Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

FBReader VS Scribd

Compare FBReader VS Scribd and see what are their differences

FBReader logo FBReader

FBReader is an e-book reader for various platforms. Features:

Scribd logo Scribd

Unlimited books, audiobooks & comics. Unparalleled discovery. Any device. $8.99/month
  • FBReader Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-10-22
  • Scribd Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-16

FBReader features and specs

  • Platform Support
    FBReader is available on multiple platforms including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, making it accessible to a wide range of users.
  • Format Compatibility
    The reader supports a variety of ebook formats like EPUB, MOBI, FB2, HTML, RTF, and plain text, which offers flexibility to readers.
  • Customization
    FBReader allows extensive customization options such as font types, sizes, colors, and background images, letting users personalize their reading experience.
  • Library Management
    The app offers robust library management features including book organization, sorting, and categorization, making it easier to manage large collections.
  • Speed
    FBReader is known for its speed and efficiency in loading books and navigating through them, which provides a smooth reading experience.

Possible disadvantages of FBReader

  • User Interface
    Some users find the user interface to be outdated and less intuitive compared to other modern ebook readers, which can affect usability.
  • Limited Advanced Features
    While FBReader covers basic reading needs, it lacks some advanced features found in other readers, such as annotations, bookmarks synchronization, and cloud storage integration.
  • DRM Support
    The app does not support DRM-protected content, limiting its use with books purchased from certain vendors like Amazon or Google Play.
  • In-App Purchases
    The free version of FBReader has limited features, and users need to make in-app purchases to unlock additional functionalities, which may not be ideal for all.
  • Performance on Older Devices
    Some users have reported performance issues when running FBReader on older or less powerful devices, which can interrupt the reading experience.

Scribd features and specs

  • Extensive Library
    Scribd offers a wide variety of content including books, audiobooks, magazines, and even documents from multiple genres.
  • Unlimited Access
    Subscribers get unlimited access to a rotating library of titles at a fixed monthly fee, allowing ample reading without purchasing each book individually.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The platform provides an easy-to-navigate interface with personalized recommendations and a customizable reading experience.
  • Cross-Device Syncing
    Scribd syncs your progress across devices, so you can start reading on your phone and continue on your tablet or computer seamlessly.
  • Offline Reading
    Users can download titles for offline reading, making it convenient for areas with limited internet access.

Possible disadvantages of Scribd

  • Rotating Library
    While Scribd offers unlimited access, some books may become unavailable over time due to the rotating nature of the library.
  • Limited Audiobook Selection
    Compared to dedicated audiobook services, Scribd's audiobook selection is not as extensive.
  • Regional Restrictions
    Certain books and content may not be available in all regions due to licensing agreements.
  • Monthly Fee
    Although comprehensive, Scribd does come with a monthly subscription fee, which might not be justifiable for infrequent readers.
  • Data Consumption
    Streaming or downloading large files such as audiobooks and high-resolution magazines can consume significant data, affecting users with limited internet plans.

FBReader videos

Review FBReader on Linux Ubuntu

More videos:

  • Review - FBReader Android Review
  • Review - FBReader - Best eBook Reader App [Android/iOS] #03

Scribd videos

Is Scribd Worth It?

More videos:

  • Review - Scribd Review
  • Review - Audible vs Kindle Unlimited vs Scribd Review (and why I switched)

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to FBReader and Scribd)
eBook Reader
75 75%
25% 25
Digital Publishing
0 0%
100% 100
Ebooks
76 76%
24% 24
eBook Manager
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare FBReader and Scribd

FBReader Reviews

8 Best eBook Readers for Linux
FBReader is a lightweight, multi-platform ebook reader, free but not open-source, supporting various formats like ePub, fb2, mobi, rtf, html etc. It includes access to popular network libraries from where you can download ebooks for free or buy one.
Source: itsfoss.com
10 of the Best Ebook Readers for Windows, macOS, and Mobile
The Favorite Book Reader (FBReader) is a free app that used to be open source. As such, it used to be available for a multitude of devices but now caters to iOS and Android users. There’s also a beta version in development for the Onyx reader.

