Comparison

LingQ | Learn Languages vs ForeignLanguage Graded Readers

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

LingQ | Learn Languages

Learn languages naturally by reading and listening to real content. Expand your vocabulary and improve comprehension with interactive tools and AI-powered features. Supports over 50 languages and offers a global community for support.

Highlights
  • Massive content library
  • Import your own content
  • Interactive reader with word definitions
  • AI-powered learning tools
  • Progress tracking
  • Offline learning
  • Community support and tutoring
Features
Read full description

Experience Language Learning with LingQ — the natural and effective way to learn a new language. LingQ is a language learning app that lets you grow your vocabulary and improve comprehension through meaningful exposure to the language with real content. Follow your interests and enjoy an immersive learning experience in over 50 languages. Learn Spanish, English, Japanese, Korean, Italian, German, Portuguese, French, Chinese, Arabic, and other languages. Trusted by Learners Worldwide: ◆4.7 star rating from over 45000 reviews. ◆Featured in CBC, Men’s Health, La Vanguardia, El País. Designed for Real Language Learning LingQ uses an input-based approach: you learn languages by reading and listening to real, interesting content at your level. ◆ Massive Content Library: Thousands of lessons from podcasts, books, interviews, videos, articles, and more — all with matching text for easy listening and reading. ◆ Follow Topics You Enjoy: Choose content you love and progress naturally through immersion, not drills. ◆ Import Your Favorite Content: Turn Netflix, YouTube, podcasts, books, and articles into personalized lessons. ◆ Powerful Reader: An effective, optimized reader that tracks every word you encounter to boost your vocabulary. ◆ Interactive Learning: Listen, read along, tap words for instant definitions, and learn naturally as you go. ◆ Advanced Progress Tracking: Monitor your listening, reading, study time, and vocabulary growth. ◆ Learn Anytime, Anywhere: Study offline and sync your progress automatically. Learn whenever you want. AI Language Learning Tools • AI Audio Transcription: Turn podcasts and audiobooks into interactive lessons. • AI Voices: Make your lessons, reviews and chats more immersive with natural sounding text-to-speech voices. • Advanced Chatbot: Get detailed tutor responses and real-time web search with our advanced Lynx AI Chatbot. • AI-Simplified Lesson: Take advantage of more interesting content earlier on in your learning journey by generating simplified versions of lessons. Read and Listen with Interactive Tools • SRS vocabulary review for long-term retention; • Mini Stories that build a strong foundation at any level; • Grammar guides with clear, accessible explanations; • Audio playlists for hands-free listening; • Karaoke Mode to follow the text while listening; A Global Community to Support You • Writing Exchange for real corrections from native speakers; • Tutoring sessions tailored to your goals; • Community forum for questions, guidance, and motivation; • Challenges that help you stay consistent and build strong habits; Built by Language Learners LingQ was co-founded by Steve Kaufmann, a polyglot who learned more than 20 languages using this same natural approach. Learn Multiple Languages LingQ supports more than 50 languages, including Spanish, English, Japanese, Korean, Italian, German, Portuguese, French, Chinese, Arabic and more. Get LingQ Premium and Accelerate Your Learning • Unlimited vocabulary lookup and SRS review; • Comprehensive word tracking to boost your progress; • Unlimited content imports; • Access to AI features; Start learning from real content. Download LingQ and begin today. Feedback? Let us know. Send suggestions and feedback to iosapp@lingq.com. Terms of Service - https://www.lingq.com/terms/

About

ForeignLanguage Graded Readers

Learn languages through engaging short stories tailored to your proficiency level. Expand vocabulary and improve comprehension in French, Italian, German, Spanish, Russian, or English with controlled language and authentic dialogues. Designed for enjoyable self-study or classroom use.

Highlights
  • Eight short stories per collection
  • Controlled language at your level
  • Authentic spoken dialogues
  • Vocabulary lists
  • Chapter summaries and comprehension questions
  • Variety of genres
Features
Read full description

Read for pleasure at your level and learn a foreign language the fun way! Teach Yourself Short Stories by Olly Richards is a series of easy graded readers for adult and young adult language learners. Featuring eight unmissable short stories for beginners, high-beginners and intermediate learners, the series is available in French, Italian, German, Spanish, Russian and English. “Olly's top-notch language-learning insights are right in line with the best of what we know from neuroscience and cognitive psychology about how to learn effectively. I love his work - and you will too!” - Barbara Oakley, PhD, Author of New York Times bestseller A Mind for Numbers Expand your vocabulary and improve your comprehension in an enjoyable and natural way: Read in French, Italian, German, Spanish, Russian or English and improve your language learning skills! The Short Stories collection is designed to give you a sense of achievement, a feeling of progress and most importantly - enjoyment! Each foreign language reader gives you: • Eight stories in a variety of exciting genres, from science fiction and crime to history and thriller - making learning fun, while you acquire a wide range of new vocabulary • Controlled language at your level, including the 1000 most frequent words, to help you progress confidently • Authentic spoken dialogues, to help you learn conversational expressions and improve your speaking ability • Accessible grammar so you learn new structures naturally, in a stress-free way • Vocabulary lists so you can quickly look up unfamiliar words without interrupting your flow. • Chapter summaries and comprehension questions to help you follow the plot and understand the story. • Enjoyment! It's much easier to learn a new language when you're having fun, and research shows that if you're enjoying reading or listening in a foreign language, you won't experience the usual feelings of frustration – “It's too hard!” “I don't understand!” The Beginners collection is for students from high-beginner to low-intermediate level (A2-B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference). Intermediate is for low-intermediate to intermediate learners (B1-B2)! You can also purchase a sample to read a story before you buy the full collection. Discover the joy of being entertained in a foreign language, while learning new skills at the same time – Short Stories for Beginners in French, Italian, German, Spanish, Russian or English! These stories are Ideal for self-study, as well as in the classroom as supplementary learning material. If you are interested in using this content with your students, contact learningsolutions@teachyourself.com What the experts say: “As researchers in language acquisition, we need to study people like [Olly Richards]”. -Stephen Krashen, Emeritus Professor, University of Southern California “Olly's advice on language learning is the real deal, and I recommend you pay attention to what he has to say!” - Benny Lewis, Fluent in 3 Months “When we wanted to create a free online course on how to learn a language we asked Olly to write it with us”. - Dr Tita Beaven, The Open University “Learning a language is challenging, but it's one of the best things you can do for your brain and your learning skill set... Olly Richards is doing some seriously incredible work to empower more and more people to rise to the challenge”. - Jonathan Levi “Olly bridges the gap between theory and practice by helping you to use scientific principles to get real results with your language learning”. - Anthony Metivier, Magnetic Memory Method

