Lingopie Review: A Great Video Tool With Varied Content
This review takes an up-close look at one of the latest language learning tools on the market, Lingopie. We'll look at whether the features, costs, and language options are better than those of competitors.
We'll also discuss the cost of the service, what makes Lingopie stand out (in what is already a pretty saturated market), and the value for money that this service provides.
Whether you’re a beginner or bordering on fluent, Lingopie is a great language resource for anyone that’s keen to learn a new language outside the classroom.
It has just introduced two new languages (Japanese and Korean), meaning eight are now available in total. But if yours isn’t available, don’t fret. There’s a lot to come from Lingopie in the future.
In this Lingopie review, you'll get a better understanding of the following:
👍 What Lingopie is and what makes it different
👍 What our experience with Lingopie was
👍 Whether or not this app is worth the subscription cost
Oh, by the way, a few weeks after publishing this review I actually managed to catch up with the founder and CEO of Lingopie face to face.
We spoke about language learning methodologies and the actual Lingopie product itself. You can watch the interview and read the full transcript here.
What Is Lingopie?
Lingopie is one of the latest language learning apps on the market with great language learning features.
It enables you to learn foreign languages by watching TV.
Live since 2019, the Lingopie app is perfect for boosting the language skills of you and your family - both on the move or while relaxing at home.
Through its language learning program, it enables you to learn new languages at your own pace by watching authentic international content in its extensive library.
As far as we know, no other service exists like it within the language learning world. If there is such a thing out there already, it certainly won't contain such advanced features.
For a small price each year, you’ll have access to a library of thousands of TV series, shows, and movies, suitable for beginner, intermediate and advanced learners.
This number continues to grow both on desktop and mobile apps. What's more, the Lingopie team plans to introduce more languages with new features in the not-too-distant future.
You can also look forward to the upcoming Lingopie podcast, as well as other streaming services such as Lingopie Music. This feature will enable learners to learn new vocabulary in their target language through listening comprehension.
It’s another way for language learners to learn languages on the move and to better engage with the subtleties of their target language, too.
The Foreign Languages That Lingopie Currently Supports
Lingopie offers the opportunity to learn multiple languages, albeit not simultaneously.
Currently, you can learn the following languages:
🇩🇪 German
🇪🇸 Spanish
🇷🇺 Russian
🇫🇷 French
🇮🇹 Italian
🇵🇹 Portuguese
🇰🇷 Korean
🇯🇵 Japanese
These are some of the most popular languages in the world to learn (with the exception of Mandarin Chinese Mandarin Chinese and Arabic.
According to Lingopie, we can expect to see more languages being supported in the future. Users can only learn one new language at a time, but all languages are the same price.
Lingopie Language Learning Features
What separates Lingopie from any other VOD (video on demand) foreign language platform is the range of learning-focused unique features it offers.
Users can enjoy a truly personalized experience, whether binge-watching shows at an advanced level or using the mobile app to learn new vocabulary.
Flashcards in your target language
The built-in flashcards on Lingopie are a great feature.
The app generates quizzes and flashcards based on what you watch, and the words and phrases/vocabulary you wish to work on. This is one of several great features.
In addition, it tracks your progress along with the learning time you’ve accumulated. At the end of each block, you can use review mode to monitor the words you've learned.
Playback Speed Options
What makes learning languages with Lingopie great is the fact that you can adjust playback speeds to help with speaking practice. You can also apply auto-repeat and auto-pause settings.
This makes it user-friendly for beginners.
The show or movie will always reset right where you need it to and at the speed you need it to - without fiddling with the mouse every 10 seconds.
When you’re done, you can head over to the review section to see just what you’ve learned so far.
If it feels like you’re getting ahead of yourself, that’s where Lingopie’s advanced captioning comes in.
Subtitles for learning languages
With Lingopie TV, you can highlight words and display subtitles in your target language and English simultaneously. This is a great way to learn new words.
It also means you can always see the English translation of certain words, phrases, or fixed vocabulary.
You’ll always know the difficulty level of what you’re watching.
Furthermore, you are made aware of where the native speakers are from, as well as the dialect.
For example, if you are learning Spanish, you'll find language content from Spain and Latin America.
