# Coban vs NihonMaster

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: NihonMaster at none against Coban's 5. NihonMaster also leads on ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Coban sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. NihonMaster asks for nothing beyond the download.

Coban ships an update weekly, NihonMaster every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Coban | NihonMaster |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (619 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/coban-learn-japanese/id1506009508/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **619** | — |
| Positive reviews | 80.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 661 MB | 38 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Akira NOGUCHI](https://appshunter.io/developer/1506009507) | [joppe montezinos](https://appshunter.io/developer/1890497008) |

## What reviewers say

### Coban

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/coban-learn-japanese/id1506009508)

This app offers comprehensive support for learning Japanese, covering everything from basic characters to advanced grammar and vocabulary. It includes audio pronunciations, diverse learning modes like flashcards and exercises, and content tailored for all proficiency levels, from beginner to advanced.

**Highlights:** Hiragana, katakana, kanji, and vocabulary, JLPT N5-N3 grammar coverage, Audio pronunciation for all content, Flashcards and practice exercises, Shadowing and dictation exercises, Japanese stories and cultural readings, Advanced podcasts for N2/N1 learners

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium User | $6.99 | per month |
| Premium User | $39.90 | per 6 months |
| Premium User | $59.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Upgrade | $59.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Access | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Cute and genuinely helpful
- 🚀 Great app for learning Japanese
- 🤩 Engaging and fun to use
- 💯 Best kanji practice
- 🙌 Excellent for N5 and N4 levels

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 🔇 Volume issues with audio
- 💰 Subscription model with lack of lifetime purchase
- 🤯 Confusing UI and navigation at times
- 🤔 Wonky translations and quiz issues

**Reported bugs**

- Drag and drop feature not working
- Crashes after completing quizzes
- Vocabulary lessons causing the app to freeze

**Requested features**

- Expand to higher JLPT levels (N3, N2, N1)
- Add a placement test to determine user's level
- Improve vocabulary practice and review options
- Offer an ad-free version for a one-time purchase


### NihonMaster

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nihonmaster/id6761620677)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Coban free?

Coban is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is NihonMaster free?

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

### Do Coban or NihonMaster have ads?

Coban shows ads; NihonMaster does not.

### Which is updated more often, Coban or NihonMaster?

Coban ships an update weekly, and NihonMaster every 5 days. Most recently, Coban was updated on October 20, 2026 and NihonMaster on October 14, 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.*