Migaku Review 2026: Price, Features and Who It Suits
Migaku is a paid language-learning toolkit built around one idea: learn from real shows, videos and web pages, and turn the words you meet into flashcards. This Migaku review sticks to what can be checked: what the product says it does, where it runs, what it costs in November 2026, and which kind of learner it fits. It is not free, it is one of the most complete tools of its kind, and it is more than some learners need.
A note on method: JoJoJi makes a competing tool, so this page relies on Migaku's own site, pricing page and App Store listing rather than on opinions. Where something could not be confirmed, it says so. Ours is the smaller of the two: JoJoJi works on YouTube only and has you say each line along with the speaker, for $29.99 a year.
What Migaku is
Migaku describes itself as "a powerful Chrome extension that turns your favorite websites into simple and effective learning materials". In practice it is a set of connected pieces:
- A Chrome extension that makes subtitles and web text clickable. Click a word and you get its definition, pronunciation, images and an AI explanation of the word in context.
- One-click flashcards. According to Migaku's home page, a card includes the new word, its context sentence, audio, a screenshot, a definition and an AI explanation.
- Migaku Memory, its built-in spaced repetition system, available in the apps and on the web. Cards sync between devices and can be studied offline.
- Beginner courses made of flashcards. The App Store listing says they teach about 1,500 common words plus a few hundred grammar points, and that they are currently available for Japanese, Mandarin and Korean.
- iOS and Android apps for reviewing cards and for studying with YouTube on a phone.
The method behind it is the one many immersion learners already follow: learn the most frequent words first, then watch and read real content, and review what you pick up.
Platforms and supported sites
Migaku's FAQ says the browser extension "has been specifically designed to work with Google Chrome". On the video side, the same FAQ lists Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, Rakuten Viki and Animelon for the extension. It also works on ordinary web pages.
The mobile apps are narrower. The App Store listing says the mobile app supports YouTube, pasted text and physical content such as books or street signs. Netflix on a phone is not on that list.
Languages
Migaku supports 11 languages: Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese, Korean, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Vietnamese and English. One subscription covers all of them, and the FAQ confirms you can study several at once.
That list is shorter than what some competitors offer, but the supported languages get deep treatment. If you are learning Russian, Thai, Arabic or Dutch, Migaku is not an option today.
Migaku pricing in November 2026
These prices come from Migaku's pricing page, checked in November 2026:
| Plan | Price | What it adds |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $10 per month | All tools, courses and the 11 languages |
| Early Access | $15 per month | Everything in Standard, plus new features before general release |
| Lifetime | $499 once | Everything in Early Access, all future updates, no further billing |
The page advertises a 20% saving when you pay yearly on the two subscription plans. Vouchers and promotions appear from time to time, so check the page for the figure that applies to you.
Is Migaku free?
No. There is no free tier: the App Store listing states that "Migaku requires a paid subscription to access its courses, features, and AI tools". The apps are free to download, but you need a subscription to use them.
What Migaku offers instead of a free plan is a 10-day money-back guarantee, shown under every plan on the pricing page. Older articles mention a free trial; the pricing page we read talks about the guarantee. Read the current terms before paying, because this is the kind of detail that changes.
What Migaku does well
- Coverage. Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, Rakuten Viki and general web pages in one extension, plus phone apps. Few tools cover both streaming and mobile.
- Rich cards. Screenshot, audio and sentence are captured in one click. People who used to assemble this by hand with Anki and several add-ons get it without the plumbing.
- A path for beginners. The courses give a true beginner something to do before native content becomes readable. Most subtitle tools assume you can already follow a little.
- Everything in one account. Lookup, cards, reviews and progress tracking live together, and the apps keep your reviews with you during the day.
- Anki decks can come along. The App Store listing says decks designed for Anki can be converted for use with Migaku.
The limits
- No free plan. You can't use it for a few weeks at no cost before deciding. The guarantee reduces the risk, but you still pay first.
