11 best programs for reading books on a computer + 3 online services

Updated: 02/27/2021 16:43:31

Expert: Vladislav Samoshkin

*Review of the best according to the editors of expertology.ru. About the selection criteria. This material is subjective in nature, does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before purchasing, consultation with a specialist is required.

A computer can be used for a variety of purposes. Including for reading e-books. In this material we will talk in detail about the best reading programs that simplify the process and make it more comfortable. In this case, we will also talk about those applications that are designed for reading comics.

Readers for Windows

Windows is considered the first most popular operating system in the world. According to a NetMarketShare study, 4 billion people work on it, so reading software is always on the agenda. About five of them - in general terms.

Cool Reader

The popular application is an expanded book. You can customize the interface yourself by choosing an endless scroll or page turning. The lion's share of the functions of a PC reader are focused on the selection of appropriate visual components (fonts, layout and size of pages, the presence of additional functions) that will ensure comfortable reading of works.

Thanks to the presence of a speech synthesizer, the text can be reproduced in audio format or integrated into the MP3 format. However, pdf files are not available for voiceover, and in the case of other formats, the voice assistant may work awkwardly.

Among the advantages of the application:

• automatic page turning function;
• the ability to change and smooth fonts;
• the presence of a built-in archiver, so downloaded files do not need to be unpacked through third-party utilities.

Overall, the reader is not bad, but a couple of shortcomings spoil the whole impression:

• When the night mode is activated, the background is not black at all, but with a dark blue tint and numerous spots. This distracts from reading and puts strain on the eyes;
• When you exit the application, book settings and bookmarks often disappear, so during your next reading session you will have to look for the page you left off on.

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ICE Book Reader Professional

This is a Russian-language application with a wide range of settings. They are focused on comfort. A program for reading books on a PC allows you to select the desired design, adjust the font size and style. The software has a built-in format converter and a function for sorting books according to several criteria: author, genre, and others.

The application is optimized to work with Windows 10 and is equipped with a speech synthesizer. Books can be read and listened to. But, when opening large works, there may be freezes and problems with turning pages.

Freda

The advantage of the program is access to popular online book catalogs. Through them you can download more than 40 thousand works from the “Classical Literature” section. The software has a function for synchronizing book selections from OneDrive and Dropbox cloud storages. Due to this, you can upload books previously saved in the cloud and read from different devices: you just need to open a storage account and download the required work.

The book reader on your computer supports the most popular reading formats: EPUB (without DRM), FB2, MOBI, HTML and TXT. It is optimized for use with smartphones and tablets.

STDU Viewer

This program is held in high esteem due to its support of more than 20 formats. It allows you to open large files and layouts created in Photoshop. The software has about 25 different settings, with which you can “adjust” even small details to your own preferences.

In the program, you can leave notes, search the book, and even transform the information display options. With such a wide functionality, STDU Viewer does not create a heavy load on the PC.

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Sumatra PDF

In addition to the main “book formats,” the program allows you to open comics in CBR and CBZ. Unlike other reading apps, Sumatra PDF can be downloaded to an external storage device for use on any device. The software allows you to open several tabs with books and, if necessary, switch between them.

The program can only configure the display of text and the appropriate font size. You can adjust other functions only by opening “Program Options”.

Popular FB2 format

The FB2 extension is an abbreviation for the words “FictionBook eBook”. FB2 files are DRM free, can contain images, notes, text formatting, Unicode, tables. Any images used in the eBook, such as PNG or JPG, are converted to Base64 (binary) and stored inside the FB2 file.

The FB2 format itself is a regular XML file. However, some FB2 files are stored in ZIP archive files, and are therefore called FB2.ZIP.

There are many FB2 file readers for almost all platforms. On a PC, you can open such files with programs such as “Cool Reader”, “FBReader”, “Athenaeium”, the Firefox plugin “FB2 Reader” and others. At the same time, many such readers easily open the FB2 file in a ZIP archive.

Let's look at the best free FB2 readers for computers available for download on the Internet.

Readers for MacOS

If you prefer Apple technology, you should take care of a convenient reading application. In the case of MacOS, there are three extremely simple and understandable readers that will appeal to every literature lover.

Caliber

The utility tops the list compiled by MacBook users. And there are several reasons for this:

1. Firstly, it supports 30 formats, including EPUB, FB2, HTML, IMP, LIT, LRF, as well as the function of converting files in the program.
2. Secondly, it is a clear interface. There is a separate sector with a list of books from the repository, a clear distribution of functions on the top panel. You can also disable modules that you do not plan to use.
3. Availability of a system for searching and sorting files by title, author, genre and by word/phrase.
4. If necessary, you can enable separate settings for each work.