Screenshots

LingQ | Learn Languages4 screens
ForeignLanguage Graded Readers4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: LingQ | Learn Languages at 80% against ForeignLanguage Graded Readers's 35%. LingQ | Learn Languages also leads on rating (4.7 vs 3.3) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 6 months). ForeignLanguage Graded Readers's advantage is iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. LingQ | Learn Languages sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month and ForeignLanguage Graded Readers sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

LingQ | Learn Languages holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: LingQ | Learn Languages has 10K ratings behind it against 27, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of LingQ | Learn Languages's written reviews are positive against 35% of ForeignLanguage Graded Readers's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

LingQ | Learn Languages ships an update every 5 days, ForeignLanguage Graded Readers every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
LingQ | Learn Languages versus ForeignLanguage Graded Readers: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLingQ | Learn LanguagesForeignLanguage Graded Readers
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (10K ratings) — better3.3 (27 ratings)
Positive reviews80.4% of reviews — better35.3% of reviews
Number of ratings10K — better27
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterEvery 6 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#122 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size345 MB94 MB
Age rating12++4
DeveloperLingQ Languages LtdHachette UK (Holdings)Limited

Customer experience

LingQ | Learn Languages

All ratings10,219 ratings
Positive94.2%
Neutral2.3%
Negative3.4%
Written reviews1,182 reviews
Positive80.4%
Neutral6.0%
Negative13.6%

ForeignLanguage Graded Readers

All ratings27 ratings
Positive51.9%
Neutral11.1%
Negative37.0%
Written reviews17 reviews
Positive35.3%
Neutral17.6%
Negative47.1%

Bugs and requests

LingQ | Learn Languages

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App crashes and freezes
  • Sync issues between app and web version
  • Incorrect translations and definitions
  • Unreliable streak tracking and progress reporting

Requested features

5 requests
  • Improved user interface and navigation
  • Better sync and performance across devices
  • More content and language options
  • Enhanced vocabulary management and review tools
  • Affordable subscription plans

ForeignLanguage Graded Readers

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

12 purchases

LingQ | Learn Languages

Subscriptions12
  • LingQ Premium (Monthly)7 Days trial$14.991 Month
  • LingQ Premium (Monthly)$14.991 Month
  • Premium Plus Monthly$29.991 Month
Show 9 more
  • LingQ Premium (6 Months)7 Days trial$80.996 Months
  • LingQ Premium (6 Months)$80.996 Months
  • LingQ Premium$89.991 Year
  • LingQ Premium$99.991 Year
  • LingQ Premium$101.991 Year
  • LingQ Premium2 variants$109.991 Year
  • LingQ Premium (12 Months)7 Days trial$119.991 Year
  • LingQ Premium (12 Months)$119.991 Year
  • Premium Plus Yearly7 Days trial$269.991 Year
5 purchases

ForeignLanguage Graded Readers

One-time5
  • Pack of 2 Credits$1.99
  • Pack of 11 Credits$10.99
  • Pack of 13 Credits$12.99
Show 2 more
  • Pack of 15 Credits$14.99
  • Pack of 65 Credits$64.99

Questions

Is LingQ | Learn Languages free?
LingQ | Learn Languages is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ForeignLanguage Graded Readers free?
ForeignLanguage Graded Readers is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, LingQ | Learn Languages or ForeignLanguage Graded Readers?
LingQ | Learn Languages is rated higher. LingQ | Learn Languages averages 4.7 out of 5 from 10K ratings, while ForeignLanguage Graded Readers averages 3.3 from 27 ratings.
Do LingQ | Learn Languages or ForeignLanguage Graded Readers have ads?
Neither LingQ | Learn Languages nor ForeignLanguage Graded Readers shows ads.
Which is updated more often, LingQ | Learn Languages or ForeignLanguage Graded Readers?
LingQ | Learn Languages ships an update every 5 days, and ForeignLanguage Graded Readers every 6 months. Most recently, LingQ | Learn Languages was updated on September 26, 2026 and ForeignLanguage Graded Readers on September 23, 2026.

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