Vocab First
iPhone app that puts a short English word lesson in front of the apps you open on autopilot.
- Verified facts
- 5 of 5
- Alternatives ranked
- 7
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- 0
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About Vocab First
Vocab First is an iPhone vocabulary app from Lab&Co for people who already speak English and want more precise words. Instead of asking you to remember to study, it uses Apple Screen Time to put a short lesson in front of apps you choose, such as social media. Before those apps open, you learn an advanced word with its meaning, pronunciation, part of speech and example sentences. On your next visit you answer a recall question about the previous word before learning a new one, then all your selected apps unlock for a length of time you set. When that window ends, the word step comes back. A personal word library, streaks and recall accuracy let you see what you've learned, and an optional pause after a wrong answer adds a moment to focus without blocking you for good. It suits people who scroll on autopilot and would rather turn that habit into practice than block apps outright. The trade-offs: it's iPhone only, it needs Screen Time permission and depends on how iOS handles it, and it requires a subscription after any introductory trial (the US App Store lists $4.99 a month or $19.99 a year). It's also not an English course for beginners.
Best for: Fluent English speakers who want to turn reflexive app opening into a daily word habit.
Pros and cons
What works
- Practice happens at a moment you already have, before opening chosen apps
- Recall questions on later visits, not just definitions
- You choose the apps and how long each unlock lasts
- Word library, streaks and recall accuracy tracking
Why people leave
- iPhone only, and needs Screen Time permission
- Subscription required after any introductory trial
- Aimed at fluent speakers, not English beginners
Top Vocab First alternatives
See all 7- 1
Word of the Day (Vocabulous)76.8A gentler daily-word app for iPhone and Mac that shows words without gating any apps or asking you to recall them.
- 2
Vocabulary - Learn words daily68.8Also puts English words in your day, but through a scrolling feed and Lock Screen widgets rather than a step before your apps open.
- 3
WordPal64.8A study-style vocabulary app with spaced repetition; you open it on purpose instead of meeting words when you reach for other apps.
- 4
Vocabulary Builder by Knudge59.4Quiz-based vocabulary builder for iOS and Android aimed more at exam takers and English learners than fluent speakers.
- 5
Atlas Vocabulary Builder57.5Places you at your level with a test and then follows a structured curriculum instead of one-off lessons.
Why people left Vocab First
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Vocab First: common questions
Is Vocab First free?
No, Vocab First is a paid product.
Is Vocab First open source?
No, Vocab First is not open source.
What platforms does Vocab First run on?
Vocab First is available for iOS.
What are the best alternatives to Vocab First?
The highest-ranked Vocab First alternatives right now are Word of the Day (Vocabulous), Vocabulary - Learn words daily and WordPal. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.