When comparing Google Play Books vs FBReader, the Slant community recommends FBReader for most people. In the question“What are the best eBook readers on Android?” FBReader is ranked 5th while Google Play Books is ranked 12th. The most important reason people chose FBReader is:
FBReader features an in built eBook store for users to download eBooks onto their devices through the app.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Allows bookmarking pages, highlighting text, and adding notes
Google Play Books offers many options while reading such as bookmarks, highlights and notes. Making for a good app to use for academic .pdfs and .epubs.
Pro Built-in dictionary
Google Play Books has an inbuilt dictionary for users to use to look up unfamiliar words.
Pro Supports PDF & EPUB uploads
Users can use the Google Play Books webpage or app to upload their own .epubs or PDFs.
Pro Font, font-size, layout and theme can be customized
Margins, text size, line spacing and color theme of the page can be changed to the users liking,.
Pro Syncs across devices
No matter what device one is using the Google Play Books service on it will sync all eBooks and placement into the cloud.
Pro Immersive mode
Google Play Books has built in immersive mode when reading. This allows for the navigation and notification bars to be hidden, allowing the full screen to be used for the eBook.
Pro Responsive interface
Like the majority of Google's apps, Google Play Books has a slick interface that works quite smoothly.
Pro Has light and dark themes
Google Play Books offers a dark and a light theme to make it easier to read in dark or light rooms.
Pro Books can be bought or rented directly from the app
Google Play Books has an in built eBook store within the app, making for a convenient way to purchase titles.
Pro Has text-to-speech support
Text to speech can be used to have an eBook read to the reader aloud.
Pro Built in eBook store
FBReader features an in built eBook store for users to download eBooks onto their devices through the app.
Pro Simple and fast
FBReader, while offering many options is simple in design, with that allowing for fast use.
Pro Books can be saved to SD card
Pro Cloud sync
FBReader has built in Google Drive sync for the users files, allowing them to store their eBooks online, not taking up room on their local storage.
Cons
Con Lacks library management features
No shelves, categories, or reading lists.
Con External SD card
Google play books doesn't have the ability to save the downloaded books to an external SD card.
Con Cannot search for books on a SD card
Con No light mode
Unusable if you have astigmatism.
Con UI is bad
User interface is confusing and ugly.