typereader

Comparison · typereader

typereader vs Duolingo

Duolingo teaches with short exercises; typereader lets you read real books. They do different jobs, and many readers come to typereader after Duolingo: in our survey, two in five had already tried it.

Start reading →All books

In short

typereader

Pick typereader if

  • you want to read real books and stories, not just single sentences
  • you know the basics, or want to start with easy fairy tales and fables
  • you like to listen while you read: each word lights up as it is spoken
  • you want it free, with no ads and no limit on practice

Duolingo

Pick Duolingo if

  • you are starting from zero and like short daily exercises
  • you learn a language typereader does not have: Duolingo teaches more than 40
  • streaks, leagues and points keep you going
  • you want speaking and listening exercises in an app

Side by side

typereaderDuolingo
What you dotypereaderRead real books: tap a word for its meaning, listen to the narratorDuolingoShort exercises: build sentences from tiles, translate, listen, speak
PricetypereaderFreeDuolingoFree with ads and a limit on practice; Super removes both
A year without ads or limitstypereader€0Duolingo€89.99 to €137.99 for Super in the App Store, depending on the country and offer
AdstypereaderNoneDuolingoOn the free plan
What you readtypereader2,597 real books, each graded from A1 to C2DuolingoShort Stories: dialogues written for the course
Audiotypereader1,486 audiobooks read by people, each word highlighted as it is spokenDuolingoAudio in exercises, Stories and DuoRadio
WordstypereaderSave any word from your book, review it, export it to AnkiDuolingoWords come with the course and return in practice
Languages to learntypereaderFrench, English, Spanish, GermanDuolingoMore than 40
SpeakingtypereaderNoDuolingoPronunciation exercises; AI video calls on Max
MotivationtypereaderA daily goal, a streak of reading days and remindersDuolingoStreaks, leagues, points
Where it runstypereaderAny browser on phone, tablet and computer; extensions for Chrome and FirefoxDuolingoiPhone and Android apps, website

Duolingo prices from the App Store in France, Germany, Spain and Italy, checked in October 2026. Duolingo tests different prices, so the one you see may differ. Duolingo on the App Store ↗

How to use both

1

Keep Duolingo for the habit

Ten minutes of exercises a day keep the basics fresh: grammar, common words, pronunciation.

2

Add a book on typereader

Start with fables and fairy tales at A1–A2. Tap the words you do not know and listen to the narrator.

3

The words meet again

Words you save on typereader come back in review, and you will meet many of them in the course and in the next book.

FAQ

What should I do after Duolingo?

Read. When Duolingo’s sentences feel easy, real texts are the next step. On typereader you can start with fables and fairy tales at A1–A2 and move up to novels, with the translation of any word one tap away.

Is Duolingo enough to read books?

Usually not: the course teaches short sentences and common words, and books use far more words than that. You learn them by reading, and typereader lets you start early because it translates every word in its sentence.

Is typereader free like Duolingo?

typereader is free, with no ads and no limit on how much you read or how many words you save. A free account keeps your words and progress. On Duolingo, removing ads and limits takes Super: €89.99 to €137.99 a year in the App Store in Europe.

Can I use typereader instead of Duolingo?

If you learn French, English, Spanish or German and want to read, yes. If you are starting from zero and want exercises and speaking practice, keep Duolingo and add a book on typereader once the basics are in place.

Which languages does typereader have?

You can read in French, English, Spanish and German. The interface and translations are in eight languages, including Russian, Portuguese, Italian and Chinese.

Also learn

French →English →Spanish →German →Russian →Learn by reading →typereader vs LingQ →

Open a book and tap the first word you do not know.

Start reading →