Speed Reader

What it does

Speed Reader is a macOS app that uses Rapid Serial Visual Presentation (RSVP) to display text one word at a time at a fixed location, eliminating eye movement and enabling reading speeds of 2–5x faster. It supports PDF, EPUB, DOCX, Markdown, FB2, plain text, URLs, and images via built-in OCR. The app offers four display modes: Main Window (with text preview and playback controls), Notch Widget (Dynamic Island-style around the MacBook notch), Separate Window (floating glass panel), and Zen Mode (full-page reader with multi-word text). Users can fine-tune speed from 100 to 1000 WPM, customize fonts, colors, and themes, and access global keyboard shortcuts.

Who it is for

Speed Reader is designed for anyone who reads extensively on a Mac—students, researchers, professionals, and avid readers who want to consume articles, books, PDFs, and web content faster. It also serves users with vision-related conditions such as central field loss or peripheral reading needs; the developer offers free licenses for medical accessibility. The app is particularly useful for those who need to process large volumes of text efficiently, such as knowledge workers, writers, and people with reading fatigue.

Why it matters

Traditional reading involves mechanical eye movements that account for about 80% of reading time. RSVP eliminates this, allowing the brain to process words faster without sacrificing comprehension. Speed Reader makes this technique accessible on macOS with a polished, native interface. Its support for multiple formats and OCR means users can read almost any text source—from scanned documents to web articles—without switching apps. The four display modes adapt to different workflows, whether you need a minimal notch widget or a full-page reader. At a one-time price of $8.99 (with a 3-day free trial), it offers lifetime access and updates, making it a cost-effective productivity tool.

Launch signal

Speed Reader launched on Product Hunt on the day of this profile. It was promoted on the platform and had 77 followers at launch. The app is bootstrapped by solo developer Gleb Shalimov. The website offers a free Chrome browser extension for trying RSVP on any webpage, and the macOS app is available via direct download or Homebrew.

Brand and naming

The name "Speed Reader" is straightforward and descriptive, clearly communicating the core benefit: faster reading. The tagline "Read 2–5x faster with zero effort" reinforces ease of use. The brand positions itself as a productivity tool for Mac users, emphasizing native performance ("No Electron") and a clean, modern design. The inclusion of a free tier for medical accessibility adds a compassionate dimension to the brand.