Best Speed Reading Apps 2024
What are the best speed reading apps for iPhone, Android, Macs?
Processing and displaying written information in the fastest way possible is the core concept of many speed reading apps for mobile devices such as tablets or smartphones.
Those apps often use RSVP technologies and innovative teaching concepts. However, how can those apps help you become a faster reader? And, what are the best apps?
You can group these apps into:
1. Speed reading apps that highlight text to work through material faster.
2. Apps that teach you techniques and increase speed and comprehension.
Most free and paid apps will fulfill only one of the above-mentioned points. Interestingly enough, only a few companies that offer professional desktop speed reading software have also launched mobile versions for tablets so far.
So, what are the best speed reading apps for iPad, iPhone, Mac and Android devices? What about the Kindle eBook reader? This review will show you the best apps to learn and apply accelerated reading methods on mobile gadgets.
Best Speed Reading Apps 2024 – Top 3
Spreeder | ReadQuick | OutRead |
---|---|---|
View Store | View Details | View Details |
$37 Lifetime | $9.99 | $21.99 |
iOS, Desktop | iOS | iOS |
★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
*Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Read the full disclosure below.
1. Spreeder for Desktop, iOS
Spreeder VIP (visit website) is a popular RSVP speed reading app combined with guided expert training and warm-up drills. It now offers all the features of 7-Speed-Reading to help you become a faster and more efficient reader.
The goal is to read entire books and digital documents on your desktop, iPad, iPhone or in your browser and also learn how to process digital content fast, overcome bad reading habits, and retain more information.
Features and Benefits
There are professional training videos and exercises that will teach you fast reading techniques, improve comprehension and eliminate bad habits. You will also have access to in-depth progress tracking charts to analyze strengths and weaknesses.
- Powerful RSVP reader app combined with speed reading training
- Read entire eBooks/texts on your desktop and mobile
- Guided expert training, videos, exercises, and progress tracking
- Reduce sub-vocalization, improve memory and retention
- 15 Training activities and speed drills. Triple reading speed.
- Vocab trainer + premium productivity software included
- Access to 20,000+ classic eBooks
- Support for 46 different file and eBook formats
- Advanced setting to customize your RSVP Reader
- Create up to 5 user accounts for family and friends
- Upload own content and sync with iPad/iPhone
- Set smart goals with advanced progress tracking
Verdict: Spreeder is one of the most comprehensive and best speed reading apps focusing on the specific needs of reading digital content on desktop and mobile devices. The biggest benefits are its multi-platform availability and the combination of a powerful eBook reader app, guided training and a huge eBook library.
Availability: iOS. All browsers. Desktops/Laptops.
Rating: ★★★★★
Price: Lifetime access $37. Visit website.
2. ReadQuick for iOS
ReadQuick makes the bold claim of being one of the very best speed reading apps available on the iTunes store. It will run on all iterations of iPhone and iPad, however, the app’s update cycle is a bit slow and some features might not fully work on iOS 11/12.
What does it do? ReadQuick works by taking your daily reading and converting it into a legible list that you can easily comprehend. This includes publications from your favorite newspaper, blogger, book or something as simple as the recipe for your evening meal.
It is a feature other apps do not provide by default. The format of lists (as per standard in speed reading apps) includes Pocket, Instapaper and Readability. Interestingly, the app has been criticized as more of a ‘quick reading’ tool that dissects articles, rather than an actual tool that can help you learn speed reading techniques but either way user reviews have remained consistently positive.
ReadQuick is a useful read faster app, able to support a wide range of formats and languages to help you break down your daily reading into comprehensible chunks.
Availability: iOS.
Rating: ★★★★☆
Price: $9.99. View in store.
3. The 7-Speed-Reading App (7SR)
7SR, now Spreeder (visit website), is a cloud-based app to learn to read faster and improve comprehension. It’s particularly suitable for students preparing for their college exams and adults who want to become more efficient readers in their jobs and personal lives. It has been merged with the Spreeder app (see above).
Overview – While other speed reading apps may help you process digital information faster, this app focuses on teaching proven techniques to become a faster reader on your own. You can apply those skills to non-fiction material.
By merging 7SR and Spreeder, eReflect has created one of the most comprehensive speed reading apps available on the market. Users will get the best from both worlds: an RSVP reader and an interactive educational resource to improve reading skills.
Verdict – If you are looking for an all-in-one solution, Spreeder with 7SR is ideal for those who need to prepare for college exams or have lots of things to read in general. The combination of an RSVP reader with expert teaching, exercises, games, and tests makes it one of the best speed reading apps.
Availability: All browsers.
Rating: ★★★★★
Price: from $9. Visit website.
