Comparison

SwiftRead vs FocalRead

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

Head to head
About

SwiftRead

Enhance your reading speed and comprehension with focus modes and natural text-to-speech narration. Import content from various sources and customize your reading experience across devices.

Highlights
  • Import PDFs, EPUBs, web articles
  • Visual focus modes (RSVP, pacing)
  • Human-like TTS narration (90+ languages)
  • Sync across devices
  • Customizable fonts, themes, speed
  • Works with Kindle Cloud Reader & Libby
Features
Read full description

Read any text up to 3X faster with research-backed visual and audio speed reading techniques, like RSVP and text-to-speech. Loved by students, professionals, and language-learners everywhere. Import text from PDFs, EPUBs, web articles, even external ebook readers like Kindle Cloud and Libby. Then read with visual focus modes or listen with human-like text-to-speech that improve reading speed, focus and comprehension. KEY FEATURES • Import documents in seconds — PDF, EPUB, web links, and pasted text • Works with web-based ebook readers — including Kindle Cloud Reader and Libby • Improve reading focus with research-backed visual reading modes — paced highlighting, different guided word displays, and RSVP with a patent pending eye anchor • Improve reading comprehension with natural text-to-speech — follow along with human-like text-to-speech and synced word highlighting in 90+ languages • Customize your reading experience — fonts, colors, spacing, and target reading speed • Sync across devices — pick up where you left off on phone, tablet, or computer PERFECT FOR • Finishing a long article PDF before a meeting • Getting through research papers for class • Improving reading fluency in a new language • Finally completing that ebook you started YOUR CONTENT, YOUR CONTROL • Your documents stay private. See swiftread.com/privacy for details. • Internet required for use. • Need help? Contact me (Troy, the developer) anytime at swiftread.com/help. PRICING SwiftRead is free to use within limits. Upgrade to Pro to remove limits and unlock advanced features. Payment charged to your Apple ID at confirmation. Cancel anytime in Settings. Terms of Use: https://swiftread.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://swiftread.com/privacy-policy

About

FocalRead

Boost your reading speed with this app that uses RSVP to display words one at a time. Import various document types and web articles to finish content in a fraction of the time. Organize your library, track progress, and customize your reading experience.

Highlights
  • Speed reading with RSVP
  • Import PDF, EPUB, MOBI, TXT, DOCX, AZW3
  • Read web articles
  • Organize content in a library
  • Track reading progress
  • Customizable reading speed and font
Features
Read full description

Stop wasting time reading slowly. FocalRead is a speed reading app and a full eBook + document reader. Import your files or articles from the web and save them to your Library, and read them with RSVP (Rapid Serial Visual Presentation) to finish books, documents and web content in a fraction of the time. Supports PDF, EPUB, MOBI, TXT, DOCX, and AZW3 files (non-DRM only). THE PROBLEM WITH TRADITIONAL READING When you read normally, your eyes constantly move across lines, jump between words, and sometimes go back to re-read. That eye movement wastes time and causes fatigue. The average person reads around 200 WPM, but you can go much faster with the right technique. HOW FOCALREAD WORKS FocalRead displays one word at a time in a fixed position. Your eyes stay focused on a single point while words flow to you. No scanning. No constant eye movement. Just focused reading. Normal reading: ~200 WPM With FocalRead: 300 to 600+ WPM Advanced readers: up to 900 WPM That’s up to 3x faster than traditional reading. REAL TIME SAVINGS A typical 90,000-word book takes 7.5 hours at normal speed. At 600 WPM, you can finish in about 2.5 hours. That’s 5 hours saved on a single book. IMPORT AND READ YOUR FILES Use FocalRead as your daily reader. Import and keep everything inside the app: PDF documents EPUB eBooks* MOBI books* TXT files DOCX documents AZW3 files* *only if they are not DRM-protected You can also paste text from anywhere or read articles from the web. A READER BUILT FOR ORGANIZATION Save all books and documents to your Library Rename and organize your content Track progress and pick up where you left off Chapter navigation for EPUB books Reading history and sessions CUSTOMIZE YOUR READING EXPERIENCE Adjust speed from 100 to 1000+ WPM Choose standard, lowercase, or UPPERCASE text Select your preferred font style Smooth progress tracking while you read PERFECT FOR Students reading textbooks and study materials Professionals reviewing reports and documents Book lovers who want to read more Anyone who wants more learning in less time Start reading faster today with FocalRead. Terms: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

SwiftRead4 screens
FocalRead4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: FocalRead at 4.6 against SwiftRead's 4.2. SwiftRead's advantage is review sentiment (85% vs 69%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence 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. SwiftRead sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month and FocalRead sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

FocalRead holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 43 and 99 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 85% of SwiftRead's written reviews are positive against 69% of FocalRead's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SwiftRead ships an update every 9 days, FocalRead every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
SwiftRead versus FocalRead: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSwiftReadFocalRead
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (43 ratings)4.6 (99 ratings) — better
Positive reviews84.6% of reviews — better68.8% of reviews
Number of ratings4399 — better
Update frequencyEvery 9 daysEvery 8 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 — better16.1
Further details — not scored
Size72 MB103 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSwiftReadANDRES FELIPE SARRAZOLA VELEZ

Customer experience

SwiftRead

All ratings38 ratings
Positive81.6%
Neutral5.3%
Negative13.2%
Written reviews13 reviews
Positive84.6%
Neutral7.7%
Negative7.7%

FocalRead

All ratings99 ratings
Positive90.9%
Neutral2.0%
Negative7.1%
Written reviews16 reviews
Positive68.8%
Neutral6.3%
Negative25.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

SwiftRead

Subscriptions3
  • Monthly$19.991 Month
  • Quarterly$44.993 Months
  • Annual$119.991 Year
9 purchases

FocalRead

Subscriptions9
  • Pro Version (Weekly)$6.997 Days
  • Unlimited Weekly$6.997 Days
  • Unlimited Monthly$9.991 Month
Show 6 more
  • Unlimited Monthly$12.991 Month
  • Unlimited Annual3 Days trial$19.991 Year
  • Unlimited Annual Plan3 Days trial$29.991 Year
  • Unlimited Annual3 Days trial$29.991 Year
  • Pro Version (Annual)3 Days trial$39.991 Year
  • Unlimited Annual Plan3 Days trial$39.991 Year

Questions

Is SwiftRead free?
SwiftRead is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is FocalRead free?
FocalRead is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SwiftRead or FocalRead?
FocalRead is rated higher. SwiftRead averages 4.2 out of 5 from 43 ratings, while FocalRead averages 4.6 from 99 ratings.
Do SwiftRead or FocalRead have ads?
Neither SwiftRead nor FocalRead shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SwiftRead or FocalRead?
SwiftRead ships an update every 9 days, and FocalRead every 8 days. Most recently, SwiftRead was updated on November 7, 2026 and FocalRead on November 9, 2026.

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