Comparison

Well Read vs Speed Reading

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

Head to head
About

Well Read

Enhance your reading speed and comprehension with AI-powered tools. This app offers multiple reading modes, text-to-speech, note-taking, and AI-generated summaries and quizzes to improve learning.

Highlights
  • Multiple reading modes (RSVP, Scan, Normal)
  • AI-powered recaps, summaries, and quizzes
  • Adjustable speed slider
  • Context-aware and smart reading adjustments
  • Dyslexia-friendly fonts
  • Text-to-speech functionality
  • In-app web browser with reader mode
Features
Read full description

Well Read isn’t just another reader—it’s a reading assistant, learning coach, and brain trainer all in one. All reading modes are available in the free tier, with unlimited usage and uploads. Well Read offers three powerful reading modes to match your preference and material: RSVP Mode – Rapidly flashes words with an adjustable speed slider, allowing you to easily double your reading speed. Reading a 10-hour book in just 5 hours is now feasible. • History View: If you miss a word or want to re-read a sentence, simply look below the flashing word. Alternatively, tap any word to resume reading from that point. • Context-aware Reading: The app detects dialogue, action, and descriptive passages to automatically adjust speed, improving your reading experience. Easily toggle this feature on or off. • Smart Reading: Automatically slows down for difficult words and speeds up for common, easy-to-read words. Easily toggle this feature on or off. • Dyslexia-friendly Fonts: Completely customize your reading experience. • Scientifically proven to improve reading for individuals with ADD/ADHD. Scan Mode – Guides your eyes through text by highlighting words, removing distractions for a clutter-free reading experience. • Tap any word to begin reading from that position. • Easily adjust speed with the speed slider. • Choose character length to tailor your reading experience. • Context-aware Reading: The app detects dialogue, action, and descriptive passages to automatically adjust speed, enhancing your experience. Easily toggle this feature on or off. • Mimics the natural reading patterns of skilled readers. Normal Mode – Read naturally with advanced features designed to enhance your reading sessions. • Hi-note Feature: Attach notes directly to highlights. Tap the highlight to view the associated note. • Text-to-speech: Give your eyes a break and listen to your content instead. • Vision Enhancement: Emphasize the most important part of each word in bold to improve readability. • Fully customize fonts, spacing, and colors, and easily switch to other reading modes. AI Tools – Utilize next-generation AI features to enhance your reading and learning. • Recaps: Quickly generate specific recaps of your reading. For example, if you’re reading fiction and want a refresher on characters introduced so far, simply tap Recap, then select Fiction and Character Focus. • Summaries: Create content-specific summaries for quick overviews. For example, after uploading a news article, tap Summarize, select News & Articles and Key Events. Then speed-read the summary or have it read aloud. • Quizzes: Create advanced quizzes based on your content. For example, after uploading 30 textbook images to test your knowledge, tap Create Quiz and select either general or high-level questions. Generate and answer multiple-choice questions, save quizzes to retry later, and track your progress. In-app Web Browser – Browse the web within the app using the built-in RSVP reader. • Tap RSVP in the toolbar, then select any paragraph to begin reading. • Tap Save to bookmark the webpage to your homepage for quick access later. Brain Training – Seven brain-training games designed to improve overall cognitive health: • Tracker: Improve visual attention by tracking multiple moving objects. • WordMem: Enhance visual recall and spelling skills. • Schulte Tables: Develop peripheral vision and visual perception. • Pattern Recall: Strengthen visual memory. • Memory Matrix: Boost spatial memory. • Dual Trace: Sharpen multitasking abilities. • Math Fall: Increase mental agility. Complete Customization – A beautiful interface designed to suit your preferences. • Set personalized backgrounds or choose from a variety of beautiful app themes. • Adjust fonts, size, word spacing, line spacing, and more. Detailed statistics and reading insights help track your progress.

About

Speed Reading

Features
Read full description

Read more in less time. Rive uses RSVP (Rapid Serial Visual Presentation) to show you one word at a time at a pace you choose—so you stay focused, reduce subvocalization, and build real speed-reading habits. READ ANYTHING • Start instantly with eight classic books built in: Moby Dick, The Great Gatsby, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Treasure Island, A Tale of Two Cities, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Ulysses, and Wuthering Heights • Paste any text—articles, notes, chapters—and start reading in seconds • Import from the web: paste a URL and Rive fetches and extracts the main article text • Share from Safari, Notes, or any app: use the Share sheet and choose Rive to add it to your library (Free includes the eight classics plus your first few imports; Rive Pro unlocks unlimited imports—see below.) SMART RSVP READER • One word at a time, with the optimal recognition point (ORP) highlighted so your eyes land in the right place • Adjust speed from 150 to 900 words per minute with a simple slider—find the pace that fits you • Jump back or forward 10 words anytime; play and pause with one tap • Progress is saved automatically. Pick up exactly where you left off, across all your items TRAIN YOUR SPEED • Find Your Speed — Gradually increases pace so you discover your comfortable reading speed (free) • Two more guided modes—Build Speed and Comfort & Focus—are included with Rive Pro (see below) TRACK YOUR PROGRESS • See total words read, total time read, and your average WPM • Filter stats by today, this week, this month, or all time • Yearly streak calendar shows every day you read or trained—build a habit that sticks RIVE PRO Upgrade to unlock everything: • Unlimited imports — save articles, books, and pasted text without limit • All training modes — Build Speed and Comfort & Focus, alongside Find Your Speed • Reading insights — trend charts for words read, reading speed, and training progress over time (7, 30, and 90-day views) • Support an independent developer building Rive Rive Pro is available as a monthly or yearly auto-renewing subscription, or a one-time lifetime purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period, and can be managed or cancelled anytime in your App Store account settings. DESIGNED TO STAY OUT OF THE WAY • Clean, minimal reader so you focus on the words • Optional accent themes (e.g. blue, green) for the interface and reading highlight • Light and dark mode support Rive is built for anyone who wants to read more without spending more time—whether you're catching up on articles, revisiting classics, or training yourself to read faster and with better focus. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.jamesbtlr.com/rsvp/privacy.html

Screenshots

Well Read4 screens
Speed Reading4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Well Read at daily against Speed Reading's every 2 months. Well Read also leads on device support (3 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and iOS requirement 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. Well Read sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $5.99 per month and Speed Reading sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Well Read ships an update daily, Speed Reading every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 11, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 6 level
Well Read versus Speed Reading: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWell ReadSpeed Reading
PriceFreeFree
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Update frequencyDaily — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size29 MB9 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperASIM ABBAS SHAHJames Butler

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Well Read

Subscriptions1
  • Well Read Premium$5.991 Month
3 purchases

Speed Reading

Subscriptions2
  • Rive Pro Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Rive Pro Yearly$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • Rive Pro Lifetime$24.99

Questions

Is Well Read free?
Well Read is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Speed Reading free?
Speed Reading is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Well Read or Speed Reading have ads?
Neither Well Read nor Speed Reading shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Well Read or Speed Reading?
Well Read ships an update daily, and Speed Reading every 2 months. Most recently, Well Read was updated on October 11, 2026 and Speed Reading on October 11, 2026.

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