A simpler LingQ alternative for beginners
LingQ is a great tool once you can already read real podcasts, articles and Netflix transcripts. But if you're a beginner, a wall of native content is a lot. Paperglot takes the same idea, learning by reading what you understand, and makes it gentle: short, illustrated stories written for your level, in a clean reader where every word is one tap away.
Read your first story freePaperglot vs LingQ at a glance
| Paperglot | LingQ | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Beginners to intermediate learners who want stories at their level | Learners ready for real-world content and imports |
| Content | Illustrated short stories and story series, graded by level | Large library of real content plus your own imports |
| Look up words | Tap any word for translation and audio | Click words to look up and save as LingQs |
| Reading screen | Clean and simple: the story, its art, and one tap for help | Feature-rich, with word statuses, stats and lots of settings |
| Audio | Native-sounding pronunciation for every word and page | Audio with transcripts; AI voices on higher plan |
| Flashcards | Built from words you actually meet in stories | SRS review of saved LingQs |
| Free plan | 4 full stories, tap-to-translate and audio included | 20 saved LingQs total, 5 imported lessons |
| Price | $9.99/month or $79.99/year ($6.67/month) | $14.99/month, $10/month yearly, $8.99/month on 24 months |
| Languages | Spanish, German, Hindi, Italian, Russian, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese (French, Portuguese, Arabic coming soon) | 50+ languages |
LingQ details from lingq.com, checked October 2026. Prices in USD.
When LingQ is the better pick
If you're upper-intermediate, want 50+ languages, or want to import YouTube and Netflix, LingQ is built for that.
When Paperglot is the better pick
- You're starting from zero and real native content feels overwhelming.
- You want something you look forward to: short stories with beautiful art, not a dense text feed.
- You want an app that's easy to pick up: a clean reading screen with nothing to set up or learn first.
- You want lower cost: $79.99/year vs $119.99/year for LingQ's annual plan.
- You learn Hindi, which many reading apps skip.
How Paperglot works
- 1
Pick a story at your level
Choose a language and start with beginner, intermediate or advanced stories. No placement test, no setup, nothing to import.
- 2
Tap any word you don't know
See the translation and hear it spoken, then keep reading. No dictionary tab, no word lists to manage.
- 3
Review the words you met
Flashcards are built from the words in the stories you read, so your review is vocabulary you've already seen in context.
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 free?
Yes, you can read 4 stories free with tap-to-translate and audio. The Monthly or Annual Pass unlocks the whole library.
Can I import my own content like on LingQ?
Not right now. Paperglot focuses on stories written for learners.
Which languages does Paperglot support?
Spanish, German, Hindi, Italian, Russian, Mandarin Chinese and Japanese, with French, Portuguese and Arabic coming soon.
Is Paperglot good for complete beginners?
Yes. Beginner stories use short sentences and high-frequency words, and you can tap any word for its translation and audio, so you can start reading from day one.
Can I use Paperglot and LingQ together?
Yes. A good path is to build your vocabulary with Paperglot's stories first, then move to LingQ once you're ready for native content like podcasts and YouTube.
Read your first story free
4 short stories free forever. Full library access from $9.99/month. See pricing
Explore the libraryOr start with a language