Mil Palavras vs Portuguish

Exam ready vs life in Portugal

Portuguish offers comprehensive study packages including live classes with native teachers. Mil Palavras is getting you to switch to English less often.

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Mil Palavras
Talk like you belong.

Mil Palavras vs Portuguish

Which app is for you?

Mil Palavras
Portuguish
Variant
European Portuguese
European Portuguese
Focus
Accelerated learning for key words and phrases
Comprehensive platform incl. courses and lessons
Customization
Integrated learning loops, lifelines and study settings
Personalized flashcards in lessons
Price
Free, no ads
From €9.90 per month
Best for
Expats managing life in Portugal
Learners who want a teacher
Based on public information in October 2026.
Mil Palavras and Portuguish compared for learning Portuguese
CompareMil PalavrasPortuguish
VariantEuropean PortugueseEuropean Portuguese
FocusAccelerated learning for key words and phrasesComprehensive platform incl. courses and lessons
CustomizationIntegrated learning loops, lifelines and study settingsPersonalized flashcards in lessons
PriceFree, no adsFrom €9.90 per month
Best forExpats managing life in PortugalLearners who want a teacher

Source: Portuguish website. Spot something outdated? Tell us.

The core difference

A guided path. Or the words from today.

Mil Palavras starts with your life.

Look up the word at the pharmacy. With a free account it comes back as a card. Practice it later, then build the sentence you want to say next.

  • Translate what you need
  • Practice your saved cards
  • Build a natural sentence

Portuguish starts with a path.

Choose the Portuguese Puzzle platform, live lessons on Zoom or a beginner course. Short lessons, audio clips, games and personalized flashcards sit in one place.

Both keep grammar light. One adds a teacher. The other adds every day practice.

A Portuguese lookup becoming a flashcard in Mil Palavras

Where Portuguish leads

Human teachers. Live lessons on Zoom are tailored to each student, run in groups of up to two and cover every level, including CIPLE A2 preparation. Mil Palavras has no live lessons and no exam path today.

Where Mil Palavras fits

  • Lookups with a purpose. Translate the word you need now. With a free account, every lookup comes back as a card.
  • A finite goal. 1,000 essential words built around errands in Portugal, with progress by category.
  • Free to start. Early access costs nothing and needs only an email.

Questions

Which Portuguese learning app is right for me?

Of course the right answer depends on your goal. If you want to speak and understand Portuguese as quickly as possible, Mil Palavras' unique approach of focusing on the most commonly used words and phrases is the perfect start.

Can I use Mil Palavras alongside Portuguish?

Yes. Keep Portuguish for teacher-led practice. Use Mil Palavras for European Portuguese and the words you meet in Portugal.

Does Portuguish teach European Portuguese?

Yes. Its courses and live lessons focus on European Portuguese.

How much does Portuguish cost?

Its website lists €9.90 per month for the Portuguese Puzzle, €60 per month for live lessons and €149 for the beginner course with lifetime access.

Can I prepare for the CIPLE A2 exam with Mil Palavras?

Mil Palavras has no exam path today. Portuguish lists CIPLE A2 preparation in its live lessons. Mil Palavras can sit beside an exam course for everyday words.

Is Mil Palavras free?

Early access is free. Try a session, then continue with your email only.

Make your next errand a little easier.

The coffee. The prescription. The words you actually need.

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