Comparison

Zippy Speed Reader vs Scalo

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

Head to head
About

Zippy Speed Reader

This app helps improve reading speed and focus by displaying text one word at a time at a customizable pace. It offers a distraction-free interface and tracks progress with motivational rewards. Content can be imported via pasting text or web links.

Highlights
  • One-word-at-a-time reading mode
  • Adjustable reading speed
  • Import text from paste or web links
  • Badges and achievements
  • Clean, minimal interface
Features
Read full description

Zippy Speed Reader lets you read text in a clean, distraction-free environment. By presenting words one at a time at a pace you control, Zippy helps you focus on the content without visual clutter. Paste text, enter a web address, or import content, and Zippy extracts the text and displays it in a simple format designed for focused reading sessions. As you read, Zippy tracks your progress and rewards consistency with badges and achievements—making it easy to stay motivated over time. Features One-word-at-a-time reading mode Adjustable reading speed to match your comfort level Import text from pasted content or web links Badges and achievements based on reading activity Clean, minimal interface with no distractions How it works 1. Paste text or provide a web address 2. Zippy extracts the readable text 3. Adjust the speed and start reading Privacy Zippy processes your content on your device. Reading activity and achievements are stored locally and are not shared or transmitted unless you choose to do so.

About

Scalo

This app acts as a central inbox for all content found online, allowing users to save links, text, and images from any application. It provides a simple interface for triaging and managing saved items, with features like automatic link enrichment and a built-in browser.

Highlights
  • Save content from any app
  • Automatic link enrichment with title and preview
  • Built-in browser for reading links
  • Swipe gestures for managing items
  • Filter by content type (links, text, images)
  • iCloud syncing across devices
  • Siri Shortcuts integration
Features
Read full description

Scalo is the inbox for everything you find online and want to deal with later. The name means "stopover" in Italian — a place where things pause before moving on. That's exactly what Scalo does: it holds your links, text, and images until you're ready to read, share, or file them away. Your content is just passing through. SAVE ANYTHING, FROM ANYWHERE Share a link, a snippet of text, or an image from any app — Scalo catches it instantly via the iOS Share Sheet. You can also create items directly inside the app with the + button. No folders, no tags, no setup. Just save and move on. TRIAGE YOUR INBOX When you have a moment, open Scalo and work through your inbox. Swipe right to mark something done, swipe left to share or delete it. Long-press for more options: open, copy, complete, or remove. It feels as natural as managing your email. LINKS COME ALIVE Every link you save is automatically enriched with its title and a visual preview. Tap a link to read it in a built-in browser — no app switching required. FILTER AND SORT Filter your inbox by content type — links, text, or images — with a single tap. Sort by newest or oldest first. Choose relative dates or absolute timestamps. Your preferences stick between sessions. SYNCED VIA iCLOUD Your items sync privately across all your devices through iCloud. No account to create, no server to trust. Your data stays yours. SIMPLICITY BY DESIGN Light, dark, or automatic theme. Customizable thumbnail position. A clean, focused interface that gets out of your way. Scalo does one thing and does it well. SIRI SHORTCUTS Save content to Scalo hands-free with Siri or automate your workflow with the Shortcuts app.

Screenshots

Zippy Speed Reader4 screens
Scalo4 screens

Verdict

The call

Zippy Speed Reader and Scalo are too close to call on the numbers: across 8 compared parameters — price, rating, ratings volume and ads among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Zippy Speed Reader against 5.0 for Scalo. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Zippy Speed Reader versus Scalo: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterZippy Speed ReaderScalo
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Number of ratings2 — better1
Update frequency—Daily
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB5 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperLEE WHITFIELDAndrea Busi

In-app purchases

None

Zippy Speed Reader

No in-app purchases

None

Scalo

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Zippy Speed Reader free?
Zippy Speed Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Scalo free?
Scalo is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Zippy Speed Reader or Scalo?
Zippy Speed Reader and Scalo are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do Zippy Speed Reader or Scalo have ads?
Neither Zippy Speed Reader nor Scalo shows ads.

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