However, the utility is not without its drawbacks. The book is available for download only through a browser, after which it can be opened in the program. Also, when downloading books in a number of formats (RB, RTF, SNB, TCR), errors may occur.

iBooks

This reader is rightfully considered one of the best, because it has a stylish interface and synchronization between iOS devices. They are suitable for those who would like to explore the worlds of their next fantasy, rather than study the settings.

The utility supports only two formats: ePub and PDF. But all files can be converted to appreciate the exciting plot of the novel.

Among the advantages of the reader is a set of functions. They are in the table:

All two supported formats are considered a disadvantage of the program.

Clearview

Clear software that opens books as tabs. Here you can create bookmarks with notes while reading, write comments, and search by phrases. The tab system is capable of combining several books, which will allow you to study information in parallel from several sources.

Benefits of the Clearview app:

• suitable for working with popular book formats (DF, EPUB (without DRM), CHM and MOBI);
• Extensive functionality includes intuitive book management, the ability to switch between windows, and search for a book by title/author/publisher. Due to this, you can find the necessary work by author, fragment of a phrase or file name;
• It is possible to customize fonts and colors;
• each format is available in four reading configurations (page shift or continuous scroll, one page or two columns). For example, PDF files can be read by quickly turning pages. Or, conversely, use the automatic mode, in which the pages will replace each other after a specified period of time.

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Sumatra PDF - reading e-books is now easy

Despite the extravagance of its name, Sumatra PDF is an excellent compact digital reader capable of displaying books in EPUB, MOBI, FB2, CBZ and CBR comic formats and many others. The reader can easily set basic settings such as font size, but working with the reader’s advanced functionality is only available by opening a text file and setting new values. For example, if you want to change the color of the page, you will need to find the hex code of your preferred color and enter it in the appropriate line. It's not difficult, but many will prefer a graphical interface.

You can't add notes or highlights here, but the overall usability of the reader may outweigh the drawbacks mentioned above.

Readers for Linux

The Linux operating system came to us from the nineties, which is why it is rarely found on a home computer. However, it is precisely this that is used to develop the lion's share of domains. The Linux kernel is also used in the Android system. Based on this, the system and consumer software are still relevant today.

Bookworm

The most simple but interesting reader for PC is at the peak of popularity among Linux OS users. It supports five major formats for virtual books, and also provides the ability to read comics. Among the features of the utility:

• function of switching between the library and a specific book;
• The “Information” key allows you to familiarize yourself with the contents of the document. Create bookmarks or read previously saved ones, as well as get search results;
• Three types of colors are available, one of which is dark;
• the ability to activate full screen by selecting this function in the settings.

Among the advantages are:

• convenient book search (by code, title, quote);
• a wide range of filters by genre and other parameters;
• Import from online services Google Books and Open Library is available.

As a disadvantage, users note the inability to change fonts and background, which is not always convenient for reading.

Foliate

The utility provides work with ten different formats, making it convenient for reading books, comics and various kinds of documents. The application interface allows you to customize or select colors and font styles. Another advantage of the program is the presence of a built-in translator that works using Google Translate algorithms. You can turn pages or select a desired piece of text using the touchpad, just by moving your finger.

Among the advantages of the reader are:

• GTK eBook viewer built with GJS and Epub.js.FeaturesView EPUB files, which provide two-page viewing and scrolling;
• four reading configurations: light, gray, dark and inverted mode;
• reading progress slider with chapter marks.

The most significant drawback is the utility icon periodically disappearing from the taskbar, since bugs with text voice acting and incorrect search were fixed in the last update.

Okular

If the KDE graphical environment is installed on your PC, you can use the cool e-reader that is built into the software to read books. The program is designed to work with PDF files and view images. The developers claim that with this utility you can quickly comment on fragments of text, leaving thoughts in notes. And also use several options for scrolling sheets and customize a theme that will allow you not to be distracted from the content of the book.

Advantages of the reader:

• convenient navigation;
• file review elements are available (notes, lines, polygons, ellipses, highlighting, stamp, text underlining);
• supports a number of popular formats - PDF, Epub, DjVu, DVI, PostScript, FictionBook, ComicBook, XPS;
• no advertising.

The disadvantage is the lack of review of Russian-language text, since for files with Cyrillic alphabet the review notes are simply not displayed.

Genius PDF - will help you open the FB2 extension online

The "Genius PDF" reader is a free reader that, in addition to PDF, allows you to support many e-book formats (FB2). It is small in size, installs in a few seconds, and opens files faster than many of its competitors. In addition to the installation process itself, the program builds associations with PDF files and installs a virtual printer that allows you to convert files of other formats to PDF (Text recognition from PDF to WORD).

