ContextCat vs Toucan: two very different ways to pick up words
Toucan swaps a few words on English websites into the language you learn. ContextCat explains words in texts written in that language. Which one fits you.
The short answer: Toucan is a free browser extension that replaces a few words on the English pages you already read with their translations in the language you are learning, so you meet new words without changing your habits. ContextCat does the opposite: you read a whole text in the language you are learning, and tap the words you need explained. Toucan is for passive exposure from zero effort. ContextCat is for actually reading in the language. They do not compete much, and they work fine side by side.
ContextCat is our app. Facts about Toucan come from its website, checked on October 27, 2026.
At a glance
| Toucan | ContextCat | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it works | Chrome and Edge on a computer | iPhone |
| What you read | Your usual websites, mostly in your own language | Texts written in the language you learn |
| How words reach you | A few words on the page are swapped into the new language | You tap the words you do not know |
| Languages to learn | 11, including Spanish, French, Japanese and Korean | 39 |
| Price | Free | Free plan; Pro $7.99/month or $49.99/year (US App Store) |
Where Toucan is the better choice
- You are a beginner with little time. Toucan teaches single words while you browse as usual. You do not need to read anything in the new language yet.
- You want it free. Toucan costs nothing.
Where ContextCat is the better choice
- You want to read real texts. News, books, PDFs and articles in the language itself, with help on every word.
- You want words in context. A swapped word on an English page gives you one translation. A tap in ContextCat explains how the word works in a real sentence of the language.
- You want review. Every word you tap comes back as a card with its sentence.
- You read on your phone. Toucan is a desktop extension.
Questions
Is Toucan free?
- Yes. Toucan's site says the extension is free to install. It runs in Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge, and its site shows Babbel as the owner (checked October 27, 2026).
Can I use Toucan and ContextCat together?
- Yes, easily. Toucan works in your desktop browser while you read in your own language; ContextCat is for reading texts written in the language you learn, on your iPhone.