Pick Cake if you are learning English or Korean and want short clips from films, shows and vlogs so you can copy real everyday expressions. Pick 1000 Words if you are learning any other language or want to build core vocabulary systematically: the 1000 most important words with translation, example sentence and audio, reviewed with SM-2, in 33 languages. For English and Korean, the two apps make a good pair.
This comparison uses Cake's store listing, Cake's own blog, app store reviews and independent reviews. There is far less public criticism of Cake than of the big course apps, so single voices are marked as such. It reflects November 2026.
| Cake | 1000 Words | |
|---|---|---|
| Approach | short clips from films, shows, vlogs and K-pop; repeat expressions, quizzes, a learning path | core vocabulary: 1000 words per language plus a spaced-repetition trainer |
| Languages | English and Korean | 33 languages, any combination (1056 pairs) |
| Content source | real clips with everyday speech and slang | curated word lists with example sentence, audio and image |
| Speaking | AI pronunciation coach, speaking practice | speaking mode where the device supports speech recognition |
| Review | review quizzes for saved sentences | SM-2 with a due list, six modes plus Mix |
| Free | with ads; hearts limit subtitles, quizzes and speaking | Basic with ads: trainer, quizzes, video and audiobook for 100 words |
| Paid | Cake Plus: unlimited hearts, no ads, Plus content; US listing about $14/month | Premium: €5.99/month or €29.99/year (Germany) |
| Platforms | iOS, Android | iOS, Android, web |
Cake teaches language the way people actually speak it. Instead of invented textbook dialogues you watch short scenes from shows, films and vlogs, pick up slang and idioms and say them back. For K-drama and K-pop fans that is a strong motivator. Cake is also hugely popular: AppGoblin lists around 125 million Android installs with 4.75 stars, and the US App Store shows 4.9 stars from about 16,000 ratings. Sessions are short enough for any break, and an AI pronunciation coach gives feedback on your recordings.
1000 Words is built around a clearly defined core vocabulary rather than clips. Each course contains the 1000 most important words of a language in three categories (nouns, verbs and adjectives, sentences), each with translation, example sentence, audio and usually an image. The trainer schedules reviews with SM-2 and quizzes you with flashcards, typing, listening, matching, a Blitz round and a mixed mode. The same vocabulary plays as video and audiobook, including a three-times-repeat audiobook for falling asleep, and is also available as e-book, PDF and quiz.
For many learners the decisive difference is language choice. Cake teaches English and Korean. 1000 Words connects 33 languages in every direction, including Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, French, Vietnamese and Thai, from any of those languages.
Cake is free with ads. Subtitles, quizzes and speaking practice cost hearts; Cake's own blog (2023) describes three hearts a day that could be refilled by watching ads. Cake Plus adds unlimited hearts, no ads and exclusive content; the US listing shows about $14 a month, with annual packages also offered (as of November 2026, varies by country).
1000 Words Basic is also free with ads but has no hearts. Premium costs €5.99 a month or €29.99 a year in Germany and covers all 33 languages. A short trial may be available depending on the store and plan.
Cake is rated very highly in the app stores. The points below come from critical store reviews, a design teardown of the app and independent reviews. Some are single voices, which we say where it applies.
One user writes in a store review that only about 25% of videos used to be Plus and now most are. A September 2026 review calls restricted free use a recurring complaint in recent App Store reviews, while noting that most recent reviews are positive.
What 1000 Words does better here: as far as we know, the full vocabulary of every course is available in the 1000 Words trainer, with no hearts. To be fair, 1000 Words has a paywall too: in Basic, video and audiobook only cover the first 100 words.
In Cake, subtitles, quizzes and speaking cost hearts. A design teardown says the system can end a study session abruptly. According to Cake's own blog, empty hearts could be refilled by watching ads.
What 1000 Words does better here: 1000 Words has no hearts or energy. The due list decides how much you review.
Screensdesign's teardown criticises full-screen ads, some styled like system warnings, and several subscription offers in a row; independent reviews also mention ads as a distraction.
1000 Words only helps with Premium: 1000 Words Basic shows ads too. Premium is ad-free.
Cake teaches English and Korean. Anyone wanting a third language needs another app.
What 1000 Words does better here: 33 languages in 1056 combinations, including Korean from German, Spanish or Japanese, with no detour through English.
One user wants longer videos because 15 seconds gives too little context, and an independent review describes Cake as entertainment-led practice rather than a full curriculum for sentence structure and speech levels.
What 1000 Words does better here: every word sits in an example sentence, and AI stories at A1 to C1 put your words into short connected texts with audio. 1000 Words has no grammar course either, though.
One App Store review titled "Took my money" says the subscription carried on after the trial without any reminder. This is a single voice.
1000 Words only partly helps here: 1000 Words subscriptions also renew automatically through the stores. 1000 Words only shows a trial when the store actually grants one.
One user reports that clips only played on Wi-Fi, not on mobile data. Again, a single voice.
What 1000 Words does better here: with Premium you can download videos and audiobooks and use them offline. Basic has no downloads.
Cake is a strong, entertaining app for English and Korean, with real everyday speech and excellent ratings. Criticism focuses on the growing Plus-only content, the hearts system and ads. 1000 Words has no TV clips, but it offers a fixed core vocabulary in 33 languages, SM-2 review, video and audiobooks and no hearts limit. If you are learning English or Korean, use 1000 Words to lock in the words and Cake to train your ear on real speech; for any other language, 1000 Words is the one to choose.
For core vocabulary and for any language other than English and Korean, 1000 Words is the better fit. For listening practice with real TV clips, Cake is stronger. As of November 2026.
No, Cake offers English and Korean. 1000 Words offers 33 languages, including Japanese, Chinese, Spanish and French.
No. 1000 Words has no hearts and no energy. Instead, Basic limits video, audiobooks, e-books, your own words and AI stories.
Yes. Korean is one of the 33 languages in 1000 Words and can be learned from any of the other 32.
Cake Plus is listed at about $14 a month in the US. 1000 Words Premium costs €5.99 a month or €29.99 a year in Germany. Prices vary by country and store.
No. 1000 Words focuses on the most common words of the standard language with example sentences; Cake is the place for slang from TV shows.