Comparison

Skritter vs Shape Language

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

Head to head
About

Skritter

Master Japanese writing with this app, offering practice for Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji. Learn through topic-based decks, from travel essentials to cultural themes. Ideal for beginners and those looking to improve character recall.

Highlights
  • Learn Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji
  • Topic-based learning decks
  • Practice character drawing
  • Beginner to advanced levels
  • Review mode
  • Guest access to select decks
Features
Read full description

Practice Japanese writing with Skritter, whether you have a strong grasp of written Japanese and want to remember the characters better or are a beginner who doesn’t know where to start. Skritter has existed for more than 10 years, and for a good reason: our learners are amazing! They help us with feedback, which allows us to create what we think is the best Japanese writing app out there! Japanese writing uses three different scripts; Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji. Skritter offers all three and you can learn them through our “decks” (similar to a card deck) based on topics and difficulty. Deck examples: - Survival Japanese (for traveling in Japan) - Food and drinks (learn to understand the menus at your favorite Japanese restaurant with delicious sushi, ramen, and other dishes) - Cultural topics like Samurai Japanese - More advanced topics like foreign policy - And many more… First, you learn a character’s meaning, then practice drawing it and before you know it, you’ll want to learn thousands of characters, and words like these two happy users: “If I could only keep one app on my iPod, this would be it without a doubt. Skritter will change your life!” ― Wendy Werneth, UN Translator “Learning to write characters has never been so fun. From writing zero to 2000+ characters in six months!” ― Brian Jackson, Economist Have questions, problems, or feedback? We would love to hear from you. Reach out to us at team@skritter.com --------------------------------- Guest accounts enjoy free access to select decks forever! Unlock Review mode, and study anything you want with a premium subscription, which is available for purchase in the app. Big savings offered on 12-month subscriptions! • One month subscription (automatically renewed until canceled) • 12-month subscription (automatically renewed until canceled) Recurring billing, cancel anytime. Within 24 hours before the subscription period ends, you will be charged through your iTunes account. Manage your subscription from your iTunes App Store settings where you can turn off auto-renewal at any time. Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable. Privacy Policy: https://skritter.com/legal Terms of Use: https://docs.skritter.com/article/133-terms-of-use

About

Shape Language

This app helps you learn any language through translation. It breaks down translations to aid understanding, catalogs new vocabulary, and offers various learning modes like roleplay and chat. It also allows you to translate any language into your own.

Highlights
  • Learn languages by translation
  • Understand translation breakdowns
  • Catalog new words and phrases
  • Quiz on learned vocabulary
  • Proofread text
  • Roleplay conversations
  • Quick translation
Features
Read full description

Learn any language by translation. Shape Language is the most advanced companion app for learning any language in the world. Learn how to say anything naturally in any language, or translate any language into your language. Shape Language will break down a translation so you understand its parts, and catalogue the new words and phrases you learn to quiz you on them later. In addition to Translate, the app has modes like Proofread, Roleplay, Make Polite, Chat, and Quick Translate. Terms and Conditions: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Skritter4 screens
Shape Language4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Shape Language at 5.0 against Skritter's 4.6. Shape Language also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 79%) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs monthly). Skritter's advantage is ratings volume (170 vs 4) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Skritter sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Shape Language sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Shape Language holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Skritter has 170 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of Skritter's written reviews are positive against 100% of Shape Language's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Skritter ships an update monthly, Shape Language every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Skritter versus Shape Language: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSkritterShape Language
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (170 ratings)5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews78.9% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings170 — better4
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size54 MB51 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperInkren, Inc.Voyager Space Systems, LLC

Customer experience

Skritter

All ratings170 ratings
Positive91.2%
Neutral3.5%
Negative5.3%
Written reviews76 reviews
Positive78.9%
Neutral7.9%
Negative13.2%

Shape Language

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

11 purchases

Skritter

Subscriptions11
  • Skritter Premium (1 month)7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Skritter Premium (1 Month)7 Days trial$14.991 Month
  • Skritter Premium (1 month)14 Days trial$14.991 Month
Show 8 more
  • Skritter Premium (1 month)7 Days trial$14.991 Month
  • Skritter Premium (6 Months)7 Days trial$59.996 Months
  • Skritter Premium (6 month)14 Days trial$59.996 Months
  • Skritter Premium (6 month)7 Days trial$69.996 Months
  • Skritter Premium (1 Year)7 Days trial$99.991 Year
  • Skritter Premium (1 year)14 Days trial$99.991 Year
  • Skritter Premium (1 year)7 Days trial$99.991 Year
  • Skritter Premium (1 year)7 Days trial$119.991 Year
3 purchases

Shape Language

Subscriptions2
  • Basic$3.991 Month
  • Advanced$6.991 Month
One-time1
  • Usage Limit Top Up$1.99

Questions

Is Skritter free?
Skritter is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Shape Language free?
Shape Language is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Skritter or Shape Language?
Shape Language is rated higher. Skritter averages 4.6 out of 5 from 170 ratings, while Shape Language averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.
Do Skritter or Shape Language have ads?
Neither Skritter nor Shape Language shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Skritter or Shape Language?
Skritter ships an update monthly, and Shape Language every 2 weeks. Most recently, Skritter was updated on October 24, 2026 and Shape Language on October 25, 2026.

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