⚠ Books from most stores and libraries (.acsm files, Kobo, Kindle, Apple Books, Libby) are DRM-protected and will not open. Only use files you have the right to use. Tap ? to learn more.
or try a sample document
Flashing text notice: fast word-by-word reading can bother people who are sensitive to flashing or motion. Start at a slow speed, use the speed ramp-up, and stop if you feel unwell. Screen readers announce play, pause and position, and read the current word when you step through text while paused. Keyboard: space = play/pause, arrow keys = step, esc = restart, tab = move between controls.
document outline
Load a document to see its pages and paragraphs here. Click any paragraph to jump to it.
Open a .txt, .pdf, .docx, or DRM-free .epub file to begin.
space = play / pause · ← → = step · esc = restart · or paste text, or a web article link
tap = play / pause · swipe = step · share, paste, or point at a web article to open it here
This EPUB is locked with DRM (digital rights management), the copy protection stores and libraries use. Speed Reader only opens DRM-free EPUB files, and it can’t unlock protected ones. Try the book’s own reader app, or look for a DRM-free copy.
Privacy: no accounts, cookies, or analytics. Your documents, reading position, and settings stay on your own device. Only a web article link you paste is sent, to fetch that article.
A tool only: Speed Reader is a reading tool, not a library, store, or licensed e-reader. It and its creator are not responsible for what you open in it or for any illegal activity.
EPUB limits: only DRM-free EPUB files can be opened. Protected books (.acsm files, Kobo, Kindle, Apple Books, Libby) will not open.
Your responsibility: only open content you have the legal right to use.
Please read the full privacy policy and terms of use. By tapping “I agree” you confirm you have read both and agree to them. You will be asked again if either is updated.
Speed Reader can’t be used without agreeing to the privacy policy and terms of use. You can close the app, or review them and agree when you’re ready.
how to use Speed Reader+
getting text in
➕
add text opens a menu to open a file (.txt, .pdf, .docx), open an EPUB, paste clipboard text, load a web article by link, or try a sample document.
📖
open EPUB (in the add text menu) only works with DRM-free EPUB files. Books from most stores and libraries are DRM-protected and will not open. Speed Reader is not a library or a licensed e-reader. What is DRM?
📜
terms of use & privacy policy are linked under the controls on the main screen. Terms of use · Privacy policy
playback
↺
restart jumps back to the very first word.
◀
previous steps back one word (or one chunk, if "words per flash" in Settings is above 1).
▶
play / pause starts or stops the flashing display. Tapping the reading area itself does the same thing; swiping it steps forward or back on a phone.
▶
next steps forward one word (or chunk).
🚀
ramp-up is the one that trips people up, so here's the full explanation: when it's toggled on, pressing play makes your speed visibly climb — watch the speed slider itself move — from wherever it's currently set, in 50 wpm steps, up to that speed plus a boost amount. Each step holds steady for a set number of words before advancing to the next, then it holds at the final speed for the rest of the document.
It's a one-shot: the toggle switches itself back off once the last step is reached, or if you pause partway through, so an ordinary pause/play afterward won't stack another boost on top by accident. Touching the speed slider yourself at any point also cancels it, since that's you taking manual control.
The boost amount (how many wpm it climbs, in total) and the ramp length (how many words each step holds before advancing) are both adjustable in Settings, under "ramp-up boost" and "ramp-up length."
▤
speed slider sets your words-per-minute. It's also the starting point ramp-up climbs from, not a fixed target.
layout
☰
outline opens a panel listing your document's pages and paragraphs. Tap any entry to jump straight there. It highlights and scrolls to follow whichever paragraph you're currently reading, and its right edge can be dragged to resize it.
⚙
settings includes an accessibility group (reduce motion, larger buttons), plus font, text size, words per flash, pause length, the individual color pickers, the four theme presets, the dyslexia-friendly font, haptic feedback, ramp-up's boost/length, and a "restore defaults" button at the bottom.
✥
fullscreen hides browser chrome for a distraction-free view. While fullscreen, a "landscape" button appears top-left (Android only, since iOS Safari doesn't support the underlying API) to rotate the layout; the outline panel then docks to a narrow strip instead of covering the whole screen.
▬
the small handle just above the bottom controls: tap it to hide or reveal the controls, or drag it up/down to resize them.
progress
📊
stats shows your progress and estimated time left in the current document, plus all-time totals: words read, documents finished, sessions, and average speed. All of it stays on this device only.