# Pastel Daily Kana Quiz (Hiragana & Katakana Test) — user reviews

> 102 indexed App Store user reviews of Pastel Daily Kana Quiz (Hiragana & Katakana Test) by Alan Dowling, rated 4.30/5 from 50 ratings.

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pastel-daily-kana-quiz-hiragana-and-katakana-test/id1085121399/reviews
- App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pastel-daily-kana-quiz-hiragana-and-katakana-test/id1085121399.md
- Rating breakdown: 5★ 34 · 4★ 6 · 3★ 4 · 2★ 1 · 1★ 5

## What do users think of Pastel Daily Kana Quiz (Hiragana & Katakana Test)?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 🎨 Beautiful, minimalist, and aesthetically pleasing design
- ⚡ Fast-paced gameplay that improves recall speed
- 🎮 Engaging and fun way to practice kana characters
- 🎯 Customizable quiz settings to focus on specific characters
- 📊 Includes comprehensive reference chart for all kana
- 💰 Affordable one-time purchase for full version
- 🔊 Audio cues help with sound-character association
- ✅ Effective for reinforcing kana memorization
- 🎪 Gamified approach keeps users motivated
- 📱 Simple and intuitive user interface

**Cons**

- ⏱️ Timer is too short (2-3 seconds) for beginners
- 💸 Katakana locked behind paywall while hiragana is free
- 🔊 Audio quality issues - some characters sound identical
- 📝 No writing practice or stroke order instruction
- 🎯 Not suitable for complete beginners without prior knowledge
- 💾 App settings don't persist between sessions
- 🚫 Limited to quiz-based learning only
- 🔄 No tracking of weakest characters for focused review
- 📱 Not optimized for larger phones (no fullscreen support)
- 🌙 No dark mode option available

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Settings not saved between app sessions
- App crashes when selecting 4+ kana in settings
- In-app purchase fails to process (continuous loading)
- Audio playback inconsistencies with headphones
- Not optimized for iPhone X (black bars at top/bottom)
- Final question times out before user can answer
- Glitch in settings validation for character selection

**Most requested features**

- Adjustable timer duration (customizable per user)
- Audio-only mode for sound recognition practice
- Kanji learning app with similar format
- Ability to combine hiragana and katakana in single quiz
- Writing/stroke order practice mode
- Dark mode theme
- Tracking of most-missed characters for targeted review
- Larger answer selection options (3x3 or 4x4 grid)
- Reverse mode (romaji to kana identification)
- Mixed mode combining both directions
- No-timer mode for self-paced learning
- Achievement/badge system for motivation
- Ability to remove ads with small payment
- Support for diacritics and digraphs in reference section
- Fullscreen support for modern devices

## Newest reviews (16 of 102)

### 3/5 — precio

*2023-08-12*

el precio es en pesos mexicanos?

### 3/5 — READ THIS::: INCLUDES RECOMMENDATION

*2022-07-12, version 1.3.2*

This app is pretty good for people who already know a bit of hiragana/katakana and for people who want to test there knowledge of Japanese. But I wouldn’t recommend this for people who are beginners and don’t know any Hiragana / Katakana.

### 3/5 — Why

*2022-02-08, version 1.3.2*

Why does my school make me use this

### 5/5 — Very good

*2021-06-06, version 1.3.2*

Simple but effective

### 3/5 — Almost

*2021-03-20, version 1.3.2*

This app would be perfect if the audio for the Kana was better. Since that’s what’s most important I have to take two stars. Other than that perfect app. The visual and sound design is great!

### 4/5 — Great app but

*2021-03-01, version 1.3.2*

I love this app and all but I really don’t like how long you get to choose the sound. For example, I look at the character and go to press a sound but the timer is already up and is on the next question. It would be an amazing improvement if you add a question timer so you could make it longer or shorter ( I bought Premium and I couldn’t find any settings for this)

### 5/5 — Exactly what I have been looking for.

*2021-01-05, version 1.3.2*

Well designed and responsive app that’s easy to read and keep up with for those who know Hiragana or Katakana and just need some daily practice.

No complaints other than I hope the developer returns to update the app with modern features such as full screen cover for larger phones and dark mode.

