Kanji Study vs Polyo
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Kanji Study
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.
- Vocabulary-first kanji learning
- Writing lessons with stroke detection
- Spaced repetition reviews
- Full JLPT N5-N1 coverage
- Audio pronunciation
- Offline functionality
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Most kanji apps show you a character and its readings and expect you to memorize them cold. Kanji Study takes a different approach: you learn kanji through the vocabulary words they appear in. By studying real JLPT words, over 5,000 of them across N5 to N1, you absorb kanji readings naturally, one word at a time, the way they actually appear in Japanese. What makes it different: Vocabulary-first learning: master readings through words, not rote memorization Writing lessons with stroke detection: learn correct stroke order and get instant feedback Spaced repetition reviews: English → Japanese and Japanese → English, including writing quizzes Full JLPT coverage: structured levels from N5 through N1 Audio pronunciation: hear every word read aloud Works offline: no internet connection required Ideal for JLPT test prep, Japanese language students, or anyone preparing to live or work in Japan.
Polyo
This app helps you monitor your progress in learning multiple languages. Log study hours, categorize activities, and track your growth to stay consistent and accountable on your learning journey.
- Track language study across multiple languages
- Log study hours
- Categorize learning activities
- Monitor language learning growth
- Promotes consistency and accountability
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Polyo helps you track your language study across multiple languages and skills. Log your hours. Categorize your activities. Monitor your growth. Whether you're learning Spanish, French, Korean, or more, Polyo gives you a simple way to stay consistent and accountable. Built for learners who care about long-term progress.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Polyo at none against Kanji Study's 8. Polyo also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 67%) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). Kanji Study's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs monthly) and ratings volume (7.3K vs 6). 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
Both are free to download. Kanji Study sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Polyo asks for nothing beyond the download.
Polyo holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Kanji Study has 7.3K ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of Kanji Study's written reviews are positive against 100% of Polyo's.
Kanji Study ships an update every 2 days, Polyo monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Kanji Study | Polyo |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (7.3K ratings) | 5.0 (6 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 67.4% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 7.3K — better | 6 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 days — better | Monthly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 17.5 | 16.4 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 140 MB | 54 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Luli Languages LLC | Kaleb McKelvey |
Customer experience
Kanji Study
Polyo
Bugs and requests
Kanji Study
Reported bugs
3 issues- Certain kanji not recognized correctly
- App crashing or freezing, especially during long review sessions
- Progress not syncing across devices
Requested features
4 requests- 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)
Polyo
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Kanji Study
- Level 1$9.99
- Level 2$12.99
- Level 3$14.99
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- Level 4$14.99
- Level 5$14.99
- All Levels3 variants$29.99
Polyo
No in-app purchases









