4.0 / 5

Focus Reader

Highlights current line and removes distractions for ADHD and dyslexia

Useful

The Problem

Standard web typography is hostile to ADHD and dyslexic readers; constant distraction and lost place

Current Solutions (Not Great)

Browser reader mode (limited), specialized fonts (don't solve focus), medication (doesn't fix typography)

Who Needs This

People with ADHD, dyslexia, other reading difficulties, anyone who struggles with focus

Reading online with ADHD or dyslexia is a battle against distractions, lost place markers, and overwhelming walls of text. Focus Reader transforms any webpage into a focused reading experience: one highlighted line at a time, distracting elements removed, customizable fonts and spacing. It tracks where you are so you never lose your place. The line highlight moves as you read (manually or auto-scroll), and you can adjust everything—colors, font, spacing, pace—to match how your brain works best.

Honest Take

Browser reader modes already exist but they're super basic, and tools like BeeLine Reader charge for the good features. This is actually pretty straightforward to build—mostly CSS and DOM manipulation—and ADHD/dyslexia tools are an underserved niche where people are willing to pay for stuff that actually works. The challenge is getting the UX right so it helps without being another thing to configure.

Monetization Ideas

Ways to turn this into revenue

Freemium

Free basic, $5-15/mo for pro

One-Time Purchase

$9-49 per license

Donations / Tip Jar

$5-50/month from grateful users

Features

Key features that make this app valuable

Line-by-line highlighting
Distraction removal (ads, sidebars, comments)
Dyslexia-friendly fonts (OpenDyslexic, etc.)
Customizable spacing and sizing
Color overlays (for scotopic sensitivity)
Auto-scroll at adjustable pace
Place tracking across sessions
Text-to-speech integration
Focus timer integration

Build Prompt

Use this prompt with an AI assistant to start building

Build a Chrome extension called 'Focus Reader' using CSS injection and content scripts. Manifest V3 with activeTab, storage permissions. On activation: 1) Extract main content (readability-style), 2) Remove distractions (hide ads, sidebars, comments via CSS), 3) Apply reading mode styles. Line highlight: wrap each sentence/line in span, highlight current line (configurable color), dim others (opacity). Navigation: arrow keys or auto-scroll move highlight. Settings panel: font family (system, OpenDyslexic, Lexie Readable, custom), font size (14-32px), line height (1.5-3), letter spacing, word spacing, background color, text color, highlight color, overlay color (for color sensitivity), auto-scroll speed. Use generateObject to analyze text and return { sentences: string[], suggestedBreaks: number[], estimatedReadTime: number }. Position saving: store URL + sentence index in chrome.storage.local, restore on revisit. Read-aloud button: speechSynthesis synced with highlight position. Focus mode: full-screen reading with timer ('25 min focus session'). Stats: track reading time, pages completed.

Score Breakdown

Pain