### 5/5 — Great sight letter application

*2020-11-12, version 1.3.2*

If you want to practice reading Hiragana and katakana, this is the application for you !! Fun game to play on the busy Japanese trains.

They should make a Kanji version!

### 4/5 — Please, pastel kanji

*2020-09-21*

Sería hermoso tener este mismo formato pero para practicar kanjis!!!

### 5/5 — Increíble!

*2020-09-13*

Es muy buena para memorizar hiragana y katakana, aunque este último tienes que pagar para desbloquearlo, pero no es muy costoso y es una sola compra 🙌🏼

### 3/5 — Needs more options

*2020-08-13, version 1.3.2*

This app is nice for people already learning Japanese. Definitely only useful if you already have the chararacters down fairly well. The options to pick which characters to include is great. This app is helping me to identify the characters faster. 

The problem I have is the time limit. There needs to be an option to increase the time you have to answer. The current time is about 2 seconds. Which is great if you already have all the characters memorized, but not so great if you are still having trouble with a few of them... such as nu/me and ne/wa. 

Tl:dr - Memorize the characters first, then use this app to help you identify them faster.

### 5/5 — ❤️endlich mal ne App die das lernen angenehm macht

*2020-08-06*

Bei anderen Apps gibt es oft keine Tabellen mit allen Zeichen, um mal schnell was nach zu schauen bzw. gezielt bestimmte Zeichen zu lernen, oder es wird frustrierend, wenn man durch Fehler Herzen/leben verliert und deshalb nicht weitermachen kann.❤️ Echt klasse gemacht also! Hab sofort die volle Version gekauft 😁

### 5/5 — Es gefällt mir sehr...

*2020-05-26*

es wäre toll wenn es ein Auswahl für die meisten falschen Antworten gäbe. So das man seine Schwachpunkte lernen kann 🤔

### 5/5 — amazing!!

*2020-03-22, version 1.3.2*

this app is really helpful! i suggest trying your best to memorize the hiragana table and then taking this to help you memorize the characters at a faster pace. this app gives you five seconds to choose the correct answer which is hard at first, but eventually, you’ll get the hang of it! the design is also quite cute, too. the only thing is i wish you could practice katakana without paying, but other than that, this is pretty good!

ありがと~

### 5/5 — One of the best

*2020-02-15*

Очень крутое приложение для тренировки изучения кан с элементами состязания. Я скачал около двадцати приложений данной тематики и оно попало в мои топ-3.  
• Одна из важных для меня возможностей - выбор нужных (изученных) рядов кан (или даже отдельные каны). 
• Вторая клёвая штука - ограниченное время, за которое пытаешься поставить личный рекорд по количеству правильных ответов. 
• Третье - грамотная политика по платным/бесплатным функциям. Бесплатно можно учить всю классическую хирагану (без диакритиков и диграфов). Это позволяет полноценно оценить приложение и заодно получить треть результата. Те, кому оно понравится и у кого будет цель получить полный результат (знать все каны) - тот с радостью заплатит за весь функционал. 
• Четвёртое - возможность выбора направление теста (каны - Romaji или Romaji - каны). Вот бы ещё сделали смешанный режим!! Сложность для продвинутой подготовки))

Одно предложение к разработчикам - добавьте функционал достижений. Это будет подстегивать интерес учащихся.

### 2/5 — Not much to do

*2020-02-10, version 1.3.2*

Not much to do need to pay $7.99 to do much

## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated)

### 1/5 — Опять выжимание денег

*2020-02-08*

Вы сможете выучить только одну азбуку, потому что за вторую с вас потребуют плату...

### 1/5 — Não consigo realizar compra no app

*2020-01-18*

Quero muito desbloquear o aplicativo, porém quando coloco para comprar, ele fica carregando continuamente, e não consigo nem mesmo clicar no botão “buy” e realizar a compra, como posso proceder?

