Comparison

Listen vs Focus Read

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Listen

Transform any text into spoken audio for enhanced productivity and multitasking. Listen to articles, documents, and emails while on the go. Supports text scanning, file import, and a wide range of languages and voices.

Highlights
  • Text to speech conversion
  • Scan physical text with camera
  • Import PDF files
  • Adjustable reading speed
  • 26 languages and 52 voices
  • Resume listening from last point
Features
Read full description

Revolutionize your productivity with our app that transforms any text into speech, perfect for optimizing your time and multitasking seamlessly. Listen to articles, documents, and emails while commuting, exercising, or working, and customize your experience by adjusting the reading speed. You can scan physical text with your device camera, import PDF files, type or paste text for instant conversion, and choose from 26 languages and 52 voices. Seamlessly resume listening from where you left off across different sessions, ensuring uninterrupted access to your favorite content in audio format anytime, anywhere, without the need to carry printed materials. If you choose to purchase Listen Pro, payment will be charged to your iTunes account, and your account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period. Auto-renewal may be turned off at any time by going to your settings in the iTunes Store after purchase. Current Listen Pro subscription price starts at $4.99 USD/month, $19.99 USD/6 months and a $29.99/12 months package is available. Prices are in U.S. dollars, may vary in countries other than the U.S. No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during the active subscription period. Privacy Policy and terms & and conditions : https://arvid.app/listen

About

Focus Read

Features
Read full description

Focus Read turns your reading habit into a rewarding experience. Set a reading timer, choose from relaxing ambient sounds, and watch a virtual plant grow as you read.

Screenshots

Listen4 screens
Focus Read3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Focus Read at none against Listen's 3. Focus Read also leads on update cadence (every 10 days vs every 2 months). Listen's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17.0). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Listen sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Focus Read asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Listen ships an update every 2 months, Focus Read every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Listen versus Focus Read: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterListenFocus Read
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (511 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews39.1% of reviews—
Number of ratings511 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 10 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS14.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperElie F. GebranMEET SOFTWARE COMPANY LIMITED

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Listen

Subscriptions3
  • Listen Pro 1 month3 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Listen Pro 6 Months3 Days trial$19.996 Months
  • Listen Pro 12 Months3 Days trial$29.991 Year
None

Focus Read

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Listen free?
Listen is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Focus Read free?
Focus Read is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Listen or Focus Read have ads?
Neither Listen nor Focus Read shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Listen or Focus Read?
Listen ships an update every 2 months, and Focus Read every 10 days. Most recently, Listen was updated on October 30, 2026 and Focus Read on October 8, 2026.

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