Ebook reading program. The best free book and document readers for Windows
Fb2 format was created as a universal way to store books. It has many useful properties, and one of them is the ease of conversion to a number of other formats. However, not every user has a fb2 reader on their computer. This is what slowed down the development of the format. But if you have a special utility, you can enjoy convenient book reading.
Free FB2 readers
Universal "reader". It supports most formats for storing books and works with any amount of information and number of sheets. To use it, you don’t need to install anything, you just need to run the executable file. It's really convenient and fast.
It would seem that such a simple program should have little functionality, but this is not true. In fact, Cool Reader meets all modern requirements. In addition to reading the fb2 format, this program will ensure work with any documents, including those located on the network! For this, there is convenient access to online libraries.
The utility's interface is very convenient and simple. It is divided into several parts, one of which shows recent files, the second - the document directory, and the third - settings. This approach allows you to use it regardless of the localization language. According to many users, this is the best program.
A little old-fashioned, but very functional program for Windows. It allows you to work with absolutely any text formats, and can also connect to archives! Now you don't need to extract books from RAR, ZIP or other packages, you just need to specify the path to them.
In addition, it should be noted that there is a huge variety of settings. In the program you can customize almost everything - from the catalog to the font. It should also be noted that the cataloging system is incredibly extensive and convenient. In it you can divide books by categories, genres, your own wishes, the number of bookmarks and even corrections. By the way, they allow you to remove typos from the text.
ICE Book Reader Professional will help you preserve your vision. There are a number of different viewing modes available to suit different conditions. 
It's not called that for nothing. This program works with all formats that a user can find on the Internet. Docx, abw and even chm books can be read in Alreader. This is the main advantage of the utility. It does not have any outstanding interface design, but it is not irritating to the eyes, even after a very long time of reading.
Alreader will help you tune in and focus on the process. To do this, you can choose the most convenient font, background color and illumination, and even anti-aliasing mode. This approach to customization allows the user to truly enjoy reading. The program has the usual “day” and “night” modes, as well as a lot of unique settings.
It is important to note that the background for reading can be as authentic as possible - in the form of paper of varying degrees of preservation. The background images are made of very high quality, which will help you get aesthetic pleasure. 
At this stage, the program is still being finalized, so it has several shortcomings. For example, table formats and CSS styles are not fully supported. However, this practically does not limit the reader. Problems will occur extremely rarely, on single copies.
In FB2 Reader you can create an entire library, cataloging information according to one of a dozen different parameters. This program can be downloaded for free and used without any restrictions. 
STDU Viewer- can hardly be called a classic reader. It is designed to work with any documents, including e-books. Many free programs specialize in reading ease. This is very important, but not in all cases. The same program is more aimed at maximum functionality. You can view any document format in it. It's hard to even think of a book that STDU Viewer can't open.
The program interface is laconic, but very convenient. Small symbolic icons can be understood intuitively, especially since everything is translated into Russian. Despite the huge number of different possibilities, they are neatly placed in several panels, allowing the user to concentrate on the text.
Among the unique features, it is worth noting the format converter and the ability to work with images. Also, STDU Viewer allows you to print documents. 
For those who consume the printed word exclusively on the scale of Twitter messages, a reasonable question arises: “Why are they even needed on the computer, these same reader programs?”
Indeed, you can open small texts in any operating system without problems - there are enough standard applications for this. But there are simply no tools that allow you to work normally with larger sizes in a “clean” system. But doing this with regular ones is very inconvenient, and your eyes get very tired.
So if you have to read fairly large texts from the screen, and you want to do it with maximum comfort, and at the same time want to preserve your vision, you simply cannot do without specialized programs - electronic readers.
There are quite a lot of programs for reading e-books. Each has its own pros and cons. But it is impossible to cover them all in one article. Therefore, I will limit myself to only those that have “taken root” on my computers over the years. Or periodically, as needed, they appear on them.
Easy and convenient program. And although it is not updated very often, all versions are still functional. Designed for Windows, but on Linux it usually works well under Wine. There is also an official version running Windows Mobile.
On mobile platforms, IMHO, it has no serious competitors at all, neither in terms of capabilities nor in terms of convenience.
