# Kanji Study vs Satori Reader

The clearest difference is update cadence: Kanji Study at every 2 days against Satori Reader's every 3 months. Kanji Study also leads on ratings volume (7.3K vs 218). Satori Reader's advantage is review sentiment (90% vs 67%) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.5). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Kanji Study sells 6 one-off in-app purchases and Satori Reader sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Kanji Study against 4.8 for Satori Reader. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Kanji Study has 7.3K ratings behind it against 218, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 67% of Kanji Study's written reviews are positive against 90% of Satori Reader's.

Kanji Study ships an update every 2 days, Satori Reader every 3 months. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Kanji Study | Satori Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (7.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kanji-study-learn-japanese/id1078107994/reviews) | **[4.8 (218 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/satori-reader/id1382950847/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **7.3K** | 218 |
| Positive reviews | 67.4% of reviews | **90.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 days** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 137 MB | 81 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.5 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Luli Languages LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/972910241) | [Brak Software, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/304088759) |

## What reviewers say

### Kanji Study

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kanji-study-learn-japanese/id1078107994)

This app teaches Japanese kanji by focusing on vocabulary words. It offers writing practice with stroke detection and spaced repetition reviews for effective memorization. Learn kanji readings naturally through over 5,000 JLPT-aligned words.

**Highlights:** Vocabulary-first kanji learning, Writing lessons with stroke detection, Spaced repetition reviews, Full JLPT N5-N1 coverage, Audio pronunciation, Offline functionality

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Level 1 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Level 2 | $12.99 | one-time |
| Level 3 | $14.99 | one-time |
| Level 4 | $14.99 | one-time |
| Level 5 | $14.99 | one-time |
| All Levels | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great app for learning kanji
- 👍 Effective review system
- 💡 Organized by JLPT levels
- 👍 Affordable one-time purchase
- 👍 Helps with writing practice and muscle memory

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Sensitive kanji recognition, sometimes doesn't accept correct strokes
- 🐛 Review sessions can get very long and tedious
- 🐛 Inconsistent kanji definitions and translations
- 🐛 Lack of syncing progress across devices

**Reported bugs**

- Certain kanji not recognized correctly
- App crashing or freezing, especially during long review sessions
- Progress not syncing across devices

**Requested features**

- Option to customize review sessions (select specific kanji, JLPT levels, etc.)
- Add both on and kun readings for kanji
- Implement sentence practice and vocabulary exercises
- Add support for more languages (e.g. Russian)


### Satori Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/satori-reader/id1382950847)

Enhance your Japanese reading and listening skills with engaging stories written by native speakers. Features adaptive kanji, smart definitions, and spaced repetition to build vocabulary. Get clarity with friendly annotations and human feedback.

**Highlights:** Compelling stories by native speakers, Audio narration by voice actors, Adaptive kanji presentation, Smart word definitions, Friendly annotations, Spaced repetition vocabulary review, Human feedback and support

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Satori Reader Monthly | $8.99 | per month |
| Satori Reader Annual | $89.99 | per year |
| Satori Reader Annual | $89.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent for improving reading and listening skills
- 👍 Detailed grammar and vocabulary explanations
- 🎨 Customizable display settings for kanji/furigana
- 💡 Integrated spaced repetition flashcard system
- 🎧 High-quality voice acting and audio

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional app crashes or sync issues
- 🕰️ Lack of speed control for audio playback
- 💰 Subscription-based model can be expensive
- 🔍 Limited search/navigation functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues and account creation problems
- Syncing and loading delays on some devices

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Ability to loop audio playback
- Kanji lookup/learning tools integration
- More advanced/diverse content selection


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Kanji Study free?

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

### Is Satori Reader free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Kanji Study or Satori Reader?

Satori Reader is rated higher. Kanji Study averages 4.7 out of 5 from 7.3K ratings, while Satori Reader averages 4.8 from 218 ratings.

### Do Kanji Study or Satori Reader have ads?

Neither Kanji Study nor Satori Reader shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Kanji Study or Satori Reader?

Kanji Study ships an update every 2 days, and Satori Reader every 3 months. Most recently, Kanji Study was updated on October 25, 2026 and Satori Reader on October 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.*