An honest comparison of the top vocabulary Chrome extensions — what each does well, where they fall short, and which one fits your learning style.
A good vocabulary Chrome extension should do three things well: help you discover new words while reading, save them with enough context to remember them later, and give you a study system that actually leads to retention. Some tools focus on one of these; the best ones cover all three.
We've compared the most popular options. Full disclosure: Bellek is our product, but we've tried to be genuinely fair about what each tool does well and where it falls short.
Best for: ESL learners, exam prep, readers who want zero-friction saving with built-in study tools
Bellek turns any webpage into a vocabulary learning environment. Select any word, see the English definition with synonyms and examples, get a translation into your native language (20 supported), and save with one click. The word is captured with the full sentence context, source URL, and difficulty level — all in under 2 seconds.
Study with three built-in modes: flashcards with spaced repetition (free), Multiple Choice Quiz (Premium), and Smart Review that focuses on words you struggle with (Premium). The dashboard tracks streaks, mastery levels, and weekly goals with a clean, visual interface. Import from Anki or Quizlet via CSV. Study on mobile via QR code sync. Works on mixed-language pages.
Limitations: Chrome only. No native mobile app yet (web-based sync). Fixed flashcard format — no custom card templates. Spaced repetition algorithm is simpler than Anki's.
Price: Free (30 words, 3 collections, flashcards). Premium: $3.99/month or $29.99/year. Lifetime: $79.99.
Best for: Language learners who want AI-powered translations and Anki export
VocabKit provides AI-powered contextual translations on any webpage, including PDFs and images via OCR. It supports 40+ languages and focuses heavily on the translation side — giving you detailed contextual translations rather than just dictionary definitions. Saved words can be exported to Anki for study.
Limitations: No built-in spaced repetition or study modes — you need Anki or another app for review. Translation-focused rather than definition-focused. Relies on AI for translations which may vary in accuracy.
Price: Free daily translations. Paid plans for unlimited.
Best for: Intermediate language learners who read extensively in their target language
Readlang is a web reader that lets you click any word or phrase to see a translation. It's designed for reading full articles in a foreign language rather than looking up occasional words. Saved words automatically become flashcards with the original sentence as context. Has its own built-in spaced repetition system.
Limitations: Translation-focused — no English definitions with synonyms and examples. Better for translating than for building English vocabulary as an ESL learner. Limited organization features. The interface feels dated compared to newer tools — multiple reviewers note the UI looks basic and lacks the polish of modern extensions.
Price: Free (10 words/day). Premium: $5/month.
Best for: Casual learners who want passive exposure to new language words
Toucan takes a different approach: it automatically replaces words on the webpages you visit with their equivalents in your target language. The idea is immersion — you learn passively by encountering translated words in context as you browse normally. Hover over any replaced word to see the original.
Limitations: Very passive — no active recall, no spaced repetition, no quizzes. You don't choose which words to learn. Can be distracting when it replaces words on pages you need to read carefully. Limited to the languages and word lists Toucan provides. No CSV import or export.
Price: Free.
Best for: Students preparing for standardized tests who want curated word packs
HighVocab highlights saved words on every webpage you visit, so you see them in natural context across the web. It offers curated word packs for IELTS, TOEFL, GRE, and academic vocabulary. Click any word to translate and save it. Includes flashcards and quizzes for review.
Limitations: The highlighting approach works best for words you already saved — less helpful for discovering new words organically. Word packs are curated by the team, so you're limited to their selection. Less focus on context capture and original sentence saving.
Price: Free with premium features.
Best for: Readers who want saved words auto-highlighted on every page they visit
Burning Vocabulary automatically highlights words you've saved whenever they appear on any webpage, reinforcing your memory through repeated natural exposure. It captures sentence snapshots, provides auto-pronunciation, and includes a calendar-based review system with flashcards.
Limitations: The auto-highlighting can be visually noisy on text-heavy pages. The interface is more utilitarian than polished — functional, but not the most visually appealing experience. Less sophisticated study modes compared to dedicated flashcard tools. Translation support is more limited than tools like Bellek or VocabKit.
Price: Free with premium features.
Bellek — one-click saving with automatic context, definitions, and translations
VocabKit — strong AI-powered translations with OCR support and Anki integration
Readlang — built for immersive reading with click-to-translate and automatic flashcards
Toucan — replaces words on pages you browse, no active effort needed
HighVocab or Bellek — HighVocab offers curated packs; Bellek lets you build from practice materials and import lists
Burning Vocabulary or HighVocab — both highlight your saved words across every webpage you visit
Instant definitions. Translations in 20 languages. Smart flashcards. Context captured automatically. Free to start.
Add to Chrome — Free