Icecream specializes in smart, no-frills software, and Icecream Ebook Reader is no exception. It supports EPUB, MOBI, PDF and FB2 ebook formats, and once you’ve imported your books they’re arranged. The free ebook reader software is available on a variety of platforms: Windows PC, Blackberry, Windows Mobile, Palm OS, Symbian OS, and several dedicated ebook readers like BeBook, Cybook, and iLiad. Mobipocket software allows users to manage and organize ebooks, RSS feeds, and self-published eDocs on their computer. CDisplay Ex is a light, efficient and Free CBR Reader, and it is also the most popular comic book reader. It is able to read all comic book formats (.cbr file,.cbz,.pdf, etc.) and Manga. Everything is designed to give you the best comic reading experience, it load comic books immediately, reading is fluid and comfortable even on slow computer. I came from the android device, which by the way had the perfect epub reader called moon+ reader. Since my switch, I've found nothing that would translate the epub literature correctly except for this application. While it doesn't allow notes or highlighting, it doesn't leave out paragraphs, overlap lines, and send me to incorrect links.
Ebooks are a great way to enjoy literature – they’re cheaper than print books due to the lack of print and distribution costs (and completely free if the work is in the public domain), and you start reading seconds after buying one.
You don’t need a specialist device like a Kindle either thanks to the many free ebook readers available for your desktop. These are particularly good for students who want to reference texts in their work, add annotations, or refer to online resources.
So what makes a good ebook reader? For general use, a clear layout and the ability to sync your bookshelf across multiple devices are essential; for students, note-taking and bookmarks are essential; and for anyone who sometimes struggles with their eyesight, text-to-speech and one-click font customization are welcome additions.
1. Kindle for PC
The best free ebook reader, whether you use Amazon or not
Automatic syncing
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Amazon’s official Kindle app for Windows (as well as Mac and mobile devices) is smart and stylish, and although it tempts you with reading suggestions from the Kindle store, the sales pitch isn’t too in-your-face.
There’s no setup necessary if you already have an Amazon account. Just log in with your usual username and password and your virtual shelves will be populated automatically (though you’ll have to click a book’s cover to download it, so bear this in mind if you’re planning some offline reading). Notes and bookmarks are synced across devices automatically, as are flashcards – an extremely useful addition for students using digital textbooks for revision.
Kindle for Windows also includes text-to-speech function, and changing font sizes and color schemes is as simple as clicking or tapping a button.
2. Freda
Premium features for free – Freda is a real rival to Amazon’s crown
Bookmarks and annotations
Freda (from the delightfully-named Turnipsoft) is a superb ebook reader that integrates with Project Gutenberg, giving you access to thousands of free ebooks, and Smashwords, where you can find works from independent authors and publishers. Importing your own ebooks is a piece of cake too, with support for all the most popular formats. You can even connect Freda to your Dropbox account enabling you to access books from multiple devices.
Freda supports bookmarks, annotations and highlighting, making it a good choice for students. There’s also text-to-speech for anyone who has trouble with text on screens, as well as auto-scroll and speed-read – a tool that works much like Spritz, displaying words in quick succession so you can read without moving your eyes.
Windows 7 pdf printer free. Freda is funded by ads, but these are discreet and are only visible on the bookshelf screen; they won’t interrupt your reading.
3. Calibre
An open source ebook reader that’s a great choice for students
Choice of reading modes
Can't read protected Kindle ebooks
Calibre is an open source ebook reader and manager that’s lightweight and lightning-fast. Unlike many free ebook readers, Calibre supports Amazon’s AWZ format (though it won’t open DRM-protected files) as well as all the other popular ebook file types, and if any metadata is missing (such as genre or cover art), you can add it yourself using the bookshelf’s options menu.
One of Calibre’s best features is Reference Mode, which displays the current chapter and paragraph number in the top left – ideal if you need to cite references in an essay. We also like Flow Mode, where text is shown as a continuous scrolling stream without page breaks; not as pleasant as simulated page-turning for recreational reading, but a handy time-saver to avoid flicking backwards and forwards through a textbook.
