Reading occupies an important place in the lives of many people, but there is not always a place for an ordinary paper book next to a person. Paper books are, of course, good, but electronic books are much more convenient. However, without *.fb2 reading programs, the computer will not be able to recognize this format.
These programs will allow you to open books in *.fb2 format, read them and even edit them. Some of them have a few more functions than just reading and editing, and some were not intended to read *.fb2 at all, but were included in this list because they can open such files.
FBReader is the simplest example of a reader that there can be. There is nothing superfluous in it, and there is something that complements it - network libraries. Using them you can download books directly in the program. This program for reading books in fb2 format is almost completely changeable, although there are fewer settings in it than in Caliber.
AlReader
This fb2 reader program is more complex than the previous one and does not require installation, which is undoubtedly a plus. But that's not all that sets it apart from FBReader, it also has a translator, bookmarks, and even changes the book format. In addition, it has more extensive settings.
Caliber
Caliber is not just an e-reader, but a real library with many functions. In it you can create and divide your libraries as you please. Allow other users to access your libraries or connect to others using the network. In addition to the reader function, it combines several other useful functions, such as downloading news from around the world, downloading and editing books.
ICE Book Reader
A simple library, auto-scrolling, searching, saving and editing - that’s all there is in this program. Simple, low-functional and understandable for everyone, and, at the same time, very useful.
Balabolka
This program is a unique exhibit on this list. If Caliber was not just a reader, but a library, then Balablolka is a program that can speak any printed text out loud. It just so happens that the program has the ability to read files with the *.fb2 format, and that’s why it ended up on this list. Balabolka has a lot of other functions, for example, it can convert subtitles into sound or compare two text files.
STDU Viewer
This program was also not designed for reading e-books, but it has this function, especially since the developers added this format to the program for a reason. The program can edit files and convert them into plain text.
WinDjView
WinDjView is designed to read files in the DjVu format, but it also has the ability to open files in the .fb2 format. A simple and convenient program can be an excellent replacement for an e-book reader. True, it has very little functionality, especially when compared with Balabolka or Caliber.
In this article we looked at the most convenient and well-known programs that can open books in *.fb2 format. Not all of the above programs are designed specifically for this, and therefore their functionality differs. All these programs are different from each other, and what program for opening fb2 is on your PC?
On the website of the popular Google Play Books service, you can add and read texts online. At the same time, the project has an extension for the Google Chrome browser, which allows you to read downloaded books on your computer even without an Internet connection.
The plugin's interface almost completely replicates the design of the web version. You can open from your library, view their contents, search the text, customize fonts and layout. To read offline, you need to first download the books you need into your computer’s memory. Bookmarks, reading positions, and other data are synchronized across all devices connected to your Google Account.
- Supported formats: EPUB.
Microsoft has built an EPUB file viewer into its browser, so you can use it as a free reader. The program has settings for text display, bookmarks, a book search function, and even a mode for text to be read by a robot. You can also highlight words and attach comments to them. This is where the functionality of the reader ends.
To add a book to Edge, just right-click on the corresponding EPUB file and select “Open with” → Microsoft Edge. After this, the book will open in a new tab.
- Supported formats: FB2, EPUB.
This service, like Google Play Books, offers computer owners to read books on the site. In addition, Windows users can install the Bookmate desktop client, which allows them to add texts to their personal library and read them offline.
In both versions of Bookmate, you can customize the font, background, padding, and other visual elements. Bookmarks, reading positions and other metadata are synced across devices. The application may slow down slightly, but overall it is comfortable to read.
Texts you added to the service can be . Bookmate also offers paid subscriptions to books from its online library, but you can opt out.
- Supported formats: FB2, EPUB, DJVU, DOCX, HTML, AZW, AZW3, AZW4, CBZ, CBR, CBC, CHM, HTMLZ, LIT, LRF, MOBI, ODT, PDF, PRC, PDB, PML, RB, RTF, SNB , TCR, TXT, TXTZ.
Caliber is best known as a powerful free software. With Caliber, you can edit metadata, text, and other elements of book files, as well as convert documents from one format to another. But the program allows you to simply read books added to it. The built-in reader has background and text settings, a content viewer, a search form and other tools for easy reading.
