Best Migaku alternative: use the words you save

• Words you can use, not only know. Migaku gives every word one of five statuses, Unknown, Learning, Known, Ignored and Tracked, and scores how much of a page, video or book you will understand. Spark splits known words into passive (you recognize them) and active (you can use them), and a word only turns active when you type it correctly without help, use it on your own in a chat, or still know it 7 days later.
• A chat about each piece. After a piece, you chat about it in the language you are learning, and Spark corrects every message, with a more natural way to say it. You type or speak; Spark answers in text for now. Migaku's AI explains words and sentences, but its FAQ says it has no speaking features yet, and we found no AI chat or tutor.
• Ebooks are not a difference now. Since May 2026, Migaku's Reader opens EPUB, HTML, TXT and RTF files in Chrome and its iPhone and Android apps, with a comprehension score for each book. PDF is not in its Reader list. Spark opens a PDF up to 25 MB or an EPUB as a book split into chapters.
• YouTube, not Netflix. Click the Spark Chrome extension on a YouTube video and it opens with a transcript that follows along. Spark does not work on Netflix, Disney+ or other streaming sites; that is where Migaku is the tool to use.
• Languages. Spark covers 17 languages; Migaku's site lists 11. Migaku has more for Japanese, Mandarin and Korean, with beginner courses in those three and a kanji course for Japanese.

• You start from zero. Nothing imports from Migaku or Anki, so your cards and word statuses stay in Migaku, which can export cards to Anki. Spark's only vocabulary import is from LingQ.
• Pick the language you are learning and answer a few short questions, including the topics you like and your level. Your dashboard then suggests up to three short articles, or you can bring in your own with the Chrome extension.
• Your YouTube habit carries over. Click the Spark extension on a video you would have watched with Migaku, and it opens in Spark with its transcript.
• What Migaku taught you still counts. Tap only the words you do not know; the rest count as known when you move on.

• Language Reactor: watching Netflix and YouTube with two sets of subtitles
• LingQ: the widest range of sources and languages
• Readlang: low-cost reading help on any website
• Parrot: short Spanish clips picked for you; our Parrot comparison also covers learning from YouTube videos you choose
• Lingopie: learning from TV shows and movies in its own library

Migaku vs Language Reactor: which is better?

They do different jobs. Language Reactor is a Chrome extension that adds two sets of subtitles, a pop-up dictionary and playback controls to Netflix and YouTube, and its extension is free. Migaku makes subtitles clickable on more streaming sites, turns words into flashcards and tracks the words you know, with no free plan. Spark is for what comes after: keeping the words you meet, then a chat about the piece. More in our Language Reactor comparison.

Migaku vs LingQ: which is better?

It depends on how you take in the language. LingQ is a reader and lesson library in 50+ languages, with a free plan that saves 20 words. Migaku is strongest on streaming video and one-click flashcards, in 11 languages, with no free plan. Both open ebooks and both track the words you know. More in our LingQ comparison.

How much does Migaku cost?

On its website, in the US (November 2026), Standard is $10 a month or $96 a year, Early Access is $15 a month or $144 a year, and Lifetime is $499, paid once. Early Access gets new features as soon as they are usable. Every plan has a 10-day money-back guarantee, and Migaku's FAQ says its prices will periodically increase. Its iPhone app lists higher prices. Spark Core is $14.99 a month or $149 a year, so Migaku Standard costs less either way. Source: Migaku's pricing page.

Can I bring my Anki or Migaku cards to Spark?

No. Nothing imports from Migaku or Anki into Spark; Spark's only vocabulary import is from LingQ. Your Migaku cards stay in Migaku, which can export them to Anki. In Spark, the words you do not tap count as known when you move on, so it learns what you know as you read.

I watch a lot of Spanish Netflix but still can't speak. What app helps?

One that has you use the words, not only meet them. Spark does not work on Netflix, but you can bring in a YouTube video, an article or a book on the same topic, tap the words you missed, then chat about it, typing or speaking your replies. Spark replies in text for now. Migaku's FAQ says it has no speaking features yet.

Is Migaku worth it if I mainly want to learn Spanish, not Japanese?

It can be, for Spanish from Netflix and YouTube with one-click cards. Its beginner courses, Fundamentals and Academy, are for Japanese, Mandarin and Korean; for Spanish we found a vocabulary course only. Spark's most developed languages are Spanish, French, Italian, German, Portuguese and English.

Can I use Spark and Migaku together?

Yes. Watch Netflix with Migaku and make cards there. Bring the YouTube videos, articles and books you want to work on into Spark, then chat about each one, typing or speaking your replies; Spark replies in text. Nothing moves between the two apps.

Does Spark work on my phone?

Yes. The whole app works in your phone's browser, and pages turn with a swipe. Saving web pages and YouTube videos in one click uses the Chrome extension. Migaku has iPhone and Android apps, with offline review.

How much does Spark cost?

Free to start. Every new account gets a 7-day trial of Core with no card. After that, Core is $14.99 a month or $149 a year, and Plus is $29.99 a month or $299 a year.

Facts about other products were checked on their own websites and app store listings in November 2026. Prices and features change. If something here is out of date, tell us at matt@learnwithspark.io and we will fix it.