Comparison

ReadSVP vs Tempo

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

Head to head
About

ReadSVP

Features
Read full description

ReadSVP uses Rapid Serial Visual Presentation (RSVP) to help you read faster and retain more. Words are displayed one at a time at your chosen speed, eliminating eye movement and keeping you focused. SPEED READING, YOUR WAY Set your pace from 150 to 1,200 words per minute. ORP (Optimal Recognition Point) highlighting draws your eye to the ideal letter in each word, making it effortless to read at higher speeds. Fine-tune punctuation pauses so sentences feel natural even at top speed. THOUSANDS OF FREE BOOKS Browse a built-in catalog of free classics from Project Gutenberg, Gallica, Wolne Lektury, and textos.info — spanning English, French, Polish, and Spanish literature. From Shakespeare to Sherlock Holmes, your next read is a tap away. BRING YOUR OWN BOOKS Import EPUB and plain text files from anywhere. Read articles, documents, or your favorite indie ebooks — all with the same speed reading experience. BUILT FOR COMFORT Choose from five ORP highlight colors. Switch between light and dark mode. Use the swipe pad to change speed or skip words with a flick. Bookmark passages and pick up right where you left off with iCloud sync across all your devices. 100% FREE ReadSVP is completely free with no ads, no subscription, and no paywall. If you enjoy the app, an optional tip jar is available to support development.

About

Tempo

This app presents text one word at a time, helping you maintain focus and progress through reading material. It offers adjustable pacing, rewind capabilities, and a distraction-free reading environment. Save your content locally and track your reading habits.

Highlights
  • RSVP reading mode
  • Adjustable reading pace (WPM)
  • Pause, rewind, and review text
  • Import text and supported files
  • Local reading library
  • Reading progress tracking
  • Customizable themes and typography
Features
Read full description

Tempo is a calm focus reader for people who want to keep moving through books, notes, articles, and study material without losing their place. The reader uses RSVP reading: it shows text one word at a time, with simple controls for pace, pause, rewind, and review. Instead of filling the screen with distractions, Tempo keeps the current word centered and gives you just enough context to continue confidently. Use Tempo to: * Paste text or import supported files * Read one word at a time in a focused RSVP view * Adjust your words-per-minute pace * Pause, rewind, and jump back into context * Save reading material in your local library * Track reading sessions, progress, stats, and streaks * Choose themes and typography that feel comfortable * Unlock unlimited local reading with a one-time purchase Tempo is built for focused reading, not fake productivity. It does not promise magic speed gains or replace careful reading. It gives you a calmer way to move through text, stay engaged, and finish more of what you start. Your reading material stays local by default in this release. Tempo is designed for content you own, created, or otherwise have the right to read.

Screenshots

ReadSVP3 screens
Tempo4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Tempo at every 10 days against ReadSVP's every 6 months. Tempo also leads on iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.6). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. ReadSVP sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and Tempo sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ReadSVP ships an update every 6 months, Tempo every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
ReadSVP versus Tempo: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterReadSVPTempo
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsEvery 10 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.616.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB60 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDaniel RichelieuJosh Hoffman

In-app purchases

4 purchases

ReadSVP

One-time4
  • Tip (Small)$0.99
  • Tip (Medium)$2.99
  • Tip (Large)$5.99
Show 1 more
  • Tip (Generous)$9.99
1 purchases

Tempo

One-time1
  • Unlimited Reading2 variants$7.99

Questions

Is ReadSVP free?
ReadSVP is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Tempo free?
Tempo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do ReadSVP or Tempo have ads?
Neither ReadSVP nor Tempo shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ReadSVP or Tempo?
ReadSVP ships an update every 6 months, and Tempo every 10 days. Most recently, ReadSVP was updated on October 1, 2026 and Tempo on October 14, 2026.

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