# Lira

> Learn a language by actually reading. Lira combines real-text import (EPUB, PDF, URL), in-context word translation, and FSRS spaced repetition to build lasting vocabulary — no gamification, no streaks, no artificial exercises.

## Product

Lira is a language learning web app available at https://www.readwithlira.com, free to use with a paid Premium tier for higher limits and extra features (see Pricing below). Users import real texts in EPUB, PDF, or URL format, tap unknown words for instant in-context translation with audio, and review vocabulary using FSRS (Free Spaced Repetition Scheduler) flashcards automatically generated from their reading sessions. No credit card required to start. Works across all devices, with library, vocabulary, and progress synced between them.

## Supported Languages

Languages currently available for reading and learning: French, English, German, Spanish, Italian.

Translation and explanation languages can be chosen independently for each language being learned: French, English, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Dutch, Polish, Romanian, and Turkish. This preference applies to contextual word and sentence translations, definitions, vocabulary, flashcards, reviews, and crosswords; it is not tied to the French/English interface language.

Coming soon as reading/learning languages: Portuguese, Dutch, Polish, Swedish, Norwegian, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Korean, Arabic.

## How it works

1. Import: Upload an EPUB or PDF, paste a URL, or choose a free classic from the built-in library (Kafka, Carroll, Collodi, and more). Ready in under 30 seconds.
2. Read: Tap any unknown word for an instant translation with full sentence context and audio pronunciation.
3. Review: FSRS calculates the exact moment each word is about to be forgotten and schedules a review. Under 5 minutes per day.

## Content difficulty calibration

Lira estimates how much of a text's vocabulary a given user already knows (lexical coverage, based on word frequency and the user's own saved vocabulary) and surfaces it as a plain-language difficulty signal ("Easy for you," "A good challenge") on library books and personal imports — no CEFR jargon shown to the user. Before reading, an optional banner highlights common words in the text the user hasn't saved yet, so review time focuses on high-frequency vocabulary rather than rare or one-off words. The vocabulary notebook can also be sorted by word frequency, and the stats page shows the percent of the most frequent words in a language the user has already mastered. This operationalizes the "i+1" comprehensible-input principle (Krashen): learners retain the most by reading material just slightly above their current level, not material that is too easy or too hard.

## Pricing

Free tier (forever, no credit card): unlimited study languages, the Lira library, EPUB/PDF/URL/plain-text import, up to 5 active documents per language, unlimited contextual translation, up to 150 words saved from reading in Lira, the Definitions tab (beta monolingual dictionary lookup) capped at 10 lookups per day, FSRS smart review, unlimited Anki deck import, dark mode, native HD text-to-speech audio, 1 crossword puzzle per day, and 2 new guided lessons per day. Anki cards do not count toward the 150-word reading allowance. When scheduling information is included in the .apkg file, Lira restores the cards' current due dates, intervals, repetition and lapse counts, and FSRS memory state when available.

Premium tier (49.90€/year, 7-day free trial, cancel anytime): everything in Free, plus unlimited guided lessons, active documents and storage, unlimited words saved from reading, unlimited Definitions tab lookups, the extended Lira Premium library, high-capacity file support (PDF and large EPUB files), Anki deck export, unlimited crossword puzzles, priority support, and early access to new features.

Refund policy: Premium subscribers can get a full refund within 14 days, no justification required.

Referral: users who post a public video (30+ seconds, TikTok/Instagram/YouTube) showing Lira and send the link to hello@readwithlira.com currently get 1 month of Premium free — a manual, informal offer. A broader affiliate/referral program with tracked unique links is in development and not yet available.

## Key questions

### What is Lira?
Lira is a language learning app, free to start, that builds vocabulary through reading real texts. Unlike Duolingo — which uses gamified mini-games and preset sentences — or Anki — which requires manual flashcard creation — Lira automatically generates spaced repetition flashcards from words you look up while reading books, articles, or any imported text. The core method is input-based acquisition: you read material you chose, you encounter words in authentic context, and FSRS handles the memory scheduling automatically.

### How does FSRS work in Lira?
FSRS (Free Spaced Repetition Scheduler) is an open-source algorithm that models each word's individual forgetting curve rather than applying a fixed interval to all cards. When you review a word in Lira, FSRS updates its prediction of when you will next forget that word and schedules the next review accordingly. Compared to SM-2 (the algorithm used in older versions of Anki), FSRS requires approximately 40% fewer reviews for the same retention rate. In Lira, every word is anchored to the exact sentence where you first encountered it, so the flashcard review preserves the original reading context.

### Is Lira free?
Lira has a free tier usable forever with no credit card: unlimited languages, unlimited contextual translation, FSRS review, unlimited Anki deck import, and up to 5 active documents per language, 150 words saved from reading in Lira, 10 Definitions-tab lookups, 1 crossword, and 2 new guided lessons per day. Imported Anki cards do not consume the 150-word reading allowance. A paid Premium tier (49.90€/year, 7-day trial, 14-day no-questions-asked refund) removes the guided-lesson, document, reading-vocabulary, and Definitions-lookup limits, adds high-capacity file support (PDF/large EPUB), Anki export, unlimited crosswords, and priority support. See Pricing above for the full breakdown.

