Comparison

Tempo vs Bookmark

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

Head to head
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.

About

Bookmark

This app allows you to save your reading progress across physical books, ebooks, and audiobooks in one place. It offers features for collaborative reading, sharing notes without spoilers, and creating discussion guides.

Highlights
  • Save exact reading spots
  • Unified library for all formats
  • Spoiler-free collaborative reading groups
  • Add text, voice, or video notes
  • Create spoiler-safe discussion guides
  • Read EPUB and PDF files in-built reader
Features
Read full description

Bookmark keeps your place wherever you are reading—paperback, ebook, or audiobook—and brings every format together in one beautiful library. SAVE THE EXACT SPOT Photograph a paperback page, choose a screenshot from an audiobook or ebook, or save your position inside Bookmark’s built-in reader. Your latest spot stays easy to find, with a history of earlier bookmarks whenever you need it. START WITH A LIVED-IN LIBRARY Download Bookmark and begin with four included reads: • The first three chapters of The Last Bites by Chris Weiss • The Odyssey, with familiar Greek names • Dracula by Bram Stoker • The Secret of the Old Clock Each included title comes with Author’s Commentary, so you can experience Bookmark’s signature features immediately. UNLOCK AUTHOR’S COMMENTARY AS YOU READ Author notes, behind-the-scenes details, and discussion prompts appear when you reach the right place in the book. Upcoming commentary stays hidden, preserving every surprise. READ TOGETHER WITHOUT SPOILERS Create a reading group for two people or many, invite readers with a code, and decide whether to share your progress. Choose exactly which notes your group can see. Shared notes and reactions reveal to each reader only after they reach the matching spot. KEEP NOTES WHERE THEY BELONG Add text, voice, or short video notes at a reading position. Bookmark keeps your commentary, personal notes, and reached group reactions together in reading order. MAKE THE NEXT MEETING BETTER Create a spoiler-safe discussion guide from the Author’s Commentary, notes, and reactions you have already reached. Export it to share, save, or print. READ YOUR OWN FILES Open EPUB and PDF books in Bookmark’s built-in reader. Your files remain yours, and you can remove a downloaded file without removing the book or your saved position. PRIVATE BY DESIGN There is no Bookmark account, advertising, or analytics. Your personal library stays on your device and can sync through your private iCloud. Read Together sends only the information you choose to share through Apple CloudKit for that reading group. Your books. Your people. Your place.

Screenshots

Tempo4 screens
Bookmark4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Bookmark at none against Tempo's 2. On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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. Tempo sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Bookmark asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Tempo against 5.0 for Bookmark. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
Tempo versus Bookmark: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTempoBookmark
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Number of ratings11
Update frequencyEvery 10 days—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size60 MB42 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperJosh HoffmanChristopher Weiss

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Tempo

One-time1
  • Unlimited Reading2 variants$7.99
None

Bookmark

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Tempo free?
Tempo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Bookmark free?
Bookmark is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Tempo or Bookmark?
Tempo and Bookmark are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do Tempo or Bookmark have ads?
Neither Tempo nor Bookmark shows ads.

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