# GENKI Vocab for 3rd Ed. — user reviews > 128 indexed App Store user reviews of GENKI Vocab for 3rd Ed. by The Japan Times Publishing, Ltd., rated 3.00/5 from 105 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/genki-vocab-for-3rd-ed/id1531679862/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/genki-vocab-for-3rd-ed/id1531679862.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 31 · 4★ 16 · 3★ 13 · 2★ 11 · 1★ 34 ## What do users think of GENKI Vocab for 3rd Ed.? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 📚 Aligns well with Genki textbook curriculum - 🎤 Native speaker audio pronunciation - 📝 Example sentences with context - ⏱️ Saves time vs. creating flashcards manually - 🎯 Simple and focused vocabulary tool - 📊 Tracks study progress separately - 🔄 Scrambled card order for variety **Cons** - 🔊 Audio frequently doesn't work or is unreliable - 💰 Expensive price point ($5-6+) - 🐛 Numerous UI bugs and glitches - ❌ No spaced repetition system - 🔄 Limited review functionality for marked words - 📱 Crashes when reaching end of lessons - 🎯 Bare-bones feature set - 🔇 Audio tied to silent mode (unintuitive) - 📖 Text cuts off on example sentences - 🖥️ Desktop version non-functional - ⚠️ Some pronunciation errors in audio **Commonly reported bugs** - Audio doesn't work or cuts out intermittently - App crashes when reaching final card in lesson - Text missing or cut off on example sentences - Swiping to view sentences doesn't work reliably - Cards auto-flip back when trying to view other side - App incompatible with iOS 17 - Desktop version shows no words in flashcards - Sound only works when phone not in silent mode - UI glitches requiring multiple attempts to navigate - App crashes on iPad **Most requested features** - Spaced repetition (SRS) system - Typing/input practice feature - Tap-to-play audio functionality - Ability to study bookmarked words in flashcard mode - Free or discounted pricing with textbook purchase - Kanji stroke order animations - Aggregated sentence list for listening practice - Session persistence (save progress between sessions) - Phone speaker audio support (not just headphones) - Actual testing/verification instead of honor system - Android feature parity (sentence examples) ## Newest reviews (14 of 128) ### 2/5 — No sound function *2026-06-16, version 2.0* There is no sound ### 2/5 — Not working well *2025-10-07, version 1.3* Really not working well… No place to practice katakana or hiragana. ### 3/5 — Missing half of vocabulary *2025-08-19, version 1.3* I have a book and an additional app for listening practice for it. Bought this because I thought it would allow me to learn words and phrases from the book faster since I wouldn’t have to keep looking into the book. It’s kind of true, but this app has maybe a half of all vocabulary that is included in the book. “Additional” and “Usefull” PAGES are entirely missing and since I had to pay for this I’m frankly quite annoyed. If you don’t mind that, then the app is ok for what it does. ### 4/5 — Sound is not working *2025-08-17, version 1.3* All is good, except the Sound autoplay and a Sound feature do not work as expected. I turned both features on, but to no avail: the sound icon is highlighted in pink and there is no pronunciation. Any ideas?:) ### 3/5 — Audio *2025-06-24, version 1.3* Audio only works when ringer is on on iPhone (16). It should play back like any other app with sound. Pretty basic functionality. It should be included with the $50+ book set for what it is. ### 3/5 — Good but buggy *2025-05-21, version 1.3* You close for a second come back to the app and the text is missing ### 2/5 — No sound *2025-04-14, version 1.2* I bought this app mostly because I wanted so practice the correct pronunciation - but without sound that’s not possible :-(( ### 4/5 — Good for learning *2025-04-09, version 1.2* Sound only works if phone is not in silence mode. ### 3/5 — Sound *2025-02-10, version 1.2* Can’t hear it! ### 3/5 — A lot can be improved *2025-02-07, version 1.2* Make the app free with textbook purchase or at the very least 99 cents. Has sound problems. I understand you have to use headphones but sometimes I have to toggle the app to get it to work. Fix the sound problems and add phone speakers to sound please! Good things: I don’t have to make flashcards and it seems like a alright study tool. Just fix the problems above and it’s a good study app. ### 3/5 — Would be helpful *2025-01-30, version 1.2* Unfortunately, the sound doesn’t work even after I adjusted the settings. ### 2/5 — Typing Fearture *2025-01-28, version 1.2* It should have a typing feature. That would make the app tremendously