4. AceReader Cloud App
Stepware is the developer behind the popular AceReader tutor, which is available as a cloud version including support for iOS and Android devices.
What’s the goal? This app is quite different from other speed reading apps on the market as users get access to scientifically proven techniques and exercises. The focus is definitely on learning how to speed read. Apart from that, you can read eBooks, articles and web content using the app’s reading mode setting.
Technology – The app backs on the Rapid Serial Visual Presentation technology (RSVP) which will highlight the text in the center of the screen box. Another technology used here is Tachistoscopic Scroll Presentation aiming to smooth your eye movement and increase the pace at the same time.
Tracking – Compared to many other apps, you will able to track your speed, activities and progress. The stats will be presented visually so you always know your current speed and comprehension rate. You can also set goals and the app will show you where you stand within each module.
AceReader is one of those cloud-based speed reading apps. It stands out from the crowd as it is a comprehensive trainer developed for mobile platforms. Includes drill exercises and basic games.
Availability: Desktop and Tablets. Mac, Windows, All browsers.
Rating: ★★★★☆
Price: $39.99 for Personal edition.
5. Speed Reading for Android
Speed reading apps like this one do not have a very recognizable brand name but it is certainly a winner with more than 500,000 installs on the Android platform. Like many other apps, the main goal is to increase speed without committing to complex training programs.
How it works – Don’t expect a lot of teaching here; this app predominantly backs on technology or so-called selectors. The latter will highlight words and numbers so readers can memorize them effectively. Furthermore, the app allows for expanding your eye vision to process more information simultaneously.
Outcome – Using the app will allow you to reduce the time needed for non-fiction material. You should also see an improved memory, attention span and increased vocabulary with the help of exercises or simulators (Schulte Table). The app will also let you find those text passages within a larger text that are important.
Additional info – The Speed Reading app requires Android 4.0 or higher. It is suitable for all ages. Supported formats are fb2, ePub and txt.
Availability: Android
Rating: ★★★★★☆
Price: Free install. In-app purchases from $1.99 to $5.99
6. QuickReader for iPad, iPhone
How does it help? Whereas other speed reading apps listed in this review focus upon a wide range and format of texts available, QuickReader turns its attention solely to books within your collection. Or rather the various books the app can add to your collection.
Whilst QuickReader is compatible with publications you currently own, the app also provides you with access to over 9,500 titles, from contemporary classics to self-help guides and more.
The app is currently compatible with both the iPad and iPhone in various generations. The interface is also fully customizable to the user’s specifications which, a feature many basic speed reading apps lack.
Questions have been raised over the legibility of the app for dyslexic users in particular, with a lack of appropriate fonts offered by the developer Inkstone. Furthermore, if you require a definition of a word QuickReader pulls up other apps which, in the grand scheme of things is somewhat time-consuming.
This being said, having a library of over 9,000 titles for just $4.99 is a tempting prospect and the reading process is generally efficient and suitably streamlined.
Availability: iOS devices.
Rating: ★★★★☆
Price: $4.99. View in store.
7. Outread for iOS
Outread is one of the apps that appear to be very similar to ReadQuick in both its modus operandi and function. However, one feature not explicitly mentioned for other speed reading apps reviewed here is Outread’s pure usefulness it may have regarding your workflow.
What does it? It now comes with compatibility for Microsoft Word files alongside the usual lists one associates with such apps, meaning that work documents from colleagues can now be deciphered in a matter of minutes.
A feature within Outread that other applications do not have is a customizable highlighter; outside of the usual color and size changes, the highlighter can also be relocated to any point on the screen for added usability.
This is a thoughtful touch and one that will appeal to a wide selection of users. Reviews of Outread remain highly positive and it also has a nifty little trick of bookmarking where you left off in a book’s chapter, that is a feature often left out by other apps. At just $2.99, the value for money and incredible usability is hard to ignore.
Availability: iOS devices.
Rating: ★★★★☆
Price: 2.99. View in store.
8. Readme! for Android and iOS
Of all the best speed reading apps on review, Readme! probably has the most visually appealing interface, utilizing welcoming tones of walnut to draw the user in.
What is it good for? Utilizing iOS 12 and available on all of Apple’s current generation of products, one of the major drawing points of Readme! appears to be that Spritz technology is fully integrated into the service offered.
Spritz works by highlighting one word at a time in the color red, which reduces the time the reader spends looking for their reading position while also moving the text along at a rapid, yet legible pace.
It’s a feature that doesn’t sound integrally different from other apps, but its smoothness and amazing functionality mean that many users have reported being able to use the app with little to no eye strain, a consistent issue with speed reading apps.
Availability: iOS, Android.
Rating: ★★★★☆
Price: From $1.99. View in store.
