Comparison

JWRDS vs Nihongo Lessons

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

Head to head
About

JWRDS

Features
Read full description

This is a learning app for English words that often appear in based on TOEIC. You can easily learn Japanese words in a four-choice question format. The word dictionary is about 1500 words. This app outputs a sound when you make a question or answer. If you don't want to produce a loud sound, turn down the volume or mute it beforehand. [Disclaimer] Please consider the contents of the problem collection of this application as a reference. In the unlikely event of a typographical error, we do not take any responsibility.

About

Nihongo Lessons

This app helps learners of all levels achieve Japanese fluency. It uses a flashcard format to teach vocabulary, grammar, and writing systems, with advanced spaced repetition for effective retention. Content is sourced from real manga for advanced learners.

Highlights
  • Learn Hiragana and Katakana
  • 7000+ handcrafted sentences
  • Professional voice actor audio
  • Advanced Spaced Repetition System (SRS)
  • Vocabulary and grammar from manga
  • Flashcard learning format
Features
Read full description

A new app for people serious about becoming fluent in Japanese, from the maker of Nihongo: a modern Japanese dictionary. Nihongo Lessons is based off the excellent Japanese Level Up (Jalup) series, and is made to help all levels of learners. * If you're a complete beginner, the app starts you off by teaching you to write the Japanese alphabets hiragana and katakana, and then quickly starts building your vocabulary and grammar fundamentals. * If you're at an intermediate level, you can jump into content that will help you grow your Japanese grammar, vocabulary, and listening skills more efficiently than ever before. * If you're an advanced learner diving into the world of native content or studying for JLPT N1, Nihongo Lessons can help fill in the gaps in your knowledge with vocabulary and grammar pulled directly from real manga. Instead of a traditional textbook, everything in Nihongo Lessons is in a flashcard format. Flashcards are easier to take in, easier to know how much to learn and how often to review, and simplify the mountain of information you need to absorb. Each flashcard introduces one new sentence for you to understand, and every new sentence introduces exactly one new word, grammar point, or concept. This keeps you constantly moving forward in your learning journey - never bored, never overwhelmed. * Learn to write hiragana and katakana, the main alphabets of the Japanese language. * Progress from beginner to fluent across 7000 handcrafted sentences, each introducing a single new word or concept. * Listen to sentences spoken out loud by a professional voice actor. * Advanced Spaced Repetition (SRS) to help you retain everything you've learned for the long-term. * Nihongo Lessons doesn’t just plop a fun game on top of the language. It engages the brain’s natural urge to solve problems by making learning the language itself the game.

Screenshots

JWRDS3 screens
Nihongo Lessons4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: JWRDS at none against Nihongo Lessons's 13. JWRDS also leads on iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17). Nihongo Lessons's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price 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

Both are free to download. Nihongo Lessons sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. JWRDS asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

JWRDS ships an update every 2 months, Nihongo Lessons every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 9, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
JWRDS versus Nihongo Lessons: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterJWRDSNihongo Lessons
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.8 (126 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—84.8% of reviews
Number of ratings—126 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS14.0 — better17
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB258 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developerkoji kamogawaSerpenti Sei Japan

In-app purchases

None

JWRDS

No in-app purchases

13 purchases

Nihongo Lessons

Subscriptions2
  • All Access Monthly7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • All Access Yearly7 Days trial$49.991 Year
One-time11
  • Beginner Deck (Discounted)$59.99
  • Champion Deck (Discounted)$59.99
  • Expert Deck (Discounted)$59.99
Show 8 more
  • Master Deck (Discounted)$59.99
  • Intermediate Deck (Discounted)$83.99
  • Beginner Deck (Discounted)$101.99
  • Beginner Deck$119.99
  • All Decks (Discounted)$149.99
  • All Decks (Discounted)$254.99
  • All Decks$299.99
  • All Decks (Discounted)$299.99

Questions

Is JWRDS free?
JWRDS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Nihongo Lessons free?
Nihongo Lessons is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do JWRDS or Nihongo Lessons have ads?
JWRDS shows ads; Nihongo Lessons does not.
Which is updated more often, JWRDS or Nihongo Lessons?
JWRDS ships an update every 2 months, and Nihongo Lessons every 3 weeks. Most recently, JWRDS was updated on October 9, 2026 and Nihongo Lessons on October 9, 2026.

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