FocusWord vs Speed Reading
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
FocusWord
This app presents books one word at a time on a dark screen, optimizing word placement for recognition. It offers adjustable reading speeds and smart pausing at sentence boundaries to minimize distractions and enhance focus, making reading a more immersive experience.
- One-word-at-a-time reading
- Smart Slowing for sentence pauses
- Adjustable WPM speed control
- EPUB import and parsing
- Chapter navigation and progress tracking
- ADHD-friendly design
- Accessibility features
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Your phone was designed to scatter your attention. FocusWord reverses the equation. FocusWord presents your books one word at a time on a full dark screen. Each word is positioned at its Optimal Recognition Point. Smart Slowing pauses naturally at sentence boundaries. Your phone becomes a place of focus instead of distraction. No willpower required. No fighting notifications. Just you and the words. IMPORT YOUR BOOKS Import any EPUB from your device. Navigate chapters. Track your reading progress. This is a real reading app for people who actually read books. READ AT YOUR PACE Adjust speed from 100 to 1000 WPM — whatever pace lets you focus completely. Start slow, build up naturally. Smart Slowing adapts to punctuation so the rhythm feels like reading, not a metronome. DESIGNED FOR FOCUS One word. Full screen. Zero distractions. Auto-hiding controls disappear within milliseconds. Gesture-only interaction while reading. The app becomes invisible so the book can take over. BUILT FOR BRAINS THAT WORK DIFFERENTLY ADHD-friendly design. VoiceOver support. Right-to-left reading. Reduce Motion compatibility. Focus isn't a character trait you lack — it was just never properly supported. BUY ONCE. READ FOREVER. No subscriptions. No ads. No dark patterns. No account required. One purchase, unlimited books, every feature. Your books stay on your device. Your data stays yours. FocusWord features: • One-word-at-a-time focused reading • Smart Slowing at sentences and clauses • 100–1000 WPM speed control • Full EPUB import and parsing • Chapter navigation with progress tracking • Reading position auto-save • Dark interface (WCAG AA contrast) • Accessibility: VoiceOver, RTL, Reduce Motion • Gesture controls: tap, swipe, long-press • iPhone and iPad
Speed Reading
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Speed Reading is a transparent offline tool for reading books and training speed reading skills. Created for those who want to read faster and more effectively: - Free app - No subscriptions - No ads - No account registration - No analytics trackers - Works completely offline - All data is stored locally on your iPhone FORMAT SUPPORT AND LIBRARY Import books and articles to keep them in one place: - Support for .epub, .fb2, and .txt formats - Fast file parsing and unpacking - Smart text cleaning from unnecessary tags and "junk" - Automatic detection of metadata and covers SPEED READING MODE (RSVP) Master the Rapid Serial Visual Presentation method: - Attention focus (ORP): highlighting the optimal recognition point in the word in red. - Flexible speed setting (WPM): from a comfortable pace to professional speeds. - Smart pauses: the algorithm automatically slows down at punctuation marks and difficult words for better context understanding. - Navigation: fast rewind and forward by words. CLASSIC MODE (PAGES) For thoughtful and comfortable reading: - Full typography customization: choice of font, size, line spacing, and letter spacing. - Margin and indent settings to your taste. - Natural pagination. - Instant switch to speed reading mode with a double tap on any word. STATISTICS AND PROGRESS Track real metrics, not just feelings: - Count of words read and time (for today and all time). - Calculation of real average reading speed (WPM). - Visualization of reading progress for each book. - Estimation of remaining time to finish the book. PRIVACY BY DESIGN Your entire library, settings, and statistics are stored exclusively on your device. Speed Reading does not require account creation, does not upload your books to cloud servers, and does not transfer data to third parties.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: FocusWord at weekly against Speed Reading's every 2 months. 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
FocusWord ships an update weekly, Speed Reading every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | FocusWord | Speed Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Weekly — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 — better | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 8 MB | 3 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Marcelo Alves | Xeniya Bykhova |
In-app purchases
FocusWord
No in-app purchases
Speed Reading
No in-app purchases







