# Lector

> Lector is a language-learning reader. It is an alternative to LingQ and Clozemaster. Use Lector Cloud from $5/mo, or self-host it. Import EPUB, articles, YouTube captions, and podcasts. Click any word to translate. Practice with frequency cloze and two-way Anki. A self-host stores data in SQLite. It is open source (AGPL). Language packs cover Mandarin, Spanish, Arabic, French, Portuguese, Russian, Indonesian, German, Turkish, Italian, Polish, Ukrainian, Dutch, Afrikaans, Czech, Swedish, Esperanto, Koine Greek, Latin. Japanese and Korean have a dictionary and no cloze bank yet.

## Learn a language

- [Learn Mandarin](https://lector.dev/languages/mandarin/)
- [Learn Spanish](https://lector.dev/languages/spanish/)
- [Learn Arabic](https://lector.dev/languages/arabic/)
- [Learn French](https://lector.dev/languages/french/)
- [Learn Portuguese](https://lector.dev/languages/portuguese/)
- [Learn Russian](https://lector.dev/languages/russian/)
- [Learn Indonesian](https://lector.dev/reference-data/indonesian/)
- [Learn German](https://lector.dev/languages/german/)
- [Learn Turkish](https://lector.dev/languages/turkish/)
- [Learn Italian](https://lector.dev/languages/italian/)
- [Learn Polish](https://lector.dev/languages/polish/)
- [Learn Ukrainian](https://lector.dev/languages/ukrainian/)
- [Learn Dutch](https://lector.dev/languages/dutch/)
- [Learn Afrikaans](https://lector.dev/languages/afrikaans/)
- [Learn Czech](https://lector.dev/languages/czech/)
- [Learn Swedish](https://lector.dev/reference-data/swedish/)
- [Learn Esperanto](https://lector.dev/languages/esperanto/)
- [Learn Koine Greek](https://lector.dev/languages/koine-greek/)
- [Learn Latin](https://lector.dev/languages/latin/)
- [All languages](https://lector.dev/languages/)
- [Learn Japanese](https://lector.dev/reference-data/japanese/): dictionary only, no cloze bank
- [Learn Korean](https://lector.dev/reference-data/korean/): dictionary only, no cloze bank

## Comparisons

- [LingQ](https://lector.dev/vs/lingq/): Lector is a self-hosted, one-time-free alternative to LingQ: the same import-anything, click-to-translate reading workflow, plus frequency cloze and two-way Anki sync — but your library and progress live on your own hardware, with no subscription.
- [Clozemaster](https://lector.dev/vs/clozemaster/): Lector is a self-hosted, one-time-free alternative to Clozemaster: the same frequency-ordered cloze practice, but paired with a full reading experience and two-way Anki sync, with your data on your own hardware and no subscription.
- [Lute](https://lector.dev/vs/lute/): Lector is a self-hosted reader in the same family as Lute.
- [LinguaCafe](https://lector.dev/vs/linguacafe/): Lector and LinguaCafe are both self-hosted readers.
- [FreeLingo](https://lector.dev/vs/freelingo/): FreeLingo is a CEFR study-plan app.
- [All comparisons](https://lector.dev/vs/)

## Method

- [Learn by reading](https://lector.dev/learn/)
- [How to learn a language by reading](https://lector.dev/learn/how-to-learn-a-language-by-reading/)
- [What is comprehensible input?](https://lector.dev/learn/what-is-comprehensible-input/)
- [What is sentence mining?](https://lector.dev/learn/what-is-sentence-mining/)
- [Spaced repetition, explained](https://lector.dev/learn/spaced-repetition-explained/)
- [Frequency-based vocabulary: learn the right words first](https://lector.dev/learn/frequency-based-vocabulary/)
- [Methodology](https://lector.dev/methodology/): The three-phase approach — frequency-based vocabulary, extensive reading with sentence mining, then comprehensible-input immersion. Draws on Krashen's comprehensible input and Kaufmann's learning-by-reading.

## Docs

- [Documentation](https://lector.dev/docs/): Installation, configuration, self-hosting, and features.
- [Installation](https://lector.dev/docs/installation/): Run Lector with Docker Compose in about a minute.
- [Reading & practice](https://lector.dev/docs/features/): The reader, click-to-translate, word states, cloze SRS, AI providers, AnkiConnect, and the Lector Sync add-on for Anki (AnkiWeb code 1098736891).
- [Supported languages](https://lector.dev/docs/languages/): Language packs and how the frequency data is built.

## Reference data

- [Reference data](https://lector.dev/reference-data/): Downloadable frequency-banded Anki decks and word-frequency lists per language, built from public corpora.
- [Afrikaans reference data](https://lector.dev/reference-data/afrikaans/): A free 9,066-card frequency-banded Afrikaans Anki deck and a 443k-word frequency list (CC BY-SA 4.0).

## Use cases

- [All use cases](https://lector.dev/use-cases/)
- [Offline and remote use](https://lector.dev/use-cases/offline/): Read and translate with no connection. What works offline, what needs a connection, the local-model setup, and honest language coverage for remote work.
- [For heritage speakers](https://lector.dev/use-cases/heritage/): For people who grew up hearing a language and never learned to read it. Script handling per pack, honest coverage gaps, and one install per family.
- [Keep Anki, add reading](https://lector.dev/use-cases/anki/): Two-way sync with your own Anki collection (beta): Lector pushes mined words and cloze phrases, and your Anki grades come back as mastery. Existing decks are untouched.
- [Greek and Hebrew](https://lector.dev/for/greek-hebrew/): A reading-first workspace for the biblical languages. The Koine Greek pack is in development, and a founding cohort shapes it.

## Run it

- [Pricing](https://lector.dev/pricing/): Self-host free forever, or Lector Cloud from $5/mo.
- [Contact](https://lector.dev/contact/): Send a support message. The address is support@lector.dev.
- [Blog](https://lector.dev/blog/): Notes on building Lector — local-LLM translation quality, OCRing an Afrikaans dictionary, and more.