- Price. $10 a month is $120 a year at the monthly rate, and somewhat less with yearly billing. That is fair for someone who uses the courses, Netflix and mobile reviews every day, and a lot for someone who only wants subtitles on YouTube.
- Chrome on desktop. The extension is built for Chrome. Other browsers are not officially supported.
- Eleven languages. Deep, but a short list.
- A lot of product. Courses, card types, dictionaries, AI explanations, settings. Learners who enjoy tuning a system will like that. Learners who want to press one button and study may find it heavy.
- Shadowing is not the focus. The pages we read present Migaku as a comprehension and vocabulary tool. If speaking along with native lines is your main practice, check that it fits your routine before subscribing.
Is Migaku worth it?
It depends on how much of it you would use.
Migaku is likely worth it if you are learning one of its 11 languages, you watch Netflix or Disney+ as well as YouTube, you want reviews on your phone, and you like cards with a screenshot and audio. Beginners in Japanese, Mandarin or Korean get the most out of the subscription because of the courses.
It is probably too much if you only watch YouTube, you want a tool that needs no setup, your language is not on the list, or your budget is closer to $30 a year than $120.
If you only watch YouTube: JoJoJi
That second profile is the learner JoJoJi is built for. You open a YouTube video you like in Chrome, and three things happen with nothing to configure:
- You speak. Shadow mode plays a line, stops, and plays it again so you say it at the same time as the native speaker.
- You keep the words. One click on a word in the subtitles shows its meaning, and one button saves it as a flashcard with its sentence. No deck to build.
- You remember them. Reviews wait for you on jojoji.app, with spaced repetition and no settings.
It costs $9.99 a month or $29.99 a year, against $120 a year for Migaku at its monthly rate. It is deliberately smaller: YouTube only, on a computer, with no phone app, no cards with screenshots, no courses, and no free plan or trial. If you want Netflix or mobile, Migaku is the better fit.
Migaku vs Language Reactor
Language Reactor is the usual comparison. It is a Chrome extension for Netflix and YouTube with bilingual subtitles, a pop-up dictionary and precise playback controls, and it says it handles content in more than 40 languages.
The main difference is the business model. Language Reactor's core features are free. Its optional Pro mode adds machine translation, saving words across all its features, and export to Anki. Migaku has no free plan but includes its own review system, phone apps and courses.
So: if you want free dual subtitles and a dictionary, start with Language Reactor. If you want a full system with built-in flashcards and are ready to pay for it, Migaku does more. Our guide to Language Reactor alternatives compares both with other tools in one table.
Alternatives to Migaku
Each of these fits a different learner.
- JoJoJi. YouTube only, built around speaking each line, $29.99 a year. Best for people who want to speak with nothing to set up; see above.
- Language Reactor. Free for the essentials, Netflix and YouTube, more than 40 languages. Best for people who want subtitles and lookups without paying.
- Lingopie. A streaming service with its own catalogue of shows and films, phone and TV apps, and a 7-day free trial. Best for people who would rather be handed content than find it.
- asbplayer. Free and open source. It loads subtitles onto streaming video and creates Anki cards, but you set up Anki, AnkiConnect and a dictionary yourself. Best for people who already live in Anki.
For Japanese learners, our article on learning Japanese with anime explains how these tools fit into a weekly routine.
Frequently asked questions
Is Migaku worth it?
For a learner of one of its 11 languages who uses the courses, the streaming support and the phone apps, the price is reasonable for what is included. For someone who only watches YouTube, a free or cheaper tool covers the need.
Is Migaku free?
No. Migaku has no free tier. In November 2026 plans start at $10 per month, with a 10-day money-back guarantee listed on the pricing page.
Migaku vs Language Reactor: which one should I pick?
Language Reactor if you want the basics free and in many languages. Migaku if you want built-in flashcards with spaced repetition, beginner courses and phone apps, and your language is supported.
Does Migaku work on a phone?
Yes, there are iOS and Android apps. According to the App Store listing they support YouTube, pasted text and reviewing your cards. The streaming sites other than YouTube are handled by the Chrome extension on a computer.