# The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide vs Wabtec DSS

The clearest difference is price: Wabtec DSS at Free against The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide's $9.99. Wabtec DSS also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and update cadence (every 7 months vs every 24 months). The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide's advantage is ratings volume (3 vs 1). On ads, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Wabtec DSS is free to download; The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide costs $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Wabtec DSS holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 1 respectively.

The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide ships an update every 24 months, Wabtec DSS every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide | Wabtec DSS |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $9.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-kodansha-kanji-usage-guide/id1069262969/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wabtec-dss/id1210177605/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **3** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 24 months | **Every 7 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 15 MB | 66 MB |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 | 9.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [CJKI](https://appshunter.io/developer/344405633) | [Creative Management Services MC2](https://appshunter.io/developer/520912618) |

## What reviewers say

### The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-kodansha-kanji-usage-guide/id1069262969)

This reference app helps intermediate Japanese learners understand and differentiate between kun homophones, words with the same kun reading but different kanji and meanings. It provides detailed usage articles, examples, and indexes for over 1,600 kanji.

**Highlights:** Detailed usage articles for kun homophones, Thousands of compound words and examples, Indexes for On-Kun reading and English meaning, Offline access, History and bookmarks, Jump to related dictionary app

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Wabtec DSS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wabtec-dss/id1210177605)

Explore a combined portfolio of digital and electronics offerings designed to advance automation in freight and mining. This app provides a first look at solutions driving safety, productivity, and efficiency in transportation.

**Highlights:** Digital and electronics offerings, Advanced automation for freight, Automation for mining industries, Enhanced safety, Increased productivity, Improved efficiency

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide free?

The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Wabtec DSS free?

Wabtec DSS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide or Wabtec DSS?

Wabtec DSS is rated higher. The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide averages 4.7 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Wabtec DSS averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide or Wabtec DSS have ads?

Neither The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide nor Wabtec DSS shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide or Wabtec DSS?

The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide ships an update every 24 months, and Wabtec DSS every 7 months. Most recently, The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide was updated on October 20, 2026 and Wabtec DSS on October 12, 2026.

---

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