# iago - Learn Japanese — user reviews > 165 indexed App Store user reviews of iago by Iago Education, rated 4.80/5 from 1,830 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iago-learn-japanese/id6471793412/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iago-learn-japanese/id6471793412.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 1,638 · 4★ 127 · 3★ 37 · 2★ 14 · 1★ 14 ## What do users think of iago? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 👍 Fun and engaging way to learn Japanese - 🚀 Helpful for practicing speaking and pronunciation - 💡 Realistic conversational scenarios - 👍 Useful for preparing for trips to Japan - 👍 Effective for current Japanese language students **Cons** - 🐛 Audio and visual bugs (e.g., audio cutting out, text getting cut off) - 🐛 Speech recognition issues (not picking up user's speech correctly) - 🐛 Unclear if the app will eventually require a paid subscription - 👎 Moves too quickly for complete beginners, lacks basic lessons - 👎 Too much English used, not enough immersion in Japanese **Commonly reported bugs** - App crashes when trying to use the microphone - Error message about invalid attempt to destructure non-iterable - Music volume interferes with ability to hear the voice actor - Inability to delete account or turn off automatic subscription **Most requested features** - Add option to review vocabulary and grammar learned in previous lessons - Provide slower audio playback option for better comprehension - Implement a way to delete or restart recordings during practice - Improve UI/UX to ensure all content is visible on the screen ## Newest reviews (18 of 165) ### 3/5 — Transferring streak *2026-09-03, version 3.7.0* So far, easy and actually has me speaking instead of Duolingo But for some reason whenever I try transferring my streak, it just freezes please fix it thanks in advance ### 3/5 — Good app, buggy music is distracting *2026-08-23, version 3.6.0* I want to give this 5 stars for the game and instruction - especially since they’re teaching basics BEFORE mixing it up with the more complicated formal forms, which is too rare- but the music is a problem. It’s way too loud by default, drowning out the dialogue, and you can’t turn it off. You can turn it all the way down, but then every time I start an actual lesson, it’s on full blast again, even though the slider is still on minimum. You have to turn it UP, at which point the actual sound goes to the new level, then all the way back down again. It’s obnoxious and distracting, and frequently painful with headphones. Fix it & get 5 stars. ### 3/5 — "Unlock now" *2026-08-10, version 3.6.0* The app is fun to use however you will get hit with a paywall that pretty early and there's way around it. I did 4 lesson before I was blocked by a paywall. It feels an attempt to look to free to use but actual look pay to use. There are free alternatives are actual free to use ### 2/5 — Great but paywalled *2026-07-23, version 3.6.0* I love the way it’s done, it’s really cute and has speaking practice and tips and whatnot, but after the first four lessons you’re not allowed to do any more without paying per month. I don’t have the option to be paying for something online, so I cannot do it, but if you’re able to pay and you’re serious about learning I do think it’s a good start at the least. Couldn’t say about later on of course. ### 4/5 — Great app, but fix the bugs! *2026-06-25, version 3.6.0* I love this app, but it’s buggy as hell, and there doesn’t seem to be much effort to fix it. I keep coming here hoping to find an update. The best feature is the flexible conversation practice that lets you blunder through in your own words. I like doing each conversation twice, first winging it (sometimes with hilarious results) then a second time with the prompts to see what I *should* have said. But oh my god, the bugs. Heaven help you if you don’t want to listen to jarring music during your conversations. If you turn the volume to “0” (apparently the only way to turn the music off), half the time you try to start a conversation the music will force itself back on at FULL volume! It’s very jarring. There are bugs in some of the lessons, mostly minor, but one in the Frieren reviews where the instruction is the respond to the prompt, but no prompt appears! Now this week I’m experiencing a bug where for some reason I can no longer earn guild points by doing daily reviews. This is the most annoying of all, because I had been trying to earn points for my guild daily, and now I’m just stuck at zero like a slacker. And just now when I got a new stamp from the gacha machine (a very charming feature that gives the app a lot of personality and teaches neat little details about Japanese places), it bugged out so I never got to read the details of that stamp! Disappointing. I liked the app enough to subscribe, and use it every day, but all the bugs are becoming a point of real frustration. The subscription cost is not especially cheap, so if you want to retain subscribers, PLEASE FIX THE BUGS! ### 3/5 — how use *2026-06-11, version 3.6.0* What do I press after main screen? ### 5/5 — Really good! *2026-06-08, version 3.6.0* It’s really cool to see an app that feels more realistic with the conversations rather than textbook lingo ### 5/5 — Amazing way *2026-06-03, version 3.6.0* Funny asf i cannot lie and an amazing way to learn Japanese it’s just awesome dude ### 5/5 — thank you sephiroth *2026-06-03, version 3.6.0* chefs kiss of an app in my opinion ### 5/5 — Refreshing but needs quality of life features *2026-05-31, version 3.6.0* My biggest problem with Duolingo is the extremely slow pace that new words are taught so I end up learning the content by taking the subject skip tests or by memorising music. The rate for new kanji is even slower. But I just downloaded this and enjoyed it a lot more, I wish I could choose a more granular level of prior learning since I know a nice chunk of particles but need to learn more vocabulary and especially kanji in sentences. The story of Iago is refreshing and a nice slice of life element that creates a better emotional investment that Duolingo fear mongering. but I wish the words in the story would be replaced with the kotoba I’ve learnt to keep me on my toes and keep knowledge fresh. The option to skip to the learning