GENKI Kanji for 3rd Ed. vs Ringotan
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
GENKI Kanji for 3rd Ed.
Master 317 basic kanji through over 1,100 vocabulary words. This app offers a self-paced learning experience with memorization, self-checking, audio pronunciations, and stroke order animations. Track your progress and focus on challenging kanji for efficient study.
- Learn 317 basic kanji
- Study over 1,100 kanji words
- Audio recordings for vocabulary
- Stroke order animations
- Progress tracking
- Memorization and self-checking modes
- Bookmark favorite words
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Learn basic kanji through kanji words: GENKI Kanji for 3rd Ed. is an app that helps users become able to recognize 317 basic kanji by studying more than 1,100 kanji words at their own pace! This is the official iPhone app from the 3rd edition of GENKI: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese, a best-selling series of Japanese learning materials boasting more than 3.5 million copies sold. Advantages ◆ Users can view the kanji words as they like, enabling them to study at their own pace. ◆ By repeating a process of memorization and self-checking, learners can master readings of kanji words and recognition of basic kanji. ◆ Audio recordings have been newly added for each kanji word. ◆ Kanji words already mastered are progressively removed from the study set, so users can concentrate on just the kanji that challenge them, making for a more efficient approach to learning. *This app will not play audio if your device is in Silent mode (Vibrate mode). To hear the audio, please turn Silent mode off. Study methods and functions This app has three main modes: Study, Check, and List. ◇ “Study” allows users to view the kanji words, their readings, and the target kanji for each word over and over, so they can take their time learning. ・Audio recordings of natural pronunciations by native speakers are provided for all kanji words. ・Basic information on the target kanji is provided with fun illustrations and mnemonic hints, as well as animations of their stroke order. (The illustrations and hints are taken from the very popular learning resource “Kanji Look and Learn.”) ・Users can bookmark the kanji words they like. The bookmarked words are compiled in the Bookmark list in "List." ◇ “Check” helps learners to track their mastery. ・Users check their understanding of the kanji words studied and sort them into those mastered and those not yet retained. ・The kanji words already mastered are taken out of the study set, leaving behind just those that still need to be worked on. ◇ “List” displays various lists of all the words and kanji covered by the app so that users can see their progress and review them. ・In the lists arranged in lesson order, a-i-u-e-o order, or alphabetical order, checkmarks are automatically placed next to words that have been mastered. ・Kanji information on the cards can be displayed from the entries in the On/Kun list. ・Users can search kanji words from their target kanji in the Serial # list. ・The words bookmarked in the Study mode are also listed in the Bookmark list. ・The Study view of kanji words or the target kanji can be displayed from the list entries, enabling quick review. ○This app is based on the kanji list from the third edition of GENKI. ○Ads: The app does not display any ads that might interfere with learning.
Ringotan
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.
- Learn Kanji by writing
- Advanced input detection
- Spaced repetition system (SRS)
- Focus on writing, not just reading
- Frequent updates with new features
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Learn Kanji by actually writing it! Ringotan is the first app built from the ground up to teach you how to WRITE Japanese Kanji, not just read them. By combining advanced input detection with industry-standard SRS (spaced repetition) algorithms, Ringotan ensures you learn as fully and quickly as possible. ----------------- Ringotan is free for a limited time. We update frequently, so be sure to check back for new features!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Ringotan at 96% against GENKI Kanji for 3rd Ed.'s 19%. Ringotan also leads on price (Free vs $6.99) and rating (4.9 vs 2.7). GENKI Kanji for 3rd Ed.'s advantage is chart position (#82 vs unranked). On ads, in-app purchases 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
Ringotan is free to download; GENKI Kanji for 3rd Ed. costs $6.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Ringotan holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 2.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ringotan has 574 ratings behind it against 22, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 19% of GENKI Kanji for 3rd Ed.'s written reviews are positive against 96% of Ringotan's.
GENKI Kanji for 3rd Ed. ships an update every 7 months, Ringotan every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | GENKI Kanji for 3rd Ed. | Ringotan |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $6.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 2.7 (22 ratings) | 4.9 (574 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 19.0% of reviews | 95.7% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 22 | 574 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | Every 3 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | #82 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | 12.2 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 99 MB | 206 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | The Japan Times Publishing, Ltd. | Daniel Pflughoeft |
Customer experience
GENKI Kanji for 3rd Ed.
Ringotan
Bugs and requests
GENKI Kanji for 3rd Ed.
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Ringotan
Reported bugs
2 issues- Occasional issues with stroke order recognition
- Some kanji pronunciations not accurately represented
Requested features
5 requests- 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
In-app purchases
GENKI Kanji for 3rd Ed.
No in-app purchases
Ringotan
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is GENKI Kanji for 3rd Ed. free?
Is Ringotan free?
Which has better reviews, GENKI Kanji for 3rd Ed. or Ringotan?
Do GENKI Kanji for 3rd Ed. or Ringotan have ads?
Which is updated more often, GENKI Kanji for 3rd Ed. or Ringotan?
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