Scribd Reviews

10 of the Best Ebook Readers for Windows, macOS, and Mobile
The reader itself is gorgeous to use and is available on iOS and Android. It’s a bright and modern app that includes a host of options to help you read content from the community. It’s not as in depth with regards to features as other solutions, but like Scribd, the experience trumps all.
Top 25 SlideShare Alternatives To Create & Share Online Presentations
With over 80million monthly active readers Scribd is the world’s most popular open platform for publishing and sharing documents of all types. You can upload your academic or business presentations to Scribd for free and share with anyone. Yes, you can embed your Scribd documents on your own website too.
Source: slidehelper.com
17 Powerful Issuu Alternatives Nobody Told You About (1 BIG winner)
When looking at the costs, Scribd is cheaper, so for anyone publishing a paid for magazine, it could be a consideration. However, the possibility to share isn’t there, and you can’t embed your publications on your website, although it is quite straightforward to load to services like Behance. But, if you are looking for something with an Issuu like PDF viewer, Scribd is not...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Scribd should be more popular than FBReader. It has been mentiond 54 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

FBReader mentions (10)

  • What is a good ebook reader for Linux?
    I use fbreader, it's probably in your disto's repository or you can get in from fbreader.org. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Best ebook app that also allows for reader?
    I've been using FBreader for years, and it can use the built in Android TTS. https://fbreader.org/. Source: over 2 years ago
  • 3x new books added to the Pirate Library Mirror (+24TB, 3.8M books)
    Based on what's on ZLibrary, various formats, though principally PDF, ePub, Mobi (Kindle), DJVU (similar to PDF), FB2, and a few others. Most ebook readers (with the exception of Amazon's own Kindle reader) can read virtually all of these, some with extensions. E.g., FB Reader , PocketBook Reader , Onyx's Neoreader (BOOX) ... No... - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • FOSS or privacy conscious ebook reading app (Mac/iOS)
    I came across FBReader which looks great in principal, but it uses a Google Drive account to sync with no other options. Also it's no longer OSS from 2015 (which wouldn't have been a deal breaker for me). Source: almost 3 years ago
  • I need a good Software to read epub
    I use FBreader on android and PC. It's insanely customizable. I sometimes use it it double-page layout, 'though I haven't tried comics. Source: about 3 years ago
View more

Scribd mentions (54)

  • “Manitoba Affidavit” 1870
    If you go to https://scribd.com and enter search term Lawrence Barkwell + Métis and change results to documents/articles, all of his 2,000+ research papers are there. He was the historian for the Louis Riel Institute and Gabriel Dumont Institute for over 20 years. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Complete plans for a 2-storey residential Building
    Look on scribd.com. They have several plan sets for residential structural buildings. Source: over 1 year ago
  • whats your opinion on elvis as an actor?
    Jerry Schilling speaks to this in his book, "Me and a Guy Named Elvis." Highly recommend this audiobook available for free on a trial basis at scribd.com. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • whats your opinion on elvis as an actor?
    There are several Elvis ebooks and audiobooks you can access for free with a 30-day trial at scribd.com. Registration requires a credit card but you can cancel before the first payment. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • f*cking scribd amex offers
    Get a $6 statement credit by using your enrolled eligible Card to make a single purchase of $11.99 or more online at scribd.com by 10/31/2023. Limit of 5 statement credits (total of $30). See terms. Source: almost 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing FBReader and Scribd, you can also consider the following products

calibre - Ebook manager, viewer & converter

Issuu - Issuu is the leading digital publishing platform delivering exceptional reading experiences of magazines, catalogs, and newspapers.

Amazon Kindle - Amazon Kindle software lets you read ebooks on your Kindle, iPhone, iPad, PC, Mac, BlackBerry, and...

SlideShare - Discover, Share, and Present presentations and infographics with the world’s largest professional content sharing community.

Cool Reader - Fast and small cross-platform eBook reader for desktops and handheld devices

Google Play Books - Google Play Books lets you search, preview, and buy millions of books using Google Book Search.