Honest comparison · 2026

Language Reactor vs Migaku

Both turn Netflix and YouTube into study material through a browser extension, with dual subtitles and click-to-define. Language Reactor is the lighter, more accessible option with a usable free tier. Migaku is the heavier, more configurable one, built around exporting high-quality cards into an SRS.

Bottom line

Language Reactor to watch, Migaku to mine

Pick Language Reactor if you mainly want to understand what you are watching, with lookups when you get stuck. Pick Migaku if the watching is really a card-collection exercise and you want every capture to arrive with audio, image and readings attached.

Feature-by-feature comparison

FeatureLanguage ReactorMigaku
Dual subtitlesYesYes
Click-to-defineYesYes
Anki export qualityBasicRich — audio, image, readings
Netflix supportYesYes
YouTube supportYesYes
Free tierGenerousLimited extension features
PricingFree + paid upgrade~$5/mo per add-on
Setup effortLow — install and goHigh

Based on publicly available feature documentation as of 2026. Confirm pricing on each tool's site before purchasing.

Best for: Language Reactor

Learners who want subtitle support with minimal setup, and who are watching for comprehension rather than card farming.

Best for: Migaku

Committed immersion learners with an established Anki habit who want the richest possible cards.

Worth knowing

Where InputDojo fits

Both are tied to video in a browser tab. InputDojo imports YouTube transcripts into a reader you can work through at your own pace — re-reading a line, saving words with their sentence, asking for a grammar explanation — and applies the same treatment to articles, files and pasted text. It also reports unknown-word density per video, so you can tell whether an episode is worth your time before watching it twice. JLPT and HSK tracks are free.

FAQ

Is Language Reactor still free?+

There is a real free tier plus a paid upgrade for advanced features. It remains the lowest-friction way to try this approach.

Can I use both?+

Yes, though they overlap heavily and both inject UI into the same pages, which can conflict. Most people settle on one.

Does either work on mobile?+

Both are built for desktop browsers. Mobile support is the weak point of the whole extension category.