Comparison

FocalRead vs Flash Reader

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

Head to head
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/

About

Flash Reader

Features
Read full description

Flash Reader shows you one word at a time, right where your eyes already rest. No more hunting across lines — just read. Normal reading is mostly travel. Your eyes jump and dart several times a second, then double back to catch what they missed. Flash Reader holds each word still in a single line of sight, so focus is the only thing left to do. WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT Most speed readers feel like a metronome. Flash Reader feels human. It eases through long sentences, breathes at punctuation, and lingers on complex words — so you comprehend what you read instead of racing past it. • One word at a time, fixed in place — your eyes stop hunting • Pacing that adapts to sentence length and word complexity • A focus point on every word to anchor your gaze • Three modes: Natural, Mechanical, and Meditative • Adjustable speed, from a gentle warm-up to a practiced pace READ WHAT YOU WANT • Import EPUB and PDF books • Paste in any text • Pull articles from the web by link • Two timeless works included to get you started QUIET BY DESIGN • No accounts, no sign-in • No ads, no subscriptions, no in-app purchases • No analytics, no tracking — your reading never leaves your device • A one-time purchase. That's all. SAVE WHAT STAYS WITH YOU Highlight any sentence as it passes and keep it in your own collection. Two themes to match the light — a true-black Slate and a clean Lab. Flash Reader is a calm, single-purpose tool for people who want to read more, with less friction. Read through a single line of sight.

Screenshots

FocalRead4 screens
Flash Reader4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: FocalRead at Free against Flash Reader's $6.99. Flash Reader's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 9). On ads, device support 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

FocalRead is free to download; Flash Reader costs $6.99 up front. FocalRead sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. Flash Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
FocalRead versus Flash Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFocalReadFlash Reader
PriceFree — better$6.99
Rating4.6 (93 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews64.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings93 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 days—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.1 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size103 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperANDRES FELIPE SARRAZOLA VELEZKaan SES

In-app purchases

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
None

Flash Reader

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is FocalRead free?
FocalRead is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Flash Reader free?
Flash Reader costs $6.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do FocalRead or Flash Reader have ads?
Neither FocalRead nor Flash Reader shows ads.

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