# Kanji vs Ringotan

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Ringotan at 96% against Kanji's 0%. Ringotan also leads on rating (4.9 vs 1.8) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 3 weeks). Kanji's advantage is iOS requirement (10.0 vs 12.2). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Ringotan holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 1.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ringotan has 574 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Kanji's written reviews are positive against 96% of Ringotan's.

Kanji ships an update every 3 weeks, Ringotan every 3 days. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Kanji | Ringotan |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.8 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kanji-reader/id1457506025/reviews) | **[4.9 (574 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ringotan/id1633001064/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 6 | **574** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **95.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 32 MB | 206 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 12.2 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Tyler Walker](https://appshunter.io/developer/1457506024) | [Daniel Pflughoeft](https://appshunter.io/developer/1633001066) |

## What reviewers say

### Kanji

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kanji-reader/id1457506025)

Instantly translate Japanese characters from photos using advanced AI. Get readings, translations, and detailed information offline. Features adjustable text detection and sensitivity for optimal accuracy.

**Highlights:** Real-time character recognition, Offline functionality, 90%+ accuracy for 2000+ Kanji, Adjustable text detection modes, Detailed Kanji information (readings, radicals, stroke order), Multiple result predictions

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Ringotan

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ringotan/id1633001064)

Master Japanese Kanji by practicing writing. This app uses advanced input detection and spaced repetition to help you learn quickly and effectively. Focuses on the physical act of writing characters, not just recognition.

**Highlights:** Learn Kanji by writing, Advanced input detection, Spaced repetition system (SRS), Focus on writing, not just reading, Frequent updates with new features

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Effective kanji learning system
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 🔓 No ads or paywalls
- 💡 Customizable settings and integration with other resources
- 🎨 Visually pleasing and engaging

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Keyword hints not always clear enough
- 🔀 Limited ability to customize word lists
- 🔆 Light mode only, no dark mode option
- 🔍 Difficulty identifying which kanji is being tested at times

**Reported bugs**

- Occasional issues with stroke order recognition
- Some kanji pronunciations not accurately represented

**Requested features**

- Add dark mode option
- Allow users to create and save custom kanji lists
- Provide more detailed keyword hints before writing
- Implement device sync to continue progress across platforms
- Add notification system to remind users of upcoming reviews


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Kanji free?

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

### Is Ringotan free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Kanji or Ringotan?

Ringotan is rated higher. Kanji averages 1.8 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while Ringotan averages 4.9 from 574 ratings.

### Do Kanji or Ringotan have ads?

Neither Kanji nor Ringotan shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Kanji or Ringotan?

Kanji ships an update every 3 weeks, and Ringotan every 3 days. Most recently, Kanji was updated on October 24, 2026 and Ringotan on October 24, 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.*