- Supported formats: EPUB, PDF.
Book-loving Mac users are in luck: they get one of the best desktop readers out of the box. iBooks looks stylish, supports data synchronization between iOS devices, and offers only the most necessary tools - for those who like to read rather than delve into settings.
On the other hand, iBooks does not support the very popular FB2 format, which may not suit some users. But you can always convert.
Even with the gradual displacement of paper sources of information, a user may also need a book reader for a computer - to become familiar with fiction, scientific or technical literature.
And sometimes they are even released in book format.
All these books no longer take up space on shelves and do not require good lighting to read, but they can only be reproduced with the help of special programs.
Cool Reader
One of the most common reading programs for both computers and mobile devices is Cool Reader.
It supports both standard type formats. , .txt and .doc, as well as books with the extension .epub and .rtf, as well as web pages.
In addition, the application features include:
- The ability to adjust the brightness of the font or background according to user preferences;
- Automatic page turning function, which, however, is not always convenient, since reading even information of the same volume may take different amounts of time;
- Read books directly from the archive without the need to unpack.
ALReader
To work with most e-books, you can use the AlReader application, which works mainly on the Windows OS, but synchronizes well with the Linux system.
A huge number of settings, set at an acceptable level by default, many supported formats (including FB2 and even ODT) - all this makes the reader popular among many users.
The design of the program resembles a book printed on newsprint.
And as an additional advantage, it is worth noting that AlReader can work even without installation.
Thanks to the cross-platform reading program, you can familiarize yourself with literature written in most popular formats, and also easily customize the reading process to suit your requirements.
The setup process is simple and intuitive, and all book files opened by the application are sorted by their characteristics - genre, author or title.
And for this there is no need to move e-books to a shared folder - FBReader will create links to their location on the computer.
And among its shortcomings, only one can be mentioned - the lack of a two-page mode.
However, the same problem applies to other readers for this format.
As a result, Adobe constantly releases updates to Reader, which causes it to take up quite a lot of space on your computer and take some time to install.
DjVuViwer
Due to the high popularity of the format. Such texts are easier to find and download, and they themselves gradually become available.
This is because the files are much better compressed, so they take up much less space.
There are many readers that reproduce the format - but one of the best is DjVu Viwer.
Among its advantages:
- High book opening speed;
- Scrolling through all pages at once, rather than flipping through them 2 at a time, as most other programs offer;
- The ability to conveniently and easily create bookmarks;
- Opening any files in DJVU and a number of other formats.
Like Adobe Reader, the program is also designed for viewing books in PDF format, but takes up much less space. At the same time, Foxit Reader also has a lot of possibilities.
And the menu is in Russian and in a number of other languages - to select them, just connect to the Internet and open a file using an e-reader.
The application works on Windows PCs, but there are also working versions for Linux.
The word Professional is in the name of this reader for a reason. Of all the programs presented in the review, this is the most multifunctional.
Moreover, it is localized in Russian and distributed by the manufacturer free of charge.
ICE Book Reader contains two modules of approximately equal importance - the reader and the library.
And for reading, you can choose one of two modes - either two-page or one-page.
Most often it is chosen depending on the screen size and user preferences. Moreover, each mode has its own configuration features.
The advantage and, at the same time, disadvantage (due to the increase in space occupied by information) of ICE Book Reader is the downloading of entire books to its library, not just the creation of links to them.
Thus, the file can be deleted from the main location.
Although, in order to still reduce the space that files occupy, it is worth adjusting their compression level.
You can also pay attention to such features as:
- Remembering personal settings so that the next time you turn on the reader settings are not required again;
- A huge list of supported extensions (including almost all formats, except perhaps );
- Opening information from archived files (and, and.zip, and all other archives) without the mediation of archivers, which may not be installed on the PC at all.
It's worth noting that ICE Book Reader is not only the best reader, but also the most customizable.
Having spent a little time, you can configure the program for use on the street, and at night, and even in such a way that reading tires your eyes less.
