01 Control100–1,000 WPM
Adjust the pace as you read.
Hold to read and release to pause, or switch to hands-free. Drag up or down mid-read to tune speed without opening a menu or losing your place.
Free & open sourceFree RSVP speed reading app for iPhone, iPad & MacRead more.
Free RSVP speed reading app for iPhone, iPad & MacRead more.
Move less.
Strobe is a free, open-source RSVP speed reader for your own PDFs, EPUBs, and text. Read one word at a time at 100–1,000 WPM on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. No ads, no subscription, and your documents stay on your device.
iPhoneiPadMac100–1,000 WPM
Live readerHold · Drag · Release
Live demo — hold to read
FreeNo ads or in-app purchases
5 inputsPDF, EPUB, TXT, MD, paste
0 dataCollected by the app
OpenSource code on GitHub
Spec sheet
Strobe at a glance
Rapid Serial Visual Presentation (RSVP) displays words one at a time at a fixed point. Strobe pairs this reading format with adjustable timing, passage search, and saved progress.
Developed by Jaafar Abdeen. Check compatibility on the App Store or inspect Strobe’s source code.
- Devices
- iPhone and iPad (iOS / iPadOS 17+), Mac (macOS 14+)
- Files
- PDF, EPUB, TXT, Markdown, and pasted text
- Reading speed
- 100–1,000 words per minute, adjustable while you read
- Price and privacy
- Free and open source, with no ads, subscription, or in-app purchases. No account or document uploads.
- File limits
- DRM-protected EPUBs and password-protected PDFs cannot be imported.
Each word arrives at the same focal point, so your eyes can stay with the text.
Words change. Your focal point does not.
02 / Features
Control how you read.
Hold, drag, search, change chapters, and resume without losing your position in the document.
02 FocusORP aligned
A fixed point for every word.
Strobe aligns each word on a highlighted letter at a fixed position on the screen.
03 PacingLocally analyzed
Adjust timing for each word.
Choose timing adjustments for word length, punctuation, sentence endings, and word complexity.
04 NavigationProgress saved
Search, navigate, and resume.
Open the passage, search words or phrases, jump between matches, browse chapters, and resume from the exact word you left.
05 PrivacyZero data collected
Keep your library on your device.
Documents and reading progress stay on your device. No account, analytics, or document uploads.
03 / Workflow
From document to reading in three steps.
- 01
Drop it in
Import a PDF, EPUB, TXT, Markdown file, or paste text directly into Strobe.
- 02
Set the rhythm
Choose your reading speed, font, text size, and Smart Timing preferences.
- 03
Lock on
Hold to read or use hands-free playback. Strobe saves your reading progress on-device.
- EPUB
- TXT
- Markdown
- Pasted text
04 / Use cases
Books, papers, and articles.
Import a document or paste text to add it to your reading library.
Research papers
Read papers section by section, and search the full passage to revisit a definition or result.
Course reading
Import assigned chapters and PDFs, adjust the pace, and return to your saved position.
Long-form backlog
Import essays, reports, and manuscripts, or paste an article into your library.
05 / Private by default
Your library stays on your device.
Strobe processes imported documents and stores your progress on your device. There are no accounts, analytics SDKs, document uploads, ads, or tracking profiles.
- On-device processing
- No account
- No analytics
06 / Guides
Understand the mechanics of RSVP reading.
RSVP, ORP, and document-reading techniques explained in plain language.
01 RSVP reading · 2 min
How RSVP reading works
How one-word presentation works, how to set the pace, and how to use passage view.
02 PDF reading · 1 minRead PDFs faster without losing the thread
A repeatable process for research papers, reports, and long documents.
03 Word alignment · 1 minHow the Optimal Recognition Point works
How Strobe chooses a highlighted letter and aligns words around it.
Source available on GitHubRead the code.
Read the code.
Change the code.
Strobe’s source is public. Inspect how documents are handled, report an issue, request a feature, or build on the project.
View source on GitHub07 / FAQ
Files, privacy, pace, and access.
01What is an RSVP reader?
An RSVP reader displays text one word or phrase at a time at a fixed position, with an adjustable presentation speed.
02Is Strobe free?
Yes. Strobe is free to download, with no subscription, in-app purchases, or ads, and its source code is public. No account is required.
03Does Strobe teach speed reading?
Strobe is a reader rather than a training course, so it has no drills or tests. You import your own PDFs, EPUBs, and articles and read them with RSVP at the pace you choose.
04Does Strobe upload or collect my documents?
No. Document processing, reading progress, and settings stay on your device. Apple’s App Store privacy label lists Strobe as collecting no data.
05Which files can Strobe read?
Strobe supports PDF, EPUB, TXT, Markdown, and pasted text. DRM-protected EPUB files and password-protected PDFs cannot be imported.
06Which devices does Strobe support?
Strobe runs natively on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. It requires iOS or iPadOS 17 or later, or macOS 14 or later.
07How fast can I read in Strobe?
The reading speed is adjustable from 100 to 1,000 words per minute. You can change WPM before reading or drag vertically while reading to tune it live.
08What is ORP highlighting?
ORP means Optimal Recognition Point. Strobe highlights one letter near the visual center of each word and aligns that point consistently, giving your eyes a stable place to focus as words change.
09Does Strobe support hands-free and accessible reading?
Yes. You can use hold-to-read or switch to tap-to-play. Strobe also supports VoiceOver, larger text, Reduced Motion, Dynamic Type, and keyboard controls on compatible devices.
Give your eyes one place to be.
Download StrobeiPhone · iPad · Mac · No ads · No account