Comparison

Throughline Speed Reader vs Anchor

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

Head to head
About

Throughline Speed Reader

Enhance your reading speed and comprehension with intelligent pacing that adapts to natural language rhythms. This app presents text one word at a time, optimizing focus and reducing eye movement for a more efficient reading experience. It also offers AI-powered summaries and seamless integration across Apple devices.

Highlights
  • Adaptive word-by-word pacing
  • Optimal Recognition Point (ORP) alignment
  • AI-generated summaries with key takeaways
  • Safari extension for saving articles
  • Apple Watch app for reading on the go
  • Detailed reading analytics dashboard
  • Customizable fonts and interface
Features
Read full description

Read articles and short documents on your iPhone or iPad. Throughline displays text one word at a time at a fixed focus point. Choose your speed, pause to browse nearby paragraphs, and resume where you stopped. Share web articles from Safari, paste copied text, or import TXT, PDF and DOCX files. Save reading items to your library and read saved text offline. The free reader includes a library of up to 10 items. Throughline Pro adds an unlimited library, advanced pacing controls, the Safari extension, reading analytics and Apple Watch reading. Pro also offers on-device summaries when Apple Intelligence is available for your device and language. The app interface is currently in English. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Anchor

Features
Read full description

Read faster, stay focused, and get more out of every page. Anchor turns any text into a guided speed-reading session. Paste or import your own text, set your pace (WPM), and read one word at a time with a visual anchor that keeps your eyes locked in — no more rereading lines or losing focus. WHY ANCHOR • Read faster without losing comprehension • Stay focused with one-word-at-a-time RSVP • A visual anchor letter keeps your eyes centered • Beat distraction and reread less FEATURES • Adjustable WPM speed control • Visual anchor for laser focus • Import or paste any text • Clean, distraction-free reader • Reading progress and session stats • Works with books, articles, notes and study material Whether you're studying, powering through articles, or building a daily reading habit, Anchor helps you move through text with a steady, focused rhythm. Read faster. Stay focused. Train your reading flow.

Screenshots

Throughline Speed Reader4 screens
Anchor4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Anchor at 13.0 against Throughline Speed Reader's 26.0. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

Both are free to download. Throughline Speed Reader sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Anchor sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Throughline Speed Reader ships an update every 6 weeks, Anchor monthly. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Throughline Speed Reader versus Anchor: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThroughline Speed ReaderAnchor
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS26.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size18 MB46 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSteven TownsendMyAppDesk

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Throughline Speed Reader

Subscriptions2
  • Throughline Pro - Monthly$1.991 Month
  • Throughline Pro - Annual$12.991 Year
One-time1
  • Throughline Pro - Lifetime$29.99
1 purchases

Anchor

One-time1
  • Lifetime$4.99

Questions

Is Throughline Speed Reader free?
Throughline Speed Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Anchor free?
Anchor is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Throughline Speed Reader or Anchor have ads?
Neither Throughline Speed Reader nor Anchor shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Throughline Speed Reader or Anchor?
Throughline Speed Reader ships an update every 6 weeks, and Anchor monthly. Most recently, Throughline Speed Reader was updated on October 31, 2026 and Anchor on October 31, 2026.

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