Devour vs Absorb
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Devour
This app helps you read books and articles significantly faster using a technique that displays words one at a time. Import various file types and web content, then adjust your reading speed. Track progress, set goals, and organize your library with this efficient reading tool.
- RSVP speed reading technology
- Import EPUB, PDF, web articles, and more
- Adjustable speed control (100-1000+ WPM)
- Built-in speed test
- Progress tracking and automatic saving
- Reading statistics and daily goals
- Smart library organization
- iCloud sync
Read full descriptionHide full description
DEVOUR YOUR READING LIST Download free and start speed reading in seconds. Devour uses RSVP (Rapid Serial Visual Presentation) to display words one at a time right where your eyes are focused—so you read 2-3x faster without learning any special technique. Just import, tap play, and devour. HOW IT WORKS Traditional reading wastes time on eye movements. Devour eliminates that by presenting each word at a fixed point with the Optimal Recognition Point highlighted, so your brain processes text faster instantly. IMPORT ANYTHING EPUBs, PDFs, web articles, DOCX, TXT, Markdown, HTML, RTF—if you can read it, Devour can speed-read it. Paste text or extract content from any URL. Your entire reading list in one app. POWERFUL FEATURES Speed Control — Adjust from 100 to 1,000+ words per minute. Start at your comfort zone and gradually increase as your brain adapts. Built-In Speed Test — Discover your baseline reading speed, then see how much faster you read with RSVP technology. Progress Tracking — Resume exactly where you left off. Every document saves your position automatically. Reading Statistics — Track total words read, reading time, average WPM, and daily streaks with beautiful visualizations. Daily Goals & Achievements — Set word count goals, build streaks, and earn milestones as your reading habit grows. Smart Library — Organize with favorites, reading status, and content type filters. Search and find anything instantly. iCloud Sync — Keep your library, reading progress, and statistics synchronized across all your Apple devices. Dark Mode — Automatic system theme matching or manual light/dark selection for comfortable reading anywhere. THE SCIENCE RSVP has been researched for decades as a method to increase reading speed. By presenting words at a fixed focal point with ORP highlighting, your visual system processes text more efficiently. Most readers see significant speed improvements from their very first session. PREMIUM Devour is free to use with ads. Go premium to remove all ads for an uninterrupted reading experience and support independent app development. START READING FASTER Import your first document and feel the difference. That article you bookmarked last week, the novel on your shelf, the PDF report for work—Devour helps you get through it all. Faster. https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Absorb
Read full descriptionHide full description
Absorb is the speed reading app that helps you read faster and also helps you figure out "what to read next." Read faster, discover curated books and short stories, and track your reading progress - all in one beautiful app. Unlike book trackers that just count what you read, absorb helps you read better. Unlike speed reading apps with no content, absorb gives you something to read. KEY FEATURES: CURATED DISCOVERY 1. Hand-picked short stories and books 2. Never wonder "what should I read" again 3. Perfect for when you finish a book and need something new 4. Fresh content added regularly SPEED READING 1. RSVP (Rapid Serial Visual Presentation) technology 2. Read 2-3x faster with better comprehension 3. Adjustable speed from 100-1000+ words per minute 4. Instant speed reading for any document PDF & EPUB SUPPORT 1. Import any PDF or EPUB file 2. Speed read your own documents 3. Support for books, articles, papers, reports 4. Offline reading - no internet required READING PROGRESS 1. Track pages read, time spent, books finished 2. See your reading speed improvement over time 3. Set daily reading goals and build streaks 4. Beautiful reading statistics PERFECT FOR 1. Busy professionals who want to read more in less time 2. Students speed reading textbooks and papers 3. Book lovers who finish a book and ask "what's next?" 4. Anyone with a long reading list and limited time 5. People who abandon books because they don't know what to read WHY ABSORB Most reading apps fall into two categories: 1. Book trackers (Goodreads, Bookly) - They track what you read but don't help you read faster or discover new content. 2. Speed reading apps (Outread) - They help you read faster but give you nothing to read. Absorb is the only app that combines speed reading technology with curated content discovery. Read faster AND find your next great read. WHAT USERS SAY "Finally, an app that helps me read faster and tells me what to read next. Game changer." - Sarah M. "I've been using speed reading apps for years, but they were all empty shells. absorb gives me actual content." - David L. "The curated short stories are perfect for when I have 10 minutes to spare." - Jessica R. HOW IT WORKS 1. Choose: Pick from our curated library or import your own PDF/EPUB 2. Read: Use RSVP speed reading or traditional scrolling 3. Track: See your progress, speed, and reading stats 4. Discover: When you finish, we suggest what to read next Download Absorb today and transform how you read. Privacy Policy: https://absorbspeedreader.app/privacy Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Absorb at none against Devour's shown. Absorb also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs weekly). Devour's advantage is iOS requirement (13.4 vs 15.1). On price, in-app purchases and device support 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
Both are free to download. Devour sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Absorb sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Devour ships an update weekly, Absorb every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Devour | Absorb |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.4 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 30 MB | 66 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Brett Cassidy | Tanul Tewari |
In-app purchases
Devour
- Monthly$1.991 Month
- Yearly$14.991 Year
Absorb
- Absorb Pro Weekly$9.997 Days
- Absorb Pro Monthly7 Days trial$19.991 Month
- Absorb Pro Yearly7 Days trial$99.991 Year







