Comparison

FocusTime vs Speed Reader!

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

Head to head
About

FocusTime

Read full description

Timers and schedules help, but doomscrolling doesn’t keep to a schedule. FocusTime notices when you keep scrolling without a break, and locks the app until you’ve had a real pause. A quick look is always fine. APP LIMITS: STOP THE DOOMSCROLL Use your apps as usual. FocusTime keeps track of how long you scroll without a break; reach your limit and the app locks for a while. You choose the minutes of continuous use, how long the block lasts and how long a pause has to be to reset the count. Every limit has its own apps, and if you like, you get a heads-up just before the block starts. FOCUS SESSIONS Pick the apps that distract you, turn the dial and start. They stay blocked until your session ends, anywhere from a few minutes up to 12 hours. SCHEDULES Mornings without social media, evenings without games, a quiet bedtime. Set the days and times once, and your apps lock themselves. A BLOCK IS A BLOCK No “just five more minutes” button. Once an app is blocked, it stays blocked until the time is up. That’s the point. YOUR WEEK AT A GLANCE The dashboard shows what’s blocked right now, what’s coming up next and how much time your blocks covered this week. BUILT ON APPLE’S SCREEN TIME FocusTime blocks apps through Apple’s Screen Time. You choose the apps in Apple’s own app picker, and you can turn access off at any time in Settings. FREE AND PREMIUM Free: focus sessions up to 115 minutes, one schedule and up to 5 apps per selection. Premium adds App Limits, unlimited schedules, up to 49 apps, focus sessions up to 12 hours and saved app selections. Try Premium for free, then continue with a monthly or yearly subscription. Your subscription renews automatically unless you cancel at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel it in your App Store account settings. Terms of use: https://markmaakt.online/focustime/terms_and_conditions.html Privacy policy: https://markmaakt.online/focustime/privacy_policy.html

About

Speed Reader!

Features
Read full description

Read faster with focus Built around RSVP reading, flexible imports, privacy-friendly AI, and a clean library for saved texts. - Paste text, import files, scan with the camera, or use the share extension to import text from other apps (like news apps). - Switch between Flash, Scroll, and Vertical Scroll depending on the material. - Use summarization and translation when Apple Intelligence is available. - Save reading history, organize favorites, and reopen recent texts quickly. Transform Your Reading Experience with Science-Backed Speed Reading Speed Reader revolutionizes how you consume text using RSVP (Rapid Serial Visual Presentation) technology, a scientifically proven method that helps you read faster while maintaining comprehension. Why Speed Reader? Whether you're a student tackling dense textbooks, a professional keeping up with industry articles, or an avid reader devouring books, Speed Reader helps you read more in less time. Our app uses cutting-edge RSVP technology with Optimal Recognition Point (ORP) highlighting to guide your eyes naturally through text, eliminating the need for eye movement and reducing reading fatigue. Key Features: Three Reading Modes • Flash Mode: Word-by-word display with ORP highlighting for maximum focus • Scroll Mode: Continuous horizontal scrolling for traditional reading flow • Vertical Scroll Mode: Line-by-line display with word highlighting Science-Backed RSVP Technology • Optimal Recognition Point (ORP) highlighting guides your eyes to the perfect focus point in each word • Fixed focus position eliminates eye movement, reducing fatigue • Automatic font sizing ensures every word fits perfectly on screen Flexible Speed Control • Adjust reading speed from 100 to 1500 words per minute (WPM) • Smart pause system: longer pauses after periods and commas for natural reading rhythm • Customizable pause multipliers for periods and long words Multiple Text Sources • Paste text directly from clipboard • Import PDF, DOCX, and DOC files • Share Extension: share content from Safari, Notes, Mail, and any other app • Automatic text filtering for clean, readable content Beautiful, Distraction-Free Interface • Three elegant themes: Dark, Light, and Sepia • Minimalist UI that hides during reading for complete focus • Visual guide lines help maintain reading position • Custom fonts: System, Serif, Monospaced, and Rounded Intuitive Controls • Tap to start/pause reading • Swipe left/right to navigate through words • Hold screen to pause and review • Progress bar shows reading time and completion Fully Customizable • Choose your preferred display mode • Adjust theme and font to match your style • Fine-tune reading preferences for optimal experience • Multi-language support: English, Dutch, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese Smart Features • Automatic font recalculation on orientation change • Reading progress tracking • Estimated reading time calculation • Interactive tutorial for first-time users Perfect For: • Students reading textbooks and research papers • Professionals staying current with industry news • Book lovers who want to read more books • Anyone looking to improve reading speed and efficiency How It Works: 1. Load your text: paste from clipboard, import a file, or share from another app 2. Choose your reading mode and adjust speed to your comfort level 3. Tap to start reading and watch as words appear one at a time with perfect focus 4. Swipe to navigate, tap to pause, and customize your experience Technical Excellence: Built with SwiftUI for iOS 17.0+, Speed Reader delivers a smooth, native experience. The app uses advanced text processing to handle various file formats and automatically optimizes display settings for your device and orientation. Privacy & Data: Speed Reader respects your privacy. All text processing happens locally on your device. We don't collect, store, or transmit your reading content. Your reading data stays private and secure.

Screenshots

FocusTime4 screens
Speed Reader!4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: FocusTime at Free against Speed Reader!'s $2.99. FocusTime also leads on iOS requirement (17.4 vs 26.2). Speed Reader!'s advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (every 4 days vs monthly). On ads and device support 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

FocusTime is free to download; Speed Reader! costs $2.99 up front. FocusTime sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Speed Reader! asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

FocusTime ships an update monthly, Speed Reader! every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 2 level
FocusTime versus Speed Reader!: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFocusTimeSpeed Reader!
PriceFree — better$2.99
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS17.4 — better26.2
Further details — not scored
Size72 MB12 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMark van der LindenArthur de Rijke

In-app purchases

2 purchases

FocusTime

Subscriptions2
  • Premium (1 Month)3 Days trial$0.991 Month
  • Premium (1 Year)7 Days trial$8.991 Year
None

Speed Reader!

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is FocusTime free?
FocusTime is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Speed Reader! free?
Speed Reader! costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do FocusTime or Speed Reader! have ads?
Neither FocusTime nor Speed Reader! shows ads.
Which is updated more often, FocusTime or Speed Reader!?
FocusTime ships an update monthly, and Speed Reader! every 4 days. Most recently, FocusTime was updated on November 3, 2026 and Speed Reader! on November 9, 2026.

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