Read Fast vs Anchor
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Read Fast
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.
- 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
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STOP READING. START ABSORBING. Most people read at about the same speed they speak. The reason is subvocalization: the small inner voice that sounds out every word. Absorb is built to break that bottleneck and change how you move through text. Absorb uses an advanced Rapid Serial Visual Presentation (RSVP) engine. Instead of making your eyes scan back and forth across a page, it shows words one after another in the same spot and highlights each word's Optimal Recognition Point. Your gaze stays centered, your focus stays locked, and text moves straight into visual processing. WHY READERS USE ABSORB STEADY FOCUS: The rapid display leaves less room for wandering attention and helps you enter a steady reading flow. BUILD THE HABIT: Track daily streaks, average WPM, reading time, and progress so speed becomes something you can actually train. BRING YOUR OWN BOOKS: Import EPUB, PDF, TXT, and pasted text from your device. LESS EYE FATIGUE: Stop losing your place. Sit back, watch the center, and let the book come to you. PRIVATE BY DESIGN: Processing happens locally on your device. Your files and reading data do not leave your phone. Absorb offers monthly access and a one-time Lifetime unlock. Full access requires a subscription or Lifetime unlock. Download Absorb, import your first book, and finish it tonight. Terms: https://absorb-app-ncmw.onrender.com/terms.html
Anchor
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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
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Read Fast at every 2 days against Anchor's monthly. Anchor's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.4). 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
Both are free to download. Read Fast sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Anchor sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Read Fast ships an update every 2 days, Anchor monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 16, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Read Fast | Anchor |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 days — better | Monthly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 164 MB | 46 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Maksym Horoszczak | MyAppDesk |
In-app purchases
Read Fast
- Absorb$4.991 Month
- Absorb Pro Annual7 Days trial$19.991 Year
- Absorb Pro Lifetime$69.99
Anchor
- Lifetime$4.99





