LinguaRead vs LingQ.

The short answer

LingQ is a comprehensive language-learning platform with web, mobile, audio, video, podcasts, lessons, statistics, and a huge user library. LinguaRead is a single-purpose iPhone reader for books in their original language.

If you want one app that does everything around language learning, LingQ. If you just want to read books and not look at a dashboard, LinguaRead.

LingQ: the language-learning platform

LingQ is a web platform with apps. You import lessons (or use the catalog), read with audio, save unknown words as “LingQs”, then review them in flashcards. Steve Kaufmann, the founder, is a polyglot who speaks 20+ languages, and the philosophy is his: massive comprehensible input.

It's good for: serious learners who want statistics on their reading, audio + text learners, people who like the gamified “known words” counter, learners of less common languages (LingQ supports more languages than most apps).

It's less good for: anyone overwhelmed by the interface (it's a lot), people who don't want to be reminded of streaks or stats, anyone who wants to import any EPUB without conversion.

LinguaRead: the focused iPhone reader

LinguaRead does one thing. You import an EPUB, you read it, you tap when you don't know a word. The app gets out of the way once you're reading. Saved words sync across iPhone and iPad via iCloud.

It's good for: book readers, phone-first readers, intermediate learners who already have a base and want to read real novels, anyone who wants tap-to-translate without a dashboard.

It's less good for: anyone who wants audio (LinguaRead is text-only), people who want a content catalog of lessons (we have a small built-in store of free classics, but most content comes from your own EPUBs), Android users (iOS only).

Side by side

Scope. LingQ is a platform with reading, listening, vocab review, lessons. LinguaRead is a reader.

Content. LingQ has a catalog of imported lessons (some user-shared, some commercial) plus you can import. LinguaRead reads any EPUB - your own files, free classics from the built-in store.

Word lookup. LingQ shows community-translated definitions and your saved meanings. LinguaRead gives you the meaning in this exact sentence, plus the form/grammar if you ask.

Reading experience. LingQ's reader is functional but cluttered (statistics, hint counts, etc.). LinguaRead is a clean reader - book first, everything else second.

Audio. LingQ has audio for most lessons. LinguaRead doesn't.

Languages. LingQ supports more than LinguaRead. LinguaRead supports 14 with explanations carefully tuned for each.

Pricing. LingQ Premium is around $13/month. LinguaRead Plus is from $5.99/month or $49.99/year.

Which one should you pick

Want the full platform - audio, lessons, stats, multiple-source content - and don't mind paying more? LingQ.

Want to just read books on your phone with the meaning a tap away, no dashboard, no gamification? LinguaRead. Free to start; try a Spanish or French book and see how it feels.