Comparison

Save the Cat! vs WatchNihongo

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

Head to head
About

Save the Cat!

This app helps writers structure stories for screenplays, novels, and TV episodes using a proven methodology. It guides you through developing loglines, genres, beat sheets, and scene organization with features for emotional arcs and character development.

Highlights
  • Develop logline and title
  • Choose from 10 story genres
  • Complete Blake Snyder Beat Sheet (BS2)
  • Organize scenes with 'the Board'
  • Track character arcs
  • Create emotional changes per scene
  • Sync files across devices
Features
Read full description

All new version, built from the ground up using Apple's standard, master-detail style for full compatibility with iOS functionality including Dark Mode. Even if you don't own the desktop version of Save the Cat!®, you can still use this amazing tool, touted as the "secret weapon" of the working writer, to help build better, more powerful stories, with greater resonance and emotional impact. Whenever your creative juices start flowing you'll have this revolutionary app, which is based on Blake Snyder's best-selling books and software, at your fingertips. You'll delight in the ability to structure your screenplay, teleplay, stageplay or novel the Save the Cat!® way. By incorporating the methods, tips and tactics found in the Save the Cat!® series of books on story structure, this application will help you to: * Develop a powerful Logline and Title * Choose one of the 10 unique Save the Cat!® Genres * Complete a Blake Snyder Beat Sheet (BS2) with variations for screenplays, novels, and 1/2 hour and 1 hour tv episodes. * Use “the Board” to create cards for each scene and arrange them in the perfect order and to track character arcs and other important aspects of your story. Just long-press on a scene or other element in the Board then pick what you want to insert at that point. * Add sequences to combine multiple scenes. * Add labels to the Board to keep track of important points. * Create Emotional Changes for each and every scene * Create Set-ups and Payoffs as your protagonist progresses through the story Sync your files across devices. This is a manual process so you're in complete control as to when you post and download your changes. Just create an account and login on all your devices. If you had a Save the Cat! account for the website or for when you purchased STC, that will not work here. You'll need to create a new account. You can even add one or more writing partners to your project and sync your changes with them if you have the Premium or Pro level. Enter the username for their new STC account. The free version allows you to add projects and work on your title, logline, genre, and the beat sheet. Many of the features listed below require an in-app purchase. Essentials has all the basic functionality you need to develop a screenplay, novel, or tv episode with characters, locations set-ups, and pay-offs. Premium adds the ability to track things or objects, and relationships. You'll also be able to develop a novel by chapters instead of using a beat sheet. Pro adds the ability to develop an entire series of movies or novels that use all the same characters, locations, things, and relationships and to track their stories across the entire series. You can also develop an entire tv series with multiple seasons. Other cool updates include the ability to have multiple versions of your beat sheet and multiple versions of your board for each beat sheet. Much improved script typing. And, if you're working on a novel, just type in your manuscript with proper formatting. All new facts section keeping track of important facts ("Bible" for tv writers) for characters, locations and other entities. Add important elements for characters, locations and other entities that you need to track through the story. Add the character or entity to the Board and track those items through the story. As always you can add attachments such as photos, pdf's, and other important research documents so you have everything at your fingertips.

About

WatchNihongo

Master Japanese vocabulary and kanji with a comprehensive flashcard system. Review at your own pace with smart shuffling and track your progress on your wrist or iPhone. Supports English, Portuguese, and Spanish.

Highlights
  • 6,300+ JLPT level flashcards
  • Kanji, Vocabulary, Kana, and Counters decks
  • Smart weighted shuffling
  • Standalone Apple Watch app
  • Offline content
  • Progress tracking
  • Multi-language support
Features
Read full description

