Bunpo vs Rakulingo
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Bunpo
Master multiple languages with this comprehensive learning app. It offers detailed grammar explanations, vocabulary building, and smart review systems to help you progress from beginner to advanced levels. Learn Japanese, Korean, Spanish, French, German, and Chinese with interactive exercises and personalized study plans.
- Learn 6 languages
- Master grammar with detailed explanations
- Build vocabulary and kanji knowledge
- Spaced repetition for smart review
- Interactive quizzes and example sentences
- Offline learning for Spanish, French, German, Chinese
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Learn languages with Bunpo! Learn Japanese, Korean, Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Arabic, English and more! Master speaking, grammar, and vocabulary from beginner to advanced, trusted by over 5 million learners worldwide. From your first Hiragana あ to JLPT N1, from "annyeong" to a real Korean conversation, or any of our 10+ languages, Bunpo takes you from day one to fluency. ========= Why Bunpo works for language learning - Speak from day one: Start speaking from your very first lesson with advanced speech recognition technology. - 10+ languages, one app: Learn Japanese, Korean, Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Arabic, and English, and switch between them anytime without juggling multiple apps. - Grammar that makes sense: Detailed explanations in plain English, plus exercises that make it stick. - Smart review: A personalized study plan powered by spaced repetition (SRS) so you remember more, faster. - From the alphabet to advanced: Start with your very first character and build all the way to advanced grammar, whatever language you choose. Whether you're learning for travel, a higher grade, JLPT, a career boost, or just to feel confident in a new conversation, Bunpo's got your back. ========= Japanese Course - Master the Japanese alphabets (Hiragana & Katakana) so you can read menus, train signs, and even your favorite manga without guessing. - Learn Japanese grammar for every JLPT level (N5 to N1) with clear, no-nonsense explanations because "This is a pen" will only get you so far. - Build real-world Japanese vocabulary and kanji knowledge you can actually use in daily conversations, not just in textbooks. - Practice with 1,800+ Japanese example sentences and 8,000+ interactive quizzes designed to make new grammar and vocab stick. - Search any topic instantly in the Japanese grammar dictionary, perfect for "What does that mean again?" moments. - Review smarter, not harder, with a spaced repetition system (SRS) that reminds you before you forget. ========= Korean Course - Master the Korean alphabet (Hangul) with a guided chart, listening, and writing practice. - Build Korean vocabulary you'll actually use in everyday conversations. - Practice reading, writing, listening, and speaking so every skill grows together. ========= Spanish Course - Learn Spanish offline - Master Spanish grammar from A1 to B1 level - Spanish verb conjugation - Perfect your Spanish pronunciation ========= French Course - Learn French offline - Master French grammar from A1 to A2 level - French verb conjugation - Perfect your French pronunciation ========= German Course - Learn German offline - Master German grammar from A1 to C1 level - German verb conjugation - Perfect your German pronunciation ========= Chinese Course - Learn Chinese offline - Master Chinese vocabulary and phrases - Listen, speak, and write Chinese ========= Privacy Policy and Terms of Use: https://bunpo.app/privacy.html Any feedback? Feel free to contact us at: iphone@bunpo.app
Rakulingo
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Your AI companion for understanding Japanese. Instantly understand any Japanese you meet. Watching anime, reading manga, playing a game, studying a textbook, or walking through Tokyo - Rakulingo explains it on the spot, in your language. STORIES Read short stories that begin in English and slowly turn Japanese. Every sentence is narrated, every word can be tapped, and each chapter teaches a few words you will meet again in the next one. A gentle way into real Japanese - no flashcards, just a story you want to finish. YOUR JAPANESE COMPANION, EVERYWHERE Rakulingo works with whatever you are doing. Studying a textbook? Get a deeper explanation. Watching Netflix? Understand every line. Reading manga? Decode every panel. Gaming on the couch? Snap a photo of the TV and understand the dialogue. Walking in Tokyo? Read every sign. One app, endless possibilities. CAPTURE JAPANESE FROM ANYWHERE • Screenshot subtitles, text, or anything on screen • Record audio from videos, podcasts, or