How to choose a bilingual reader app without making reading feel like homework
A practical framework for choosing a bilingual reader app: text source, lookup friction, personalisation, story length, and price.
Now in early access
Learn a language
through stories,
not drills.
LinguaLex turns the words you save into dual-language stories you'll actually want to read. Built for Telegram. Free to start, no card needed.
Invite-only — limited spots 18source languages Freeforever tier
01 — What it does
Reading as the practice. Vocabulary as the byproduct.
Four ideas that quietly change how language sticks.
01
Learn through stories
No flashcards, no drills. Every word you save becomes part of the next chapter you read.
02
Dual-language reading
Source language above, your translation below. Tap any word to expand context, idioms, and grammar.
03
Vocabulary from context
Words come from things you actually want to read — articles, books, conversations — not generic word lists.
04
Progress that sticks
A streak that rewards reading minutes, not exercises completed. Your words get harder as you do.
02 — How it works
From zero to reading in minutes.
Your words. Woven into a story. Ready to read.
Choose your words
Pick words you actually want to learn — from any source, in any language. Paste, import, or start from scratch.
Get your chapter
We weave your words into a dual-language story, tuned to your level. New every day.
Read in context
See each word the way it's actually used. No flashcard — a sentence you care about.
Come back tomorrow
Words you've read once surface again when you need them. That's how retention works.
Why reading works
Drills teach you words.
Stories teach you a language.
Target line first, native line underneath. The words you saved appear naturally inside the story — so you notice them without breaking flow.
"If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all." — Oscar Wilde
Reading length
The library door
Vocab in this chapter
Hover a word to find it in the story.
Target language
Native language
In the app, your vocabulary is highlighted as you read.
Blog
Blog posts
Comprehensible input reading: what it is, what it cannot promise, and how to use it
A grounded explanation of comprehensible input through reading: enough understanding to learn, without promises of effortless fluency.
Graded readers for language learning: when levelled books help, and when to leave them
What graded readers are, how to choose the right level, and how to move from levelled material to ordinary books.
How many words do you need to read a novel in another language?
Coverage thresholds, practical vocabulary estimates, and a test for deciding whether you are ready to read a novel in another language.
How to read a book in a foreign language: a protocol for looking up, skipping, and saving words
A practical reading protocol for finishing a foreign-language book without either translating every page or getting lost.
Learning vocabulary in context vs flashcards: what each method is actually good for
An honest comparison of vocabulary in context and flashcards, with a practical way to use both without duplicating effort.
Early access pricing
Three ways in. Pick the one that fits.
Free forever tier — no card required. Founder pricing locks in before public launch.
Free
$0 $0
One book at a time, always free
- Unlimited dual-language stories
- 1 book at a time
- 3 chapters per day
- 1 source language
Recommended
Reader
$4.99 / Monthly $49.99 / Yearly
per month, billed monthly
per year — save 17%
- Unlimited stories & languages
- Unlimited vocabulary
- Switch books anytime
- CSV export
- Genre & length controls
Founder
$99
One payment, lifetime access
- Everything in Reader
- Lifetime — no renewal
- Direct line with the founder
- Shape the product roadmap
03 — Questions
Before you request access.
Duolingo focuses on gamified drills, Anki on flashcards, and LingQ on reading existing content. Lingualex is different: it takes the words you actually want to learn and turns them into short dual-language stories, so you learn through real context — not isolated exercises.
04 — Early access
Founder-led access for the first readers.
We're rolling out invites in waves. Tell us a little about yourself and we'll send you a Telegram link the moment your seat opens.
Invite-only
limited founder seats
Telegram-native
no install, no app store
Free forever
one book at a time, always free