# Focal vs Readplace

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Readplace at none against Focal's 2. Focal's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 weeks) and ratings volume (3 vs 1). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Focal sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Readplace asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Focal against 5.0 for Readplace. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 1 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Focal ships an update every 4 days, Readplace every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Focal | Readplace |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focal-rsvp-pdfepub-reader/id6760180694/reviews) | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readplace/id6777107238/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 37 MB | 7 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **16.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jesse Meissner](https://appshunter.io/developer/1882998870) | [Jessika Fayner Brack](https://appshunter.io/developer/6777107240) |

## What reviewers say

### Focal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focal-rsvp-pdfepub-reader/id6760180694)

This reading app offers multiple modes to enhance focus and reduce eye strain. It supports PDF and EPUB files with adjustable speeds and customizable backgrounds for a distraction-free experience.

**Highlights:** Multiple reading modes (RSVP, Sentence, Page), Adjustable reading speed (WPM), Natural pacing with punctuation pauses, PDF and EPUB library support, Reading progress memory, Bookmarks, Customizable backgrounds and themes

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Focal Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Focal Lifetime | $9.99 | one-time |


### Readplace

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readplace/id6777107238)

Save articles from any app to a clean, focused reader. Get AI summaries to quickly assess content. This app helps you manage your reading list and actually finish articles.

**Highlights:** Save articles from any app, Distraction-free reading experience, AI-powered article summaries, Organized reading list, Mark articles as read

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Focal free?

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

### Is Readplace free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Focal or Readplace?

Focal and Readplace are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 3 and 1 ratings respectively.

### Do Focal or Readplace have ads?

Neither Focal nor Readplace shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Focal or Readplace?

Focal ships an update every 4 days, and Readplace every 2 weeks. Most recently, Focal was updated on October 31, 2026 and Readplace 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.*