Lector vs Lute
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Feature by feature.
| Lector | Lute | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Self-host free, or cloud from $5/mo | Free to self-host |
| Install | One Docker Compose file in the repository | pip, Docker, or source. The manual does not pick one. |
| Database | SQLite on your server | Local data files |
| Hosted option | Yes. app.lector.dev from $5/mo | No |
| Reading imported content | EPUB, web articles, YouTube captions, podcasts, paste | Yes. Import and read texts. |
| Click-to-translate | On-device dictionary + LLM | Yes. Word status on the text. |
| Frequency cloze bank | Frequency-ordered, with SRS | No dedicated frequency sentence bank |
| Anki integration | Two-way (beta): push cards, Anki reviews update Lector | One-way export through AnkiConnect. No built-in cards. |
| AI tutor | LLM tutor + writing correction | No built-in LLM tutor |
| Bring your own LLM | Yes. Claude or a local model. | No |
| Data ownership | Your server (one SQLite file) | Your computer. Local data files. |
| Open source | Open source (AGPL-3.0) | Open source (MIT) |
| Languages | 19 packs; reader works with any language | Many languages. Japanese needs MeCab. Some languages need plugins. |
Lute pricing and features as of August 2026; check Lute for the latest. Comparison reflects our understanding at that date.
What Lute does better.
An established reading project
Lute v3 has 1,532 GitHub stars as of 21 August 2026. The latest release is 3.10.3 (7 July 2026). The workflow is familiar to people who already read with Learning Using Texts.
A deep text workflow
Lute focuses on reading. You import text. You mark words. You export terms. Serious immersion learners already know this loop.
MIT licence
Lute uses the MIT licence. That is more permissive than Lector's AGPL-3.0. If you need to keep changes private in a network service, MIT is easier.
Parser plugins
Mandarin, Thai, and Khmer use extra pip plugins. Japanese uses MeCab. That is more setup. It is also more parser depth for those scripts.
What Lector does better.
One Compose file
Clone the repository. Run docker compose up. Lute's manual lists pip, Docker, and source and does not pick a default. Japanese still needs MeCab on the pip path.
Two-way Anki
Lute exports terms one way through AnkiConnect. Lector pushes cards and can take review grades back (beta). A remote HTTPS self-host can use the Lector Sync add-on.
Frequency cloze plus a tutor
Lector ships frequency-ordered cloze banks from Tatoeba. An LLM tutor and a writing journal sit in the same app. Lute leaves cards to Anki.
A hosted app
If you do not want to run a server, use app.lector.dev from $5 per month. Lute is self-host only.
Who should pick which.
Choose Lute
If you already use Learning Using Texts, pick Lute. Also pick it for the MIT licence, or for parser plugins that Lector does not pack yet.
Choose Lector
If you want one Compose file, frequency cloze, two-way Anki, an LLM tutor, and a hosted option, pick Lector.
Is Lector a Lute alternative?
Yes. Both are self-hosted readers. You import text and tap words. Lector also adds frequency cloze, two-way Anki, an LLM tutor, and a hosted app.
Is Lute easier to install than Lector?
Lute's manual lists pip, Docker, and source and does not pick one. Japanese needs MeCab. Some languages need plugins. Lector starts with one Docker Compose file in the repository.
Does Lute sync with Anki?
Lute exports terms one way through AnkiConnect on a computer that runs Anki Desktop. It has no built-in flashcards. Lector can push cards and take review grades back (beta).
How many GitHub stars does Lute have?
As of 21 August 2026, Lute v3 has 1,532 GitHub stars. The latest release is 3.10.3 (7 July 2026). Check GitHub for the current count.
Own your reading.
Open source to self-host for free, or on our cloud in a click. No subscription to keep your own library.