conversations • Photograph books, signs, menus, or handwriting • Point your camera at a TV or console screen while you play • Browse Japanese websites with instant help • Open your own PDFs, ebooks, and videos JLPT N5 PRACTICE Practice every N5 question type, one question at a time — kanji readings, vocabulary, grammar, reading passages, and the full listening section. Listening questions come with real recorded audio and scene pictures: the practice material that is hardest to find on your own. Every answer gets a plain explanation of why it is right and why the others are not. Unofficial material written with AI assistance and reviewed; not affiliated with the JLPT organizers. GAME ROOM Play your own Japanese games and learn as you play. Bring a legal backup of a game you own — Hana sees the screen and explains it live: press Explain and the text breaks down word by word, with translations and readings one tap away. Works with a controller too. SPECIALIZED AI ASSISTANTS • Sentence Explainer - a complete breakdown of grammar, particles, and vocabulary • Translator - instant translation in both directions • Furigana - reading guides for any kanji • Japanese Teacher - ask anything, anytime • Speaking Buddy - practice conversations with an AI that answers naturally and suggests how to keep the conversation going • Web Browser - read Japanese sites with live help, screenshots, audio capture, and copy-paste • Reader - understand your own PDFs, ebooks, images, videos, and audio OFFLINE DICTIONARY Tap any word in a reply or a story to look it up. Once downloaded, it works without internet. PERFECT FOR EVERY LEARNER • Beginners - understand from day one, with explanations in your language • Students - add instant, detailed explanations to your studies • Immersion learners - turn entertainment into practice • Advanced learners - tackle native content with nuanced support • Travelers - get around Japan with confidence • Casual users - quick translations whenever you need them WORKS IN YOUR LANGUAGE Explanations in 15 languages: English, Portuguese, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Korean, Chinese, Hindi, Polish, Dutch, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Turkish, and Thai. WHY RAKULINGO? Dictionaries translate; Rakulingo explains. Textbooks teach in isolation; Rakulingo works with real content. Classes end; Rakulingo is always with you. It is your personal Japanese expert in your pocket, ready for whatever Japanese you run into. FREE TO START Try every assistant with free credits and read the first story chapters for free. Subscribe when you want unlimited use. Understanding Japanese does not have to be hard. With Rakulingo, you are never alone on your Japanese journey. Download now and turn every encounter with Japanese into a chance to learn. By using Rakulingo, you agree to the Apple Standard Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
Bunpo and Rakulingo are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.
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. Bunpo sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Rakulingo sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Bunpo ships an update every 9 days, Rakulingo every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Bunpo | Rakulingo |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (18K ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 72.2% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 18K — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days — better | Every 2 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 15.5 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 239 MB | 160 MB |
| Age rating | +4 | 17+ |
| Developer | Bunpo Language Learning | Antonio Scandaroli |
Bugs and requests
Bunpo
Reported bugs
4 issues- App crashes during lesson reviews
- Incorrect answers marked as wrong
- Text and keyboard issues on smaller screens
- Audio playback problems
Requested features
4 requests- Add landscape mode support for tablets
- Improve review options to revisit specific grammar points
- Expand vocabulary lessons and practice
- Add more languages beyond Japanese
Rakulingo
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Bunpo
- Bunpo Plus Monthly2 variants$9.991 Month
- Bunpo Platinum Monthly7 Days trial2 variants$19.991 Month
- Bunpo Plus Yearly$29.991 Year
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- Bunpo Plus Yearly$39.991 Year
- Bunpo Platinum Yearly7 Days trial$79.991 Year
- Bunpo Platinum Yearly7 Days trial$99.991 Year
- Bunpo Plus Lifetime$39.99
- Bunpo Plus Lifetime$44.99
Rakulingo
- Access to premium AI$3.997 Days
- Access to premium AI$9.991 Month
- Access to premium AI3 Days trial$95.991 Year