4. Sumatra PDF
A PDF, ebook and comic reader that's ideal for multiple PCs
Reads PDFs, ebooks and comics
No GUI for some interface options
Despite its name, Sumatra PDF is a great little ebook reader, capable of displaying books in EPUB and MOBI format, as well as comic books in CBZ and CBR comic books.
Sumatra PDF is a portable app, so you can save it to a USB stick or cloud storage service and use it on any PC. You can save your ebooks in the same place too, eliminating the need to sync your library.
It’s easy to adjust basic settings like font size, but Sumatra PDF’s advanced options can only be edited by opening a text file and typing in new values. If you want to change the page color, for example, you’ll need to find the hex code for your preferred shade and enter it on the appropriate line. It’s not difficult, but we’d prefer a graphical interface.
There’s no way to add notes or highlights, but the convenience of carrying your ebook library and reader anywhere might outweigh those drawbacks for you.
5. Icecream Ebook Reader
A stylish free ebook reader, but lacking advanced features
Archives and exports ebooks
No annotations or highlighting
Icecream specializes in smart, no-frills software, and Icecream Ebook Reader is no exception. It supports EPUB, MOBI, PDF and FB2 ebook formats, and once you’ve imported your books they’re arranged in a neat bookshelf with a choice of viewing options. One particularly handy feature is the ability to archive and export your ebooks; ideal if you use more than one PC and don’t want the hassle of importing your books twice. There’s no cloud syncing though.
The reader itself is similar to the Kindle app in appearance, with one-click (or tap) buttons for changing font size, color theme (day, night, or sepia), and viewing the table of contents.
Unfortunately, some of the options you can see in the menus are only available if you hand over US$19.95 (about £15, AU$25) for the Pro version. Premium features include importing multiple ebooks simultaneously, adding notes, editing metadata, and copying text.
The free version of Icecream Ebook Reader is quick and very easy to use, but only really suitable for recreational reading. Students will find the lack of note-taking and copying frustrating.
Most people probably read ebooks on their tablet or a dedicated e-reader; it’s more convenient than whipping your laptop out every time you want to read a few pages.
However, there are times when a reliable ebooks reader for Windows is essential, for example, if you need to use an ebook for reference on a school project or if your main reader’s battery dies while traveling.
When the time comes, you need to make sure you have one of the best ebook readers for PC. Keep reading to discover our top six picks.
1. Kindle
Just as Kindle is one of the best e-readers for AndroidThe 7 Best Ebook Readers for Android You Should TryThe 7 Best Ebook Readers for Android You Should TryThese best ebook readers for Android let you read most formats on almost any device anywhere you go, with powerful features you'll love.Read More, so too is it among the leading e-readers for PC (there’s a Mac version as well if you’re interested).
As you’d expect, use the Kindle app to sign into your Amazon account, and all your Amazon ebooks will instantly appear. Be aware that you need to manually download the books onto your machine by clicking on their thumbnails if you want to do some reading while you’re offline.
Prime Reading and Kindle Unlimited subscribers will also be able to use the Kindle PC app to access their books.
And if you’re not an Amazon subscriber, don’t worry. You can still use the Kindle app to open other ebooks on your computer. Unlike the Kindle e-readers, the Kindle PC app will even let you open ebooks in the EPUB format.
Download:Kindle for PC (Free)
2. Calibre
If you’re a bookworm, Calibre is a must-have app. It is perhaps best described as iTunes for ebooks.
The app lets you manage your library, edit books’ metadata, convert ebooks into different formats, and—most importantly for the purposes of this article—read ebooks using the built-in reader.
Indeed, if you’re looking for a multi-purpose app for all your ebook needs, you really don’t need to look anywhere else.
If we had to criticize anything about Calibre’s e-reader, it would be the design. It’s just not as slick as some of the other ebook readers for PC.
However, despite the dated looks, from a functional standpoint, Calibre is great and offers some terrific plugins for book loversThe 10 Best Calibre Plugins for Ebook LoversThe 10 Best Calibre Plugins for Ebook LoversHere are the best Calibre plugins all ebook lovers should be using, and explain what they do and how they work.Read More. The e-reader’s tools include adjustable font size, bookmarking, a reference mode, and a full-screen mode.
