ContextCat vs Readlang: reading on your phone or in your browser
Readlang translates words on any web page and in its own reader. ContextCat explains words in context on iPhone, with news, PDFs, Listen and Ask. How to choose.
The short answer: Readlang is a simple, well-liked reader that translates the words and phrases you click, on its own site and on any web page through a browser extension, with flashcards for the words you save. It is cheap, and its free plan gives unlimited single-word translations. ContextCat is an iPhone app built around reading on the phone: it explains each word as it is used in the sentence, in your language, and adds a daily news edition, PDF import, read-aloud and questions about the text. Desktop reader: Readlang. Phone reader: ContextCat.
ContextCat is our app. Facts about Readlang come from its own website, checked on October 27, 2026.
At a glance
| Readlang | ContextCat | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it works | Website, browser extension on any page, mobile browser and apps | iPhone app |
| What you read | Any web page, its library, your uploaded texts | Today’s news, Store books, your PDFs, links and text |
| Help on a word | Click for a translation; AI context explanations | Tap for the meaning in this sentence, explained in your language |
| Phrases | Phrase translations (6 words free, 12 on Premium) | Select any part of a sentence to translate it |
| Audio | Voices for words and phrases; whole texts on Premium Plus | AI voices read whole books, PDFs and texts with highlighting |
| Questions about the text | No | Ask, and quizzes on a paragraph |
| Free plan | Unlimited word translations, 10 phrases and 10 explanations a day | 25 word explanations, 15 sentence translations a day, 3 imports |
| Paid | $6/month or $48/year; Premium Plus $15/month or $120/year | $7.99/month or $49.99/year (US App Store), 7-day trial |
Where Readlang is the better choice
- You read on a computer. The extension works on whatever site you are already reading, with no importing.
- You want generous free word lookups. Unlimited single-word translations on the free plan is hard to beat.
- You like a minimal tool. Readlang does a few things and stays out of the way.
Where ContextCat is the better choice
- You read on your phone. ContextCat is designed for the iPhone, with a reader that keeps the explanation under the sentence you are on.
- You read PDFs. Import a PDF and read it page by page with help on every word. Readlang’s site does not mention PDF import.
- You want to listen too. Listen reads whole texts aloud, sentence by sentence, on every paid plan.
- You want to ask about the text. Ask answers questions about the document and quizzes you on a paragraph.
- You want something to read each day. Today brings real news in your reading language every morning.
Questions
Is Readlang free?
- Readlang has a free plan with unlimited single-word translations, 10 phrase translations and 10 context explanations a day. Premium costs $6 a month or $48 a year, and Premium Plus $15 a month or $120 a year (from Readlang's site, checked October 27, 2026).
Does Readlang work on the iPhone?
- Readlang works in the browser on phones and tablets, and links to iOS and Android apps from its site. Its strength is the desktop browser extension, which works on any web page.