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How SimplRead works

From a messy web page to a calm stack of slides — here is what happens under the hood, and how to get the most from it.

1. You bring something to read

Start with a URL, pasted text, a YouTube link with captions, or a page open in Chrome. On the web and in the apps you paste into simplread.com/app. With the Chrome extension, click the icon on an article and scan the whole page or just your selection. On phone, share a link into the Android or iOS app.

SimplRead tries to strip navigation, sidebars, and chrome so the model sees the article body — not the cookie banner. That extraction is imperfect on some sites; when a page is paywalled or heavily scripted, paste the text you can access instead.

2. We simplify into slides

The text is sent to an AI model that rewrites the important parts in shorter, plainer sentences and splits them into ordered slides. Each slide is a few sentences — enough to move the story forward, short enough that your eyes can rest between taps.

You can use SimplRead’s hosted tokens (a free monthly allowance, or purchased credits) or your own API key. Hosted free uses a lighter model; credit packs use a stronger one. BYOK uses whatever provider and model you configure in Settings.

3. You read one step at a time

The reader shows one slide, full-screen, with space around the text. Press Next, the space bar, or arrow keys when you are ready. Progress shows as “3 of 12” so you always know where you are. There is no infinite scroll and no competing sidebar.

Finished articles land in your history. You can reopen them anytime without spending another credit — re-reads are free. Star favourites and filter by topic when your list grows.

Accessibility features

SimplRead is built around fonts and spacing that many dyslexic and ADHD readers find easier: Atkinson Hyperlegible for interface text, Literata for headings, generous line height, and a warm paper background instead of harsh white glare. Optional settings include:

• Dyslexia-friendly reader mode — adjusted spacing and contrast tuned for longer sessions.
• Bionic-style text — light emphasis on the start of words to help the eye track.
• Word highlighting — follow along one word at a time when that helps focus.
• Dark theme — reduce glare in low light without losing contrast.

These are reading aids, not medical treatments. Try what helps you; leave the rest off.

Privacy when you bring your own key

With BYOK, your API key is encrypted at rest on our server and used only to call your chosen provider when you simplify something. Article content goes to that provider under their terms — the same as if you used their API yourself. We do not sell your reading history. See the Privacy Policy for cookies, ads, and retention.

Practical reading tips

• Prefer the original article when you need quotes, legal wording, or exact figures — SimplRead is a plain-language guide, not a transcript.
• Scan a selection in Chrome when the page is huge; you only need the section you care about.
• Use slides for the first pass, then open the source link if you want depth on one point.
• Take a short break every few slides if focus fades — the format makes that easy without “losing your place.”

What happens to your content

When you simplify a URL or paste, the extracted text is sent to the model path you chose (hosted or BYOK). We store the resulting slides and metadata (title, source URL when available) in your account history so you can reopen them. You can delete history items and your account from Settings. We do not sell reading history. Full detail lives in the Privacy Policy.

Limits worth knowing

• Paywalled, login-gated, or heavily scripted pages may not extract cleanly — paste the text you can access instead.
• Tables, poems, code, and legal clauses often need the original layout; use slides as orientation, not as the final artifact.
• Models can miss nuance. If a claim matters for work, school, or health decisions, verify it against the source or a qualified professional.
• Simplifying needs a network connection. Saved slides can be reopened later from history when you are back online.

Go deeper

For independent reading habits (not only product steps), see the Resources hub and guides such as reader mode vs slides, cognitive load on web pages, and plain language and comprehension.