FBReader Readino: A New Independent EPUB Bookstore in the US
FBReader's Readino Ebook Store Arrives in the US
The FBReader team has launched Readino, an independent ebook store, in the United States after a successful debut in the United Kingdom five months ago and a subsequent expansion to Australia. Readino offers over 1.5 million English-language titles from mainstream UK and US publishers, distributed through a major British ebook distributor.
FBReader itself is no newcomer to the ebook space. First released in 2005, it is a highly customizable, lightweight cross-platform ebook reader with over 30 million installations worldwide. Its proprietary rendering engine is known for speed and broad format support — EPUB, EPUB3, MOBI, AZW3, FB2, CBR, CBZ, plain text, HTML, RTF, and Microsoft Word (.doc) files all work out of the box.
What makes Readino different from the Kindle Store, Google Play Books, or Apple Books is its "open" philosophy. Every ebook sold on Readino uses standard, non-exclusive Readium LCP encryption. This means you buy a book as an EPUB file that you own — not a license locked to a single app or device ecosystem. You can download your EPUB and read it in FBReader, transfer it to a Kobo, sideload it onto an Android e-reader, or store it in your Calibre library. The storefront itself is accessible on Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux.
What Is Readino?
Readino is an independent ebook shop created by the FBReader team. Unlike the major platform stores, Readino does not require a proprietary device or a specific app ecosystem. Its business model is simple: sell EPUB files with Readium LCP encryption, let customers download and read them however they choose.
| Feature | Readino | Kindle Store | Kobo Store |
|---|---|---|---|
| DRM type | Readium LCP (non-exclusive) | Amazon proprietary (KF8/AZW) | Adobe DRM / Kobo DRM |
| File format | EPUB | AZW3 / KFX | EPUB / KEPUB |
| Device lock-in | None — read on any app | Kindle devices and apps only | Kobo devices and apps only |
| Reader app | FBReader (free, cross-platform) | Kindle app (platform-limited) | Kobo app (platform-limited) |
| Title count | 1.5M+ | Millions | Millions |
| Payment | Apple Pay, Google Pay | Amazon account | Credit card, PayPal |
Why Readium LCP Matters for EPUB Owners
Readium LCP (Licensed Content Protection) is an open standard for DRM maintained by the Readium Foundation. Unlike Amazon's proprietary DRM (which ties your ebook purchases to Kindle hardware and software) or Adobe's ADEPT DRM (which requires authorizing Adobe Digital Editions), Readium LCP allows the same EPUB to be read on any app or device that supports the standard.
This is a significant shift toward consumer-friendly ebook ownership. Here is what Readium LCP enables:
- Portability: download your EPUB and open it in FBReader, Thorium Reader, or any LCP-compatible app
- No device lock-in: switch from an Onyx Boox to a PocketBook without re-buying your library
- Backup freedom: store your EPUB files in Calibre, cloud storage, or an external drive
- Privacy: no requirement to sync reading data to a cloud service just to access your purchases
For readers who have been watching Amazon's gradual move toward DRM-free options, Readino represents the other side of the same trend: a store built from the ground up on the principle that you should own the EPUB files you pay for.
FBReader on E Ink: A Natural Fit
One of FBReader's underappreciated strengths is its optimization for E Ink screens. The FBReader app is highly tuned for Android-based E Ink devices such as Onyx Boox, Mudita Kompakt, and Viwoods. It includes dedicated display adjustments to combat ghosting and maintain crispness on electronic paper — issues that plague generic Android apps running on E Ink hardware.
For E Ink users, this means Readino is not just another app-store overlay. You can browse, purchase, and download EPUBs directly on your Boox device using FBReader, and the reading experience fully leverages the E Ink panel's strengths. Combined with FBReader's lightweight footprint (it runs well even on older or lower-powered Android e-readers), this creates a complete store-to-reading pipeline that bypasses the major platform lock-ins entirely.
If you own a Kindle and have been considering a switch, pairing an open E Ink device with FBReader and Readino is a viable alternative. Check our best e-reader 2026 guide for a full comparison of devices that support EPUB natively.
How to Buy and Read EPUBs from Readino
The process is straightforward:
- Install FBReader on your device. It is available for Android (Google Play or F-Droid), Windows, macOS, and Linux. The app is free, with a Premium upgrade that enables text-to-speech on Android.
- Open the Readino store inside FBReader. The store tab is built directly into the FBReader interface — there is no separate website or app to install.
- Browse or search the catalog of 1.5 million titles. Categories include fiction, non-fiction, romance, sci-fi, self-help, academic, and more.
