Lexigo vs Toucan
Both are free extensions that teach you words as you browse, in opposite directions. Toucan, by Babbel, swaps certain words on your pages into the language you are learning. Lexigo changes nothing: select an English word you don’t know to understand it and keep it.
Which one fits you?
Choose Lexigo if…
- You already read in English, even slowly
- You want to choose which words to learn
- You want reviews that bring words back in time
Choose Toucan if…
- You want a first contact with a new language
- You prefer words to appear on their own
- You are learning one of its 12 languages
They work on different pages: use both, Toucan on pages in your own language, Lexigo on pages in English.
They work in opposite directions
Toucan brings a new language to pages you already understand. Lexigo helps you understand pages in English.
Lexigo- Read a page in English
- Select a word you don’t know
- Save the ones worth keeping
- Review before you forget
- Browse in a language you know
- Toucan swaps some words
- Hover over a word to save it
- Practice with quizzes and games
Side by side
| Feature | Lexigo | Toucan |
|---|---|---|
| On the page | ||
| What happens | Nothing, until you select Then a tooltip opens next to the word | Words change on their own Certain words and phrases appear in the language you learn |
| Who picks the words | You The ones you don’t know | Toucan You set your level in its settings |
| Pages it works on | Pages in English | Pages in a language you know Optimised for English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Hindi and Korean |
| Languages you can learn | With limits: English only | Yes: 12 languages French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Hindi, English, Hebrew, Arabic and Chinese |
| Your words | ||
| What you get for a word | Translation, meaning, audio, AI Into 19 languages, with IPA and an AI explanation in its sentence | The word in context In the language you learn, inside the sentence you read |
| Saving words | Yes: Free With its sentence and page (free account) | Yes: Hover and click save Saved words are in its settings panel |
| Practice | Spaced-repetition reviews In the web app, also on phones, plus a weekly news digest with your words | Quizzes and games Plus “Extra Practice” sessions on Google, Twitter and Reddit |
| Access | ||
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox | Chrome and Edge |
| Price | Free Every feature | Free to install We found no paid plan on its public pages |
Facts about Toucan checked on November 5, 2026, from its own pages. Something changed? Tell us at hello@lexigo.wiki.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lexigo a Toucan alternative?
If you want to read English and look up what you don’t know, yes. If you want words in a new language to appear on your pages by themselves, Lexigo doesn’t do that, and Toucan does.
What does Toucan do better?
It makes the first steps in a language effortless: install it, choose a language and browse as usual. It covers 12 languages, translates larger chunks as you progress, and adds quizzes, games and small practice sessions on sites like Google and Reddit.
What does Lexigo do better?
It helps with the real English in front of you. You pick the words you actually needed, see their translation, senses, pronunciation and an AI explanation, and each saved word comes back in spaced-repetition reviews and in a weekly news digest at your level.
Does Toucan teach English?
Yes. Babbel’s help article lists English among its 12 languages. Toucan swaps words on pages in a language you already know, so you would browse in your own language and see some words in English.
Does Lexigo change the pages I read?
No. The page stays as it is. Lexigo only opens a tooltip next to a word when you select it.
Is Toucan free?
Its home page calls it a free extension. We found no paid plan on its public pages, but we could not read every page: its pricing address no longer exists.
Can I use both?
Yes. Toucan works on pages in a language you already know and Lexigo on pages in English, so they cover different parts of your browsing.
Learn the English you read
Select any word on a page, understand it on the spot, and keep the ones worth keeping. Free, in Chrome, Edge and Firefox.