Bookmate vs FBReader
Bookmate
bookmate.com
FBReader
fbreader.orgSide by side
| Figure | Bookmate | FBReader |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 4 |
| Spec score · Best Reading & E-book Apps | 8.1 (#4) | 8.4 (#2) |
| Company | The terms identify the operator as Bookmate Limited, registered in Dublin, Ireland, company number 596747. | FBReader.ORG Limited develops and supports FBReader and was founded in the United Kingdom in 2013. |
| Support | The site links to a Help Center and provides a contacts page for getting in touch. | The maker directs users to its FAQ and public Telegram group for online support. |
Plans
FBReader
- FBReader for iOSFree
- FBReader for Windows/macOS/LinuxFree
- FBReader Free for AndroidFree
- FBReader Premium for Android$14.99, paid once
In their own words
Bookmate
Bookmate is a subscription service for reading electronic books and listening to audiobooks, available on Android, iOS, and the web. Its catalog lists 1,800,000 books and 100,000 audiobooks in 16 languages, and it describes a free collection of 50,000 books. Readers can upload their own FB2 or EPUB files for use on a smartphone, tablet, or desktop, then adjust brightness, font, and background color. Social features let users follow friends’ reading, share books and quotes, and create or subscribe to themed bookshelves. Audiobooks can be saved for offline listening and synchronized across devices so listeners can resume where they left off. Bookmate lists a free plan and a seven-day trial; the Premium plan is listed at free. The subscription page describes monthly and annual options but does not show their prices. An account is limited to one person and no more than three devices. Books cannot be downloaded and distributed outside Bookmate.
FBReader
FBReader is an ebook reader for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. It opens formats including ePub, fb2, mobi, HTML, RTF, and plain text, as well as ePub books protected with Readium LCP. Its Book Network can synchronize collections, reading positions, bookmarks, and custom shelves across supported devices. Books in the network are stored in the user's Google Drive space, while metadata, covers, and reading positions are stored on FBReader servers.
Online OPDS book catalogues are supported on Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux; iOS support is planned. Android Premium adds PDF and comics support, Google and DeepL translation integration, and automatic reading aloud. The free iOS version is limited to ten books and disables online translators. FBReader offers free plans for desktop, Android, and iOS; Android Premium is $14.99 as a one-time purchase. The company says its current code is closed source.