content would be great. Also, the speech sections are great for pronunciation and solidifying the new words. but if I’m in a crowed area or don’t want to use the speech segments, I need an option to skip those practise levels. I’ll update with anything else important as use continues ### 2/5 — Seems Okay *2026-05-25, version 3.5.7* Similar to the other LLM powered conversation practice apps out right now, but it is cute. Unfortunately it has frequent crashes. ### 4/5 — Неплохо *2026-05-17* Все очень здоров, но не радует цена. Дорого для определенных стран. ### 5/5 — THIS IS BETTER THAN DUOLINGO *2026-05-13, version 3.5.7* This app is so good for learning Japanese instead of using that green bird app i use this app because its cool and you can import your Duolingo streak 10/10 app will use it forever ### 5/5 — Review *2026-05-12, version 3.5.7* This game is amazing I’m just starting the game and already learning Japanese I rate this 1,000/100 ✨PERFECT✨ ### 3/5 — Too expensive *2026-05-03* From the free experience, Iago is already much better and immersive than Duolingo. But the price hike is to much. Duolingo is free with ads and 10 times cheaper than Iago with the premium subscription. Iago is much better but for ₹9900($100 USD) Duolingo is just much better deal. ### 5/5 — Actually fun way to learn Japanese *2026-04-28, version 3.5.7* Duolingo is so BORING this actually keeps me entertained ### 5/5 — I love this *2026-04-21, version 3.5.7* I love this app!!! It makes me understand Japanese way better than Duolingo and stuff and I love how it feels like a game!! ### 5/5 — Helpful and fun! *2026-04-18, version 3.5.7* Downloaded this game because i was struggling with Hirigana and Katakana memorisation and this definitely takes a creative approach! also love that everything in it is made by humans and not Ai, thats so hard to find these days unfortunately. Love it! ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — NOT FREE *2026-06-26, version 3.6.0* Advertises itself as free but will only let you do a handful of lessons before locking everything behind a paywall ### 1/5 — Good then bad *2026-04-26, version 3.5.7* I honestly fell in love with this app as I was using it for the first few minutes and I am VERY DISSAPOINTED and angry that I need a subscription! I would rather have to watch ads than pay because it’s better that way for a lot of people. I’ll add this app back once it’s completely free. ### 1/5 — They took my money even though i cancelled my subscription *2026-04-04, version 3.5.4* They charged me 30 dollars even though i had cancelled already and i didn’t even get the renewal extension. Don’t get the free trial, they take your money as soon as you sign up. Couldnt even get a refund, either. ### 1/5 — I can’t sign in why *2026-01-15, version 3.5.1* I’m stuck on this bar where it says close and then I’m gonna talk about the welcome to the program basically let’s put it this way. I’m stuck on the welcome bar and I don’t like that. Why do I have to be stuck on this welcome bar I don’t know I would have loved to try it as I was using it up before and after it wouldn’t let me skip certain lessons because of certain reasons now I’m on the hunt for another program to teach me Japanese cause I’m gonna go to Japan for my graduation. I can’t say which graduation though I’m very disappointed with this thank you so much for taking your time to read this. ### 1/5 — SO CLOSE TO PEAK *2026-01-02, version 3.4.1* I’d rather have there be ads and/or some kinda micro transaction currency the have a subscription for this, you had me in the first half fun stories art characters music but then after like the 3rd lesson (SORRY GANG YOU NEED A SUBSCRIPTION) we are not tomodachi. ### 1/5 — Barely usable *2025-07-07, version 3.1.1* The app is barely usable. The load times are ridiculous and it takes a very long time just to load a single question ### 1/5 — It doesn’t let me delete the account. Fix this. *2025-02-22, version 2.4.0* I wanted to try the learning app but in the end it was not my suit, so I went to delete my account. I tried to delete my account but it doesn’t work and I keep trying but it not letting me. Please fix this and I will not pay for why subscription. I know I got free trail but I want to delete my account. Fix this. ### 1/5 — review *2025-01-27, version 2.3.3* It doesn’t work ### 1/5 — Awesome! *2024-12-30, version 2.2.7* I hope it stays free or at least doesn’t charge for scenarios that would be useful in real life ### 1/5 — I can’t practice *2024-12-18, version 2.2.6* I can't complete the speaking practice because it says the dictation should be on I have japanese keyboard and dictation on but it keeps saying that ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Nice!! *2026-08-28, version 3.6.0* Makes learning JP easier and fun for me :-] ### 5/5 — So cute!!! *2026-08-26, version 3.6.0* Even without any of the payments this app is super useful!! Live laugh love iako-chan!!! (´ω`) ### 5/5 — Progress *2026-08-19, version 3.6.0* My jp increase so muchhh! Thank the owner for creating this such a great language app ### 5/5 — The best app to exist *2026-07-21, version 3.6.0* My sensei SepirothSword57 told me to use this app, it’s one of the best apps to exist, with a built in story and lore to the actual app, it’s an amazing app that should be recognized by all. ### 5/5 — Great app! *2026-07-20* Better than Duolingo ### 5/5 — Icon *2026-07-20, version 3.6.0* You guys should maybe take the shine off of your icon, for those of us on iOS 18 it doesn't match other icons, and it won't match iOS 27 either. I love the app though, keep up the great work!! Oh, and any chance a Safari extension is coming soon? Thanks!! ### 5/5 — sugoii *2026-06-29, version 3.6.0* ❤️ ### 5/5 — How can we reach level 2? *2026-06-27, version 3.6.0* i have finished the level one practice fully and the story as well now everything is locked how can I open them without subscribing? ### 5/5 — I like *2026-06-17, version 3.6.0* fun way to learn Japanese I can't stop drawing this anime girl ### 5/5 — Amazing *2026-06-09, version 3.6.0* My favorite app to learn Japanese so far, fun, engaging and really useful! And I have a lot! It can also import Duolingo strike, no idea what for, but I did it 😜 --- *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 2026-09-09.*