For those that don’t spend too much time in one place, Lingopie works great for boosting language growth on both desktop and mobile devices - Android and iOS.
Lingopie Review: How reasonable is the pricing?
The pricing structure is really simple, which makes Lingopie quite refreshing compared to many competitors also offering a platform to learn languages.
There are two plans for Lingopie: Annual and Family.
Both options are affordable for what you get, especially when you consider that the library continues to grow. And it’s already in the 1000s.
Plus, both come with a seven-day free trial and full access.
👍 Annual: $65.00 per year
👍 Family: $99.00 per year
👍 Subscription: $12 p/month
The Family plan includes all the goodies that the Annual one does, but you also get early access to all the new content and daily news that’s soon to be uploaded.
That’s not all, though. The Family option means you can share your plan with three other people, whether that’s siblings, parents, friends, or anyone else that’s on the same language journey as you are.
You'll have access to the same profile page. However, each individual can save their own personal learning progress.
Does Lingopie Offer a Free Trial?
Yes, Lingopie offers a free 7-day trial for all of its languages at no cost.
This provides access to the entire video library, so users can watch TV shows in different languages (with English subtitles or any native subtitles if necessary) in order to improve comprehension and become familiar with the platform.
As is the case with all free trials, users will need to provide card details in order to access the content and the features of the app.
If you do not wish to purchase the service, just make sure you cancel the trial before the 7-day trial is up to avoid being charged. Simple!
Who Can Use Lingopie?
Since you can watch and enjoy learning at the same time, Lingopie is perfect for anyone who enjoys a good movie or two. And who doesn’t?
All you need is a computer to use on the desktop or access to the mobile app.
Plus, it works great for beginners (it's beginner-friendly), experts, and everyone in between.
The subtitles on popular VOD platforms like Netflix are often outsourced.
If you ever watch shows with English subtitles, you'll notice that they are often full of mistakes.
Most language subtitles are. This does nothing to help you speak like the locals, whether you're watching Russian content or learning the most popular languages like Spanish and French.
You won’t find that here. Each word is translated properly and with the correct context.
Combine that with features like auto-pause and auto-repeat, progress tracking, and dual-captioning, users can get personal with what they’re watching and truly take the most knowledge from it.
But here’s the thing. Lingopie can be just as much about entertainment as it is about learning.
Those that like to have the odd night off can simply enjoy watching videos and the great content that’s available - with native captions or without.
It provides a place to learn foreign languages without having to put your study hat on.
Our Experience With Lingopie
We spoke with Josh, an Englishman who had recently moved to Spain with no prior knowledge of the Spanish language.
He told us that Lingopie has been incredibly useful alongside his lessons so far.
"Both home-viewing and my morning commute are now spent binge-watching the various original shows, movies, and shorts that are available on the platform. Pointless scrolling on social media is no more.
For any word or dialogue that I don’t already understand, I either take a closer look there and then add it to my pile so I can challenge myself on it later.
I started with the free trial - as everyone should - and had no problem continuing to premium.
I went with the Family plan so the other English colleagues at work could share it with me, and so we can learn from the same shows and practice our Spanish while talking about them.
Personally, I’d say it’s well worth the low yearly cost. And there’s usually some sort of deal on the price that you can take advantage of, so keep your eyes peeled."
Lingopie Shows
Despite the recent introduction of Lingopie Music and Lingopie Podcasts, the main feature of the service is the TV shows and movies it provides.
As mentioned, there is a huge variety of shows and movies from which to choose, both for adults and kids, with mixed genres.
When users log in to use Lingopie, they have the option to pick up where they left off last.
Alternatively, if users want to find something new, they can scroll through different categories like Viewers’ Choice, New Releases, Lingopie Kids, and Popular Now.
Something we find particularly useful is the fact that the platform shows you which country each show is from while you’re scrolling.
This is really helpful if the language you’re learning has different dialects and accents. French and Spanish, in particular, are examples of this.
Admittedly, we'd like to see a greater variety of TV shows and movies available, although Lingopie is adding to its library all the time.
Top Shows & Movies According To Lingopie Language Learners
Anyone that’s lived abroad knows someone who’s used the likes of Friends, the timeless American TV show, to learn the bulk of their English words, vocabulary, or phrases.