### 1/5 — Cute but not good for beginners

*2018-12-16, version 1.3.2*

You have to pay extra to slow the flash cards down. I’m a beginner trying to learn and it flips through the cards too fast for me to learn anything before marking me “wrong” for not choosing quickly enough

### 1/5 — Too fast

*2018-07-04*

You have less than 3 seconds to answer and you can’t change unless you pay

### 1/5 — Paid for unlock feature but didn't received it

*2017-04-17, version 1.3.2*

I was so happy with the app that I even paid for the extra feature. But I didn't get the features even though it took my $4.99.

### 1/5 — Need to fix settings

*2016-09-25, version 1.1.2*

There is a glitch in the settings where it tells you to choose 4 or more kana even if you have already chosen 4+. Also, it crashes the app if you press it again. Please fix this because I paid for the pro version of the app... else, I'd like a refund.

### 1/5 — Don't buy if you need Katakana

*2016-07-10, version 1.1.2*

Free version only lets you practice hiragana.

### 1/5 — Annoying ads

*2016-04-26, version 1.0*

This app would be great if I could pay to remove the ads.

### 2/5 — Not worth downloading

*2021-04-04*

It only lets you to practise Hiragana. You need to pay if you want to practise Katakana.

### 2/5 — Muy básico pero pide pagos

*2020-03-02*

Solamente puedes hacer “quizzes” de los carácteres que cinozcas, pero para desbloquearlos tienes que pagar. No te permite dibujarlos, u oirlos ni aprender palabras nuevas, solo son quizzes. Me esperaba algo más de contenido, ya que hay que pagar para poder hacer quizzes de todos los carácteres.

## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated)

### 5/5 — Amazing

*2025-07-28, version 1.3.2*

I really love this app, i wish there was one just like it for korean language!

### 5/5 — Buenísima

*2024-11-16*

Una aplicación muy simple para practicar en cualquier momento. Muy barata para lo mucho que te ayuda.

### 5/5 — This is the app I learned to read Hiragana and Katakana

*2024-05-02, version 1.3.2*

Please do a similar Kanji app!!

### 5/5 — Mi aplicación favorita para kana

*2024-04-24*

Por favor, esta es mi aplicación favorita para repasar el kana, hagan una para kanji sería muy útil. O varias por ejemplo una para cada JLPT ejemplo Kanjis del N5 otro para N4 etc o una sola para todos los niveles y se dividen en N5-N1 así como en esta que tiene el botón de Hiragana y después Katakana.

### 5/5 — Well Worth it! Good Learning Supplement

*2023-02-01, version 1.3.2*

Good memorization tool. Try the free which includes the most basic hiragana characters, if you find it useful the $6 to unlock all characters should be well worth it for you.

### 5/5 — Underrated app

*2023-01-09, version 1.3.2*

I know there are a lot of kana apps out there but for quick and easy revision this one takes the cake - great looking app and got me on top of hiragana and katakana in no time, massive life saver when you’re trying to cram in study at every opportunity

### 5/5 — Great app for beginners or refreshers

*2023-01-05, version 1.3.2*

I’ve been using this app on and off for a few years and purchased the extension for more characters. It’s fast paced so you have to keep up with the characters! The only thing that I would recommend is that you can hide the romanji and only show the character so you’re not forced to second guess yourself. 

I also noticed that when I use headphones a lot of the characters SOUND the same. I thought I was crazy getting the characters wrong when I HEARD it but turns out that wasn’t my hearing problem. Hope y’all can fix this!

### 5/5 — Me encanta esta app

*2022-08-27*

Aún que de momento solo uso la parte gratuita, es genial para revisar y practicar hiragana, además que puedes practicar en cualquier momento y en cualquier lugar. 
Sinceramente me ha servido mucho para no olvidarme de hiragana ya que dejé de estudiarlo por 2 años.

### 5/5 — Very effective

*2022-06-27, version 1.3.2*

The design makes you want to play more and its great to challenge yourself. One suggestion though, it would be really good if you could have a mode where you tap on the hiragana or katakana with only sounds!

### 5/5 — Love this app, just need romaji translation for diacritics and diagraphs

*2022-02-05, version 1.3.2*

With that I have to say I’ve learned so much faster than memorizing alone. I recommend even the paid version since it’s so helpful and timeless.

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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 2026-06-11.*