Sotto

At a glance

• Editor score
  5.7 / 10
• Pricing
  Free plan
• Best for
  Learners wanting maximum breadth and control
• Free plan
  Yes
• Paid from
  Free
• Offline lessons
  Yes
• Facts checked
  19 Sep 2026

• Where it wins

  • Covers grammar, reading, listening, speaking, and writing
  • Supports adaptive review, pronunciation scoring, and writing feedback
  • Runs across web, desktop, iOS, API, and self-hosted setups

• Where it doesn't

  • Self-hosting can require more setup than a hosted learning app
  • Cloud AI, speech, search, or storage providers may add direct costs
  • Its broad feature set may be more than casual learners need

Our verdict on Sotto

Sotto is an open-source language-learning application for learners who want private, context-based practice across all four core skills. Its CEFR-based courses cover grammar, reading, listening, speaking, and writing, while placement testing helps set up a language pair. The product also supports web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, API, and self-hosted workflows, with an iPad workbook experience described among its supported use cases.

Its standout strength is the depth of its learning loop. Classes are gated by mastery and can be regenerated after failed sections. Spaced-repetition vocabulary and a grammar memory graph support review, while adaptive listening is seeded by due vocabulary. Speaking practice combines recording, speech-to-text, and rubric-based pronunciation scoring. Writing work includes AI-assisted corrections and grading, and classes can be generated from articles, papers, YouTube links, or user topics. This makes Sotto a strong fit for learners who want structured progression alongside personalized material.

Sotto also gives technically minded learners unusually broad control over its AI and operating environment. It supports OpenAI, Anthropic, Claude Code, Codex CLI, Gemini Live API, Ollama, faster-whisper, Kokoro TTS, Docker, PostgreSQL, and Redis. Local LLM, speech-recognition, and text-to-speech providers enable fully offline operation, while live spoken translation is available through Gemini Live API. The trade-off is that self-hosting may demand more setup than a conventional hosted app, and selected cloud AI, speech, search, or storage providers may involve direct costs. Choose Sotto for breadth, privacy, and control; choose a simpler app if you want a narrow, ready-made study flow.

Your product? Our editors can test Sotto in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →

Sotto pricing

Sotto fact sheet

Sotto integrations

Sotto lists 11 integrations on its own site.

• OpenAI
• Anthropic
• Claude Code
• Codex CLI
• Gemini Live API
• Ollama
• faster-whisper
• Kokoro TTS
• Docker
• PostgreSQL
• Redis

Alternatives to Sotto

• DuolingoA strong free starting point with broad practice, personalization, and mobile access.9.4
• BusuuA broad language-learning app combining structured lessons with human and AI feedback.9.2
• BabbelA guided paid course with practice across listening, speaking, writing, and grammar.9.1

See all Sotto alternatives →

Featured on iTechGuides

Sotto is listed in our Language Learning Apps directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

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Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update