Absorb vs LightSpeedRead
Absorb
absorb-app.com
LightSpeedRead
lightspeedread.comSide by side
| Figure | Absorb | LightSpeedRead |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $1.67/mo | $1.58/mo |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 3 | 3 |
| Spec score · Speed Reading Apps | 7.7 (#14) | 9.0 (#1) |
| Data handling | The privacy policy says Absorb does not intentionally upload imported book content, full imported website text, scanned page images, or extracted scanned text to an Absorb server. | The maker says it does not sell or share personal information and does not use advertising networks or third-party trackers. |
| Security | The privacy policy says Absorb relies on the device operating system’s security protections for local app data. | The maker states that services use HTTPS, PCI-compliant payment processors and per-user access controls for optional account data. |
| Support | Users can contact the developer about questions, bug reports, purchase issues, import problems, or feature ideas through the support form. | The privacy policy lists [email protected] for privacy questions and data deletion requests. |
Plans
Absorb
- Absorb$4.99 a month
- Absorb Pro Annual$19.99 a year
- Absorb Pro Lifetime$69.99, paid once
In their own words
LightSpeedRead
LightSpeedRead is a speed-reading reader that presents words or short groups of words one at a time at a fixed point on screen using Rapid Serial Visual Presentation (RSVP). The web reader accepts pasted text, links, PDFs and EPUBs. Readers can adjust speed, pauses for long words and punctuation, gradual ramp-up, themes, fonts, emphasis and word size. A red letter marks each word’s optimal recognition point, aligned to a fixed center line. Submitting an article URL sends it to r.jina.ai to fetch and extract text; pages behind logins or paywalls may not extract cleanly. Pasted and uploaded text is processed locally in the browser, and the Chrome extension reads page text only when invoked. The free plan includes the website reader and extension reading up to 600 wpm. Pro is $2.99 per month or $19.00 per year, with speeds up to 1000 wpm and additional controls. The iOS app is marked “Coming soon.” The maker cautions that high RSVP speeds can reduce comprehension, especially for dense or important material.