# みんなの日本語初級１ vs Shadowing Japanese

The clearest difference is rating: みんなの日本語初級１ at 5.0 against Shadowing Japanese's 4.4. みんなの日本語初級１ also leads on ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). Shadowing Japanese's advantage is update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 23 months) and ratings volume (25 vs 1). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

みんなの日本語初級１ holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Shadowing Japanese has 25 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

みんなの日本語初級１ ships an update every 23 months, Shadowing Japanese every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | みんなの日本語初級１ | Shadowing Japanese |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/id1493766038/reviews)** | [4.4 (25 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadowing-japanese/id1496716900/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **25** |
| Positive reviews | — | 32.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 23 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 128 MB | 288 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [masaki murayama](https://appshunter.io/developer/1275927862) | [Nguyen Tien Thanh](https://appshunter.io/developer/1241380050) |

## What reviewers say

### みんなの日本語初級１

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/id1493766038)

This tool provides illustrated flashcards for Japanese verb conjugations, covering forms like masu-kei, dictionary form, and te-form. It supports various devices and allows customization of learning modules and flashcard display speeds.

**Highlights:** Illustrated flashcards for verb conjugations, Supports masu-kei, dictionary, nai, te, and ta forms, Based on 'Minna no Nihongo Shokyu I' (Lessons 4-25), Customizable lesson ranges and verb groups, Adjustable flashcard display speed, Randomized display order option, External display support via MHL

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Shadowing Japanese

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadowing-japanese/id1496716900)

Improve Japanese pronunciation and intonation by listening and repeating phrases. Practice speaking through various conversation lengths to build confidence in daily interactions. This method enhances your ability to communicate naturally with native speakers.

**Highlights:** Listen and repeat Japanese phrases, Improve pronunciation and intonation, Practice speaking in various contexts, Build confidence in communication, Enhance natural Japanese speaking ability

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is みんなの日本語初級１ free?

みんなの日本語初級１ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Shadowing Japanese free?

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

### Which has better reviews, みんなの日本語初級１ or Shadowing Japanese?

みんなの日本語初級１ is rated higher. みんなの日本語初級１ averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Shadowing Japanese averages 4.4 from 25 ratings.

### Do みんなの日本語初級１ or Shadowing Japanese have ads?

Shadowing Japanese shows ads; みんなの日本語初級１ does not.

### Which is updated more often, みんなの日本語初級１ or Shadowing Japanese?

みんなの日本語初級１ ships an update every 23 months, and Shadowing Japanese every 6 weeks. Most recently, みんなの日本語初級１ was updated on November 3, 2026 and Shadowing Japanese on November 11, 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.*