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A Readlang alternative with stories written for your level
Readlang is a clever tool: click any word or phrase on a web page or uploaded text and get a translation, then review the words as flashcards. If you already know what you want to read, it works well.
The hard part, especially early on, is finding texts that are actually at your level. Native articles and books are often too difficult, and you end up translating every other word. Paperglot solves that by giving you the reading material too: short illustrated stories and longer story series, written for learners and graded from absolute beginner to advanced. Tap any word for its translation and native-sounding audio, and the words you meet become flashcards.
Read your first story freePaperglot vs Readlang at a glance
| Paperglot | Readlang | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Learners who want ready-made stories at their level | Learners who want to read their own texts and web pages |
| Content | Illustrated short stories and story series, graded by level | Your own uploads and web pages (via its Web Reader extension), plus articles shared on its site |
| Look up words | Tap any word for translation and native-sounding audio | Click words or phrases to translate; AI context explanations |
| Audio | Native-sounding pronunciation for words in every story | High-quality voices on paid plans; audio uploads |
| Flashcards | Built from words you meet in stories, with a practice mode | Flashcards from words you translate; export available |
| Free plan | 4 full stories with tap-to-translate and audio | Unlimited single-word translations; 10 phrase translations and 10 context explanations per day |
| Price | $9.99/month or $79.99/year ($6.67/month) | Premium $6/month or $48/year; Premium Plus $15/month or $120/year |
| Languages | Spanish, German, Hindi, Italian, Russian, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese (French, Portuguese, Arabic coming soon) | 100+ languages |
Readlang details from readlang.com, checked October 2026. Prices in USD.
When Readlang is the better pick
If you're intermediate or above, want to read news, blogs or books you choose yourself, or learn a language Paperglot doesn't cover, Readlang is a great fit and costs less per month. Its browser extension lets you translate on almost any website.
When Paperglot is the better pick
- You're a beginner and native texts are still too hard.
- You don't want to hunt for material: every Paperglot story is written for learners and levelled.
- You want stories you look forward to, with illustrations and series to keep going, not just plain text.
- You want native-sounding audio for the words you tap, built in.
- You want a simple app that works on desktop and mobile without installing an extension.
How to use both
Start with Paperglot's graded stories to build vocabulary and confidence. Once you can read comfortably at the higher levels, Readlang is a good tool for taking on native articles and books.
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 Pass ($9.99) or Annual Pass ($79.99/year) unlocks every story and series.
Can I upload my own texts like on Readlang?
Not right now. Paperglot focuses on stories written and levelled for learners.
Is Paperglot good for complete beginners?
Yes. Stories go from absolute beginner to advanced, and every word is one tap away from a translation and audio.
Which languages does Paperglot support?
Spanish, German, Hindi, Italian, Russian, Mandarin Chinese and Japanese, with French, Portuguese and Arabic coming soon.
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