Comparison

Bunpo vs Ludus

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

Learn languages with Bunpo! Learn Japanese, Korean, Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Italian, Portuguese, 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 8+ 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. - 8+ languages, one app: Learn Japanese, Korean, Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Italian, Portuguese, 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 ========= Subscription pricing and terms Bunpo offers an auto-renewing monthly subscription and an auto-renewing yearly subscription to provide you with unlimited access to the Bunpo courses while you maintain an active subscription. These prices are for United States customers. Pricing in other countries may vary, and actual charges may be converted to your local currency depending on the country of residence. The subscription will automatically renew unless turned off in your iTunes Account Settings at least 24 hours before the current period ends. You can go to your iTunes Account settings to manage your subscription and turn off auto-renew. Your iTunes Account will be charged when the purchase is confirmed. Bunpo also offers a Forever subscription, which is paid for by a one-off upfront payment with unlimited access to the Bunpo courses forever. Privacy Policy and Terms of Use: https://bunpo.app/privacy.html Any feedback? Feel free to contact us at: iphone@bunpo.app

About

Ludus

This app helps you learn new languages faster by automatically creating study decks from pre-loaded dictionaries. It uses a smart spaced repetition system to schedule reviews right before you forget words, ensuring efficient learning and better long-term memory retention.

Highlights
  • Pre-loaded dictionaries
  • Automatic daily review decks
  • Spaced Repetition Scheduler (FSRS)
  • Word definitions and grammar info
  • AI Sentence Generator
  • AI Scan Tool
Features
Read full description

Stop wasting time making flashcards manually. Ludus comes with pre-loaded dictionaries, so you can search any word, save it instantly, and it automatically becomes part of your daily study deck. Ludus uses Free Spaced Repetition Scheduler (FSRS), a modern spaced repetition system that builds a unique forgetting curve for every word, so you review vocabulary right before you're likely to forget it. That means fewer wasted reps, faster progress, and stronger long-term memory. Whether you're learning French, Spanish, or building vocabulary for school, Ludus helps you study consistently and retain more with less effort. FREE FEATURES: - Pre-loaded dictionaries (no manual flashcard creation) - Instant word saving with automatic daily review deck - FSRS-based spaced repetition for smarter scheduling - Word definitions, grammar info, and example usage - Clean, fast studying built for real learning PAID FEATURES (Academic Weapon subscription): - All Languages Unlocked - Unlimited Saved Lists Coming soon: Games, skins. SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION Ludus offers an auto-renewable subscription to unlock all premium features: ACADEMIC WEAPON PLAN: - Monthly: $6.99/month FREE PLAN: - Limited access to features - Upgrade anytime to unlock full access SUBSCRIPTION TERMS: - Payment charged to Apple ID at purchase confirmation - Subscription automatically renews unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period - Manage subscriptions in iPhone Settings > [Your Name] > Subscriptions - No refunds for unused portions of subscription LEGAL DOCUMENTS: Terms of Use (EULA): https://ludusapp.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://ludusapp.com/privacy-policy For support, contact: admin@ludusapp.com

Screenshots

Bunpo4 screens
Ludus4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Bunpo at 18K against Ludus's 17. Ludus's advantage is review sentiment (87% vs 73%). On price, rating, update cadence and ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Bunpo sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Ludus sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Bunpo against 5.0 for Ludus. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bunpo has 18K ratings behind it against 17, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 73% of Bunpo's written reviews are positive against 87% of Ludus's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Bunpo ships an update every 9 days, Ludus every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Bunpo versus Ludus: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBunpoLudus
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (18K ratings)5.0 (17 ratings) — better
Positive reviews72.5% of reviews86.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings18K — better17
Update frequencyEvery 9 daysEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size189 MB166 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBunpo Language LearningLudus-Language, Inc.

Customer experience

Bunpo

All ratings18,012 ratings
Positive98.1%
Neutral0.7%
Negative1.2%
Written reviews1,129 reviews
Positive72.5%
Neutral9.3%
Negative18.2%

Ludus

All ratings17 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews15 reviews
Positive86.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative13.3%

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

Ludus

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

9 purchases

Bunpo

Subscriptions7
  • Bunpo Plus Monthly2 variants$9.991 Month
  • Bunpo Platinum Monthly7 Days trial$19.991 Month
  • Bunpo Platinum Monthly$19.991 Month
Show 4 more
  • Bunpo Plus Yearly$29.991 Year
  • Bunpo Plus Yearly$39.991 Year
  • Bunpo Platinum Yearly7 Days trial$79.991 Year
  • Bunpo Platinum Yearly$79.991 Year
One-time2
  • Bunpo Plus Lifetime$39.99
  • Bunpo Plus Lifetime$44.99
2 purchases

Ludus

Subscriptions2
  • Academic Weapon$7.991 Month
  • Annual Subscription7 Days trial$59.991 Year

Questions

Is Bunpo free?
Bunpo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Ludus free?
Ludus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Bunpo or Ludus?
Ludus is rated higher. Bunpo averages 4.9 out of 5 from 18K ratings, while Ludus averages 5.0 from 17 ratings.
Do Bunpo or Ludus have ads?
Neither Bunpo nor Ludus shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Bunpo or Ludus?
Bunpo ships an update every 9 days, and Ludus every 5 days. Most recently, Bunpo was updated on October 1, 2026 and Ludus on September 29, 2026.

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