This isn’t usually the reality for those who already speak English, though. We don’t all know the Spanish Friends equivalent, for example.
But that’s where Lingopie really shines amongst other apps, and it's a new, pretty cool feature.
Users are exposed to so much original, native content and you have the chance to focus on what other 'Lingopiers' have rated the highest.
Just head to ‘Viewers’ Choice’ to find out.
Though most of them are kids’ shows, these are often popular with adults, too, since the language is super simple, which again is beginner-friendly.
According to users, the unmissable media for each language right now are:
🇫🇷 French: Detour (Short Movie - Beginner)
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Like This, But Not Like This (Short Movie - Beginner)
🇩🇪 German: Wolf (TV Show - Beginner)
🇷🇺 Russian: Flying Animals (TV Show - Beginner)
🇮🇹 Italian: Handico (TV Show - Intermediate)
🇪🇸 Spanish: Kitty Is Not A Cat (TV Show - Beginner)
A Summary of the Lingopie Pros & Cons
You get the picture. We're fans of this app. However, no language learning app is without room for improvement.
Below we've listed the main pros and cons of Lingopie to date. Obviously, these are open to change as the app is developing all the time.
In fact, if you sign up to Lingopie with the app, you'll get 40 minutes free every week.
The Main Pros
- It's extremely affordable, unlike many competitors.
- Lingopie is a relatively new app that’s already making big waves in the language learning community. It's only going to improve from here.
- The platform is beginner-friendly and easy to use.
- The app is suitable for all ages and levels, from kids to adults, and from beginners to advanced learners.
- The app offers a great way to learn offline, which is really useful for those who have limited or no data.
- Lingopie is currently available in 7 of (arguably) the world's most popular languages (French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Russian, Italian, and English).
The Main Cons
- Lingopie could do with more languages. Further to the introduction of Japanese and Korean, we'd like to see Mandarin Chinese added to the list. Think about it, it could completely dominate the market if it were to introduce more Asian languages!
- The app could also do with more TV shows and movies. They don't compare to Netflix, even though the content is pretty good.
- Although the app is beginner-friendly, it would be good to see more features geared toward beginners. For example, we'd like to see a lingo list of new vocabulary for each episode.
Language Learning Alternatives and how they compare to Lingopie
Lingopie is a great language learning app, but it's obviously not the only one on the market. Here are some alternatives and how they compare:
Duolingo
Duolingo is one of the most popular language-learning apps and it's free to use. It offers a gamified approach to learning which some people love, and others find frustrating.
Babbel
Babbel is another popular language-learning app, but it's a lot more expensive than Lingopie. It's interactive but does not teach languages through TV. Instead, it offers a more gamified approach.
Be sure to check out our Babbel Review.
LingoDeer
LingoDeer is a language-learning app that's similar to Duolingo in that it offers a gamified approach to learning. It's also free to use.
FluentU
FluentU is an online language-learning platform that offers real-world content, such as TV shows, music videos, and movie trailers. It is similar to Lingopie but considerably more expensive.
Be sure to check out our FluentU Review.
LingoPie Review Final Thoughts: So Is It Worth It?
Learning a foreign language with Lingopie is worth it on so many levels. It's a great way to practice comprehension of a new language in a way that is more fun than traditional textbook methods.
You could’ve recently moved abroad in an attempt to learn Spanish, been studying a foreign language at university, or wanted to share your native language with your children.
Whether you are interested in trialing Lingopie Russian, Lingopie German, or any other languages available, these reasons and more provide all the incentives you need to give this unique education tool a go.
You might not find the catalog to be as, let’s say, well-known as what’s offered by the most popular VOD platforms. However, this is actually super helpful when it comes to learning languages.
Language learners can avoid the distraction that comes with the latest Hollywood flicks - all poorly dubbed and subbed - and discover original entertainment from both promising and established foreign creators through genuine translations.
Binging-watching and language learning is something you’ll only really find with Lingopie.
It's a great app that provides the chance to grow knowledge and have fun. Plus, it's only getting better and more advanced in the near future.
Making a game of the world’s favorite pastime (watching TV) is an opportunity you won’t find elsewhere!
We hope you have found this review useful. If you have, please feel free to share it on your social platforms. Good luck on your language learning journey.
