Strobe
Strobe is an RSVP reader for PDFs, EPUBs, and text, displaying one word at a time at a fixed point.
What Strobe is
Strobe is an RSVP reader for PDFs, EPUBs, and text, displaying one word at a time at a fixed point. You can set the pace from 100 to 1,000 words per minute, with Smart Timing changing word intervals according to length, punctuation, sentence endings, and complexity. Import PDF, EPUB, TXT, or Markdown files, or paste text. Search, chapter browsing, and resuming at the exact word you stopped on help with longer documents. Imported text works offline, while documents, progress, and settings stay on the device; there is no account, analytics, document upload, or cloud sync between devices. Strobe supports VoiceOver, larger text, Reduced Motion, Dynamic Type, and keyboard controls on compatible devices. It is available on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS for free, with no subscription or in-app purchases. DRM-protected EPUBs and password-protected PDFs are not supported, and PDFs need a text layer because the app does not run OCR. The maker describes it for researchers, students, and heavy readers. Its source code is public on GitHub.
Good
- Adjustable pace from 100 to 1,000 words per minute
- Imports PDF, EPUB, TXT, and Markdown
- Search, chapter browsing, and exact-word resume
- Offline reading with on-device documents and progress
- Free, with no subscription or in-app purchases
Watch out
- DRM-protected EPUBs cannot be imported
- Password-protected PDFs are unsupported
- PDFs need a text layer; no OCR
- No cloud sync between devices
Who it suits
Strobe suits researchers reading papers, students working through course materials, and heavy readers handling long documents. It is also a fit for readers who want offline access and on-device document storage.
Verdict
Strobe combines adjustable one-word pacing with document navigation and offline reading. Check its file restrictions first if you rely on protected ebooks or scanned PDFs.
Plans and prices
From Strobe's own pricing page, checked 7 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | No ads · No subscription · No in-app purchases · iPhone, iPad, Mac |
The facts
Each one read from Strobe's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Accessibility
- Strobe supports VoiceOver, larger text, Reduced Motion, Dynamic Type, and keyboard controls on compatible devices.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Developer
- The site says Strobe was developed by Jaafar Abdeen.checked 7 Oct 2026
- File limits
- DRM-protected EPUBs and password-protected PDFs cannot be imported; PDFs need a text layer because Strobe does not run OCR.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Intended readers
- The maker describes use for researchers reading papers, students reading course materials, and heavy readers handling long-form documents.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Navigation
- Readers can search passages, browse chapters, and resume from the exact word where they stopped.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Offline use
- Imported text can be read offline, and Strobe does not offer cloud sync between devices.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Open source
- Strobe’s source code is public on GitHub.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- Documents, reading progress, and settings stay on the device, and the app has no account, analytics, or document uploads.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Reading speed
- Reading speed is adjustable from 100 to 1,000 words per minute.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Support
- The maker lists [email protected] as its contact email.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Supported input
- It imports PDF, EPUB, TXT, and Markdown files and accepts pasted text.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Timing
- Smart Timing adjusts intervals for word length, punctuation, sentence endings, and word complexity.checked 7 Oct 2026
- What it does
- Strobe is an RSVP reader that presents words one at a time at a fixed point for reading PDFs, EPUBs, and text.checked 7 Oct 2026
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