- Purchase with Apple Pay or Google Pay. The transaction is handled inside the app — no account creation on a separate site is required.
- Start reading immediately. Your purchased EPUB appears in your FBReader library as soon as the transaction completes. You can also download the file and use it in any other LCP-compatible reader.
FBReader Premium users on Android can also use the app's built-in text-to-speech engine with Readino purchases — the EPUB is read aloud with natural-sounding voice synthesis while the text highlights on screen. This is particularly useful for commuters, multitaskers, and accessibility needs.
What Readino Means for the EPUB Ecosystem
Readino's US launch is significant for several reasons beyond the store itself.
Validation of Open Standards
Readium LCP is not new — it has been around since 2019 — but it has struggled to gain traction as a retail DRM solution. Readino is the first ebook store of significant scale to use LCP as its primary protection. If Readino succeeds, it could encourage other independent stores and even mainstream publishers to adopt LCP over proprietary or Adobe-based DRM.
Calibre and Library Management
Because Readino sells standard EPUB files (even with LCP encryption), they integrate naturally with Calibre. Readers who manage their ebook libraries with Calibre can add Readino purchases to their existing collections alongside DRM-free EPUBs from Standard Ebooks, Project Gutenberg, or Kobo purchases. This is a stark contrast to Kindle purchases, which require conversion before they can enter a Calibre-managed library.
A Measured Alternative to Platform Monopolies
Amazon's Kindle ecosystem has dominated ebook retail for over a decade, but 2026 has seen unprecedented cracks in that dominance. From Amazon ending support for 13 older Kindle models to the growing preference for DRM-free EPUBs among power readers, the market is ripe for alternatives. Readino, combined with the cross-platform FBReader app, offers a credible option that does not ask you to buy new hardware or abandon your existing library.
Current Limitations
Readino is not without its caveats. The catalog, while large at 1.5 million titles, skews toward English-language mainstream publishing. Niche genres, indie authors, and non-English content are less represented compared to Amazon's or Kobo's stores. There is also no dedicated e-reader hardware — you rely on third-party E Ink devices or your phone/tablet.
Additionally, Readium LCP, while open, is not as widely supported as Adobe DRM. Most public library lending systems use Adobe DRM or no DRM at all, so Readino purchases may not integrate with Libby, OverDrive, or library borrows the way a Kobo does.
Still, as a store for buying EPUBs that you genuinely own, Readino fills a gap that has existed in the US market since Amazon's rise. The fact that it is backed by a team with 20 years of ebook software experience — FBReader first launched in 2005 — lends it credibility that a typical startup store would lack.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Readino available outside the United States?
Yes. Readino launched in the United Kingdom five months ago and has since expanded to Australia and the United States. The FBReader team has indicated further market expansions are planned. The store offers over 1.5 million English-language titles, and availability may vary by region due to publisher licensing agreements.
Can I transfer Readino EPUBs to a Kobo or other e-reader?
Readino EPUBs use Readium LCP encryption, which requires compatible software to decrypt. Kobo devices do not natively support Readium LCP — they use Adobe DRM and KEPUB. However, you can read Readino purchases on any LCP-compatible app, including FBReader (Android, Windows, macOS, Linux) and Thorium Reader (Windows, macOS, Linux). If you prefer a dedicated E Ink device, Onyx Boox and PocketBook readers that support LCP are good alternatives.
Do I need an FBReader account to buy from Readino?
You do need an FBReader account to make purchases, but the signup process is minimal — an email address and password are sufficient. Purchases are handled through Apple Pay or Google Pay, so you do not need to enter credit card details directly into the FBReader app. Your purchased books are tied to your FBReader account for re-download purposes.
How does Readino compare to buying EPUBs from Google Play Books or Kobo?
Google Play Books and Kobo both sell EPUBs, but they use different DRM systems. Google Play uses its own proprietary DRM, and Kobo uses Adobe DRM or its native KEPUB format. Neither allows you to download a standard, transferable EPUB file the way Readino does with Readium LCP. Readino also requires no dedicated hardware — you read on FBReader, which runs on any major platform. However, Kobo and Google Play have much larger catalogs and support library lending through OverDrive, which Readino does not.
Can I use Calibre to manage Readino EPUBs?
Yes, with caveats. Readino EPUBs are standard EPUB files protected by Readium LCP encryption. You can add them to your Calibre library for cataloging and metadata management. However, Readium LCP support in Calibre is limited — you may not be able to convert or edit the EPUB while the LCP protection is active. For DRM-free EPUBs that work perfectly with Calibre, consider sources like Standard Ebooks or Project Gutenberg as supplements to your Readino purchases.