It has a large number of all kinds of settings, which you don’t have to look into if you don’t want to - most of the options are set quite reasonably and by default.
It has a large list of supported formats, including the currently mega-popular FB2. One of the few that works with ODT files (Open Document, used in OpenOffice.org, Microsoft Office and LibreOffice) without prior conversion.
The default interface resembles an unfolded book; the yellowish background of the pages is more comfortable for the eyes and is very convenient for long reading. As a bonus, AlReader does not require installation and can work from any mobile media. For me personally, this is the most convenient and favorite program for reading files in FB2 and EPUB format.
The program is cross-platform and not only free (which is quite natural), but also open - its sources are available. So you can find its version on the Internet not only for any PC operating system, but I have also more than once come across packages compiled by craftsmen for a variety of mobile platforms. So, if you understand, you can do some magic with the raw materials yourself, or search on the Internet for a ready-made package specifically for your mobile device.
There is also a large selection of supported formats, a good set of settings, a choice between one-page and two-page reading modes, etc.
And although CoolReader 3 does not differ in anything extraordinary, it fulfills its main task “with 5 points” - reading with the help of this program is very convenient (with the correct settings “for yourself”). Over the years of use, no particular disadvantages have been noticed.
The word “Professional” is in the name for a reason - today, IMHO, this is the most powerful and multifunctional program for reading e-books. Moreover, the Russian version is free to use.
In fact, it consists of two equivalent modules - the reader itself and the library.
The reader can operate in two modes - scrolling mode (one page on the screen) and book mode (two pages on the screen). Moreover, each mode can be configured separately - background, font, flipping, etc.
It is necessary to dwell a little more on scrolling. In ICE Book Reader Professional you can turn pages both manually (and in several ways) and automatically. In this case, you can either set the scrolling speed yourself or set it to full automatic. When fully automatic, the program will automatically adjust to the user’s reading pace.
Library mode is a full-fledged cataloguer in which you can sort added books by genre, author, series, etc. Moreover, the program can take the data for sorting itself, directly from the added files, or you can easily change everything or set it manually.
It should be noted that books are “imported” into the library - links to them are not simply created, but the book file itself is copied to a special storage (at the same time, the compression level can be adjusted to save disk space). Therefore, after import there is no need for the original file.
When installing, I recommend that you carefully consider the option of choosing a directory for storing the library - a conveniently located directory with books (your personal settings are also stored in it - next time you won’t have to configure everything again) can be easily copied to simplify your task during possible system reinstallations or transferring the program to another PC.
The list of supported formats is more than impressive - almost all common formats. At the same time, ICE Book Reader can import books directly from archives, without any need to first unpack them. A variety of archives are also supported, including exotic and outdated ones, which no modern archiver works with anymore.
The abundance of settings can confuse inexperienced users. And it’s completely in vain - everything is very simple there. All it takes is a little attention and time spent on setup, and everything will pay off. Because ICE Book Reader is not only the most powerful reader today, but also the most customizable for a specific user. It can be perfectly adjusted to suit you in order to read in comfort and enjoy the process.
Programs for viewing PDF, DjVu and other formats
In addition to all kinds of text formats, there are a number of others that, strictly speaking, are not text. But nevertheless, e-books in such formats are found all over the Internet. At the same time, if almost any Linux distribution contains tools for viewing “anything and everything” right out of the box, then in a freshly installed Windows tools for opening such files are completely absent as a class. You will have to install them yourself.
Of these formats, the first one is PDF. It is where you most often find pirated copies of books on the Internet - scanned textbooks, encyclopedias, tutorials, magazines, etc. (however, not only pirated ones). Therefore, software for working with such files is “vital”.
Original program from the format developer. And that says it all - everything that can be supported and worked in PDF is supported and works. On the one hand, this is a plus. On the other hand, all kinds of scripts embedded in the book file itself also work. And among them now there may be malicious ones.
After downloading a pirated version of a tutorial or the latest version of a computer magazine in PDF from the Internet, do not be lazy to run it properly with an antivirus.
As a result, Adobe is forced to constantly release patches and patch security holes. However, this problem affects not only Adobe Reader, but also any other software for working with PDF. As for Adobe Reader itself, the disadvantages include the significant size it takes up on the disk and its heaviness.
