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Publishing · head to head

Moon Reader vs Sigil

Moon Reader logo

Moon Reader

Publishing

Android ebook reader app with a one-time purchase, deep format support and no subscription or store lock-in

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Sigil logo

Sigil

Publishing

Open source EPUB editor for working directly on the file, not generating it

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Moon Reader it is Android only, so it is not an option for iOS, Kindle hardware or desktop-first readers.; Sigil it produces no print output whatever, so any book that needs a paperback interior requires a completely separate tool and a second workflow.
  • They diverge on capability: Moon Reader covers Broad format support, Sigil covers Direct EPUB editing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Moon Reader and Sigil actually diverge.

Attributes where Moon Reader and Sigil differ
AttributeMoon ReaderSigil
Pricing modelOne-time purchase, free ad-supported version availableOpen source, no licence fee
PlatformsAndroidWindows, macOS, Linux

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Publishing).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Moon Reader

  • Broad format support
  • OPDS support
  • Deep customisation
  • Cloud sync
  • Reading statistics
  • Text-to-speech

Only in Sigil

  • Direct EPUB editing
  • Code and preview views
  • EPUB 2 and EPUB 3
  • Regex across files
  • Validation
  • Python plugins

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Moon Reader

  • An Android user with an existing library of EPUB or comic files who wants a better reader than their store app providesnot Sigil
  • Someone running a personal Calibre server who wants OPDS access from their phonenot Sigil
  • A reader who wants extensive font, theme and page-turn customisation not offered by store-bound appsnot Sigil
  • Someone who does not want a subscription and would rather pay once for a reading tool they already have content fornot Sigil

Sigil

  • Fixing an EPUB that a retailer validator has rejected, without re-exporting from the tool that generated itnot Moon Reader
  • Correcting the table of contents, reading order or metadata in a file supplied by a conversion servicenot Moon Reader
  • Preparing a back-catalogue title where the only surviving source is the EPUB itselfnot Moon Reader
  • Applying a consistent stylesheet or a bulk text correction across every chapter of a book at oncenot Moon Reader

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Moon Reader

  • It is Android only, so it is not an option for iOS, Kindle hardware or desktop-first readers.
  • It sells no books itself, so it is only useful to someone who already has an ebook acquisition method, whether purchase, library OPDS or personal files.
  • The interface and settings menus are dense and dated compared with polished store apps like Kobo or the Everand app.
  • Development has slowed at times, and users have reported gaps between updates for newer Android versions.
  • There is no cloud account tying your library and progress together across devices beyond what you configure manually via Dropbox or Drive.

Sigil

  • It produces no print output whatever, so any book that needs a paperback interior requires a completely separate tool and a second workflow.
  • Meaningful use requires reading and writing HTML and CSS, which puts it out of reach of most authors who simply want a finished file.
  • There is no cloud storage, sync or collaboration, so the book exists as a file on one machine and version control is whatever you set up yourself.
  • Development depends on a small number of volunteer maintainers, so release timing and platform builds follow their availability rather than a roadmap, and a lapse in maintenance would leave no obvious successor.
  • It provides no distribution, no retailer connection and no Kindle-native output, so it sits in the middle of a workflow that other tools have to complete on both sides.

Pricing, plan by plan

Moon Reader

Free
  • Moon ReaderFree
    • Ad-supported
    • Most core reading features included
  • Moon Reader+$4.99/one-time
    • No ads
    • Additional customisation and font options
    • One-time purchase, no subscription

Sigil

Free
  • SigilFree
    • GPL licensed with no cost or account required
    • Full functionality with no feature gating
    • Community support through forums and the issue tracker

Which should you pick?

Choose Moon Reader if

  • You need broad format support.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Android.
  • You also want opds support.
Moon Reader review

Choose Sigil if

  • You need direct epub editing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want code and preview views.
Sigil review

Questions people ask

Is Moon Reader or Sigil better?
Neither clearly leads. Moon Reader starts at Free and Sigil at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Moon Reader or Sigil?
Moon Reader starts at Free and Sigil at Free.
Does Moon Reader or Sigil run on more platforms?
Moon Reader runs on Android. Sigil runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use Moon Reader for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Moon Reader best used for?
Moon Reader is most often used for an android user with an existing library of epub or comic files who wants a better reader than their store app provides, someone running a personal calibre server who wants opds access from their phone, a reader who wants extensive font, theme and page-turn customisation not offered by store-bound apps, someone who does not want a subscription and would rather pay once for a reading tool they already have content for. Of those, an android user with an existing library of epub or comic files who wants a better reader than their store app provides and someone running a personal calibre server who wants opds access from their phone are not what Sigil is typically brought in for.
What can Moon Reader do that Sigil cannot?
Moon Reader covers Broad format support, OPDS support, Deep customisation, Cloud sync. Sigil covers Direct EPUB editing, Code and preview views, EPUB 2 and EPUB 3, Regex across files.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Moon Reader: Does Moon Reader sell books?

No, it only reads ebook and comic files you already have or add via OPDS, cloud storage or local files.

Sigil: Can I write my book in Sigil?

You can, but you should not. It is an EPUB editor, not a word processor, and writing long-form prose in it is unpleasant. Write elsewhere, import, then finish in Sigil.

Moon Reader: Is there a subscription?

No, Moon Reader+ is a one-time purchase; there is also a free ad-supported version.

Sigil: Does it make Kindle files?

Not natively. Produce a valid EPUB in Sigil and let Amazon convert it, or use a separate conversion tool for other Kindle formats.

Moon Reader: Is it available on iOS?

No, Moon Reader is Android only.

Sigil: Is it safe to rely on a volunteer project for commercial work?

The files it produces are standard EPUB, so nothing is locked in. The risk is that maintenance stops, not that your books become unreadable.

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