Download:Calibre (Free)
3. Icecream Ebook Reader
Another ebook reader for PC that’s been around for a long time is Icecream Ebook Reader.
If the design is important to you, the most recent iteration of the app is significantly better than Calibre. The in-app icons resemble the rest of the Windows operating system, almost giving you the impression that you’re using a native app.
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Some of Icecream Ebook Reader’s most important features include a night mode for less eye strain when it’s dark, bookmarks, and even a book mode which displays pages side-by-side on your screen.
The app also comes with a library feature, extensive search features, translation tools, and a way to annotate ebooks with your own thoughts and musings.
It supports EPUB, MOBI, FB2, PDF, CBR, CBZ, and TXT.
Extra features, such as custom library categories, metadata editing, and the ability to copy text are only available in the $19.95 Pro version.
Download:Icecream Ebook Reader (Free, premium version available)
4. Freda
If you’ve still not found your ideal ebook reader for PC, you should try Freda.
The free e-reader app is available on both Windows and Android, so if you frequently use both operating systems and you’d like a seamless ebook experience across all your platforms, it’s definitely worth installing.
Freda supports five different ebook formats: EPUB, MOBI, FB2, HTML, and TXT. EPUBs will only work if they are DRM-free. The app does not offer any way to remove existing DRM from your ebooksHow to Remove the DRM on Every Ebook You OwnHow to Remove the DRM on Every Ebook You OwnNo one likes DRM. We all understand why it exists, but that doesn't mean we're ready to embrace it. Therefore, this article explains how to remove the DRM from every eBook you own.Read More.
The app’s other features include integration with your Calibre book library, support for OneDrive and Dropbox, the ability to highlight and annotate your books, and fully customizable controls, fonts, and colors.
The app can also sync with ebook repos on the web such as Gutenberg, Smashwords, and Feedbooks.
If you use the app on Windows and Android, your reading progress will be synced across all your devices.
Download:Freda (Free)
5. Bibliovore
Bibliovore is a well-designed ebook reader that’s been developed with touch-screen laptops in mind. There are large buttons and several gesture controls which combine to make in-app navigation a breeze.
The app’s key features include:
Bibliovore can sync your reading progress across all your devices where you have the app installed. It includes both a landscape and portrait reading mode and can display two pages side-by-side for a book-like experience.
Download:Bibliovore (Free)
6. Bookviser Reader
The last popular ebook reader for PCs on our list is Bookviser Reader. It supports three file formats: EPUB, TXT, and FB2.
(Note: Check out our article on the different ebook formatsThe Different Ebook Formats Explained: EPUB, MOBI, AZW, IBA, and MoreThe Different Ebook Formats Explained: EPUB, MOBI, AZW, IBA, and MoreIn this article we look at all of the common ebook formats, explain their pros and cons, and tell you which ebook readers support them.Read More if you’d like more information about their respective differences.)
Bookviser Reader is highly customizable. Not only can you adjust the font type and size, but you can also change the margins, line spacing, page-turning animations, color themes, and on-screen indicators like the battery, time, page number, and reading progress bar.
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You can also set up two different themes for day and night reading, import books from OneDrive, look up word definitions, make annotations, and highlight text.
The Bookviser Reader app is free to download and use and is ad-free.
Download: Bookviser Reader (Free) Microsoft train simulator 2020.
Which Is Your Favorite Ebook Reader for PC?
The e-readers for PCs that we have reviewed in this article should be more than enough for most bookworms to find something that meets their needs.
But we’d love to hear what you think, so make sure you let us know about your favorite ebook readers in the comments below.
And if you would like to learn more, check out our article how to read ebooks on a phone or tabletHow to Check Out and Read Library Ebooks on Your Phone or TabletHow to Check Out and Read Library Ebooks on Your Phone or TabletIf your library offers ebooks, this app provides an easy way to search for and check out ebooks right on your mobile device.Read More and our list of sites that offer free ebooks5 Sites With Lots of Completely Free Ebooks That Don't Suck5 Sites With Lots of Completely Free Ebooks That Don't SuckIf you know where to look, you can snag free ebooks to read online, download to your computer, or transfer to your Kindle.Read More.
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Ebook Reader Software For Windows
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