Comparison

Speed Reading vs Velocity

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

Head to head
About

Speed Reading

Features
Read full description

Read more in less time. Rive uses RSVP (Rapid Serial Visual Presentation) to show you one word at a time at a pace you choose—so you stay focused, reduce subvocalization, and build real speed-reading habits. READ ANYTHING • Start instantly with eight classic books built in: Moby Dick, The Great Gatsby, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Treasure Island, A Tale of Two Cities, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Ulysses, and Wuthering Heights • Paste any text—articles, notes, chapters—and start reading in seconds • Import from the web: paste a URL and Rive fetches and extracts the main article text • Share from Safari, Notes, or any app: use the Share sheet and choose Rive to add it to your library (Free includes the eight classics plus your first few imports; Rive Pro unlocks unlimited imports—see below.) SMART RSVP READER • One word at a time, with the optimal recognition point (ORP) highlighted so your eyes land in the right place • Adjust speed from 150 to 900 words per minute with a simple slider—find the pace that fits you • Jump back or forward 10 words anytime; play and pause with one tap • Progress is saved automatically. Pick up exactly where you left off, across all your items TRAIN YOUR SPEED • Find Your Speed — Gradually increases pace so you discover your comfortable reading speed (free) • Two more guided modes—Build Speed and Comfort & Focus—are included with Rive Pro (see below) TRACK YOUR PROGRESS • See total words read, total time read, and your average WPM • Filter stats by today, this week, this month, or all time • Yearly streak calendar shows every day you read or trained—build a habit that sticks RIVE PRO Upgrade to unlock everything: • Unlimited imports — save articles, books, and pasted text without limit • All training modes — Build Speed and Comfort & Focus, alongside Find Your Speed • Reading insights — trend charts for words read, reading speed, and training progress over time (7, 30, and 90-day views) • Support an independent developer building Rive Rive Pro is available as a monthly or yearly auto-renewing subscription, or a one-time lifetime purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period, and can be managed or cancelled anytime in your App Store account settings. DESIGNED TO STAY OUT OF THE WAY • Clean, minimal reader so you focus on the words • Optional accent themes (e.g. blue, green) for the interface and reading highlight • Light and dark mode support Rive is built for anyone who wants to read more without spending more time—whether you're catching up on articles, revisiting classics, or training yourself to read faster and with better focus. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.jamesbtlr.com/rsvp/privacy.html

About

Velocity

Features
Read full description

Velocity is a focused speed-reading trainer built for people who want to read more in less time — without losing comprehension. HOW IT WORKS Velocity uses RSVP (Rapid Serial Visual Presentation): one word at a time, centered on screen. The Optimal Recognition Point (ORP) highlights the best letter to fixate on so your eyes stay still and your brain stays in flow. FEATURES • RSVP reader up to 1,000 WPM with ORP highlighting • Leveled reading exercises from Beginner to Expert • Scan documents, import PDF/text, or paste your own content • On-device OCR — your text never leaves your iPhone • Progress tracking, daily goals, streaks, levels & achievements • Adjustable speed, punctuation pauses, and haptic feedback PRICING Start with a 7-day full-access trial from first launch. Unlock Velocity Pro forever with a one-time purchase — no subscription, no ads, no account required. Perfect for articles, study material, newsletters, and any text you need to get through faster.

Screenshots

Speed Reading4 screens
Velocity4 screens

Verdict

The call

Speed Reading and Velocity are too close to call on the numbers: across 5 compared parameters — price, ads, in-app purchases and device support among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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. Speed Reading sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Velocity sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Speed Reading versus Velocity: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSpeed ReadingVelocity
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS17.617.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJames ButlerMonarch Labs Collective

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Speed Reading

Subscriptions2
  • Rive Pro Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Rive Pro Yearly$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • Rive Pro Lifetime$24.99
1 purchases

Velocity

One-time1
  • Velocity Pro$4.99

Questions

Is Speed Reading free?
Speed Reading is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Velocity free?
Velocity is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Speed Reading or Velocity have ads?
Neither Speed Reading nor Velocity shows ads.

Other comparisons