SlowRead Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about SlowRead — the daily classic literature reading app.
What is SlowRead?
SlowRead is a mobile reading app that delivers one curated passage per day from public domain literary classics. It combines an AI-powered reading companion with bilingual reading, smart scheduling, and reading streaks to help you build a consistent habit of deep reading — not speed-reading, not summaries, just quiet time with great books.
Is SlowRead free?
Yes! SlowRead is completely free to download and use. The free plan includes the full public domain library, daily passages, reading streaks, a personalized schedule, daily reminders, a monthly reading report, an AI companion taste (5 cards/day), and a bilingual demo (first 3 pages per book). The Pro plan ($3.99/month) unlocks the unlimited AI companion, full bilingual reading, offline access, Streak Freeze, and the annual reading report.
What books are available?
SlowRead offers a curated library of public domain classics from around the world — from Pride and Prejudice and Meditations to Dream of the Red Chamber (紅樓夢) and Tao Te Ching (道德經). The library includes Western novels, Chinese classics, Japanese literature, and philosophy. Every book is hand-verified for copyright and carefully formatted.
How does the AI reading companion work?
The AI companion (Pro feature) solves the two biggest reasons people give up on classics: "I forgot what happened" and "I don't understand the context." After each passage, it provides plot recaps so you never lose track, character relationship maps that update as you read, and cultural context explainers for historical references. Free users can try 5 AI cards per day. It supports English, Chinese, Japanese, and French.
Does SlowRead support multiple languages?
Yes! SlowRead supports bilingual side-by-side reading, letting you read classics in their original language alongside a translation. You can toggle between side-by-side and original only. Free users can try bilingual mode for the first 3 pages of each book. All major world languages are supported. It's great for both literature lovers and language learners.
How long does it take to finish a book?
It depends on your chosen pace. For example, Dream of the Red Chamber (731,000 characters) takes about 262 days at 2,800 characters per day — roughly 7 minutes per reading session. SlowRead calculates a personalized reading schedule for every book.
What happens if I miss a day?
Nothing bad at all! There's no penalty for missing a day. Your reading schedule simply recalculates automatically. The book waits for you. Pro members can also use Streak Freeze (up to 2 times per month) to keep their streak alive on busy days. SlowRead is designed to encourage consistent reading through positive momentum, not pressure or guilt.
How are passages divided?
SlowRead uses AI to find natural pause points in stories — chapter breaks, scene transitions, or thematic shifts. Passages are never cut mid-sentence or at arbitrary word counts. Each daily passage is designed to feel like a complete, satisfying reading experience.
Is SlowRead available on Android?
SlowRead is currently available on iOS via the App Store. An Android version is planned for the future. You can visit slowread.xyz to stay updated on availability.
How is SlowRead different from book summary apps?
Unlike Blinkist or other summary apps that condense books into 15-minute overviews, SlowRead delivers the actual text — every word the author wrote — in manageable daily portions. You experience the author's original voice, style, and storytelling, not a paraphrased version.
Can I read more than one passage per day?
Yes, any time. "One passage a day" is SlowRead's recommended rhythm — slow enough to absorb a classic, consistent enough to actually finish a 700-passage book. But nothing stops you from reading further if you're in the flow. This is true for both free and Pro. Your schedule adjusts automatically to reflect your actual progress.
Does SlowRead have ads?
No. SlowRead has no ads and never will. No pop-ups, no banners, no sponsored content, no dark patterns. Public domain books remain free forever. We believe the reading experience should be sacred and distraction-free.