Also designed for PDF viewing, but an order of magnitude easier than the program described above. Lighter, faster and less gluttonous. At the same time, Foxit Reader is also not deprived of its capabilities. It has Russian localization (if you are connected to the Internet, select Russian in the settings - the localization file will be automatically downloaded and moved where needed). There are a bunch of versions - old, new, portable (working without installation)... - all cope perfectly with their main function - viewing PDF, without any need for an Adobe reader. So I recommend it.
There is a version for Linux. And although it has been in beta for many years, it works without any serious glitches.
In addition to PDF, another common e-book format on the Internet is DjVu. It is ideal for scans of educational, scientific and engineering literature - one-color text containing drawings, formulas and graphs with very good quality is compressed into relatively small files. But among the Windows programs for viewing this format, IMHO, only one is worthy of attention (Linux users are a little better with this issue).
The program is small, fast and convenient. It does not differ in particularly “sophisticated” functionality. But all she needs to do is rip DjVu files normally, which she does “with five points.” In general, it is highly recommended for use.
This is a rather rare “guest” on my PCs, but it will definitely come in handy for some. A distinctive feature of this program is its “omnivorousness”. From e-books it opens almost everything that can be opened. So if you don’t want to have a whole “zoo” of reader programs on your computer, you can try STDU Viewer.
Well, for dessert there is one more program that stands somewhat apart.
This is not just an e-reader - it is a real “combine” for working with e-books. It consists of several modules, the first of which is the reader itself. He reads everything that can be read in principle. It has many settings and all sorts of “goodies”, which (due to the lack of Russian translation of documentation) can bring a lot of fun. However, there is nothing particularly difficult there, and with due care, everything can be mastered at random, especially since the program interface itself is well localized (completely Russian).
Another part is the cataloging library. It also has a lot of options for importing and sorting books, allowing you to sort your library as you please.
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And finally, one more module - a converter. The third and main module of the program. Because the main purpose of Caliber is to convert e-books into files for various mobile devices. At the same time, the program receives almost any e-book file as input (the list of supported formats is huge - almost EVERYTHING), and as an output it produces a file suitable for reading on your mobile device. And here, too, all common combinations are possible.
If problems with conversion may arise, I recommend that you set the correct encoding specifically for your case.
That's all for today.
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 reading text with 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.
You can read an e-book on almost any mobile device, but it is more comfortable to do it from the large screen of a PC or laptop. It is this circumstance that supports the popularity of specialized reading programs. Today we will look at the best free e-readers for Windows, comparing their capabilities and ease of use.
A modern e-book is not just text. It contains chapter layouts, footnotes, and illustrations. All these features fully support only three formats:
- ePub (Electronic Publication) - international and most widespread;
- fb2/fb3 (Fiction Book) - created by domestic programmers and widely used only in Runet;
- azw3/Mobi - native Amazon Kindle reader formats.
We will conduct testing based on the fact that any e-reader for Windows under consideration should be able to work with them. Additional features, such as support for simple or formatted text files, will count as a nice bonus.
Liberty Book Reader
The first program in the review is available in the official Windows Store. Books can be purchased online or downloaded from your own collection. Considering that we are considering free programs, we will not take in-app purchases into account.
The interface corresponds to the description and is completely written in Russian. There is nothing superfluous in the main Liberty window. To the standard control buttons, one more has been added to switch to full-screen mode. Downloading books from local storage is done in one simple step. As stated by the developers, epub and fb2 formats are correctly recognized.
In reading mode, basic settings are available:
- text alignment;
- day/night mode change;
- navigation by four parameters: page, bookmark, note, table of contents;
- choosing a font type;
- change of presentation mode: one page, spread, scroll.
You can adjust the screen brightness and margin size. The settings you select are saved as a separate style that you can return to. Control elements are called by analogy with the context menu and are automatically hidden after performing the operations required by the user.
Periodically, the program produces an error, after which it continues to work.
As a standard reader for Windows, available for installation from the application store, Liberty copes with its tasks.
