Comparison

NGSL Builder vs Lingwing

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

Head to head
About

NGSL Builder

This app aids English language learners in mastering essential vocabulary from the New General Service List (NGSL). It offers tools for downloading, organizing, and studying words through science-based methods like spaced repetition flashcards. Track your progress and improve your English fluency efficiently.

Highlights
  • NGSL vocabulary list access
  • Intelligent flashcard system
  • Spaced-repetition learning
  • Progress tracking and recording
  • Wordlist organization
  • Pronunciation guides
Features
Read full description

NGSL Builder: This application is designed to help learners and teachers make use of one of the most important lists of vocabulary words for second language learners of English, the New General Service List (NGSL). The NGSL is a free open source wordlist and is used with permission. The app contains simple tools to help you download, email and organize the NGSL, as well as science-based study tools to quickly and efficiently learn the words, keep detailed record of your progress and the ability to email your progress to yourself or a teacher. The original definitions are written in simple English and the app also give you pronunciation of each word by a professional voice talent who is a native speaker of English of North American English. About the NGSL: The New General Service List (usually referred to as the NGSL) was published by Dr. Charles Browne, Dr.Brent Culligan and Joseph Phillips in 2013 after several years of of detailed corpus work with the well-regarded 2 billion word Cambridge English Corpus (CEC) and input from world famous vocabulary specialists such as Paul Nation of University of Victoria in Wellington. The NGSL is a set of 2,800 words selected to be of the greatest "general service" to second language learners of English. Although there are over 600,000 words in the English language, these 2800 cover more than 90% of the words people meet in their daily lives. This list is a major update of the original 1953 GSL list (which only covers about 80%) and is being adopted by a growing number of publishers, companies and online tools for learning, teaching and analyzing text. A fuller discussion of the NGSL including published research can be found at our dedicated website (www.newgeneralservicelist.org). About Intelligent Flashcards: The app also contains an Intelligent Wordlist Maker and Intelligent Flashcard system. The Intelligent Wordlist Maker helps you to quickly and efficiently pick only the words you don’t know for study in the flashcard system. Rather than force you to go through the entire list at once, Intelligent Wordlist Maker guides you through the list by frequency bands, allowing you to add words little by little, just as you need them or when you have time. Based on the well documented science of “spaced-repetition”, the Intelligent Flashcard system systematically and efficiently helps you to review the words several times over a period of a month, giving you extra time with the words that are giving you difficulty.

About

Lingwing

This app offers a unique language learning experience designed to simulate immersion. It focuses on developing all essential language skills through interactive, personalized lessons and direct interaction with native speakers. Achieve fluency and confidence quickly with its innovative approach.

Highlights
  • Simulated immersion experience
  • Develop speaking, writing, listening, and spelling skills
  • Study in a chat-like interface
  • Personalized courses via algorithm
  • Gamification tools for engagement
  • Direct interaction with native speakers
Features
Read full description

Hey! We've been cooking this app for 7 straight years and we believe we can PROFOUNDLY CHANGE THE WAY LANGUAGES ARE TAUGHT. The best way to learn a foreign language is to immerse yourself in it by visiting the country, listening and talking to the native speakers. So we created the platform that gives the very same experience! OUR STORY 7 years ago, my father and I started learning a foreign language online but we soon realized there was something really wrong on the market. We learned several words and phrases but it was impossible to start speaking. Later on, we found a lot of people with the same problem and gave our entrepreneurial mindset, we set out a mission to create the platform that would truly give people a chance of learning a language. AFTER 7 YEARS of creating, testing and refining, HERE WE ARE! AVAILABLE LANGUAGES: · ENGLISH · SPANISH · FRENCH · ITALIAN · RUSSIAN with more than 5 intermediate languages. With Lingwing you will develop all necessary skills: · Speaking · Writing · Listening · Spelling and you’ll have time to improve your pronunciation. · Study in a chat-like interface · Native speakers will direct you · Every course is personalized by our algorithm · Our gamification tools will engage you · No need to memorize words or complex grammar, our algorithm lets you relax and focus on one task at a time. INSTANT RESULTS For us, the most important part is RESULTS. Just after a couple of days, you will realize you are already familiar with the chosen language and have the confidence to start speaking. TIME IS VITAL Imagine what you can do with our app within weeks! - Learn a new language from zero to a level when you will be able to read a newspaper, watch the news, understand your favourite music lyrics, listen and talk to native speakers. Our freemium model gives you the opportunity to do exercises every day for free! Isn’t that amazing? Isn’t that what you wanted? Try it now!

Screenshots

NGSL Builder4 screens
Lingwing4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: NGSL Builder at none against Lingwing's 6. NGSL Builder also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 72%) and rating (4.8 vs 4.5). Lingwing's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 8 months). On price, ratings volume, 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. Lingwing sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. NGSL Builder asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

NGSL Builder holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 64 and 114 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of NGSL Builder's written reviews are positive against 72% of Lingwing's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

NGSL Builder ships an update every 8 months, Lingwing every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
NGSL Builder versus Lingwing: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNGSL BuilderLingwing
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (64 ratings) — better4.5 (114 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better72.0% of reviews
Number of ratings64114 — better
Update frequencyEvery 8 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS7.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size248 MB79 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEFL TechnologiesHitech LLC

Customer experience

NGSL Builder

All ratings64 ratings
Positive95.3%
Neutral3.1%
Negative1.6%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Lingwing

All ratings114 ratings
Positive85.1%
Neutral6.1%
Negative8.8%
Written reviews25 reviews
Positive72.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative28.0%

In-app purchases

None

NGSL Builder

No in-app purchases

6 purchases

Lingwing

One-time6
  • Lingwing - Diligent$14.99
  • Lingwing - Diligent Plus Bonus$19.99
  • Lingwing - Plodder$29.99
Show 3 more
  • Lingwing - Plodder Bonus$33.99
  • Lingwing - Polyglot$37.99
  • Lingwing - Polyglot Bonus$59.99

Questions

Is NGSL Builder free?
NGSL Builder is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Lingwing free?
Lingwing is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, NGSL Builder or Lingwing?
NGSL Builder is rated higher. NGSL Builder averages 4.8 out of 5 from 64 ratings, while Lingwing averages 4.5 from 114 ratings.
Do NGSL Builder or Lingwing have ads?
Neither NGSL Builder nor Lingwing shows ads.
Which is updated more often, NGSL Builder or Lingwing?
NGSL Builder ships an update every 8 months, and Lingwing every 2 weeks. Most recently, NGSL Builder was updated on October 6, 2026 and Lingwing on October 5, 2026.

Other comparisons