# Learn Japanese vs Japanese Basic

The clearest difference is rating: Learn Japanese at 4.8 against Japanese Basic's 3.5. Learn Japanese also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 3 months). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Learn Japanese sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month and Japanese Basic sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Learn Japanese holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Learn Japanese has 2K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Learn Japanese ships an update every 9 days, Japanese Basic every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and June 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Learn Japanese | Japanese Basic |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/learn-japanese-drops/id1227950969/reviews)** | [3.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/japanese-basic-nihongo/id1525602347/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 90.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 207 MB | 117 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 12.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PLANB LABS OU](https://appshunter.io/developer/527215806) | [SHINGO MATSUO](https://appshunter.io/developer/1493414113) |

## What reviewers say

### Learn Japanese

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/learn-japanese-drops/id1227950969)

Learn Japanese vocabulary through engaging, visually-driven mini-games. Daily five-minute lessons make learning addictive and effective, focusing on practical words and essential scripts like Kanji and Kana. Build a consistent learning habit with this fun, illustrated approach.

**Highlights:** Illustrated vocabulary learning, Daily 5-minute lessons, Quick swipe and tap games, Focus on practical words, Teaches Kanji and Kana, Habit-building approach

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlimited time! | $7.99 | per month |
| Premium | $9.99 | per month |
| Premium | $11.99 | per month |
| Unlimited time for all Languages! | $12.99 | per month |
| Premium | $12.99 | per month |
| Daily 10 minutes bonus | $22.99 | per month |
| Premium Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| Premium | $39.99 | per year |
| Premium | $47.99 | per year |
| Premium | $69.99 | per year |
| Premium | $79.99 | per year |
| Premium | $89.99 | per year |


### Japanese Basic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/japanese-basic-nihongo/id1525602347)

Learn basic Japanese vocabulary, characters, and phrases with this beginner-friendly app. It offers offline access, customizable pronunciation, and a red sheet function for effective memorization. Expand your learning with in-app purchases for additional words.

**Highlights:** Basic Japanese vocabulary and phrases, Hiragana and Katakana study, Offline access, Customizable pronunciation and audio speed, Red sheet memorization function, Verb conjugation guide, User vocabulary book

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Japanese Basic -Full Version- | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Learn Japanese free?

Learn Japanese is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Japanese Basic free?

Japanese Basic is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Learn Japanese or Japanese Basic?

Learn Japanese is rated higher. Learn Japanese averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2K ratings, while Japanese Basic averages 3.5 from 2 ratings.

### Do Learn Japanese or Japanese Basic have ads?

Japanese Basic shows ads; Learn Japanese does not.

### Which is updated more often, Learn Japanese or Japanese Basic?

Learn Japanese ships an update every 9 days, and Japanese Basic every 3 months. Most recently, Learn Japanese was updated on September 23, 2026 and Japanese Basic on June 11, 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.*