Comparison

NGSL Builder vs Advance

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

Advance

Learn new languages through vocabulary, grammar, and reading. Features AI-powered practice with real-time feedback, adapting to your proficiency for a personalized and engaging learning experience. Master languages faster and more enjoyably.

Highlights
  • AI-powered practice with real-time feedback
  • Vocabulary and phrase learning
  • Clear grammar lessons
  • Interactive reading articles
  • Personalized learning pace
  • Natural learning methods
Features
Read full description

Advance App Advance App is an all-in-one platform for learning new languages in a smart, modern, and engaging way. The app helps you build strong language skills through vocabulary and phrase learning, clear grammar lessons, and interactive reading articles designed for different levels. Everything is structured to help you understand how a language works—not just memorize it. What Makes Us Unique? What sets Advance App apart is its AI-powered practice. You can practice your target language with an intelligent assistant that adapts to your proficiency level, helps you form correct sentences, and provides real-time feedback—just like having a personal tutor available 24/7. Why Choose Advance App? Natural Learning: Instead of boring drills, we use interactive tasks, contextual guessing, and real-life examples. Retention: Each session is designed to strengthen your comprehension, speaking confidence, and long-term memory. Personalized Pace: Whether you’re a beginner building a foundation or an advanced learner refining your fluency, the app adjusts to your specific needs. With a clean design, smart learning methods, and AI-driven practice, mastering a new language is simpler, faster, and more enjoyable than ever. Subscriptions Standard Access – $2.99/month Premium Access – $4.99/month Auto-renews until canceled Legal Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.privacypolicies.com/live/00a42fa1-89bf-484a-bc2c-fa0a68535376

Screenshots

NGSL Builder4 screens
Advance4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: NGSL Builder at 100% against Advance's 0%. NGSL Builder also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ratings volume (64 vs 2). Advance's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 8 months) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). On price, 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. Advance sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. NGSL Builder asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Advance holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NGSL Builder has 64 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 100% of NGSL Builder's written reviews are positive against 0% of Advance's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

NGSL Builder ships an update every 8 months, Advance every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
NGSL Builder versus Advance: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNGSL BuilderAdvance
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (64 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings64 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 8 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS7.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size248 MB55 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEFL TechnologiesTornike Pirtakhia

Customer experience

NGSL Builder

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

Advance

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

None

NGSL Builder

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Advance

Subscriptions4
  • Standard - Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Premium - Monthly$5.991 Month
  • Standard - Annual$24.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Premium - Annual$59.991 Year

Questions

Is NGSL Builder free?
NGSL Builder is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Advance free?
Advance is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, NGSL Builder or Advance?
Advance is rated higher. NGSL Builder averages 4.8 out of 5 from 64 ratings, while Advance averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do NGSL Builder or Advance have ads?
Neither NGSL Builder nor Advance shows ads.
Which is updated more often, NGSL Builder or Advance?
NGSL Builder ships an update every 8 months, and Advance every 3 weeks. Most recently, NGSL Builder was updated on October 6, 2026 and Advance on September 27, 2026.

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