# KanaPulse: Learn Japanese! — Master Hiragana & Katakana

> Learn Japanese Hiragana and Katakana with spaced repetition, stories, and live competitions. (iPhone/iPad app by ALTIS IT SERV S.R.L..)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kanapulse-learn-japanese/id6762373979 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [ALTIS IT SERV S.R.L.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1893973710)
- Category: Education, Games
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 1 App Store ratings · 1 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 12+
- Requires: iOS 17.6 · 33 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2026-04-27
- Data updated: 2026-07-21
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kanapulse-learn-japanese/id6762373979/reviews.md

## What is KanaPulse?

Most apps teach you to *recognize* Japanese. KanaPulse trains you to *produce* it — by ear, from memory, under a little pressure. That's the difference between "I think that's あ" and actually knowing it.

The whole app is built around one loop: hear it, read it, type it from memory. And it scales with you — from your first kana all the way to reading real kanji, N5 to N1.

— HOW IT WORKS —
• Listen to a sentence, then type what you hear, character by character.
• No multiple choice. No tapping. You either know it or you don't — and that's exactly how you learn it.
• Get it wrong and you'll see precisely where you hesitated.

— KANA DICTATION —
• Type real Japanese stories in hiragana and katakana from memory.
• Native-style audio for every sentence.
• A growing library of graded stories.

— KANJI READING (N5 → N1) —
• Read real kanji and type the reading from memory.
• Furigana fades as you master each JLPT level — keep the reading shown for levels you're still learning, hide it for the ones you own.
• Every kanji is colour-coded by JLPT level, so your progress is visible at a glance.
• A kanji "wall" lights up as you unlock characters, and a focus list shows exactly which kanji you still need work on.

— STUDY & REVIEW —
• Learn new characters with a clean, focused study mode.
• A spaced-repetition (SRS) engine schedules reviews so nothing slips away.
• Free Practice cycles through your chosen groups to lock in recognition.

— COMPETE & TRACK —
• PvP: race another learner through the same story in real time — fastest with the best accuracy wins.
• Detailed stats for kana and kanji accuracy, plus a global leaderboard.
• Your progress syncs instantly between iPhone and the web app.

— BUILT FOR EVERYONE —
• Available in 30+ interface languages.
• Light and dark mode.

Start free, then unlock the full library and every JLPT level.

Stop recognizing Japanese. Start typing it from memory.
_______________________________________________________________________________________

EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

## Key features

- Spaced repetition system (SRS)
- Native pronunciation audio
- Syllabary Cycle drills
- Dictation practice with stories
- Live 1v1 dictation battles
- Weekly global leaderboards
- Detailed progress analytics

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| KanaPulse Premium Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| KanaPulse Premium Yearly | $99.99 | per year |


## Recent user reviews (1 of 1)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kanapulse-learn-japanese/id6762373979/reviews.md

### 5/5 — KanaPulse; game changing life saver!

*2026-06-06*

I was struggling hard with my Japanese studies — I could recognize Hiragana and Katakana when I saw them, but the moment I needed to actually recall and write them without hesitation, my mind would go blank. That’s when I discovered KanaPulse.

The creator behind this app clearly understood the exact gap that holds so many learners back. Instead of another recognition-based flashcard app, he built something genuinely different: a dictation-first system that forces active recall and typing practice. From the very first session I could feel the difference. The step-by-step progression is perfectly paced, the SRS system intelligently targets your weak characters, and the focus on building real speed and accuracy is brilliant.

What impressed me most is how thoughtfully everything was executed. The audio is crisp and natural, the interface is clean and motivating (the leaderboard is a nice touch for keeping sessions engaging), and the entire experience feels like it was designed by someone who actually cares about helping people reach genuine mastery rather than just checking boxes. I went from second-guessing myself to writing Kana fluidly and confidently in a surprisingly short time.

I highly recommend KanaPulse to anyone who’s serious about truly owning Hiragana and Katakana instead of just recognizing them. The creator poured real care and insight into this, and it shows. Beyond thrilled with how much faster and more confident my Japanese learning has become!

## Frequently asked questions about KanaPulse

### How does KanaPulse help me learn kana?

KanaPulse uses a spaced repetition system (SRS) to resurface characters you're about to forget, ensuring efficient memorization. It also offers various practice modes like Syllabary Cycle and Dictation with real Japanese stories and native audio.

### Can I compete with other learners on KanaPulse?

Yes, KanaPulse offers live 1v1 dictation battles where you compete against another player in real-time. You can also check the weekly leaderboard to see how you rank against learners worldwide.

### What kind of progress tracking does KanaPulse offer?

KanaPulse provides achievements for milestones and premium analytics that offer a full SRS breakdown (Apprentice through Burned). This helps you understand your learning stage precisely.

### Is KanaPulse free to use?

KanaPulse is free to download and use. However, it offers in-app purchases for KanaPulse Premium, which unlocks features like live 1v1 battles, weekly story challenges, and deep progress analytics.

### What are the subscription options for KanaPulse Premium?

KanaPulse Premium is available through a monthly subscription for $9.99 or a yearly subscription for $99.99. These plans grant access to advanced features and analytics.

### Does KanaPulse have ads?

Yes, KanaPulse contains advertisements. These ads are present in the free version of the app to support its development and operation.

### What devices is KanaPulse available on?

KanaPulse is available on iPhone and iPad devices. Your progress automatically syncs across these devices when you sign in with Apple or Google.

### What is the age rating for KanaPulse?

KanaPulse has an age rating of 12+. This indicates it is suitable for users aged 12 and older, considering its educational content and interactive features.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.6 — 2026-07-09

Authentication system improvements.

### 1.5 — 2026-07-04

Bug fixes for review easy mode

### 1.4 — 2026-06-14

Kanji Reading is here!

• NEW: Kanji dictation graded N5 → N1 — read real kanji and type the reading from memory.
• Furigana that fades as you master each JLPT level, with every kanji colour-coded by level.
• A kanji progress wall that lights up as you unlock characters, plus a "needs work" focus list.
• Kana + Kanji accuracy now tracked separately in Stats.
• Redesigned home screen.

### 1.3 — 2026-06-12

- Fixed a bug in review mode that caused users to get stuck at last kana.

### 1.2 — 2026-06-11

• Guided first-launch tour — quick walkthrough of Study, Practice, and Dictation so you know where to start.
• In-context help — first time you reach the self-test stage in Study, or your first Practice session, a one-time guide explains how it works.
• Friendlier defaults for new learners — slower default tempo and Easy Mode (multiple choice) on by default so reviews feel approachable.
• Study flow improvement — "Ready to Review" now unlocks only after you've seen the whole batch and entered the self-test stage, so you can't accidentally promote characters too early.

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*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 2026-07-21.*