# Polyglot Reader vs Bunpo

The clearest difference is rating: Bunpo at 4.9 against Polyglot Reader's 4.4. Bunpo also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 2 months). On price, review sentiment, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Polyglot Reader sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Bunpo sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Bunpo holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bunpo has 18K ratings behind it against 74, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 66% of Polyglot Reader's written reviews are positive against 73% of Bunpo's.

Polyglot Reader ships an update every 2 months, Bunpo every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Polyglot Reader | Bunpo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (74 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/polyglot-reader/id1015619263/reviews) | **[4.9 (18K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bunpo-language-learning/id1279720052/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 74 | **18K** |
| Positive reviews | 65.7% of reviews | **72.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 120 MB | 189 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Anton Ivanov](https://appshunter.io/developer/594091388) | [Bunpo Language Learning](https://appshunter.io/developer/1279720051) |

## What reviewers say

### Polyglot Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/polyglot-reader/id1015619263)

Read books in foreign languages and learn new vocabulary. Tap on unknown words for instant translations and save them to flashcards for later study. Supports various document formats and offers pronunciation practice and knowledge tests.

**Highlights:** Read books in multiple formats (PDF, EPUB, TXT), Translate unknown words and phrases instantly, Create flashcards for vocabulary learning, Pronunciation support for words and phrases, Knowledge tests for vocabulary sets, Scan and recognize text from documents

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly subscription | $3.99 | per month |
| Monthly subscription | $7.99 | per month |
| Monthly subscription | $7.99 | per month |
| Monthly subscription | $9.99 | per month |
| Annual subscription | $22.99 | per year |
| Annual subscription | $34.99 | per year |
| Annual subscription | $39.99 | per year |
| Annual subscription | $59.99 | per year |
| Upgrade from advanced to professional version | $3.99 | one-time |
| Upgrade from Starter to Advanced version | $15.99 | one-time |
| Full version | $99.99 | one-time |


### Bunpo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bunpo-language-learning/id1279720052)

Master multiple languages with this comprehensive learning app. It offers detailed grammar explanations, vocabulary building, and smart review systems to help you progress from beginner to advanced levels. Learn Japanese, Korean, Spanish, French, German, and Chinese with interactive exercises and personalized study plans.

**Highlights:** Learn 6 languages, Master grammar with detailed explanations, Build vocabulary and kanji knowledge, Spaced repetition for smart review, Interactive quizzes and example sentences, Offline learning for Spanish, French, German, Chinese

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bunpo Plus Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Bunpo Platinum Monthly | $19.99 | per month |
| Bunpo Platinum Monthly | $19.99 | per month |
| Bunpo Plus Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| Bunpo Plus Yearly | $39.99 | per year |
| Bunpo Platinum Yearly | $79.99 | per year |
| Bunpo Platinum Yearly | $79.99 | per year |
| Bunpo Plus Lifetime | $39.99 | one-time |
| Bunpo Plus Lifetime | $44.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Helpful for learning Japanese
- 👍 Well-designed and organized
- 👍 Explains grammar and usage well
- 👍 Customizable to learning needs
- 👍 Effective spaced repetition

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Too much content locked behind paywall
- 🐛 Bugs and crashes reported
- 🐛 Issues with keyboard and text display
- 🐛 Inconsistencies in question answers
- 🔒 Lack of offline access to paid content

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes during lesson reviews
- Incorrect answers marked as wrong
- Text and keyboard issues on smaller screens
- Audio playback problems

**Requested features**

- Add landscape mode support for tablets
- Improve review options to revisit specific grammar points
- Expand vocabulary lessons and practice
- Add more languages beyond Japanese


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Polyglot Reader free?

Polyglot Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Bunpo free?

Bunpo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Polyglot Reader or Bunpo?

Bunpo is rated higher. Polyglot Reader averages 4.4 out of 5 from 74 ratings, while Bunpo averages 4.9 from 18K ratings.

### Do Polyglot Reader or Bunpo have ads?

Polyglot Reader shows ads; Bunpo does not.

### Which is updated more often, Polyglot Reader or Bunpo?

Polyglot Reader ships an update every 2 months, and Bunpo every 9 days. Most recently, Polyglot Reader was updated on September 23, 2026 and Bunpo on September 25, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*