Comparison

DDB Access vs N'Back Fan

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

Head to head
About

DDB Access

Access comprehensive Buddhist and Classical Chinese dictionaries with search, parsing, and pronunciation features. Ideal for scholars, it offers detailed character information and etymology.

Highlights
  • Search by Chinese, pinyin, or translation
  • Parse and lookup unknown words in text
  • View character etymology and series
  • Read texts and words aloud
  • Customizable user interface
  • Access to DDB and CJKV-E dictionaries
Features
Read full description

DDB (Digital Dictionary of Buddhism) and CJKV-E (Classical Chinese) are collaborative works edited by Charles Muller, University of Tokyo. DDB Access gives access to DDB and CJKV-E from iPhone and iPad. DDB Access is a free application. Any user may access the dictionary by entering "guest" as the username with no password. This will allow a total of 20 searches in each of the DDB and CJKV-E dictionaries in a 24-hour period. Contributors can get unlimited access by submitting a 350+ word entry as specified at http://www.buddhism-dict.net/contribute.html DDB and CJKV-E are primarily resources for scholars. Contributors are required to have completed a graduate degree to at least the equivalent of the M.A. level in graduate school program at a fully accredited university, where one has received direct formal training in the reading of classical East Asian Buddhist texts. DDB Access also contains a demo (WIP) of Séraphin Couvreur's "Dictionnaire classique de la langue chinoise" which supports most of its translations with example sentences and their sources. SEARCH Search dictionaries by Chinese, pinyin or translation. PARSE AND LOOKUP After copying a full text, SmartHanzi provides immediate access to unknown words. The app shows links to related words (also in, contained) and character details: character series (Kangxi, etymology). With this perspective beyond immediate usage, one gets naturally familiar with words and characters. It also recognizes multiple traditional variants. For instance, searching 真 (or finding 真 in a text) will show both 真 and 眞, according to what is present in selected dictionaries. Or it will recognize equally well 為 / 爲 or 眾 / 衆. Texts or individual words can be read aloud with Apple voices. ETYMOLOGY Along centuries, Chinese writing has developed a number of reference points, reasonable or simply traditional, well known by most Chinese: "Se non è vero, è ben trovato". Character series emphasize these reference points. All character series available for the current character are easily accessible. DICTIONARIES The application also includes general dictionaries for scholars working on Buddhist texts with literary or historical terminology, and a first demo of the "Couvreur" dictionary for Classical Chinese. USER INTERFACE User chooses to show pronunciations in Chinese, Japanese, Korean or Vietnamese. Lookup is easily customizable to just show preferred details and keep presentation clear. On iPad, landscape orientation, the app can show either in full screen (with both parse and lookup parts visible) or multiple applications: smartphone-like format side by side with the original text. MAC VERSION A dedicated Mac version is on Mac App Store.

About

N'Back Fan

Features
Read full description

Improve Sensory Memory & Working Memory using N'Back. Tap the number key matches the one from N steps earlier in the sequence. In 1'Back 1 task1: count & memorize 2 task2: count & memorize 3 __keyboard__: answer for task1 4 task3: count & memorize 5 __keyboard__: answer for task2 6 task4: count & memorize : In 2'Back 1 task1: count & memorize 2 task2: count & memorize 3 task3: count & memorize 4 __keyboard__: answer for task1 5 task4: count & memorize 6 __keyboard__: answer for task2 7 task5: count & memorize : [details] https://app.brain-workout.org/nbackfan-e/

Screenshots

DDB Access4 screens
N'Back Fan4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: DDB Access at none against N'Back Fan's 1. DDB Access also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 9 months). On price, device support and iOS requirement 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. N'Back Fan sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. DDB Access asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DDB Access ships an update every 2 months, N'Back Fan every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on September 8, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
DDB Access versus N'Back Fan: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDDB AccessN'Back Fan
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (3 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 9 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size278 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJean SOULATYasuyoshi Ota

In-app purchases

None

DDB Access

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

N'Back Fan

One-time1
  • remove ads and extend to 12$1.99

Questions

Is DDB Access free?
DDB Access is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is N'Back Fan free?
N'Back Fan is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do DDB Access or N'Back Fan have ads?
N'Back Fan shows ads; DDB Access does not.
Which is updated more often, DDB Access or N'Back Fan?
DDB Access ships an update every 2 months, and N'Back Fan every 9 months. Most recently, DDB Access was updated on September 8, 2026 and N'Back Fan on September 10, 2026.

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