9. Spritz Speed Reading App
Ok, this is the classic promise: Read the novel “War and Peace” in 5 hours. What about Homer? Well, two hours and you are done. How? By reading up to 2,000 words a minute. This app uses Spritz technology (RSVP) and will show you only one word or one symbol per display. However, it needs to be learned to focus on dots and just read and understand the highlighted word/symbol.
Benefits – This speed reading app aims to increase your rate by 200-400 words a minute within 1-2 weeks. 1-2 months and you should be able to run through a novel with 1,500-2,000 wpm. However, there are no tools to specifically practice techniques and physical skills (chunking, reducing subvocalization),
Good to know – Based on user reviews, expect the achievements in speed to vary. Furthermore, the app does not teach you how to recall the information you have taken in at a speed of 2,000 wpm. Generally, the app is being described as intuitive. You can use any book or text (PDF, FB2, ePub or txt ) to start reading in RSVP mode.
Availability: Android
Rating: ★★★★☆☆
Price: $1.79.
10. Syllable for iOS
How does it work? Syllable’s features make it seem incredibly similar to other speed reading apps already reviewed here. By reducing the subvocalization time (a ‘bad habit’ associated with normal reading), Syllable flashes words across your screen quickly enough to keep your speed of reading moving along nicely whilst also allowing you to digest what you have just seen on screen.
Usability is another key aspect of Syllable; just like Outread, fonts, pace, and general format are all interchangeable, which adds to the user experience greatly. A night mode is also available for those of us who struggle to get to sleep and thus decide to do some light reading as we are still awake.
Syllable is reasonably priced at $2.99, with the only real criticism that it doesn’t really bring anything new to the table. Regardless of this issue, if you are looking for speed reading apps capable of doing a little bit of everything, Syllable may be the one for you.
Availability: iOS.
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Price: $2.99.
11. Wear Reader™ App
Wear Reader™ is an eReading app for wearables such as Apple Watch or similar Android devices. It backs on Spritz technology and will display and highlight text and even eBooks on your smartwatch to read them faster. However, it is not meant to learn or practice any reading efficiency techniques.
Highlights
- Read books on the go, PDFs supported
- Read documents, DOCX, txt, HTML files supported
- Import from iCloud or Dropbox
- Set bookmarks, navigate from your smartphone
- Adjust speed within app from 50WPM to 1000WPM
Wear Reader™ is a popular read faster app that brings content and eBooks to smartwatches as well. While it does not teach you to read fast it might also be an unconsidered app for dyslexic people to help read content conveniently on smaller screens.
Availability: Apple Watch, Android.
Rating: ★★★★☆
Price: $1.99. View in store
12. SpeedReader App, Android
If you are looking for the best speed reading apps that will allow you to read eBooks at a higher pace, the SpeedReader app might offer an interesting solution. Available for Android, it comes for free as an initial download, however, expect in-app purchases to unlock premium features.
Highlights – One of the highlights is SpeedReader’s capability to access content from other reading apps and display it in RSVP mode (max.750 wpm). Simply share the content within Pocket, Feedly or ColorNote to get it running on SpeedReader. Other free features include games, drills to become a faster reader or multiple themes in RSVP mode.
If you have a budget and are willing to spend it, you can access even more games, higher RSVP speeds and upload functionality for your own content. You will also be able to use the scroll reader to ease the experience further.
Availability: Android.
Rating: ★★★★☆
Price: Free. In-App purchases. $2.95/item.
13. Reedy. Intelligent Reader
Reedy is a speed reading app for Android and also offers a Google Chrome extension allowing users to access the tool on Linux, Windows or MacOS.
It uses the RSVP (Rapid Serial Visual Presentation) technique to highlight words one after another at a predefined speed. Reedy supports html, ePub, fb2, zip and web links or text from other mobile applications.
Benefits – Users can easily skim through an article using the fast reading mode, however, the app also sports a regular mode and supports text-to-speech voice reading. Furthermore, nothing gets mixed up: text elements such as tables, headlines or images will be displayed properly during the process.
Goals – Reedy will not teach you the techniques to become faster but rather expose you to higher speeds using RSVP technology. This way, you can read 1.5-2 times faster. You may even choose to read a text at 3,000 wpm. Whether that will enable you to maintain comprehension is debatable, but this setting is certainly fun.
Features – Very useful are features such as smart slowing or focus mode. The first will reduce the speed before punctuations or complex structures, the latter shifts your focus to the beginning of a sentence. You can use the volume buttons to control it.
Verdict – Reedy is a well-designed speed reading app for Android and is suitable for processing lengthy digital content. While it won’t teach you any fundamentals it adds the technical layer to enable you to speed read material from web pages, documents and services such as Pocket, Evernote, Google Drive or Dropbox.
