# Focal reading vs Read Fast

The clearest difference is price: Read Fast at Free against Focal reading's $0.99. Focal reading's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3). On update cadence, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Read Fast is free to download; Focal reading costs $0.99 up front. Read Fast sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Focal reading asks for nothing beyond the download.

Focal reading ships an update every 3 days, Read Fast every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on September 13, 2026 and September 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Focal reading | Read Fast |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/read-fast-absorb/id6759666710/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **1** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 days | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | — | Freemium |
| Size | 42 MB | 164 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Carlos Domingo morillas](https://appshunter.io/developer/923341713) | [Maksym Horoszczak](https://appshunter.io/developer/1857044674) |

## What reviewers say

### Focal reading

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focal-reading/id6758507658)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Read Fast

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/read-fast-absorb/id6759666710)

This app helps you read faster by displaying words sequentially in the center of the screen, reducing subvocalization and improving focus. It supports various file formats and tracks your reading progress to build a consistent habit.

**Highlights:** Rapid Serial Visual Presentation (RSVP) engine, Breaks subvocalization bottleneck, Import EPUB, PDF, TXT, and pasted text, Track daily streaks and WPM, Reduces eye fatigue, Local device processing for privacy

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Absorb | $4.99 | per month |
| Absorb Pro Annual | $19.99 | per year |
| Absorb Pro Lifetime | $69.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Focal reading free?

Focal reading costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Read Fast free?

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

### Do Focal reading or Read Fast have ads?

Neither Focal reading nor Read Fast shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Focal reading or Read Fast?

Focal reading ships an update every 3 days, and Read Fast every 2 days. Most recently, Focal reading was updated on September 13, 2026 and Read Fast on September 16, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*