A program that does not have a particularly attractive interface, but is easy to use and has many settings.
In addition, it has a multi-tab mode, which allows you to open two, three or more books at the same time.
But the main advantage of the reader is its support for all popular formats for literature and pdf.
conclusions
Choosing the best reading program for you can be as personal as comparing different types of books (paperback or hardcover, A5, larger or smaller).
Moreover, each has advantages.
Still, ICE Book, AlReader and STDU Viewer are ideal for most tasks.
Thematic video:
The best program for reading books on a computer
Book reader for computer - Review of the best programs
Despite the fact that epub and mobi formats are becoming increasingly popular on mobile devices, it is still too early to bury fb2 (FictionBook). Today we will look under our microscope at the best fb2 reading programs that provide maximum comfort for the eyes and without unnecessary frills. These applications should not only open e-books, but also be highly customizable.
The list of mobile fb2 readers for Android includes the following free applications:
All applications are available for download on Google Play, links to them are available next to the description of each fb2 reader. So, let's start testing.
FBReader - a cute fb2 reader for Android
How to open a file? FBReader is the first thing that comes to mindPerhaps not a single review is complete without mentioning the free reader FBReader. If you don’t know how to open a fb2 file, then this is the application that first comes to mind, regardless of the platform. The fact is that FBReader is available everywhere:
- for desktop OS (Windows / Mac OS / Linux)
- mobile phones and tablets (Android, Windows Phone, Blackberry 10)
Only iOS is missing from this list - but, of course, there are quite a few “native” reader applications for reading in this mobile OS.
In addition to fb2, the FBreader application for Android successfully opens the following document formats: ePub, azw3, Word documents, HTML, simple text documents, PDF and DjVu books (via the module). True, the last of these are available after installing the plugins, which are available for free download on the application website.
Let's see why the FBReader project was developed, what are the main features of the reader and why it should be used to read books on Android? Let's list the three main features of the reader (highlighted in bold).
Synchronizing books on your phone using a network library. FBReader provides a cloud service for storing books. You can download fb2 books for Android for free (follow the link - list of electronic libraries), easily upload documents and books in fb2 format (they can be compressed into a zip archive) to the cloud, and then access and read them on any device. The position (where you are in the document) will be saved. By the way, synchronization can be configured in a couple of clicks; by default it is disabled.
How to open fb2 using FBReader?
In addition to your own library, you can connect additional online catalogs and bookstores. As for me, I don’t use the network functions of the FBReader reader at all, I just download books from popular online libraries to my Android in fb2 format. This is a standard way to download books, which works like a charm.
Setting up the display of fb2 books. In addition to the fact that FBReader has a pleasant user interface, it is nice to be able to fine-tune the display of text in the book. In this regard, it is necessary to note color schemes, night and day reading modes, screen brightness, changing the background background, text color, font size and typeface. You can download your favorite fonts to Android in TrueType or OpenType format and specify them in the reader settings.
Finally, the third feature of this fb2 reading program for Android will appeal to those who read books in foreign languages - namely, the easy connection of dictionaries to translate words in the text of books. Take the same Kindle: there you can connect an English-Russian dictionary and quickly find out the translation of a particular word when you highlight it. This feature is often not available on Android readers, but FBReader is a pleasant exception. Add dictionaries ColorDict, Fora Dictionary, FreeDictionary.org to your phone, tell FBReader where to get the words from - and you can read FictionBook books and quickly translate words into Russian.
AlReader - old fb2 reader with good functionality
AlReader is a fairly old reader for fb2, which appeared at the dawn of the heyday of mobile phones. When opening the application, there is even a feeling of nostalgia: AlReader is too reminiscent of its earlier versions. That is, the interface has not changed much since then. This can be approached in two ways: on the one hand, if you have already opened books in FB Reader and similar readers, then you most likely will not like the interface of the AlReader application. On the other hand, we advise you to still evaluate other aspects of this mobile application.
The AlReader application boasts support not only for the Fb2 format, but also for reading books in epub, mobi, doc, including from archives. You can use a local or online library to navigate your document. Actually, inside the book you can also navigate through sections (one of fb2’s features, by the way), create bookmarks and notes as you read. The app recognizes many gestures, which makes sense. primarily for adjusting brightness and navigation.