Availability: Android. Chrome extension for Linux, Windows, Mac.
Rating: ★★★★☆
Price: In-App purchases. $0.99-$9.99/item.
14. Readlax
Readlax, like many other best speed reading apps on this list, promises to help you read faster and thus learn more effectively as well. At the core, the app offers a mix of brain exercises paired with reading efficiency training.
The app sports a stylish and modern interface and received lots of positive reviews for its Google Chrome extension. And yes, it works on the Brave browser as well.
What is it good for? Readlax is fully integrated with Scribd, Google Books and Kindle Cloud Reader giving access to numerous books online. You can then read them at a preset pace and combine them with exercises to improve concentration, memory and learning capacity. It also helps develop better vocabulary and analytical skills.
Who for? It is suitable for college students, employees and professionals alike. The developers suggest practicing 30 minutes a day. Keep in mind, that while the app is free you might need to have active subscriptions for premium content services.
Availability: Web. Chrome extension for Linux, Windows, Mac.
Rating: ★★★★☆
Price: Free signup.
15. Boba
Boba is a small but free speed reading app for Safari browsers and iOS devices. It is based on Spritz technology as many other apps mentioned here as well. What does it do? You can either download the iOS app or use the browser extension to speed read digital content on any blog or publishing website.
Highlights – There aren’t any features available that will actually teach you to read faster. The main purpose is to get you through content quickly. The app is customizable allowing to set favorite content sites or adjust the words per minute for better comprehension.
Boba requires iOS 8.1 or later. Unfortunately, it is one of those many speed reading apps, that haven’t been updated for a while. It might not be fully functioning on newer devices or the latest browser versions available.
Availability: iOS. Safari.
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Price: Free.
Best Speed Reading Apps 2024 – The Verdict
When placed under the eye of scrutiny, all the speed reading apps on review here offer an RSVP service and there is at least one feature of each that every one of us would find useful in our day-to-day reading.
Recommendation
Spreeder (visit website) is by far the most advanced and comprehensive speed reading app on this list. If you require a long-term solution that will allow you to learn to read faster and also read entire eBooks then this is one of the apps to go for. It is also a multi-platform solution that works on your Mac, desktop, laptop or in any browser.
The biggest benefits are the guided training lessons combined with a large eBook library and the ability to upload, access or use your own documents, websites and material. It’s a pricier solution, but this isn’t a smallish app it’s a fully-grown browser app as well. It’s good value in the long run from an educational point of view.
Alternatives
If your focus is on learning and not consuming, then again Spreeder is a good choice. It has been merged with the 7 Speed Reading app and offers all its features in one subscription plan. This is one of the most recognized, powerful and best speed reading apps of 2024.
However, fast reading is also an increasingly in-demand and competitive market, and the service offered by Outread, priced at just $2.99 seems the most in-depth and user-friendly of all the services reviewed here.
It also depends on what you really intend to achieve with these apps. If you want your reading material to be presented in an easy-to-digest way, apps such as ReadQuick or QuickReader will be good options. If you wish to learn speed reading apps such as ReadMe! or Syllable are the ones that might be more suitable.
What are the best apps to read faster in your opinion?
Speed Reading Apps 2024
- Spreeder | ★★★★★ | $67
- ReadQuick | ★★★★☆ | $9.95
- AceReader | ★★★★☆ | $39/year
- QuickReader | ★★★★☆ | $4.99
- Outread | ★★★★☆ | $2.99
- Readme! | ★★★★☆ | $1.99
- Spritz App | ★★★☆☆ | $1.79
- Reedy. Intelligent Reader | ★★★★☆ | $0.99
- Wear Reader™ | ★★★★☆ | $1.99
Speed reading apps for Android devices
SpeedRead for Android uses Spritz technology. This little app works with apps that support text-to-speech (TTS). You will need to login into your Spritz account to set TTS settings. Price $0.99. Another one is Faster Reader and it backs on the same RSVP reading technology as SpeedRead. There is a free version available to get started. They are all available on the Google Play store.
Are there any free speed reading apps?
Yes. They mostly come as add-ons apps for browsers and assist in processing words quickly, especially on smaller screens. Spreeder offers a simple bookmarklet, but compared to the Pro version it is very limited in regards to features.
Instapaper will organize your reading material. If you don’t have time to consume an article while at work or in a meeting, you can save it and it will sync on all your devices.
To complete this review, you may also want to check out SpeedReading Trainer, SpeedReader, Flash Reader or Sprint Reader. All these apps are available for Android and on the Play Store.
Update: Stay tuned for upcoming best speed reading apps for Mac. Send me an email or sign up for our newsletter if you want to be notified.
Are there any apps missing in this review? Please share your tips or experiences in the comments below or on Facebook, Twitter or Google+.