# Strobe vs Read Fast

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Strobe at none against Read Fast's 3. Strobe also leads on ratings volume (8 vs 2). Read Fast's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs weekly). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Read Fast sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Strobe asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Strobe against 5.0 for Read Fast. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 2 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Strobe ships an update weekly, Read Fast every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Strobe | Read Fast |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/strobe-speed-reading/id6759187873/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/read-fast-absorb/id6759666710/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **8** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 28 MB | 164 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.4** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Jaafar Abdeen](https://appshunter.io/developer/1559039483) | [Maksym Horoszczak](https://appshunter.io/developer/1857044674) |

## What reviewers say

### Strobe

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/strobe-speed-reading/id6759187873)

This app helps you read faster by displaying words one at a time in a fixed position. It supports various document formats and offers an optional natural voice narration. Customize your reading experience with adjustable speeds and timing features.

**Highlights:** Rapid Serial Visual Presentation (RSVP), Adjustable reading speed (100-1000 WPM), Natural voice read-aloud narration, Support for PDF, EPUB, TXT, and Markdown, iCloud Sync across devices, Customizable timing and display options

**Features:** Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo 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 Strobe free?

Strobe is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Read Fast free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Strobe or Read Fast?

Read Fast is rated higher. Strobe averages 4.9 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Read Fast averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Strobe or Read Fast have ads?

Neither Strobe nor Read Fast shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Strobe or Read Fast?

Strobe ships an update weekly, and Read Fast every 2 days. Most recently, Strobe was updated on November 9, 2026 and Read Fast on October 31, 2026.

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