Comparison

Archive Learning vs StarryWords

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

Head to head
About

Archive Learning

Learn new vocabulary from fanfiction without leaving the page. Save words with context, review them with spaced repetition, and track your learning by fandom. Works offline and syncs nothing to the cloud.

Highlights
  • In-page translation
  • Contextual word saving
  • Spaced repetition review
  • Offline dictionary
  • Fandom-based library
  • Learned word highlighting
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

This app is not affiliated with Archive of Our Own (AO3) or the Organization for Transformative Works. You're three chapters deep into a fic you can't put down, and the author drops a word you've never seen. You don't want to leave the page. Double-tap, get the translation and the sentence it came from, save it with a swipe, keep reading. What stays in your vocab is not a bare word — it's a scene. Open the card a week later and you'll remember which fic it was, who said it, and to whom. Cards come back for review when your brain is about to forget them. Not sooner, not later. No deadline calendar to chase. Works offline too. On a plane or somewhere with no Wi-Fi, your words still get translated — the dictionary is built into the app. Tap "running" and you save "run". Tap "ran" and it's the same word. No pile of duplicate cards for one verb. Saved words are underlined in the text. Green for the ones you've learned, red for the ones you're still studying. Library sorted by author and fandom — see exactly which fandom you've fallen into this month. Favourite lines save separately, to come back to. Interface in English, Russian, Spanish, Ukrainian. Translation between 13 languages — beyond the usual set you also get Estonian, Serbian, Hebrew, Arabic. No cloud. No account. No subscription. Everything you save lives on your device.

About

StarryWords

Create custom vocabulary decks with AI assistance for any language. Study through flashcards, writing, matching games, or AI conversations. Track progress and use home screen widgets for daily learning.

Highlights
  • AI-generated vocabulary decks
  • Multiple study modes (flashcards, writing, games, conversation)
  • Home screen widgets for daily words
  • Smart review schedule
  • Progress tracking and stats
  • AI grammar explanations
  • Support for numerous languages
Features
Read full description

Learning a new language can be easier than you think. With StarryWords, you can create your own vocabulary decks in just a few seconds. Tell the app what you want to learn, choose a topic and level, and let AI create the words for you — with translations and examples. And when you find a word you want to remember, you can add it to your Home Screen as a widget. So every time you look at your phone, there's one more little word waiting for you. A few seconds here and there can slowly become real progress. Learn a word. See it again. Remember it. This is StarryWords! AI THAT DOES THE HEAVY LIFTING • Ask AI — describe what you want to learn and get flashcards complete with translation, an example sentence, and a memory association • Add Using Text — paste any text and StarryWords pulls out the vocabulary worth learning • Stuck on a grammar rule? Just ask — your AI Assistant explains it in plain language FOUR WAYS TO STUDY • Flip Cards — the classic way to review • Writing — type the answer yourself so it actually sticks • Associations — a quick matching game • AI Conversation — have a real dialogue with an AI partner using your new words, then get feedback on how you did LOTS OF LANGUAGES, ONE APP Study English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, Turkish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic — or type in any language of your own. STAY ON TRACK • A smart review schedule brings words back right when you're about to forget them • See your progress at a glance with per-deck stats and streaks • A Home Screen widget so a new word finds you — not the other way around MEET STARRY Your mascot is there through every session, celebrating streaks and making studying feel a lot less like a chore. Start with one deck, five minutes a day. StarryWords will meet you there. Terms of Use: https://romantic-apple-5a2.notion.site/Terms-of-Use-and-Privacy-Policy-for-StarWords-3bb59951f7f0802bba04daeacb250452? Privacy Policy: https://romantic-apple-5a2.notion.site/Terms-of-Use-and-Privacy-Policy-for-StarWords-3bb59951f7f0802bba04daeacb250452?

Screenshots

Archive Learning4 screens
StarryWords4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Archive Learning at none against StarryWords's 5. Archive Learning also leads on chart position (#141 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17). StarryWords's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs fortnightly). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support 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. StarryWords sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Archive Learning asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Archive Learning ships an update fortnightly, StarryWords every 2 days. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Archive Learning versus StarryWords: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterArchive LearningStarryWords
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (91 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews95.5% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings91 — better—
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
Best chart rank#141 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17
Further details — not scored
Size55 MB132 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperEkaterina KrasnerNikita Pishchugin

Customer experience

Archive Learning

All ratings91 ratings
Positive95.6%
Neutral0.0%
Negative4.4%
Written reviews88 reviews
Positive95.5%
Neutral1.1%
Negative3.4%

StarryWords

Written reviews4 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Archive Learning

No in-app purchases

5 purchases

StarryWords

Subscriptions5
  • Pro (lower monthly limits)$3.991 Month
  • Pro (weekly)$4.997 Days
  • Pro (monthly)$9.991 Month
Show 2 more
  • Pro (lower monthly limits)$29.991 Year
  • Pro (annual)$39.991 Year

Questions

Is Archive Learning free?
Archive Learning is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is StarryWords free?
StarryWords is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Archive Learning or StarryWords have ads?
Neither Archive Learning nor StarryWords shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Archive Learning or StarryWords?
Archive Learning ships an update fortnightly, and StarryWords every 2 days. Most recently, Archive Learning was updated on October 31, 2026 and StarryWords on October 31, 2026.

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