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A Duolingo alternative for learners who want to actually read
Duolingo is great at getting you started. The streaks, quick lessons and game feel make it easy to open the app every day. But after a few months, many learners notice the same thing: they can finish a lesson, yet they still struggle to read a simple paragraph. Matching tiles and translating single sentences is not the same as following a story.
Paperglot is built for that next step. Instead of drills, you read short illustrated stories and longer story series written for your level, from absolute beginner to advanced. Tap any word to see its translation and hear it spoken in a native-sounding voice. The words you meet go into flashcards, so your vocabulary comes from real context instead of isolated sentences.
You don't have to quit Duolingo to use Paperglot. Plenty of learners keep their streak going and add 10 minutes of reading a day.
Read your first story freePaperglot vs Duolingo at a glance
| Paperglot | Duolingo | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Learners who want to read real stories at their level | Building a daily habit with short, gamified lessons |
| How you learn | Reading illustrated stories and story series, graded by level | Bite-sized exercises: tap, match, type, speak; plus short Stories in some courses |
| Look up words | Tap any word for translation and native-sounding audio | Hints on words inside exercises |
| Vocabulary | Flashcards built from words you meet in stories, with a practice mode | Practice built into the lesson path |
| Free plan | 4 full stories, with tap-to-translate and audio, plus a preview of story series | Courses are free, with ads and a daily energy or hearts limit on mobile |
| Paid plan | $9.99/month or $79.99/year ($6.67/month) | Super Duolingo; price varies by country, platform and account |
| Languages | Spanish, German, Hindi, Italian, Russian, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese (French, Portuguese, Arabic coming soon) | Many more languages (40+) |
Duolingo details from duolingo.com, checked October 2026. Prices in USD.
When Duolingo is the better pick
We'll be honest: if you want a game that keeps you coming back, or you're learning a language Paperglot doesn't cover yet, Duolingo is a great choice. Its free tier is generous for building a daily habit, and it has speaking and listening exercises that Paperglot doesn't try to copy.
When Paperglot is the better pick
- You've done months of lessons and want to read connected text instead of single sentences.
- You'd rather learn words from a story you care about than from drills.
- You want to read without running out of hearts or energy mid-session: Paperglot's 4 free stories have no energy system and no ads.
- You want one simple price: $9.99/month or $79.99/year for the whole library, every story and every series.
- You're learning Hindi, Russian, Japanese or Mandarin and want graded reading practice with native-sounding audio.
How to use both
Use Duolingo for your daily lesson, then read one Paperglot story at your level. Tap words you don't know, listen to the audio, and review them later as flashcards. Lessons give you the patterns; stories show you how they're used.
Try it out
Click any underlined word to see its translation and hear it spoken.
El gato negro está sobre la mesa.
The black cat is on the table.
El gato negro está feliz.
The black cat is happy.
Frequently asked questions
Is Paperglot a replacement for Duolingo?
It can be, but it works just as well alongside it. Duolingo teaches through short exercises; Paperglot teaches through reading. Many learners use Duolingo for the daily habit and Paperglot to practise reading.
Is Paperglot free?
Yes. You can read 4 stories free, with tap-to-translate and audio, and preview the longer story series. The Monthly Pass ($9.99) or Annual Pass ($79.99/year) unlocks the whole library.
I'm a complete beginner. Is Paperglot too hard?
No. Stories are levelled from absolute beginner to advanced, and every word is one tap away from a translation and native-sounding pronunciation.
Which languages does Paperglot support?
Spanish, German, Hindi, Italian, Russian, Mandarin Chinese and Japanese, with French, Portuguese and Arabic coming soon.
Does Paperglot have ads or a hearts/energy limit?
No. There are no ads and no limit on how long you can read.
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