Comparison

Polym vs FocalRead

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

Head to head
About

Polym

Enhance your memory and recall with audio-first lessons and active learning techniques. Explore a wide range of subjects through engaging courses, flashcards, and integrated memory training. Learn effectively anytime, anywhere with this distraction-free educational tool.

Highlights
  • Audio-first lessons for on-the-go learning
  • Active audio learning with flashcards
  • Spaced repetition and interleaving techniques
  • Expansive course catalog across various subjects
  • Progress tracking and due date reminders
  • Distraction-free learning interface
Features
Read full description

Polym: Remember what you learn. Polym (pronounced: poly-m) is a learning app built for the retention of foundational knowledge. Audio and text feeds deliver sets you can finish in a sitting, drawn from a catalog of essential subjects: logic, mathematics, psychology, philosophy, history, economics, and more. Embedded retrieval practice, spaced repetition, and interleaving move what you learn into long-term memory. Designed to strengthen attention with cognition tracking to keep you accountable. Some content and features require a subscription to access. What you'll immediately receive • Audio and text feeds • Active learning, spaced repetition, and interleaving • A collection of foundational knowledge, including classic book excerpts • Cognition tracking What you'll work toward • Improved retention and recall • Strengthened attention • Greater verbal fluency • Faster pattern recognition Begin with a single set. Essential for aspiring polymaths. By using this app, you agree to Apple's standard Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

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

Polym4 screens
FocalRead4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: FocalRead at none against Polym's shown. On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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. Polym sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Polym against 4.6 for FocalRead. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 36 and 98 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 70% of Polym's written reviews are positive against 67% of FocalRead's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Polym ships an update every 9 days, FocalRead every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Polym versus FocalRead: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPolymFocalRead
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (36 ratings) — better4.6 (98 ratings)
Positive reviews70.0% of reviews — better66.7% of reviews
Number of ratings3698 — better
Update frequencyEvery 9 daysEvery 8 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS16.416.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size66 MB103 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPolym App LLCANDRES FELIPE SARRAZOLA VELEZ

Customer experience

Polym

All ratings36 ratings
Positive88.9%
Neutral2.8%
Negative8.3%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive70.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative20.0%

FocalRead

All ratings98 ratings
Positive90.8%
Neutral2.0%
Negative7.1%
Written reviews15 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral6.7%
Negative26.7%

In-app purchases

7 purchases

Polym

Subscriptions7
  • Standard Access7 Days trial$7.991 Month
  • Standard Access14 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Standard Access14 Days trial$11.991 Month
Show 4 more
  • Standard Access7 Days trial$14.993 Months
  • Standard Access14 Days trial$19.993 Months
  • Standard Access14 Days trial$29.993 Months
  • Standard Access14 Days trial$79.991 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 Polym free?
Polym 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, Polym or FocalRead?
Polym is rated higher. Polym averages 4.6 out of 5 from 36 ratings, while FocalRead averages 4.6 from 98 ratings.
Do Polym or FocalRead have ads?
Polym shows ads; FocalRead does not.
Which is updated more often, Polym or FocalRead?
Polym ships an update every 9 days, and FocalRead every 8 days. Most recently, Polym was updated on October 25, 2026 and FocalRead on October 26, 2026.

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