Comparison

shadowing 日本語 vs Onigiri Japanese Learning

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

Head to head
About

shadowing 日本語

This app helps you improve Japanese listening and speaking skills through the shadowing method. It breaks down audio into small, repeatable segments for easier practice and allows you to create custom playlists for focused learning.

Highlights
  • Shadowing method for pronunciation
  • Audio segmentation for repetition
  • Customizable playlists
  • Improve listening comprehension
  • Enhance speaking fluency
Features
Read full description

Shadowing là phương pháp mà mọi người vẫn đang dùng để nâng cao khả năng nghe và nói. Chính mình củng đang học tiếng Nhật và mình thấy rằng với cách chia nhỏ các phần luyện nghe và lặp đi lặp lại sẽ giúp cho việc học trở nên trôi chảy hơn. Ngoài ra việc nghe lặp đi lặp lại nhiều lần từng phần nhỏ sẽ giúp chúng ta nghe và luyện nói theo dễ hơn. Bên cạnh đó trong app này mình còn cung cấp thêm tính năng tạo playlist để nghe. Đối với những bạn đã nghe được nhiều có thể lọc ra những bài muốn nghe sau đó nghe lặp đi lặp lại playlist. Chúc các bạn học tiếng Nhật tốt hơn với app này. Đồng thời củng cho mình xin thêm ý kiến để cải thiện và update app tốt hơn nhé !

About

Onigiri Japanese Learning

Master Japanese pronunciation and speaking with native audio and interactive lessons. Learn kana, vocabulary, kanji, grammar, and practice real-life conversations with cute characters. Suitable for all levels.

Highlights
  • Native speaker audio for pronunciation
  • Kana, vocabulary, kanji, and grammar lessons
  • Pronunciation and reading practice
  • Situation-based conversation practice
  • Video content for key concepts
  • Progress tracking tests
Features
Read full description

◆ A comprehensive Japanese learning app with a strong focus on pronunciation ◆ All audio is recorded by native Japanese speakers (no synthetic voices) ◆ Suitable for all levels, from beginners to advanced learners This app is designed to help you improve your Japanese speaking skills, while learning together with the cute characters called “Onigiri-kun.” With pronunciation and reading practice at its core, the app covers everything you need for Japanese learning — including kana, vocabulary, kanji, grammar, and conversation — allowing you to build a well-balanced and practical foundation in Japanese. ◆ Main Learning Features ◎ Kana (Hiragana & Katakana) Learning & Tests Learn the basic Japanese syllabary, including long vowels, double consonants, and nasal sounds — common pronunciation pitfalls for Japanese learners. Test functions help you check your progress and understanding. ◎ Japanese Pronunciation & Reading Practice A wide range of reading materials focused on Japanese accent and rhythm. By listening to native model audio and comparing it with your own voice, you can gradually acquire clear, natural, and easy-to-understand pronunciation. ◎ Vocabulary Learning & Vocabulary Tests Vocabulary is organized by categories such as time, dates, numbers, names, places, animals, plants, colors, adverbs, and more. Game-style quizzes help reinforce what you have learned in a fun and effective way. ◎ Kanji Learning Includes approximately 1,000 kanji taught in Japanese elementary schools. Learn kanji writing, readings (onyomi, kunyomi, and special readings), and related vocabulary for practical usage. ◎ Honorifics & Casual Expressions Detailed explanations of Japanese honorific language, including polite, respectful, and humble forms. Also learn common casual expressions such as “~tte,” “~chau,” and “~jan,” so you can understand and speak natural, everyday Japanese. ◎ Grammar Lessons & Grammar Tests Grammar explanations from beginner to upper-intermediate levels, with clear examples and practice tests to check your understanding and steadily improve your skills. ◎ Situation-Based Conversation Practice Practice conversations for real-life situations such as shopping, work, and daily communication. Perfect for learners who want to use Japanese confidently in real contexts. ◎ Japanese Learning Video Content Key points for pronunciation and conversation are explained through videos, making difficult concepts easier to understand than text alone. ◆ Why Pronunciation Matters To truly improve your Japanese speaking ability, consistent reading practice with correct pronunciation is essential. All audio in this app is recorded by Sachi, a native Japanese instructor. By repeatedly listening to the model audio and comparing it with your own voice, you can move closer to natural, native-like Japanese speech. ◆ Recommended For ・Learners who want to improve Japanese pronunciation and intonation ・Those who want to speak Japanese that is clearly understood in conversation ・Anyone who wants to study Japanese systematically, from kana to grammar ・Learners preparing for JLPT or EJU ・People who are living in Japan, or planning to work or study there ◆ Daily Practice Leads to Real Progress Even one word or one sentence a day makes a difference. Learn Japanese in a fun and relaxed way together with Onigiri-kun! [HomePage] https://aiueo.cc [VIP subscription] period: 1 month price: $1.99(USD) / month This subscription will automatically renew and be charged 24 hours prior to the end of the current subscription, unless auto-renew is turned off before this 24-hour period. Payment is charged to your iTunes Account. For more information, please visit our “Terms of Use” and “Privacy Policy”. Terms of Use https://aiueo.cc/pages/other/appterms.php Privacy Policy https://aiueo.cc/pages/other/appprivacy.php

Screenshots

shadowing 日本語4 screens
Onigiri Japanese Learning4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Onigiri Japanese Learning at 100% against shadowing 日本語's 40%. Onigiri Japanese Learning also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.8). shadowing 日本語's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 6 weeks) and monetization model (ad-supported vs free with in-app purchases). On price, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. shadowing 日本語 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Onigiri Japanese Learning sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Onigiri Japanese Learning holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: shadowing 日本語 has 25 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 40% of shadowing 日本語's written reviews are positive against 100% of Onigiri Japanese Learning's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

shadowing 日本語 ships an update weekly, Onigiri Japanese Learning every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
shadowing 日本語 versus Onigiri Japanese Learning: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parametershadowing 日本語Onigiri Japanese Learning
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (25 ratings)5.0 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews40.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings25 — better5
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationAd-supported — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size17 MB163 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVIEN NGUYEN VAN益 余

Customer experience

shadowing 日本語

All ratings25 ratings
Positive88.0%
Neutral12.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive40.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative60.0%

Onigiri Japanese Learning

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

shadowing 日本語

One-time1
  • 広告なし$1.99
1 purchases

Onigiri Japanese Learning

Subscriptions1
  • VIP One Month$1.991 Month

Questions

Is shadowing 日本語 free?
shadowing 日本語 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Onigiri Japanese Learning free?
Onigiri Japanese Learning is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, shadowing 日本語 or Onigiri Japanese Learning?
Onigiri Japanese Learning is rated higher. shadowing 日本語 averages 4.8 out of 5 from 25 ratings, while Onigiri Japanese Learning averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.
Do shadowing 日本語 or Onigiri Japanese Learning have ads?
Both shadowing 日本語 and Onigiri Japanese Learning show ads.
Which is updated more often, shadowing 日本語 or Onigiri Japanese Learning?
shadowing 日本語 ships an update weekly, and Onigiri Japanese Learning every 6 weeks. Most recently, shadowing 日本語 was updated on November 3, 2026 and Onigiri Japanese Learning on November 3, 2026.

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