The appearance and style of displaying the book on the phone screen is conveniently customizable: indents, background and font color, typeface size, flipping effects - in general, everything that can be found in any developed program for reading e-books on Android.
In short, we would advise you to pay attention to the AlReader mobile reader simply because it is a proven reader among users not only of Android, but also of other mobile platforms. And the unsightly shell is partly compensated by skins and excellent functionality.
Moon+ Reader - fb2 “lunar” reader for night owls
Reading fb2 using Moon Reader"Lunar Reader" is not much inferior to the same FBReader; it can be used with the same success for reading books in FB2 format, not only. The list of supported book formats includes popular mobile formats epub, txt, html, pdf, mobi, fb2 and others. Books can be packaged in rar and zip archives and opened without problems on Android via Moon+ Reader.
Similar to the FBReader reader, Moon Reader has the ability to connect online libraries with books. You can also download e-books in the above formats to an SD card or internal memory, and then open them in the application.
Reading convenience is excellent: adjusting font sizes, colors, backgrounds, indents, shadows, transparency and other beauties that in one way or another affect the perception of color. Returning to the name of the application - Moon Reader - yes, reading at night in this reader is quite convenient, there are a dozen design themes, as well as night and day reading modes.
When reading, it is worth noting the following features: auto-scrolling, smooth scrolling of text, adjusting screen brightness when sliding, optimization for long reading, flipping effects, adjusting text alignment, hyphenation, display modes for both tablets and small screens of Android devices.
If we talk about the unique features of the fb2 program, then this is an unusually wide support for gestures. You can customize literally any command by assigning a specific gesture for its execution. And if Kindle or another e-ink reader beats the screen in terms of reading pleasure, then in terms of gestures Android is ahead of the rest. You can configure actions for taps, volume control buttons, search, camera button and others. You have 24 operations at your disposal that you can assign these gestures to.
Good news for lovers of foreign literature and for attentive readers who like to scribble in the margins: Moon Reader is very convenient for highlighting fragments of text, you can connect dictionaries to translate text, popular translator dictionaries ColorDict, Fora, ABBYY Lingvo and others are supported. In this aspect, Moon Reader surpasses even the authoritative reader FBReader.
Prestigio Reader - a good phone reader for book formats
Prestigio Reader can open many book formats, but primarily focuses on mobile ones: these are FB2, ePub, DjVU, etc. If you prefer to listen to audiobooks, then the reader will satisfy these needs without any problems.
Prestigio Reader is a truly “prestigious” program for reading fb2 books
Prestigio Reader is, frankly, a very pleasant discovery for us. At the first steps, when working with the reader, everything is intuitive. First, the guide illustrates where and what elements should be used in the application.
Fb2 books are added to the library automatically through intelligent search. Which is incredibly convenient, because... you don’t need to search for files on your phone yourself, although Prestigio Reader has a file manager for these purposes. In addition, more than 5 thousand books are available for download in the online library.
The interface of the Prestigio Reader application is very pleasant and fresh. By default, everything should be fine, but in any case, you can customize the design of the fb2 book to suit you. In quick settings - font sizes, indents, typeface. By going to the advanced settings, you will see settings for styles, colors, panels, animations - even more than what the user needs when reading files in fb2 format.
PocketBook - FB2 and PDF reader for Android
The PocketBook program is designed for reading fb2 books on a mobile device on the Android platform. It’s hardly worth listing the book formats this reader works with - it covers all popular extensions, essentially duplicating both Moon Reader and FBReader.
Hand on heart, we have to admit that among fb2 readers for Android there are not so many pleasant programs in which a) the interface looks modern b) it’s pleasant to read books. Unfortunately, on Google Play there are pdf and fb2 readers with a frankly poor shell. You open them and think: well, all hope is that the pages in the book will look normal, at least the program won’t let you down in this regard. But no, and the fonts match the interface.
As for the PocketBook application for Android, the opposite is true: it is one of the most successful applications for reading books in the FictionBook format. The developers achieved this through convenient navigation through the library and the implementation of a radial menu.
