Flash Reader FR vs Focal
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Flash Reader FR
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Read faster with RSVP speed reading. Flash Reader FR uses Rapid Serial Visual Presentation (RSVP) to display words one at a time, eliminating eye movement and helping you read up to 3x faster without losing comprehension. KEY FEATURES Import & Read • Import EPUB books with chapters • Read web articles from any URL • Paste text directly Speed Reading • Adjustable reading speed (50-1000 WPM) • Optimal Recognition Point (ORP) highlighting • Swipe gestures for quick speed adjustment Eye Comfort • Smart blink breaks to reduce eye strain • 4 beautiful reading themes • Customizable font size and position Track Progress • Reading statistics and streaks • Session history • Words read and time tracking FREE TIER • Text import • Up to 400 WPM • Dark and Light themes • Basic statistics PREMIUM ($6.99) • EPUB book import • URL article import • Up to 1000 WPM • All premium themes (Sepia, Night) • Customizable blink breaks • Full statistics and charts • One-time purchase, lifetime access Perfect for students, professionals, and book lovers who want to read more in less time.
Focal
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.
- 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
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Focal is a reading app designed to help you stay focused, reduce visual fatigue, and move through texts more comfortably. Switch instantly between three reading modes depending on how you want to read: • Focal Mode — display words one at a time in a guided RSVP reading format • Sentence Mode — swipe or play through sentences one at a time in a polished, easy to read format • Page Mode — read fully paginated text with clean typography • Original PDF Mode — view the source document exactly as published Built for both long reading sessions and everyday reading, Focal supports PDF and EPUB files with a smooth, distraction-free interface. Features include: • Adjustable reading speed (WPM control) • Natural pacing with pauses at punctuation • Auto-pause at paragraph and page boundaries • PDF and EPUB library support • Reading progress memory • Bookmarks • Custom reading backgrounds • Light and dark visual themes • Fast switching between reading modes • No ads or signup Whether you're reading textbooks, articles, novels, or long documents, Focal helps you stay immersed in the text. Designed for readers who want more control, less distraction, and a better reading experience. Terms of Use: https://jessemeissner1.github.io/focal.github.io/terms.html
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Flash Reader FR at daily against Focal's every 4 days. On price, ads, 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. Flash Reader FR sells 1 one-off in-app purchase 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.
Flash Reader FR ships an update daily, Focal every 4 days. Both last shipped on September 21, 2026.
| Parameter | Flash Reader FR | Focal |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 3 — better |
| Update frequency | Daily — better | Every 4 days |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 — better | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 2 MB | 37 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | OTTO GUTIERREZ | Jesse Meissner |
In-app purchases
Flash Reader FR
- Flash Reader FR$6.99
Focal
- Focal Monthly$2.991 Month
- Focal Lifetime$9.99









