CaptionLearn vs FluentU
FluentU wraps videos in a course: quizzes, flashcards, an AI tutor and apps. CaptionLearn does only the core part: tap any subtitle word on any YouTube video for its meaning in that sentence. FluentU Plus costs US$29.99 a month; CaptionLearn starts free and its paid plans are monthly.
CaptionLearn and FluentU side by side
| CaptionLearn | FluentU | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (monthly) | Free (30 lookups); Standard €4.90/month, Intensive €9.90/month | Plus US$29.99/month, Super US$39.99/month source |
| Price (yearly) | No yearly plan | Plus US$143.99/year, Super US$199.99/year source |
| Videos | Any YouTube video with captions | Any YouTube or Netflix video with subtitles in the language source |
| Practice | Export to Anki, Quizlet, Brainscape, LingQ, CSV | Personalised quizzes, flashcards, courses, AI tutor source |
| Apps | Browser, desktop and phone | Web, iPhone, iPad, Android and a Chrome extension source |
| Trial | Free plan, no card | 14-day free trial source |
Where FluentU is better
- Mobile apps and a Chrome extension.
- Quizzes, flashcards, courses and AI speaking practice in one place.
- Netflix as well as YouTube.
Pick FluentU if
- you want a structured course with quizzes
- you want speaking practice with an AI tutor
- you watch Netflix too
Pick CaptionLearn if
- you want the click-a-word part without paying for a course around it
- you want phrases and separable verbs recognised as one
- you'd rather start free and stay monthly
What CaptionLearn does well
1 / 7
The meaning in this sentence
Each word is translated with the sentence around it, so you get what the speaker means, not a list of dictionary entries.
What it doesn't do
- YouTube only: no Netflix, no series or films.
- Auto-generated captions vary in quality, and a video without captions in your language can't be used.
- No flashcard review or speaking practice inside the app; saved words export to Anki, Quizlet and others instead.
- The free plan has a monthly lookup limit.
- No browser extension or phone app yet: it runs in the browser, on phones too.
Questions
Is CaptionLearn a course?
No. It is just the video and its subtitles: you pick what to watch, tap what you don't know, and keep it with its sentence.
Can I try both for free?
CaptionLearn has a free plan with a set number of lookups each month, no card needed. FluentU offers a 14-day free trial.
Are you affiliated with FluentU?
No. CaptionLearn is not affiliated with FluentU. Their names are trademarks of their owners.
Try it on a video you want to watch
30 free lookups a month, no card needed.
Start for free