WHAT YOU GET • 6,300+ cards across all JLPT levels (N5 through N1) plus colloquial vocabulary from everyday media • 4 deck: Kanji (with radicals, on'yomi, kun'yomi), Vocabulary, Kana (hiragana & katakana), and Counters • Kanji cross-referencing — vocabulary cards show the kanji they contain, with meanings and readings • Card meanings in English, Portuguese (PT-BR), and Spanish — set your language on iOS and your Watch follows HOW IT WORKS Tap a card to flip it — or switch to swipe gestures (right = hit, left = miss) for a less crowded back face. Mark your answer and move on. Cards you miss come back more often through smart weighted shuffling — so you spend time on what you actually need to learn. Pick your level, pick a deck, and start reviewing. That's it. BUILT FOR YOUR WRIST • Fully standalone — works without your iPhone • Completely offline — all content is bundled, no downloads or logins • Designed for 1–2 minute micro-review sessions • Haptic feedback on every interaction iOS COMPANION • Browse all 6,300+ cards by type with per-card accuracy, mastery badges, and romaji search • Track progress with tier bars (mastered / studying / struggling / unstudied), accuracy trends, and level drill-downs • Tap through kanji cross-references to explore how words connect • Configure language, input mode, and mastery thresholds — all sync to your Watch • Toggle romaji on or off above kanji while browsing — useful whether you're drilling readings or just exploring • Study data syncs automatically between Watch and iPhone • iCloud backup for your study history PRIVACY FIRST No accounts. No analytics. No tracking. Your study data stays on your devices.

Screenshots

Save the Cat!4 screens
WatchNihongo3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Save the Cat! at Free against WatchNihongo's $2.99. Save the Cat! also leads on ratings volume (471 vs 1) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 18.0). WatchNihongo's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). On update cadence, ads and device support 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

Save the Cat! is free to download; WatchNihongo costs $2.99 up front. Save the Cat! sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. WatchNihongo asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

WatchNihongo holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Save the Cat! has 471 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Save the Cat! ships an update every 2 months, WatchNihongo monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Save the Cat! versus WatchNihongo: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSave the Cat!WatchNihongo
PriceFree — better$2.99
Rating4.6 (471 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews37.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings471 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, Apple Watch
Requires iOS12.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB11 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBlake Snyder EnterprisesJorge Lee

Bugs and requests

Save the Cat!

Reported bugs

12 issues
  • App crashes when opening Board feature
  • Beat selection stuck in window mode
  • Login credentials rejected on website
  • Crashes every 10-15 minutes
  • Unable to upload attachments
Show 7 more
  • Text field entrapment - unable to exit beat field
  • Work disappears without explanation
  • iPad version won't sync to desktop version
  • App not available in certain countries/regions
  • Glitchy and unresponsive desktop version
  • Manual save required - no auto-save on crash
  • UI labels cut off in both orientations

Requested features

11 requests
  • Monthly subscription or free trial option
  • Spanish language support
  • Downloadable desktop app with same login credentials
  • Printable outline/board export
  • Scrivener export functionality
Show 6 more
  • Larger font size adjustment
  • Actual board layout with pinch-to-zoom on mobile
  • Auto-save functionality like Google Docs
  • Automatic app access with book purchase
  • Desktop version for Mac with full feature parity
  • Genre description snapshots in selection

WatchNihongo

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Save the Cat!

Subscriptions6
  • Essentials Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Premium Monthly Subscription$3.991 Month
  • Pro Monthly Subscription$4.991 Month
Show 3 more
  • Essentials Subscription$21.991 Year
  • Premium Subscription$29.991 Year
  • Pro Subscription$39.991 Year
One-time4
  • Upgrade Premium to Pro$9.99
  • Unlock Essentials$21.99
  • Unlock Premium$29.99
Show 1 more
  • Unlock Pro$39.99
None

WatchNihongo

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Save the Cat! free?
Save the Cat! is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is WatchNihongo free?
WatchNihongo costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Save the Cat! or WatchNihongo?
WatchNihongo is rated higher. Save the Cat! averages 4.6 out of 5 from 471 ratings, while WatchNihongo averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Save the Cat! or WatchNihongo have ads?
Neither Save the Cat! nor WatchNihongo shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Save the Cat! or WatchNihongo?
Save the Cat! ships an update every 2 months, and WatchNihongo monthly. Most recently, Save the Cat! was updated on October 15, 2026 and WatchNihongo on October 7, 2026.

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