# Lirer: Learn Japanese — user reviews > 162 indexed App Store user reviews of Lirer by Bunpo Language Learning, rated 4.70/5 from 654 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lirer-learn-japanese/id1520427633/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lirer-learn-japanese/id1520427633.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 548 · 4★ 63 · 3★ 16 · 2★ 10 · 1★ 17 ## What do users think of Lirer? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 🚀 Great for vocabulary learning - 👍 Easy to use - 👍 Good teaching style - 👍 Helpful for beginners - 👍 Useful for JLPT preparation **Cons** - 🐛 Bugs and technical issues - 🔒 Lack of support for paid subscribers - 💡 Need for better spaced repetition - 💡 Desire for more practice questions - 💡 Lack of audio playback for wrong answers **Commonly reported bugs** - Lessons freezing or crashing - Answer choices not showing up - Incorrect answers being marked as correct - Review words disappearing from the list - Forced to start from lesson 1 after update **Most requested features** - Option to disable vibration feedback - Ability to review words on demand - More detailed kanji breakdowns - Improved review algorithm and progress tracking - Integration with other apps like Bunpo ## Newest reviews (15 of 162) ### 3/5 — Used to be amazing *2026-09-02, version 2.6.1* App keeps crashing lately ### 4/5 — Really good, just wish for one fix *2026-03-12, version 2.6.1* I love this app, for the clean design and good amount of vocab to practice. I do wish that when you got the vocab wrong it would also play the audio for how it sounds too. Especially since it has kanji, so I can’t really sound the word out without the furigana to know what it was. If there was a setting to play audio on the incorrect answers to this would be perfect! ### 2/5 — Good app but don’t expect support *2026-01-24, version 2.6.1* App serves its function as a vocabulary learning tool but for having a subscription, I expect more. When inquiring about a technical issue, was informed “Regarding technical support, we regrettably must inform you that service for Lirer is now limited to subscription-related issues at this time. The app may continue to be used as-is.” which is very concerning. If one is paying money as a subscription service, one would expect a system of continuous improvement to the experience or you might as well just pay once and be done. I don’t know the reason for why they can’t address technical issues but to the developers…please do better in this regard as the app is far from perfect. It will sometimes give you a definition to focus on and then in the example sentences, use another multiple times, the lesson quizzes may freeze up, review quizzes may slow to a crawl leading to wrong input on the following question while waiting for the screen to move on, etc… Overall, it is a good learning tool but I don’t expect it to be great in the long run if unwilling to support technical issues. ### 4/5 — すごい！ *2025-11-05, version 2.6.1* This app is surprisingly helpful even without a subscription! It’s super easy to use the app, and it teaches you in good detail. This app really helped me learn some basic Japanese. Not life-changing fluency, but it’s achieves really amazing results, especially if you pair it with learning Japanese on another app. Anyway, if you’re sat here thinking about whether or not to get the app, do! Try it out, it’s free and you have nothing to lose. It’ll help you master some basics. ### 3/5 — Love, but needs improvement with reviews *2025-09-16, version 2.5.0* Love this app and would stay subscribed to the paid plan, but reviews there are not very good… I’d love if you had to actually type in the answers like when you do in the last stages of lessons themselves. Multiple choice questions aren’t the best way for memorizing or learning the words. ### 2/5 — Why Buy a separate Subscription when you purchased one from Bunpo? *2025-08-01, version 2.5.0* I don’t understand why you have to create two separate accounts on each of the apps even though they do the same thing and why if I were to purchase a subscription on one of them it wouldn’t carry over. It would make the subscription more worth it since these are the same guys who made Bunpo. ### 4/5 — Great vocab but… *2025-07-31, version 2.5.0* Definitely should include the option for furigana. At an N5 level there’s kanji not yet known that makes learning not as easy starting out for beginners. ### 3/5 — Been using for about 60 seconds *2025-05-18, version 2.5.0* Was asked to rate by the appp ### 3/5 — Ok *2025-03-30, version 2.5.0* Nice sleek and minimal interface design in this app. However some of what it teaches is incorrect. Particularly the transitive and intransitive verb section of n4. There are many verbs that aren’t actually intransitive being presented as intransitive like ひらく　instead of あく for 開く(open). Hiraku can be both transitive and intransitive. There were 3/4 examples of this in that section. It made the learning experience quite confusing for me. ### 5/5 — Super helpful *2025-03-30, version 2.5.0* I’ve downloaded so many apps for Japanese and this is the only one I’ve found thorough enough to help me learn vocabulary. The price is affordable too ### 5/5 — Great Learning App *2025-03-15, version 2.5.0* It makes it super easy to learn step by step. I use it in conjunction with Duolingo now. I like how it skips all of the theatrics and just gives it to you straight. ### 4/5 — Great for vocab and pronunciation *2025-02-06, version 2.5.0* Overall love the app, and I love that there is pronunciation for all the words and sentences. However, I do wish that there was better spaced repetition. As far as I can tell, there’s only one opportunity to refresh vocab and you’re never prompted again to revisit vocab. Better spaced repetition would really take this above and beyond ### 5/5 — Really good app *2025-01-20* This japanese learning app has a lot of nice functions like memorable graphics and eselbrücken for every word ### 4/5 — Good, some improvements needed! *2025-01-16, version 2.5.0* Love the way it compartmentalizes all the vocab for the JLPT, though some translations could use some fixing, some bugs here and there but overall very helpful! ### 4/5 — So good so far 🎉🎉 *2025-01-06, version 2.5.0* I have been using bunpo for my initial learning for a couple of days so far and it helps so much! Is really useful but I feel like there aren’t enough resources or questions. For example: multiple choices or written questions to practice the hiragana that I had learnt. That was, until I can across Lirer, which is made by the same company and has helped Instantly! I'm on my second lesson and immediately now know my hiragana really well such as あ,ま, さand か. I can now read this to say a, ki, sa and ka. To be honest I am struggling with the ‘k’ Column, but Lirer is already helping! I would definitely recommend! ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — This app feels like is still in beta *2026-07-11* I’ve wanted to like this app for a while since I’ve enjoyed their Bunpo app, but this app has so many poor UI choices, incredibly narrow input options, and the inability to smoothly get practices in due to these choices. It’s a fine app, but just be prepared to deal with, in my opinion, an incomplete application that already appears to be on maintenance mode. For a paid app of this price, it’s a little ridiculous ### 1/5 — Payed *2026-05-05, version 2.6.1* Payed for the full version a while back and not it is all locked behind a subscription. ### 1/5 — Crash *2026-01-28* App crashes after trying to review words. No replies from dev’s support either. ### 1/5 — App no loner works *2025-10-27, version 2.6.0* I purchased this a few years ago but the app crashes a few seconds after showing the loading screen and no loner works. ### 1/5 — No landscape screen *2025-04-03* Same as Bunpo, it’s not convenient at all to use on an iPad ### 1/5 — endless loop *2024-08-06, version 2.2.0* each time it launches, the app asks for an update to the latest version, providing a link to the App store. But once there, the only option is to “open” — which just sends you back to the app for a rinse-and-repeat. Maybe not ready for prime time yet? ### 1/5 — Not as great as the Bunpo app unfortunately, *2024-04-16, version 2.1.1* I was early adopter of the Bunpo app and had high hopes for this app, it’s okay but there’s a lot to be fixed, the app crashes during review, I wish there was an option to reset progress as well because I feel like having the kana in my reviews at this point is just a waste of time. The app has huge potential with just a few fixes. I don’t know if they’ll ever fix them , it doesn’t seem like they update this app much anymore ### 1/5 — A great thing ruined by functionality bugs *2023-11-06, version 1.5.94* Update: In addition to all the other bugs I mentioned, now my review is broken and I’m not being shown over half the lessons I’ve done for review. Such a shame this app is completely abandoned. Let me start with the positives. This app is one of the best resources for learning Japanese vocabulary that I’ve found in my nearly 10 years of study. It has a robust vocabulary list and flash cards that effectively teach kanji, meaning, and the reading. Lessons are appropriately sized and never feel overwhelming. BUT this is all ruined by the app’s many many bugs. Multiple lessons can’t be completed because answer options won’t show up, my phone vibrates nonstop every time I have to type in Japanese, some reviews will freeze and you have to close the app and reopen it. I really really want to love this app just like I love Bunpo but these “game breaking” bugs need to be fixed before I can. ### 1/5 — I have to purchase this 2 times? *2023-06-27* Even if you already purchased the app there is always the “chain lock “ for no reason. It’s really annoying. ### 1/5 — clunky and buggy *2023-06-02, version 1.5.94* I made the mistake of purchasing this after just using it a few minutes, and reading the other reviews. Sadly, my experience has been very poor. I've encountered display issues (iPad Pro 12.9 on the latest version of iOS), mismatches between what's written (displayed in hiragana) and what's said, and minor bugs (how hard is it to randomize a list??). Even without the bugs, the UI is difficult. This feels like a beta product. Worst of all, I've had no response to my email to the developer. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — I love it *2026-08-04, version 2.6.1* Good app I can’t complain tbh ### 5/5 — Very good *2025-12-20, version 2.6.1* This app is super underrated. Very good ### 5/5 — 🫡good one *2025-12-10* Super ### 5/5 — it’s a great app but… *2025-10-30, version 2.6.1* it is truly a good app, i just wish we wouldn’t have to pay to learn better ### 5/5 — Review *2025-10-01* Finally a good app.learned all the hiragana in 2 hours ### 5/5 — Very good *2025-07-21* I really like this app. It really helps to learn the hiragana.. language. ### 5/5 — One of my favorites *2025-05-17, version 2.5.0* I’m enjoying the app and the way vocabulary is drilled per lesson works well for me. I find the example sentences and kanji explanations particularly helpful. The mnemonic sentences don’t do much for me, but sometimes I will reference them. I would love an option to breakdown kanji further into their radicals and parts if it lends itself to the definition. As a mnemonic device, it helps me more to understand them that way: like seeing rain 雨 in snow 雪 and electricity 電気. I would also love a better spaced repetition, as the reviews feel sparse and don’t seem to bring up the same words often enough. Overall I love the app, and I use it as my primary one for vocabulary (after having tried many apps before.) I paid to unlock everything and it’s worth the money! Thanks for the hard work! ### 5/5 — Good style teaching *2025-05-16, version 2.5.0* I enjoy the style it uses for teaching. I really think how they teach in this app (Hiragana, Katakana, Basic Kanji, Etc.) and they also have it set up in the format in how it’s learned in the way I would need to take a class in college for N5-N1. So far haven’t stumbled across any bugs👌. 🫡 ### 5/5 — Easy to use *2025-04-22, version 2.5.0* I like how easy it is to use, I just downloaded it and I’m already learning faster than most other apps! ### 5/5 — Bug prevents study *2025-04-06* I left the app for a few days. When I came back, the review function crashed the app consistently. Given the app is based on drills, not being able to review renders it useless. Repeated attempts to speak with the developer about the bug were futile. **Developer response:** Hello, I am so sorry about this. There were bugs in the previous build, we fixed them. Please try the new version. And if you got the chance we would really appreciate updating your review, thank you! --- *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 2026-09-07.*