Comparison

LingQ | Learn Languages vs PolyPod

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

PolyPod

Learn languages by listening to podcasts with this app. It tracks your listening time, helps you build habits, and visualizes your progress. Features include adjustable playback speed, episode transcription, and achievement earning.

Highlights
  • Automatic listening time tracking
  • Daily listening goals
  • Progress visualization (streaks, hours)
  • Podcast tagging and organization
  • Adjustable playback speed
  • On-device episode transcription
  • Achievement system for habit building
Read full description

Build your language-learning habit with podcasts you enjoy. PolyPod combines a podcast player with automatic listening-time tracking. Find something you want to hear, press play, and see your listening hours add up. SEE YOUR CONSISTENCY GROW - Set a daily goal and follow your listening time, streaks, and progress. MAKE LISTENING WORK FOR YOU - Adjust playback speed, bookmark moments to revisit, and generate on-device transcripts to read alongside the audio. FIND YOUR NEXT LISTEN - Discover podcasts in your target language and keep your favourites together. - Practising with comprehensible input? Keep your podcast listening and your input tracking in one place. Terms of Service: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://polypod.app/privacy-policy/

Screenshots

LingQ | Learn Languages4 screens
PolyPod4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ratings volume: LingQ | Learn Languages at 10K against PolyPod's 5. LingQ | Learn Languages also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 4 weeks) and chart position (#161 vs unranked). PolyPod's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 80%). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases 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 PolyPod sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for LingQ | Learn Languages against 4.8 for PolyPod. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: LingQ | Learn Languages has 10K ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 80% of LingQ | Learn Languages's written reviews are positive against 100% of PolyPod's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

LingQ | Learn Languages ships an update every 5 days, PolyPod every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
LingQ | Learn Languages versus PolyPod: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLingQ | Learn LanguagesPolyPod
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (10K ratings)4.8 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews80.3% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings10K — better5
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterEvery 4 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#161 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size356 MB130 MB
Age rating12+17+
DeveloperLingQ Languages Ltdscott saunders

Customer experience

LingQ | Learn Languages

All ratings10,306 ratings
Positive94.3%
Neutral2.3%
Negative3.5%
Written reviews1,200 reviews
Positive80.3%
Neutral6.1%
Negative13.6%

PolyPod

All ratings5 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

PolyPod

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
1 purchases

PolyPod

Subscriptions1
  • Pro$1.991 Month

Questions

Is LingQ | Learn Languages free?
LingQ | Learn Languages is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PolyPod free?
PolyPod is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, LingQ | Learn Languages or PolyPod?
PolyPod is rated higher. LingQ | Learn Languages averages 4.7 out of 5 from 10K ratings, while PolyPod averages 4.8 from 5 ratings.
Do LingQ | Learn Languages or PolyPod have ads?
Neither LingQ | Learn Languages nor PolyPod shows ads.
Which is updated more often, LingQ | Learn Languages or PolyPod?
LingQ | Learn Languages ships an update every 5 days, and PolyPod every 4 weeks. Most recently, LingQ | Learn Languages was updated on October 14, 2026 and PolyPod on September 30, 2026.

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