Compared · read 28 October 2026

Duolingo alternatives for reading: LingQ, Readlang, Beelinguapp and our library

Looking for more reading alongside, or instead of, short lessons? Here are four ways to learn by reading. This guide is about reading and listening, not a full comparison of speaking or grammar courses.

Published by the Library of Alexandria; our library is one of the options. Checked on 28 October 2026 on each service's own pages (sources below).

Find your reading level Read an easy short story free

Duolingofor short, structured daily lessons
LingQfor reading with word lookup and a count of known words
Readlangfor word lookup on web pages and texts you add
Beelinguappfor graded stories in two languages with audio
Library of Alexandriafor whole classics by level, with summaries, audiobooks, and print and large print at cost

Compare reading features

Swipe the table to see all five

Feature	Library of Alexandria	Duolingo	LingQ	Readlang	Beelinguapp
What you read	200,000+ classics, sorted Easy, Medium, Challenging	Short lessons and Stories	Lessons and anything you import	Any web page or text you add	Graded stories and news
Whole books in the service	Yes, sorted by level	Not the focus	Its library, and books you import	Texts you add	Short books and stories
Tap a word for its meaning	Coming to the reader	In lessons	Yes	Yes	Yes
Review saved words	Yes: My words with review, export for Anki	Practice in lessons	Yes	Flashcards	Yes
How you choose a level	Free vocabulary test, 4 minutes	Placement in the course	You choose	You choose	You choose
Audio	Audiobooks; each book page shows what is open	Lesson audio	Lesson audio, your own uploads	Voices for words; your own audio	Audio with the text lit up
Other formats	15-minute summary of the books in our lists	—	—	—	—
Printed books	At cost: paperback, hardcover, large print	—	—	—	—
People on one plan	5 accounts for the price of one	Family plan on their site	See their plans	See their plans	See their plans
Price per day	3 months free, then 0,14 USD a day in your first year	On their site	On their site	Premium: USD 0.13 a day yearly, USD 0.20 a day monthly	On their site

"—" means we found no such feature on the service's own pages on 28 October 2026. Features and prices change; check each service before you choose.

Which one fits you

You are starting from zero

Short structured lessons help you build first words and a routine. You can also try an easy story now; the level test is a guide, not a pass or fail.

You want to read what you choose

LingQ and Readlang offer reading with word lookup and texts you bring yourself. Check each service's reading selection, import options and limits.

You like short stories with audio

Beelinguapp gives graded stories in two languages with the audio lit up as it plays.

You want whole classics at your level

We sort whole classics into Easy, Medium and Challenging, with a 15-minute summary of each, and your saved words to review later. Start with the easy English stories or pick your language.

Questions

Is there a Duolingo alternative for reading books?

Yes. Reading tools such as LingQ, Readlang and Beelinguapp, and libraries sorted by level like ours, focus on reading longer texts; some also offer lessons. Many learners keep their lessons and add a reading tool.

How many words do I need to read a book?

There is no single number: sentences and topics matter too. As a guide, in the English books of our Easy list at least 89 of every 100 words are among the 2,000 most used English words. The vocabulary size test is a starting point; then try an easy sample.

Sources

Can I use more than one?

Yes. They do different things: lessons for the basics, a reading tool for real texts, and books at your level to read for pleasure.

Read at your level

200,000+ classics to read, hear and hold

Classics at your level as eBook, audiobook and 15-minute summary, with print and large print at cost. 5 accounts for the price of one.

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