LinguaRead vs Readlang.

The short answer

Readlang is a web tool with a generous free tier and a long history. It works in your browser on any text. LinguaRead is a focused iOS app for reading books, with on-device EPUB support and explanations tuned for each language.

If you read on a laptop and want to use any web page, Readlang fits. If you want a real reading experience on your phone, with books you actually want to finish, LinguaRead fits better.

Readlang: web reader for any text

Readlang is a browser extension and web app. You can paste text, open a URL, or import an EPUB into the web reader. Click any word - you get a quick definition. Save it; it goes into spaced repetition.

It's good for: laptop readers, people who want to read articles and web pages (not just books), people who want a free option (Readlang has a generous free tier).

It's less good for: phone-first readers, anyone who wants in-context grammar (Readlang's lookups are mostly dictionary-style), reading offline.

LinguaRead: native iOS reader

LinguaRead is built for the iPhone. EPUBs are imported and read offline. Tap-to-translate gives you the meaning in this exact sentence - not a generic dictionary entry. Tap again for grammar, form, sense. Saved words sync via iCloud across iPhone and iPad.

It's good for: phone readers, novel readers, people who want explanations to consider context (especially useful for languages with rich morphology - Russian, German, Polish, Turkish, Japanese, Korean).

It's less good for: people who read mostly on a desktop, people who read web articles instead of books, anyone who wants Linux/Android support (iOS only for now).

Side by side

Platform. Readlang is a web app and browser extension. LinguaRead is a native iOS app.

What you read. Readlang works on any web page or text you paste. LinguaRead reads EPUBs only - drop in your file, the built-in store has free classics.

Word lookups. Readlang gives you a translation. LinguaRead gives you the meaning in this sentence, plus the grammatical context if you ask.

Saved words. Both have spaced repetition. Readlang's review is more flashcard-shaped; LinguaRead's is integrated with reading.

Offline. Readlang needs the network. LinguaRead reads offline (lookups online, but reading and previously-saved words work without).

Pricing. Readlang has a free tier with daily limits and Premium around $5/month. LinguaRead is free to start, Plus from $5.99/month or $49.99/year.

Which one should you pick

Read on desktop with a wide range of web sources? Readlang.

Read books on your phone, want a real reading experience, want explanations that go past dictionary entries? LinguaRead. Try it free first - drop in a book and see how it feels.