# Japanese — user reviews > 381 indexed App Store user reviews of Japanese by renzo Inc., rated 4.80/5 from 3,572 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/japanese/id290664053/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/japanese/id290664053.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 3,147 · 4★ 235 · 3★ 89 · 2★ 41 · 1★ 60 ## What do users think of Japanese? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 📚 Comprehensive dictionary with detailed information - 🔍 Efficient search options (kanji, radicals, handwriting) - 🗂️ Customizable vocabulary lists and flashcards - 💡 Helpful features like JLPT/Kanji Kentei levels, example sentences - 🆓 Completely free with no ads **Cons** - 🐛 Handwriting recognition issues, especially on newer iOS versions - 🔇 Text-to-speech function not working for some users - 🔀 Inconsistent organization of example sentences and conjugations **Commonly reported bugs** - App crashes when scrolling through certain kanji lists - Occasional display issues with floating vocabulary words **Most requested features** - Sync functionality across devices - More customization options for flashcards and study modes - Improved sentence/phrase lookup and translation - Ability to add personal notes to dictionary entries ## Newest reviews (17 of 381) ### 4/5 — Good *2026-07-30, version 4.6.1* Good but don’t go on parts of speech and then nouns ### 4/5 — Great App! Just Needs Some Updates *2026-07-29, version 4.6.1* I use this app every day as I learn Japanese. The “Speak”function that provides pronunciation of words is great, however, it only works intermittently. It’s not possible to hear the pronunciation of multiple words unless the app is closed then reopened. Are there any plans to update the app? If so, please update this function. Thanks, D ### 5/5 — A hidden study gem *2026-03-19, version 4.6.1* with all the study methods you have to pay for, this specifc study app is not only entirely free, but is one of the best tools I've been able to add to my studying tools. As someone who has jumped from study app to study app, this app has done wonders for my memorization of key components of japanese. NOTE: I'd still reccomend using other methods alongside this one, but don't underestimate this app, its heavily effective if used properly. ### 5/5 — Best Kanji All I’ve Ever seen *2026-03-18* This all has replaced almost all of my other Japanese learning resources. The Japanese people around me are blown away by what this one app can do. Most times, they even gripe that the information from this app is more thorough than any tool they ever had in school. ### 3/5 — Really good, but no support provided and no way to export the vocab lists *2026-02-28, version 4.6.1* This wonderful dictionary allows you to create your own list of vocab. You can’t, however, export the lists and the lists do not sync from one phone to another. I really don’t feel like re-entering hundreds of words per list, and keeping an old phone just to access the lists I made is somewhat quite cumbersome. ### 5/5 — Really good for looking up words *2026-02-12* It’s very useful for looking up word or kanjis Very fun to use Really recommend 👌 ### 5/5 — very helpful in vocabulary and sentence *2026-01-31, version 4.6.1* the scrolling and random word is very to start studying, thanks a lot. ### 5/5 — Great app *2026-01-24, version 4.6.1* Love the capabilities offered here to learn kanji. Love the hyperlinks to drill down. Like the example sentences. Like the capability where you can switch on/off the furigana on the kanji. Also you can choose only kanji cards instead of the English/Kanji if you wish. I haven’t figured the import / export. Be great if we could import words learnt from Duolingo here as Duolingo doesn’t have a flashcard capability (wish they did). It’s hard to go through all the kanji and not be able to practice with Flashcards. Also would be nice if this was synced in iCloud so you could also use it on the Mac (the same lists). ### 5/5 — Fantastic free app *2026-01-23, version 4.6.1* This app is fantastic and I love it. I can’t believe it is free. I am using it everyday to lookup words, make flash cards, revise words. ### 5/5 — Great to learn Japanese *2026-01-10, version 4.6.1* Works really well for me. I love the lists that can be used as flash cards. Perfect for practicing words I keep on forgetting. Very well thought app. ### 5/5 — Greatest for learning *2026-01-04* Really a great app for learning Japanese! ### 5/5 — THANK YOU TREMENDOUSLY *2025-12-30, version 4.6.1* This app is amazing and I can’t believe that it’s free. I will happily donate if I can. Thank you. ### 5/5 — Still one of the best Japanese learning apps *2025-12-20, version 4.6.1* No AI slop, Simple and effective. I think I paid $20 to get this years and years ago… And I still use it daily. Although it's not updated terribly regularly it's an amazing at that I wouldn't hesitate to pay for again. ### 5/5 — this app makes duolingo look useless *2025-12-17, version 4.6.1* it is incredibly amazing that a resource this useful is just free. i think it deserves every good rating. ### 3/5 — Good reference. *2025-12-06* Eccentric, at times macabre, example sentences. ### 5/5 — Best App to Learn Japanese *2025-11-29* Love it! ### 5/5 — Best Japanese app ever *2025-11-22* Been using for at least 6 years or smth. Literally there’s no better alternative ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Please Update! *2026-06-22, version 4.6.1* This used to be my go-to app for Japanese. I loved all the features it had and I used lists for organizing words I had learned. Now the app won’t even load without crashing. Please update