The best e-reader firmwares, according to hackers

4 e-reader firmwares recommended in Hacker News comments over the past year, ranked by how many separate people recommend each one.

All e-reader firmwares

CrossPoint ReaderFree open-source firmware that flashes easily and formats books better than stock; critics cite weak Kindle sync, no backlight and a maker lock-down attempt.60recommend
Plato e-reader softwareA fast, simple, free alternative reader for Kobo e-readers that people praise for its speed and for handling large PDFs. Some critics say it has bugs and design issues.21recommend
CrossInkFree open-source firmware for the Xteink X4 e-reader, praised for extra quality-of-life features and a solid reading experience over CrossPoint.8recommend
FreeinkAn open ecosystem for developing firmware on e-ink e-readers, welcomed as a refreshing project that people hoped would gain traction. One critic says the firmware is too large for the devices discussed.5recommend