At first, such a device for the main menu in PocketBook requires some getting used to, which is understandable: it’s rare to see such know-how in any mobile fb2 reader. But then it becomes clear that through this menu you can carry out almost all the necessary actions: change font sizes, adjust brightness, go to the menu, etc. In the main menu of the application, a standard set of parameters is available for customizing the display of text in the book: indents, colors, themes.
In a word, the developers of the PocketBook application tried their best and released a high-quality product for reading on Android. Interestingly, the same team is developing e-books using e-ink ink and related accessories.
EBookDroid - FB2 and PDF reader
The EBookDroid reader focuses on two book formats - PDF and Deja Vu, but fb2 books can also be read with the same convenience on a phone or tablet. However, what about this very convenience?
After a quick test of the EBookDroid, the feeling is twofold. On the one hand, all the basic reading functions are in place. You can open books, navigate between pages and sections, leave bookmarks and comment in a variety of ways, customize the display of fonts, and even add your own typefaces.
However, as for the shell itself, it is not very pleasing to the eye. Although the EBookDroid application is updated quite regularly, these innovations affect the visual shell to a small extent. The FictionBook reading application looks as if the year is not 2016, but 2006.
We hope that soon we will be able to download the fb2 program in material design version. And this is not a matter of taste, but a simple requirement from most Android OS users.
Cool Reader - old-fashioned reader for Android
The free old-school fb2 reader for Android called Cool Reader supports almost all popular e-book formats (PDF, MOBI, RTF, FictionBook itself, etc.), although, for example, DOC and AZW3 are not on the list.
Old school - because the interface, as in the previous case, is a little outdated. This creates certain inconveniences: firstly, the bookshelf is not as effective as in the case of PocketBook (it could simply be replaced with a simple list); secondly, you immediately have to rearrange everything “to suit you”: background, color, font size and alignment.
If you close your eyes to the user shell, then, as the developer notes on the program description page, Cool Reader at the same time has similarities with FBReader, Aldiko, AlReader, Moon reader and other representatives of fb2-readers for Android. Therefore, the list of functions is similar to all of the above.
Summary. We have mentioned, in our opinion, the best fb2 readers for Android. As you can see, there is always something to open both fb2 and pdf, epub, mobi. The following reviews will look at these mobile formats for storing books on your phone. Good luck!
Free e-readers for your computer: ePub
If you just need to read and nothing extra, use the program EDS ePub Reader. Minimum functions, user-friendly interface. Everything is easy and simple. In addition to reading, the program can convert ePub books to PDF, HTML and TXT.
FB2 reader for computer
It would be strange to start this topic not with the program FBReader. But, for the sake of fairness, it opens not only the FB2 format, but also ePub.
This program also has access to online libraries and allows you to download books, this is done very easily.
It is possible to search by page and search by words/phrases.
Computer readers two in one bottle
There are programs that open both ePub and FB2. I have already named one of them - FBReader . Two more good options:
This program differs in the way it displays books. She tries to make them two pages, like regular printed ones, and the pages turn over just like in printed ones. It looks very interesting.
A couple of handy features in this program. For example, the ability to use a word or phrase in one click. I already wrote about that.
It is also very convenient to make bookmarks.
We've sorted out the readers for rubber formats. Now let's talk about PDF documents.
Readers for computer: PDF
By the way, it’s about documents. Often in this format you come across not just books, but, for example, diagrams or maps, and perhaps documents in which you need to make notes or even links within the document. Personally, I read in this format very often, for example, to remember the location of lines in a book. This will not work in FB2 or ePub format. I use PDF Xchange Viewer.
PDF Xchange Viewer. This program has the widest functionality in terms of notes and working with PDF documents. I actively use links to other files directly from the PDF book. Also, I make notes in the margins, notes on words, highlight them in different colors in the text, draw them with frames, etc. Over the years, a pattern of secretions has already been developed, which is very convenient and understandable to me. In isolated cases, I noticed that peculiar documents sometimes open in the wrong encoding. Adobe Acrobat Reader never has this problem.
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