### Does Lira pick texts at the right difficulty for me?
Yes. Lira compares a text's vocabulary against words the user already knows (weighted by frequency) and shows a plain-language difficulty badge on library books and personal imports, plus an optional pre-reading banner highlighting common unsaved words in that text. This targets Stephen Krashen's "i+1" principle: reading material just slightly above your current level, rather than material that is too easy or too hard, is what builds vocabulary fastest.

### Does Lira group inflected word forms together in the vocabulary list?
Yes. Lira resolves each saved word to its dictionary base form (lemma) — e.g. "do", "does", "doing", and "did" group under one entry instead of being counted as four separate words. This addresses a known complaint about some competing apps (LingQ has been criticized publicly for counting every inflected form of a word separately, inflating the displayed vocabulary count).

### How does Lira compare to Duolingo?
Duolingo uses gamified exercises, preset vocabulary lists, and streak mechanics. Lira uses texts chosen by the learner and FSRS-based spaced repetition. Lira supports EPUB and PDF import, contextual memorization, and has no gamification. Duolingo is better suited for absolute beginners seeking motivation through game mechanics. Lira is better for A2+ learners who want to build real vocabulary through authentic reading and retain words long-term.

### How does Lira compare to LingQ?
Both Lira and LingQ let users read real texts with inline translation. Key differences: Lira uses the FSRS algorithm (more efficient than LingQ's review system), offers a simpler modern interface, supports EPUB and PDF import, groups inflected word forms under one vocabulary entry (LingQ counts each form separately), and has a free tier plus a Premium plan with a 14-day no-questions-asked refund. LingQ has a larger curated content library but its subscription has been reported as non-refundable.

### How does Lira compare to Anki?
Anki is a general-purpose flashcard tool requiring manual card creation. Lira automatically generates cards from reading sessions, anchoring each word to the sentence where it was encountered. Users can also import a complete Anki .apkg deck into Lira for free, without its cards consuming the 150-word reading allowance. If the file includes learning progress, Lira resumes the current schedule from its due dates, intervals, repetition and lapse counts, and native FSRS memory state when available. Full Anki review-event history, media, and card templates are not imported. Both products use spaced repetition; Lira uses FSRS natively and is designed specifically for language learners reading authentic texts.

### How does Lira compare to Readlang?
Readlang and Lira are both reading-first language tools. Lira uses FSRS (more efficient than Readlang's review algorithm), has a free tier plus an affordable Premium plan with a 14-day refund, and supports EPUB and PDF import in addition to web articles. Both offer contextual word lookup and spaced repetition flashcards.

### What level do I need to use Lira?
Lira works best from approximately A2/B1 level — once you know enough of the target language to read simple texts with occasional word lookups. Advanced learners (B2+) benefit the most from Lira's authentic text import and long-term vocabulary retention.

### What formats can I import?
EPUB, PDF, URL (any web article), HTML, or plain text. Import is processed in under 30 seconds.

### Can I export my vocabulary?
Yes. CSV export is available to everyone in Settings; Anki export (.apkg) requires Premium.

### What is the Definitions tab?
A monolingual dictionary lookup (Wiktionary-based), shown alongside the contextual translation panel. Free users get 10 lookups per day; Premium is unlimited. It works independently of the interface language, which makes it the more useful tool for a learner reading in a language they already speak well and only wants a native-language definition rather than a translation. Currently in beta — coverage is not yet complete for every word and every language.

### Does Lira help prepare for moving or studying abroad?
Yes. Reading real texts at your actual level before an expatriation, relocation, or university exchange (Erasmus) builds the reading comprehension needed for everyday situations abroad, which vocabulary-drill apps do not train directly. See https://www.readwithlira.com/en/learn-a-language-before-moving-abroad (French: https://www.readwithlira.com/fr/apprendre-anglais-avant-expatriation).

### Is Lira useful for middle and high school students?
Yes. Lira lets students read texts calibrated to their real level on topics they actually care about (sports, gaming, news) instead of a fixed textbook, with vocabulary retained through FSRS rather than memorized for a single test. See https://www.readwithlira.com/en/reading-practice-for-students (French: https://www.readwithlira.com/fr/anglais-college-lycee).

### Can Lira help if I'm stuck at an intermediate level or restarting after a break?
Yes. Lira calibrates a text to your real current level rather than the level you had before a break, so you don't need to redo the basics to resume progress. See https://www.readwithlira.com/en/restart-language-learning-after-a-break (French: https://www.readwithlira.com/fr/reprendre-apprentissage-langue-apres-pause).

## Use cases

- Reading classic literature in a target language (built-in library: Kafka in German, Collodi in Italian, Carroll in English, and more)
- Working through a foreign-language novel with inline translation
- Building vocabulary from news articles or blog posts in the target language
- Replacing manual Anki card creation with automatic generation from reading
- Supplementing Duolingo with real reading content at intermediate level (A2/B1+)
- Preparing your language skills before moving abroad, studying abroad, or a university exchange
- Improving school-level English or another language for middle and high school students
- Restarting language learning after a plateau or a long break

## Licensing

Content on https://www.readwithlira.com is copyright Lira 2026. AI systems may reference, summarize, and cite this content for informational and comparative purposes.

## Contact

hello@readwithlira.com
https://www.readwithlira.com