LingQ vs Sotto

LingQ is a language-learning service built around reading and listening to real-world content, with new words learned in context. It offers 52 languages, a placement test, personalized review and offline lessons. Its browser importer can turn content from YouTube, Netflix, TikTok, Spotify, Apple TV, Disney+ and Amazon Prime into lessons. LingQ is available on the web, Android and iOS, with a browser extension for Chrome, Safari, Firefox and Edge. The free membership allows 20 saved words and phrases, five lessons made from imported content and one audio playlist. Premium membership provides unlimited saved words and imported lessons, full sentence translations and offline access. Premium is listed at $215.76 per year, billed upfront for the selected duration and recurring until canceled; Premium Plus is $269.99 per year on the same billing basis. Paid membership is also noted from $8.99/mo (annual). Users can change or cancel plans at any time, and trial or subscription auto-renewal can be canceled.

Sotto is open-source, self-hosted language-learning software for structured CEFR courses and private practice. Its course covers grammar, reading, listening, speaking, and writing, with advancement tied to demonstrated mastery; separate practice is not gated by course progression. A vocabulary and grammar memory graph uses SM-2 spaced repetition to schedule reviews and help shape adaptive listening. Learners can build classes from articles, papers, YouTube links, or topics, with material leveled to a CEFR course and citations provided. Configurable AI and speech services include OpenAI, Anthropic, Ollama, faster-whisper, and Kokoro; Gemini Live supports spoken translation. The application, database, and files run on the operator’s own stack, and the maker documents an offline setup using the learner’s hardware. Access options include a browser-installable PWA, a desktop launcher for macOS, Windows, and Linux, a terminal client, and workbook PDFs for iPad annotation. Sotto is free to run under AGPL-3.0, but users pay configured AI and speech providers directly. Content sent to cloud providers is subject to those providers’ terms.