Paperback is a lightweight, fast, and accessible ebook and document reader for everyone, from casual readers to heavy power users. It is designed for screen reader accessibility and a fast, bloat-free reading experience.
It reads EPUB, PDF, Word, PowerPoint, OpenDocument, RTF, HTML, Markdown, CHM, WinHelp, MOBI/Kindle, FictionBook, DAISY and comic book files, as well as M4B and MP3 audiobooks. The pb command-line tool converts documents to plain text, HTML or Markdown.
Publisher’s description
What is Paperback?
Paperback by Quin Gillespie is open-source Windows software in the e-book readers category. It is written in Rust.
Installation and requirements
The publisher provides EXE (Inno Setup) installers for 64-bit and ARM64 Windows. Installation asks for administrator rights. A silent install is possible with the installer’s documented switches.
Updates and version history
The current version is 1.0.0, released on October 3, 2026. The version history goes back to April 16, 2026: 2 releases, all linked to the official files. The last update is less than a month old.
Popularity and file types
The source code on GitHub (trypsynth/paperback) has 123 stars. Similar programs include calibre, SumatraPDF and Sigil.
Project description on GitHub: “An accessible, light-weight, cross-platform ebook and document reader.”
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- Native ARM64 build for Windows on Arm
- Documented silent install
- Updated in the last two months
Cons
- Installation needs administrator rights
In short: Paperback is an open-source e-book reader tool for 64-bit and ARM64 PCs. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Is Paperback safe to download?
- The file is served by github.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
31FB8A4A04215B7F73F56640F5BF34808E631A0B3B9BD2F59A778F2198252679· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link has not been checked yet
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 2 versions ›| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0.0Latest | October 3, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (Inno Setup)ARM64 EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 0.8.5 | April 16, 2026 | — | 32-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id QuinGillespie.Paperback -epaperback_setup-x64.exe /VERYSILENT /SUPPRESSMSGBOXES /NORESTART /SP-Program files (.exe): paperback.exe, pb.exe
Related guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- Quin Gillespie
- Category
- E-book readers
- Licence
- MIT
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- github.com/trypsynth/paperback
- Written in
- Rust
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit, ARM64
- Installer
- EXE (Inno Setup)
- Version
- 1.0.0
- Released
- October 3, 2026
- Added to the catalogue
- April 16, 2026
- Versions listed
- 2
- GitHub stars
- 123
- GitHub forks
- 42
- Website
- paperback.dev
- winget ID
- QuinGillespie.Paperback
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Paperback free?
Yes. Paperback is open-source software under the MIT licence.
Is Paperback safe to download?
The download comes from github.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install Paperback with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Can Paperback be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer.
Does Paperback run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
Yes, there is a native ARM64 installer.
Where can I download an older version of Paperback?
The versions page lists all 2 versions with links to their official installer files, back to April 16, 2026.
What are alternatives to Paperback?
calibre, SumatraPDF, Sigil, BlueGriffon and Kindle Comic Converter. The alternatives page compares them.