendering controls on top of the free reading experience.
FBReader's core reading app is free to download and use on all supported platforms. On Android, a Premium unlock is available as a one-time in-app purchase priced around 7 dollars, rather than a subscription, giving access to enhanced formatting and display options.
Pricing and packaging vary somewhat by platform and app store, since FBReader is distributed through the Google Play Store, Apple App Store, Amazon Appstore, and direct downloads for desktop, each with its own store policies. There is no enterprise or team pricing tier; it is sold purely as a consumer reading app.
Yes, the base FBReader app is free on all supported platforms. An optional one-time Premium purchase adds extra formatting features on some platforms.
It supports ePub, FB2, Mobi, plain text, and several other common ebook formats.
Yes, the optional FBReader book network syncs your library, reading position, and bookmarks across devices using a Google Drive-based service.
FBReader is available on Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Older versions of FBReader were open source, but starting with version 2.0 the app became proprietary, though it remains free to use.