# Kanji Drop vs Pocket Chess

The clearest difference is rating: Pocket Chess at 4.6 against Kanji Drop's 4.1. Pocket Chess also leads on ratings volume (15K vs 28) and chart position (#134 vs unranked). Kanji Drop's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Kanji Drop sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and Pocket Chess sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Pocket Chess holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pocket Chess has 15K ratings behind it against 28, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Kanji Drop's written reviews are positive against 61% of Pocket Chess's.

Kanji Drop ships an update every 3 weeks, Pocket Chess every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Kanji Drop | Pocket Chess |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (28 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kanji-drop/id1222370984/reviews) | **[4.6 (15K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-chess/id1580054076/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 28 | **15K** |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | **61.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#134** |
| Size | 187 MB | 199 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [International Technology Consulting LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/983864691) | [Lessmore GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1579865033) |

## What reviewers say

### Kanji Drop

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kanji-drop/id1222370984)

This app teaches Japanese kanji through a unique block-dropping game. Construct kanji from their components and form words from existing kanji to progress. It offers a fun and engaging method for learners of all levels, from beginners to advanced.

**Highlights:** Build kanji from parts, Form words from kanji, Audio pronunciation of words, Import Anki/WaniKani decks, JLPT and textbook lesson filters, Beginner to advanced levels

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 100 Coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| 500 Coins | $5.99 | one-time |
| 1000 Coins | $6.99 | one-time |
| 2000 Coins | $9.99 | one-time |


### Pocket Chess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-chess/id1580054076)

**Currently charting:** #134 Top Free · Board (US App Store)

Enhance your chess skills with hundreds of challenging chess problems and puzzles. This app focuses on simplified boards to help you quickly recognize chess patterns and improve your game.

**Highlights:** Hundreds of chess problems, Checkmate in 2 and 4 puzzles, Simplified boards for pattern recognition, Improve chess game, Learn chess patterns faster

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Coin Bundle | $1.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $4.99 | one-time |
| Starter Package | $4.99 | one-time |
| Event Offer | $4.99 | one-time |
| Medium Coin Bundle | $5.99 | one-time |
| Large Coin Bundle | $11.99 | one-time |
| Super Coin Bundle | $25.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Improved chess skills
- 👍 Challenging yet fun puzzles
- 🤩 Addictive and engaging
- 🧠 Helps develop tactical thinking
- 📈 Tracks progress and skill level

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🙄 Excessive ads
- 💰 Expensive to remove ads
- 🐛 Some puzzles have issues
- 🤔 Opponent moves don't always make sense

**Reported bugs**

- Progress data loss
- Incorrect checkmate solutions
- Game freezing after certain moves

**Requested features**

- Ability to review past puzzles
- More advanced puzzles and levels
- Option to disable audio/music
- Sync progress across devices


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Kanji Drop free?

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

### Is Pocket Chess free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Kanji Drop or Pocket Chess?

Pocket Chess is rated higher. Kanji Drop averages 4.1 out of 5 from 28 ratings, while Pocket Chess averages 4.6 from 15K ratings.

### Do Kanji Drop or Pocket Chess have ads?

Both Kanji Drop and Pocket Chess show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Kanji Drop or Pocket Chess?

Kanji Drop ships an update every 3 weeks, and Pocket Chess every 2 months. Most recently, Kanji Drop was updated on November 2, 2026 and Pocket Chess on November 12, 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.*