Cool Reader
Cool Reader for Windows can be downloaded as a zip archive. The program does not require installation to operate. Just unpack the archive and run the exe file. To add books, you must manually specify the folder in which they are located. Access to online catalogs has been implemented. Presets contain links only to English-language materials, but the user can add the desired resource independently. The interface language can be switched in the settings. To enable the Russian version of the help, you must manually add a document from the internal program directory:
cr3\res\manuals\manual_template_en
Inside the program, books are sorted using preset filters: by file name, author, title or series. In addition to the basic settings, the user can change the animation when scrolling through pages or enable read-aloud mode.
Owners of laptops with touch screens will be pleased to have support for them in the program. A separate help section is devoted to using the touchscreen capabilities.
Books in the tested formats were recognized correctly. In fb2 reading mode, footnotes are moved to the bottom of the overall text on the page. The solution is convenient and allows the user not to be distracted by additional menu navigation.
For a program that doesn't even install, Cool Reader for Windows has impressive capabilities.
AlReader
AlReader is positioned as an fb2 reader for Windows. The “Librarian” function is designed to scan a user-specified directory and automatically enter detected files of this format into the program database. Recognized books are immediately available for reading. Adding epub files, which the program can also work with, is done manually.
The settings are divided into separate blocks and placed on the top panel of the main window. Users who are more comfortable working with a graphical menu can place its panel under the main one. You can pin it in this position permanently or only in full-screen mode.
Reading fb2 with notes is implemented at two levels. It is possible to place them as footnotes on the page or go to a dedicated section of the book. Navigating back to the main text works with the click of a button. For epub, only quick return from the notes area is implemented.
Settings allow you to completely reconfigure all parameters of the displayed text. The selected book can be converted directly into the program into unmarked text format or an HTML file. The first one is accepted by Kindle readers, and the second one can be used without reading programs. Any browser can open such a document.
AlReader could claim the title of “the best fb2 reader for Windows,” but since 2011 the program has not had any updates. It copes with its task so far, but the user-friendliness of the interface leaves much to be desired.
ICE Book Reader
The next program that made it into the top e-readers for Windows was ICE Book Reader Pro. For residents of the post-Soviet space it is free. The “professional” prefix in the name is intended to attract foreign users.
When installed, ICE Book is integrated into the system, taking over the work with e-book formats. It cannot be said that the program is an ideal fb2 and epub reader for Windows. Its appearance is quite specific, and the scrolling mode used is resource-demanding.
Its popularity is based on the prevalence of the formats used and built-in conversion capabilities. Comparing the level of support of free e-readers for Windows, we can say that ICE Book has the most complete help system.
The completely Russian-language help describes in detail the settings options aimed at achieving maximum program performance.
STDU Viewer
STDU Viewer is another universal reader for Windows that is included in our review. The only program reviewed that works not only with the old (mobi), but also with the new (azw) Kindle format. STDU is distributed according to a similar principle to the ICE Book. The program is available free of charge for private use. When registering, you must provide an e-mail and tick the non-commercial use box.
A special feature of STDU is its integration with common formats for storing scanned documents, which are used to create electronic versions of paper textbooks. The program is capable of exporting the material contained in them in “text” or “picture” modes. Extraction is performed on entire pages or individual blocks of information.
Exported materials are immediately adapted to a standard paper format, which allows them to be printed like regular office documents. As a result, the program can be used not only for reading, but also for working with electronic versions of paper media. The implemented ability to work with tabs is also intended for the same purpose. In the main window, you can open several documents and, by switching between them, search and retrieve information.
The user is encouraged to master the operation of the built-in tools independently. Help on functions is not only available in Russian, but also in English.
As an epub reader for Windows, it recognizes the format and table of contents of the book, but does not allow you to navigate to internal links that lead to notes. The versatility of working with formats in this case led to a deterioration in quality.
Finally
Having considered the best e-readers for Windows, we can draw the following conclusions. The Cool Reader program is best adapted for its intended use. In second place in terms of convenience is AlReader. In third place is Liberty. Universal readers ICE and STDU are best used as tools for editing and extracting information.
Despite the fact that mobile e-books have appeared, replacing traditional paper sources of information for readers, it is advisable to have a book reader on your own computer. It may be needed, for example, for reading technical, scientific and fiction literature, as well as for viewing drawings that are now created in book format.
