# SwiftRead vs FocalRead

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | SwiftRead | FocalRead |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (43 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swiftread-speed-reading/id6470811151/reviews) | **[4.6 (99 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focalread-speed-reading/id6757935291/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 43 | **99** |
| Positive reviews | **84.6% of reviews** | 68.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 72 MB | 103 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 16.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SwiftRead](https://appshunter.io/developer/1714250314) | [ANDRES FELIPE SARRAZOLA VELEZ](https://appshunter.io/developer/1813243271) |

## What reviewers say

### SwiftRead

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swiftread-speed-reading/id6470811151)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $19.99 | per month |
| Quarterly | $44.99 | per 3 months |
| Annual | $119.99 | per year |


### FocalRead

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focalread-speed-reading/id6757935291)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Version (Weekly) | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlimited Weekly | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlimited Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Unlimited Monthly | $12.99 | per month |
| Unlimited Annual | $19.99 | per year |
| Unlimited Annual Plan | $29.99 | per year |
| Unlimited Annual | $29.99 | per year |
| Pro Version (Annual) | $39.99 | per year |
| Unlimited Annual Plan | $39.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*