# Hayakawa vs Hipocampus

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Hayakawa at none against Hipocampus's 3. Hayakawa also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). Hipocampus's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 7 months). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Hipocampus sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Hayakawa asks for nothing beyond the download.

Hayakawa ships an update every 7 months, Hipocampus every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hayakawa | Hipocampus |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 54 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Hayakawa Simply Japanese](https://appshunter.io/developer/1244553318) | [Mitaanshu Agarwal](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896724075) |

## What reviewers say

### Hayakawa

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hayakawa/id1244553319)

Master Japanese with expert instructors and a comprehensive curriculum. Access study materials, cultural insights, and flexible learning options, including live and recorded classes. Prepare for proficiency exams and receive placement assistance for jobs or study in Japan.

**Highlights:** Expert native instructors, Comprehensive curriculum, Exclusive study materials, Cultural and business ethics programs, Flexible course options, Live and recorded classes, Conversational practice, Exam preparation

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Hipocampus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hipocampus/id6772046372)

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hipocampus Pro Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Hipocampus Pro Yearly | $19.99 | per year |
| Hipocampus Pro Lifetime | $199.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hayakawa free?

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

### Is Hipocampus free?

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

### Do Hayakawa or Hipocampus have ads?

Neither Hayakawa nor Hipocampus shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Hayakawa or Hipocampus?

Hayakawa ships an update every 7 months, and Hipocampus every 2 months. Most recently, Hayakawa was updated on November 2, 2026 and Hipocampus on November 5, 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.*