Comparison

FirstKaruta Lite vs ST▲RT

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

FirstKaruta Lite

This app helps children learn the Hyakunin Isshu karuta by breaking down the 100 poems into smaller groups. It features furigana for all text, clear audio readings, and explanations of poem meanings tailored for kids. Practice and play against a cat character to improve your skills.

Highlights
  • Learn poems in small groups
  • Furigana for all text
  • Clear female voice readings
  • Kid-friendly poem explanations
  • Practice matches against AI
  • Memorize by 'kimariji' (decisive characters)
Features
Read full description

Begin your child's first steps into Hyakunin Isshu with Chamame the cat. Try the gentle, enjoyable world of Hyakunin Isshu for free. Every screen includes furigana, with clear narration by a trained vocalist. "100 poems is too many." "The old words make no sense." FirstKaruta is a learning app built to gently break down both of the walls that trip children up — and you can try its world for free. ◆ What you can try in the free version - Get comfortable with karuta: a learning mode that groups poems by their key syllables and repeats letters, meaning, sound, kimariji, and a final challenge until they feel familiar - Play against Chamame: enjoy karuta matches with the charming cat Furigana on every screen, narration by a trained vocalist, and child-friendly retellings of each poem — the comfort of the app comes through fully in the free version, too. ◆ Ready to learn more? Move on to the full version If your child enjoys it, the full version covers all 100 poems, with more learning features: - Kimariji speed memorization - Recitation (101 poems, including the joka opening verse used in competitive karuta) - Card sweep (great for competitive karuta practice) Why not start Hyakunin Isshu with Chamame, for free? Fun for ages 3 to adult. - Recommended age: 3 and up - For iPhone and iPad

About

ST▲RT

Features
Read full description

STARTは、勉強時間をゲームに変える学習アプリです。 勉強するたびにボスと戦い、倒すたびにキャラクターが成長します。タイマーを止めるとバトルが終わり、勉強した時間だけ強くなれます。 【主な機能】 ・勉強タイマー&ボスバトル ・キャラクター・ボスの成長システム ・今日の勉強時間・合計時間の記録 ・保護者管理モード(制限時間・強制終了設定) ・勉強終了時の褒めメッセージ 勉強するのが楽しくなる、新しい学習体験をはじめよう。

Screenshots

FirstKaruta Lite4 screens
ST▲RT4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: FirstKaruta Lite at none against ST▲RT's 1. ST▲RT's advantage is update cadence (daily vs every 3 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. ST▲RT sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $2.99 per month. FirstKaruta Lite asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

FirstKaruta Lite ships an update every 3 months, ST▲RT daily. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
FirstKaruta Lite versus ST▲RT: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFirstKaruta LiteST▲RT
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews60.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size145 MB24 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developerpolygondrill co.,Ltd.Kenichi Higuchi

In-app purchases

None

FirstKaruta Lite

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

ST▲RT

Subscriptions1
  • 保護者管理オプション$2.991 Month

Questions

Is FirstKaruta Lite free?
FirstKaruta Lite is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ST▲RT free?
ST▲RT is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do FirstKaruta Lite or ST▲RT have ads?
Neither FirstKaruta Lite nor ST▲RT shows ads.
Which is updated more often, FirstKaruta Lite or ST▲RT?
FirstKaruta Lite ships an update every 3 months, and ST▲RT daily. Most recently, FirstKaruta Lite was updated on November 1, 2026 and ST▲RT on November 9, 2026.

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