Sotto review
A broad, private language-learning workspace with offline and self-hosted options.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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.
Sotto pros and cons
- 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
Sotto fact sheet, pricing and score →
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