the app as I really loved it and I’m bummed I can’t use it anymore! ### 1/5 — Once my only choice for a dictionary *2025-09-20* Trying to find kanji by writing is worthless. My stroke order is perfect, but far too often it won’t show up. I’ll jump to a different dictionary and the writing will show up right away. They need to fix this. ### 1/5 — Something’s wrong *2024-05-05, version 4.6.1* I like this app, but something’s gone wrong. When I scroll down the list of definitions, the word turns to an English word. The app hasn’t changed in four years; maybe it needs an update. I removed and reinstalled it, but it’s still doing it. Now I can’t get to a definition if it’s not towards the top of the list, which makes the app useless. ### 1/5 — Won’t work in voice *2023-12-08, version 4.6.1* This looks like a good app. Unfortunately it hasn’t been updated since ios13 or 3 years ago so no the app won’t function properly specially the speaking part. Thumbs down. ### 1/5 — Please filter out the unnatural sentences *2022-05-06* The number of example sentences that are completely unnatural is staggering. I suggest edits every time I notice something, but so far none of them have been acted upon. ### 1/5 — Please fix app for 11.0.1 ios version *2017-10-09, version 4.0.1* Can’t write kanji hand recognition failure auto shuts down app. I’ve sent 2emails for help to your company and still no response. No reply to this comment either ### 1/5 — Not compatible with iOS 11 *2017-09-30* Says I’m running iOS 11 beta. I’m not. Doesn’t display top row properly. No response from developer to emails. ### 1/5 — ..>i<... *2009-01-08* 연말에 FREE 라고 안내되여 다운받으니....돈내라고 청구해?..고약한사람들..XXX ### 2/5 — Speech function doesn’t work *2026-02-13, version 4.6.1* Speech function just doesn’t work anymore. It used to sound robotic, but now, it gives a warning that it’ll sound robotic, but just doesn’t work; I even tried uninstalling and reinstalling again and it STILL doesn’t work. The other functions are great, but without the speech, it feels incomplete. I’ve contacted support and changed my live speech voice settings, and that didn’t help, so I can’t speak to if changing that improved the voice, because now I hear nothing. ### 2/5 — Important First Hand Experience *2025-12-12, version 4.6.1* I have used this app for years. I go to Japan often, I have family there. Now. What happens is I say something, and they don’t know what it is. I show them, but chigau(it’s not right). This happened so many times that I have come to not trust the app. I feel like I have wasted a lot of time learning the wrong things. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — 1番大好きなアプリ *2026-07-26, version 4.6.1* This app is so good. I use it all the time. It has been a great resource when I am communicating with my Japanese friends. ### 5/5 — Very helpful! *2026-07-10, version 4.6.1* i think it’s a really good app to practice your writing and memorization!!! one of my favorites!! ### 5/5 — This app is AWESOME!!! *2026-07-07, version 4.6.1* I rarely write reviews, but this app is an absolute gem!!! I’m able to learn about various words that I pick up throughout my journey. I’m able to see the components of Kanji, the On + Kunyomi readings of Kanji, and the stroke order!! The stroke order feature is especially useful since I’m a visual learner. I’ve been able to memorize many Kanjis thanks to that feature alone! It offers all of these cool features without pesky ads or a subscription. Not that I’d be mad at a subscription because the developers have to make money and improve the app somehow. But the fact that the developers prioritize users actually learning and grasping content without being super greedy is very admirable to me. To anyone who wants to start learning Japanese and is looking for a place to start, this is your app! It’s also great for ppl who’ve been studying for a long time (like myself). 😊👍🏽 本当にありがとうございます！💗🙏🏽 ### 5/5 — Best Japanese dictionary EVER *2026-06-29, version 4.6.1* I have been using this app for around 12 years and nothing else can compare to it. It's such a vital part of my everyday life and I could not imagine trying to learn Japanese without it. It's an absolute MUST get for anybody that is studying the language, and I urge all my friends who are just getting into learning Japanese to get this app. I absolutely cannot recommend it enough. ### 5/5 — This is still really good, even if older! *2026-06-27, version 4.6.1* Language doesn’t really change much in 6 years, which, I’m writing this review 6 years after the last update to this app. This app experience is better than Duolingo. Try it. ### 5/5 — Simple but effective *2026-06-26, version 4.6.1* This is a nice resource for preparing for the N5 test. It is very straightforward and convenient. ### 5/5 — Japanese *2026-06-05, version 4.6.1* I found this app very helpful when I want to look up words and the flash cards have really helped me learn kanji. ### 5/5 — Fantastic App *2026-06-05, version 4.6.1* One-station app for learning. Can be better if there is tone notation. And it needs an update anyway ### 5/5 — Great Tool/Resource *2026-04-09, version 4.6.1* I have been using this dictionary for years. These reference materials, multiple example sentences, and ability to make my own word lists to study is great. ### 5/5 — ほんとうに便利！ *2026-03-19, version 4.6.1* I have been learning Japanese since 2022 and I downloaded this app and helped me memorize and learn new words each day which really gives my brain a workout. It’s also useful for learning to write and study JLPT levels. I’m currently in N4 almost N3 I think. --- *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 2026-08-28.*