AnimeVocab vs Language Reactor
Both live in your browser and both turn shows into Japanese practice. They assume different learners. Language Reactor is the best dual-subtitle reader out there. AnimeVocab is for the person who can't read the subtitles yet, and for shows where there's no Japanese subtitle track to read.
If you can't comfortably read Japanese subtitles yet, this isn't close. AnimeVocab is built for you and Language Reactor isn't. Language Reactor is a fine dual-subtitle reader once you've got the script down and want to study across several languages, but it needs an existing subtitle track and hands you subtitles to read rather than teaching you a word. Start with AnimeVocab; add Language Reactor later if you also want a reader.
| AnimeVocab | Language Reactor | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Beginners who can't read kana yet | Intermediate readers using dual subs |
| Price | Free · Pro $10/moPro covers audio transcription | Free · Pro ~$5/mo (≈$28/yr) |
| Works without a Japanese subtitle track | YesListening Mode transcribes the audio | NoNeeds an existing subtitle track |
| Romaji-first for total beginners | Yes (default) | Optional display; UX is built around reading subs |
| Pushes one curated word per line | YesFrequency + JLPT filtered | No (you hover and save words yourself) |
| Built-in spaced repetition | Yes | Saved-words review; real SRS via Anki export |
| Anki export | Not yet (JSON export) | Yes (Pro) |
| Dictionary depth | Focused JMdict glosses | Deeper + AI dictionary |
| Languages | Japanese only | 30+ languages |
| Platforms | YouTube, Netflix, Crunchyroll | Netflix, YouTube |
| Open source | Yes (AGPL) | No |
| Data stays on your device | Yes, no account | Account-based |
What Language Reactor is good at
Two things about it are genuinely strong, both on the assumption that you can already read the script:
- A deep dictionary. Its lookups go well past a one-line gloss, which helps once you can already read the word you're looking up.
- Many languages. If you're studying Korean or Spanish too, one tool covers them.
Neither of those does anything for you on day one, because both start from text you can read. That's exactly the gap AnimeVocab fills:
Where AnimeVocab wins
The two things Language Reactor structurally can't do are the two things a beginner needs most:
- You don't need to read Japanese. Cards lead with romaji, so you can start on episode one instead of grinding kana first.
- It works from audio. Language Reactor needs a subtitle track to read. On Netflix and Crunchyroll, where you can't mine subs, AnimeVocab's Listening Mode transcribes the spoken Japanese while your English subtitles stay on.
- It decides for you. Instead of hovering and choosing what to save, AnimeVocab surfaces one useful word per line, filtered by frequency and JLPT level. Lower effort, fewer decisions mid-episode.
- Private and open. No account, data stays in your browser, and the source is on GitHub under AGPL.
Which should you use?
Pick AnimeVocab if…
You can't comfortably read kana yet, you watch on Netflix/Crunchyroll, or you'd rather be handed one word than mine your own.
Pick Language Reactor if…
You already read Japanese subtitles, want the deepest dictionary, learn several languages, or live inside an Anki mining workflow.