# Handy Reader vs SwiftRead

The clearest difference is rating: Handy Reader at 4.8 against SwiftRead's 4.1. Handy Reader also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 85%) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). SwiftRead's advantage is ratings volume (35 vs 6). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Handy Reader sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and SwiftRead sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Handy Reader holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SwiftRead has 35 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Handy Reader's written reviews are positive against 85% of SwiftRead's.

Handy Reader ships an update every 2 weeks, SwiftRead every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on July 7, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Handy Reader | SwiftRead |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/handy-reader-speed-reading/id822214888/reviews)** | [4.1 (35 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swiftread-speed-reading/id6470811151/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 6 | **35** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 84.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 18 MB | 72 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ihor Prysiazhniuk](https://appshunter.io/developer/822214891) | [SwiftRead](https://appshunter.io/developer/1714250314) |

## What reviewers say

### Handy Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/handy-reader-speed-reading/id822214888)

Enhance your reading speed with this app, designed for efficient comprehension of digital texts. It supports various file formats and offers a distraction-free interface with customizable display options to suit your reading style.

**Highlights:** Speed reading functionality, Supports PDF, FB2, EPUB, DOCX, TXT, ODT, HTML, Word-focused display, Customizable fonts and themes, Adjustable reading speeds, Distraction-free interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Handy Reader Pro | $7.99 | one-time |


### SwiftRead

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swiftread-speed-reading/id6470811151)

Enhance your reading speed and comprehension with focus modes and natural text-to-speech narration. Import content from various sources and customize your reading experience across devices.

**Highlights:** Import PDFs, EPUBs, web articles, Visual focus modes (RSVP, pacing), Human-like TTS narration (90+ languages), Sync across devices, Customizable fonts, themes, speed, Works with Kindle Cloud Reader & Libby

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $19.99 | per month |
| Quarterly | $44.99 | per 3 months |
| Annual | $119.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Handy Reader free?

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

### Is SwiftRead free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Handy Reader or SwiftRead?

Handy Reader is rated higher. Handy Reader averages 4.8 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while SwiftRead averages 4.1 from 35 ratings.

### Do Handy Reader or SwiftRead have ads?

Neither Handy Reader nor SwiftRead shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Handy Reader or SwiftRead?

Handy Reader ships an update every 2 weeks, and SwiftRead every 8 days. Most recently, Handy Reader was updated on July 7, 2026 and SwiftRead on September 25, 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.*