There are a lot of programs for reading books on a computer. Below is a selection of readers that have managed to prove themselves from the best side.
Cool Reader
It can rightfully be called the most popular and widespread among users. There is a version for both computer and mobile device. Supports many different book formats: .doc, .txt, .fb2, .rtf and .epub. The program allows you to browse websites.The features of the computer reader are as follows:
- automatic page turning. The function can be disabled if you need to spend significant time familiarizing yourself with the data on the page;
- adjusting the background and font brightness in accordance with the user's wishes;
- viewing the contents of books in archives without unpacking them.
ALReader
is a program for reading e-books that can run on computers with the Linux and Windows operating systems.The main feature of the reader is its many settings. But the average user is unlikely to have to change anything, and he can easily get by with the default settings. ALReader supports a lot of formats, including ODT and FB2. It is precisely thanks to the ability to view the last two formats that the reader has become in demand.
It is noteworthy that when creating the program, the creators paid special attention to its design. Having opened ALReader, the user will be surprised to see a book on printed newspaper sheets in front of him. To use the reader there is no need to install it. Immediately after downloading it can be used in full mode.
FBReader
If the user often has to resort to viewing documents and reading literature in various formats, then he is recommended to download this reader. The reading experience can be customized to suit your personal preferences.It has a simple and intuitive interface that is easy to customize if desired. All open book files are classified according to characteristics - title, genre and author.
There is no need to move e-books to a shared folder - FBReader automatically creates links to their location in the computer's memory. The program has one drawback - a two-page mode is not provided.
Adobe Reader
It is difficult to find a computer user who has never encountered this program in his life. As a rule, if you need to open a book in PDF format, then Adobe Reader is used. Not only books, but also magazines and other journalism are now being created in this format. Many other readers cannot always open documents and books in PDF.Documents in PDF format can also pose a threat to your computer. Attackers inject malicious scripts into them, and therefore, before opening anything, you should check the file in an antivirus program.
The same problem applies to other programs where you can open books and documents in PDF. To minimize risks, you should use only the latest versions of the reader. The program takes up a lot of space in the computer's memory and takes much longer to install than other software products with similar purposes.
DjVuViwer
The .djvu format is gradually and steadily replacing documents in the .pdf format. The fact is that the first format compresses files better, which allows you to save space in your computer’s memory. If you need a modern reader for reading data in .djvu format, then this is the best of them.The advantages of the program are as follows:
- opening documents in other formats besides .djvu;
- you can scroll through all the pages, rather than flipping through them two at a time, which happens in the vast majority of programs;
- creating bookmarks in a simple and convenient way;
- fast speed of opening books.
Foxit Reader
Like the previous reader, Foxit Reader can also be used to read documents in pdf format. But, unlike Adobe Reader, it requires less hard disk space for installation. The range of possibilities of the reader is quite huge.The program menu is presented in several languages. The application operates primarily on computers running Windows. But, recently, versions have appeared that can run on PCs running Windows OS.
ICE Book Reader Professional
The word Professional is used in the program name for a reason. This reader has quite enviable functionality, which is easy to understand after testing the program for a few minutes. It is distributed absolutely free of charge and is presented in Russian.The program includes two modules of equal importance - a library and a reader. You can choose one-page or two-page mode to view documents.
Often the mode is selected in accordance with the user's preferences and the size of the monitor screen. Each mode has its own set of settings.
The advantage and at the same time the disadvantage (due to the increase in data space occupied) of the reader is that it automatically downloads all books to the library in full. So the file can be deleted from the main location at a later time.
If the amount of data storage space is small, then you should go to the settings and adjust the compression level.
ICE Book Reader Professional has the following features:
- support for files in various formats. Exception - .pdf;
- The entered settings are remembered by the reader automatically. The next time you turn it on, you will not need to change the parameters again;
- data can be opened from archives without involving one or another archiver. Information can be viewed in archives in the following formats: .zip, .rar and others.
STDU Viewer
Its interface is not so attractive, but it is easy to use and allows you to change a lot of parameters in the settings. There is a multi-tab mode, which makes it possible to open several books at the same time.The most important advantage is multi-format. With it you can open documents in .pdf format.
