# X Speed Reader vs Focal

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: X Speed Reader at 15.1 against Focal's 17.6. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. X Speed Reader sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Focal sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

X Speed Reader ships an update every 5 days, Focal every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | X Speed Reader | Focal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focal-rsvp-pdfepub-reader/id6760180694/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **3** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Size | 48 MB | 37 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Oleksandr Kryzhanovskyi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1755912450) | [Jesse Meissner](https://appshunter.io/developer/1882998870) |

## What reviewers say

### X Speed Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/x-speed-reader-rsvp-reader/id6758070169)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Premium | $2.99 | per month |
| Yearly Premium | $7.99 | per year |
| Lifetime | $14.99 | one-time |


### Focal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focal-rsvp-pdfepub-reader/id6760180694)

This reading app offers multiple modes to enhance focus and reduce eye strain. It supports PDF and EPUB files with adjustable speeds and customizable backgrounds for a distraction-free experience.

**Highlights:** Multiple reading modes (RSVP, Sentence, Page), Adjustable reading speed (WPM), Natural pacing with punctuation pauses, PDF and EPUB library support, Reading progress memory, Bookmarks, Customizable backgrounds and themes

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Focal Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Focal Lifetime | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is X Speed Reader free?

X Speed Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Focal free?

Focal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do X Speed Reader or Focal have ads?

Neither X Speed Reader nor Focal shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, X Speed Reader or Focal?

X Speed Reader ships an update every 5 days, and Focal every 4 days. Most recently, X Speed Reader was updated on September 18, 2026 and Focal on September 21, 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.*