In addition to most of the standard options for readers, Genius PDF has a number of advanced options. You can display every two pages side by side or switch to book view. You can also display your document in full screen while maintaining the currently selected viewing mode. Additionally, you can switch to presentation mode, which is similar to full screen mode, but it displays each page individually, like a slideshow.

Reading services

No matter how practical e-readers for PCs are, sometimes it is not possible to install the application. Then online services come to the rescue. Three of them are in your piggy bank.

Bookmate

Visitors to this platform get access to books that have become timeless classics. The service is paid, but you can try a trial subscription for seven days. At the same time, access to the section with classical works remains free on an ongoing basis.

The platform presents a large number of works (more than 5000) in Russian, Spanish, English and other languages.

Among the advantages:

• optimization of the reader for Windows 10;
• A section from the book is available in audio format;
• The “Recommended” category is generated based on books read. You can easily find the continuation of the desired novel or familiarize yourself with other works of the author.

However, the platform provides files in only two formats (EPUB or FB2), which is not always convenient. To read contemporaries, you must subscribe to a paid subscription. Its cost is $4.5 per month.

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Google Play Books

Allows you to add books to your library and then read them online. You can also use an extension for Chrome (that’s what Google Play Books is called), thanks to which you can read without connecting to the network. The plugin basically follows the design of the web version, so the functionality is preserved.

Among the advantages of the reader:

• library synchronization function on devices with one account,
• wide selection of classical and modern literature,
• intuitive interface and sleek design.

But when choosing this service to read new works, you should remember that the lion's share of them is protected by copyright law. First you need to buy, then read.

Kindle Cloud Reader

The reader was developed by Amazon Kindle, so books can be read through the Amazon app from a browser or Chromebook. A unique function of the service is to record the last page read, remarks and notes. During a new reading session, they continue reading from the point where they stopped.

The undoubted advantages are a simple and intuitive interface, the ability to customize book fonts and choose the layout of pages. The main disadvantage is the lack of a function to upload your own books, and therefore the range of books is limited only to those that you purchased on Amazon.

The selection of a suitable reading application is as individual as the preference for different genres or book configurations: format, cover, binding. The decisive role is played by the number of settings with which you can create a page design and minimize eye strain.

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ALReader

A reader similar in appearance to Cool Reader. However, ALReader is much inferior in terms of the number of interface settings. You can separately configure the font, its color, spacing, and so on, but there is no way to immediately select a theme with preset settings. Personally, I don't like wasting time on this. I’m also not happy with the lack of text scrolling from top to bottom in the form of an endless scroll.

Most of the functions of self-respecting readers (automatic text scrolling or conversion) are still present in ALReader. Another nice thing is that the program always correctly displays word breaks on a new line.

Advantages:

• There is a Russian version of the program.
• A choice of text encoding is available.
• Built-in screen brightness adjustment.
• Built-in archiver.
• Good optimization for Windows 10.
• Ability to create multiple profiles with different settings.

Flaws:

• Does not support PDF format.
• No autoscroll function.
• There are no tools for working with libraries or other advanced features.

Theme for AlReader in the form of an unfolded book

FBReader

The program is suitable for those who do not have the desire or time to delve into the settings and study the cumbersome interface of the reader, but at the same time, they need a universal and simple tool with access to libraries. The utility has a very simple native interface that anyone can understand.

FBReader has access to many online libraries, including paid ones. There is an opportunity to buy books directly in the application. Added or purchased books are sorted by author name and genre.

Advantages:

• Built-in archiver.
• Convenient search.
• Simple interface.

Flaws:

• Tables are not displayed correctly.
• There is no print function.
• No automatic updates.
• There is no pdf support from the start (you need to download the plugin separately).

View online libraries and add books in the FBReader program

Foxit Reader

The program, like Adobe Reader, is designed for reading files in pdf format. The advantage is the light weight of the utility and its good optimization, thanks to which it works noticeably faster than its well-known competitor. There are also comments and bookmarks. Scaling of text for easy viewing.

New versions added text editing, layer management, a cloud, and online conversion to Word, Excel and JPG.

Advantages:

• Wide functionality.
• Light weight.
• Text decoding and sound engine.
• Editing text.
• Built-in converter to Word, Excel and JPG.

Flaws:

• In new versions, the program began to freeze on older machines.

Open help in Foxit Reader

"Balabolka"

The rating is completed by the “Balabolka” application, the functionality of which allows you not only to work with texts, but also to read them out loud. Downloading the reader will answer the question of how to read e-books on a computer, edit them and record them as audio files.

Moreover, during the recording process you can change both the reading speed and voice timbre.

Interface of the program "Balabolka"