Readlang

Readlang is a reading tool for language learners working with native content. Readers can select words or phrases in text and webpages to view translations, then use contextual AI explanations to understand them. Translated items can become flashcards using spaced repetition, with useful words prioritized. Reading material can come from articles, books, pasted text, uploaded files, or webpages imported through an extension or bookmarklets. Its video player supports full transcriptions, including transcripts users upload and sync to YouTube videos. The Web Reader has a popup dictionary, and the online eReader has a sidebar dictionary; collected words and phrases can also be exported to Anki. Readlang says it has no native mobile apps, though the web app can be added to an iPhone, iPad, or Android home screen. The free plan has unlimited single-word translations, but allows 10 phrase translations and 10 context explanations per day. Premium costs $6 per month or $48 per year, while Premium Plus costs $15 per month or $120 per year.

Readlang offers several ways to bring reading and video material into language practice, with translations, explanations, flashcards, and Anki export. The free tier limits daily phrase translations and explanations, and mobile use is through the web app rather than native apps.

Readlang suits language learners who want to read articles, books, webpages, or other native material with translation support. It can also suit learners who use flashcards, video transcripts, or Anki for practice.

Readlang is a reading-centered language-learning tool for people who want to study with real-world text and video. It is best suited to learners who bring their own material and want to turn unfamiliar words into review cards. The main trade-off is clear: Free supports light reading, while frequent use of phrase translations and explanations calls for a subscription.

Overview

Readlang turns words and phrases encountered while reading into translation and vocabulary practice. You can work with articles and books, paste text, upload files, or bring webpages into the reader with an extension or bookmarklet. That flexibility is useful if you already have material you want to read; it is less suited to learners who want a fixed course or offline lessons.

The reading workflow extends to video through a player with full transcriptions, including transcripts users upload and sync to YouTube videos. Translated terms can be saved for spaced-repetition flashcards, with useful words prioritized, and exported to Anki. Those features make Readlang more than a popup dictionary, though its focus remains on reading and review rather than a broad curriculum.

Key features

Clicking words or phrases in text and webpages brings up translations. Readlang also offers AI-based explanations that use context, which can help clarify meaning beyond a direct translation. Free users get unlimited single-word translations, but only 10 phrase translations and 10 context explanations per day; phrase translations are limited to six words. Those caps are manageable for occasional study, but can interrupt a regular reading session. Both paid plans remove the daily translation and explanation limits and allow phrases of up to 12 words.

Flashcards use spaced repetition to revisit collected vocabulary, while the Anki export gives learners who already use that system a way to continue reviewing there. Reading options include articles and books, pasted text, uploaded files, and imported webpages. The video player supports full transcriptions, and users can upload and sync transcriptions to YouTube videos. A popup dictionary is available in the Web Reader, with a sidebar dictionary in the online eReader.

Readlang says it does not sell personal data and uses strictly necessary cookies, without advertising cookies or third-party advertising trackers. Its privacy policy says passwords are stored hashed and personal-data access is restricted, while acknowledging that absolute security cannot be guaranteed. It names service providers including Linode (Akamai), Stripe, Google, OpenAI, Microsoft Azure, AWS, and Rollbar for hosting, billing, language features, email, and monitoring. Support is available by contact or through the feedback forum.

Pricing

Free — free. Includes unlimited single-word translations, 10 phrase translations per day with a six-word maximum, 10 context explanations per day, no streak repairs, and no audio storage. It suits occasional reading and learners testing whether this workflow fits them, but the daily limits make it a poor match for sustained study with frequent lookups.

Premium — $6 a month. Billed $6 / month or $48 / year. It includes unlimited word and phrase translations, a 12-word phrase limit, unlimited context explanations, 10 hours of audio storage, and two streak repairs per month. This is the practical upgrade for regular readers who need more lookups and explanations; choosing annual billing lowers the stated monthly equivalent but commits payment for the year.

Premium Plus — $15 a month. Billed $15 / month or $120 /year. It includes the same translation and explanation limits as Premium, but increases audio storage to 200 hours and adds high quality voices for whole texts and an advanced AI model. It fits learners who need those added audio and voice capabilities; for readers mainly seeking unlimited lookups, Premium already provides them.

Subscriptions renew monthly or yearly until canceled. Readlang says it does not store full card details. No offline lessons are offered, and mobile access is through the web app rather than native apps.

Platforms

Readlang lists Android, iOS, web, and extension support. Despite those platform labels, it says it has no native mobile apps: the web app can be added to an iPhone, iPad, or Android home screen. That can work for mobile reading, but users who specifically want a native app should look elsewhere. There are no offline lessons.

Who it's for

Readlang is a good fit for independent learners who want to read native material, collect vocabulary as they go, and review it with flashcards or Anki. Its import options and video transcription tools also suit people who have articles, books, webpages, or YouTube material they want to use. It is less appropriate for learners who need a structured course, offline lessons, or a native mobile app, and the Free plan is restrictive for anyone who relies on frequent phrase help.

Pros and cons

• Flexible reading inputs: Articles, books, pasted text, uploaded files, and imported webpages let learners work with material they choose.
• Translation tied to review: Click-to-translate, contextual explanations, spaced-repetition flashcards, and Anki export connect reading with vocabulary practice.
• Useful video support: Full transcriptions and the ability to sync uploaded transcripts to YouTube videos extend study beyond text.
• Free caps constrain frequent use: Ten daily phrase translations and explanations, plus a six-word phrase limit, can be limiting during intensive reading.
• No native app or offline lessons: Mobile use relies on the web app, and study requires access to online lessons.
• Premium Plus is specialized: Its extra value centers on much greater audio storage, high quality voices, and an advanced AI model rather than additional translation allowances.

Alternatives

LingQ is another freemium option across Android, iOS, web, and extensions. Its Free plan caps saved words and phrases at 20, imported lessons at five, and audio playlists at one; choose it when those stated allowances better match your intended use. Its listed Premium price is $215.76.

E-clair is a freemium iOS and Android option for learners who want collections and transcription of their own audio, with a monthly transcription limit and more generous handling of podcast episodes.

OpenKoto is a free, open-source option under the Apache 2.0 license, available on iOS, Linux, macOS, web, and Windows.

Beelinguapp is a freemium iOS and Android alternative with access to unlocked stories and news plus vocabulary practice through its Glossary and Flashcards on the Free plan.

SpeakAccent is a free iOS alternative whose Free plan includes one learning language, a native-language podcast player, and limited translations and study.

News in Slow French offers a free trial and a $$6.90/mo Audio Only plan with audio and Rooms but no transcripts, lessons, or quizzes; choose it if that audio-focused format fits better.

News in Slow Spanish also offers a free trial; its $$6.90/mo Single edition — Audio Only plan covers Spain or Latino edition audio and Rooms, without transcripts or lessons.

Language Reactor is a freemium alternative available on web, iOS, macOS, Windows, and through an extension.

For more options, browse Language Immersion Apps or Language learning apps.

Verdict

Choose Readlang if you want to build vocabulary by reading material you select, with translations, contextual explanations, flashcards, video transcription, and Anki export in one reading-centered workflow. Its strongest case is that connection between real-world content and ongoing review; look elsewhere if you need offline lessons, a native mobile app, or a structured course. For regular use, budget for Premium to avoid the Free plan’s daily lookup caps.