better. ### 2/5 — Sound does not work *2024-11-16, version 1.2* Just downloaded - nothing I do will make the sound work. Disappointing! ### 4/5 — No sound *2024-11-09, version 1.2* Unfortunately no sound ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — No good *2026-06-04, version 2.0* Just got it and the sound does not work!! What a waste of my money. ### 1/5 — Crashes constantly! *2026-04-23, version 1.4* I have no idea if this is worth it or not. I paid for it but it crashes every time I open it. Very frustrating. And these are not the words you find in the textbook. So I'm disappointed. Bad purchase on my part. Don't do this to yourself! ### 1/5 — Sound Doesn’t Work *2025-12-09, version 1.3* I have reinstalled the app repeatedly and the sound does not work. It only worked the first time I used it. ### 1/5 — sound is not working in the app *2025-10-30, version 1.3* sound is not working ### 1/5 — NO SOUND *2025-10-08, version 1.3* No sound ### 1/5 — Volume does not work *2025-06-28, version 1.3* I thought this was just me… ### 1/5 — Sound not working *2025-06-17, version 1.3* Be aware, despite the there should be ability to listen to words and sentences, this is not working, the App is not working. Don’t waste your money! ### 1/5 — Poor experience *2025-06-17, version 1.3* Overall the app is far below what any modern language app should be. I gave it a chance because it aligns with the Genki textbook. Additionally, it seemed simple which I appreciate. Bugs are present every time you use the app. Sometimes no big deal, but often it prevents major functionality. The test portion isn’t really a test at all. It just asks if you know the word with no sort of verification but rather a trust system. An app with this scope should be so easy to make. No real excuse why this app would be this bad given how simple the functionality is. ### 1/5 — Sound is not working *2025-03-11, version 1.2* I can’t hear anything ### 1/5 — No sound *2025-01-24, version 1.2* Just like the title says, no sound. Not worth wasting your money on if you can’t hear the lessons. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Audio works on iPhone 16 Pro *2026-02-14, version 1.4* Audio works on iPhone 16 Pro ### 5/5 — Great *2025-10-05, version 1.3* A great methodology to increase your vocabulary, especially if ‘memorising’ is not your thing. It’s easy to use and follows the main textbook chapters L1 - L23. Very convenient if you want to continue to practice your vocabulary for 10-15min during the day, while commuting or during a break. ### 5/5 — Great app *2025-09-30, version 1.3* Great app that works well with the Genki text books. I did notice that the map of Germany for ドイツ shows the borders from before World War II though!! ### 5/5 — Still no sound *2025-04-13, version 1.2* It seems they still haven’t fixed the sound after years ### 5/5 — MAKE SURE IPHONE OFF SILENT *2024-12-13, version 1.2* The sound does not work when using the app on iPhone if phone set on silent for notifications. Make sure you don’t get caught out and mistakenly think the app doesn’t work. App works great! ### 5/5 — Sound works *2024-12-05, version 1.2* Sound does not work when the ring tone of your phone is set on vibrate or silent. Switch on the ring tone of your phone and the sound works. Very useful tool for studying with the Genko book. ### 5/5 — Really good *2024-08-14, version 1.2* Complements the book well. Sound works fine if phone is not on silent mode. Having multiple audio files for the words is great. Really like being able to study/check both English -> Japanese and Japanese -> English and record progress separately. ### 5/5 — Better than making your own Anki *2024-05-02, version 1.2* This is app is good for what it does: a way for you to save time from making your own Anki or flash cards. Because honestly - if you made your own Anki, it’ll be the same vocab. This app at least saves you time from making the vocab that’s already on here. So if you save time studying or making an Anki deck without vocabs from here. ### 5/5 — To hear sound, the silent mode should be off *2024-03-11, version 1.0* I like the app, what is even more important you can rely on the app support. ### 5/5 — Worth it *2024-01-14, version 1.0* This has increased my learning speed dramatically. I take an online class at college but use this app to memorize vocabulary before lessons. Now I can actually focus in class because I’m not lost and wasting time looking up words in the textbook. Also, it’s easy for me to know which words I struggle with and then I can practice those words more efficiently. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-25.*