Comparison

Japanese Guru vs Act Study

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

Head to head
About

Japanese Guru

Master Japanese with a comprehensive approach to vocabulary, kanji, and kana. This app offers structured lessons, smart reviews, and reference tools to build lasting skills for beginners to advanced learners. Prepare for official exams or learn for personal interest with customizable study lists.

Highlights
  • Vocabulary and kanji study
  • Kana mastery (hiragana & katakana)
  • Stroke-by-stroke writing practice
  • Reading practice
  • Spaced repetition reviews
  • JLPT, JFT, NAT-TEST aligned content
  • Customizable study lists
  • Comprehensive Japanese dictionary
Features
Read full description

Learning Japanese takes time, structure, and consistency. Japanese Guru is designed for learners who want to progress seriously and sustainably, from beginner to advanced levels. Whether you are studying Japanese at university, preparing for official exams, or learning out of personal interest, the app helps you develop all essential skills at your own pace. Japanese Guru works both as a learning app and as a daily Japanese reference tool, helping you build real, lasting skills — from mastering kana to confidently reading and writing kanji. — A COMPLETE AND STRUCTURED APPROACH Japanese Guru combines active learning, intelligent reviews, and high-quality reference tools to support long-term memorization. • Vocabulary and kanji study • Kana (hiragana & katakana) mastery • Stroke-by-stroke kanji and kana writing • Reading practice with kana and kanji • Smart review sessions based on spaced repetition (SRS) • Content aligned with official exams (JLPT, JFT, NAT-TEST) — CUSTOM & DOWNLOADABLE STUDY LISTS Japanese Guru lets you study efficiently with ready-made and personalized content. • Downloadable kanji and vocabulary lists aligned with JLPT levels and textbooks • Curated study sets by level and topic • Create your own custom lists directly from the dictionary • Smart lists to review difficult items and track recent mistakes • Export lists and generate printable writing sheets This flexible system allows you to prepare for exams, focus on specific themes, or build personalized study paths. — A SERIOUS LEARNING TOOL, NOT A GIMMICK APP Japanese Guru includes: • A comprehensive Japanese dictionary (200,000+ entries) • Kanji lookup by radical, key, or handwriting • Kana and reading references • Grammar points and usage explanations • Jōyō kanji, frequency lists, and radicals • Example sentences and language reference content The app is used as a reference and learning tool by students, self-learners, and Japanese language enthusiasts who want to progress with method and clarity. — SUBSCRIPTIONS Full access to all features requires a subscription. • 1-week free trial (except lifetime plan) • Automatic renewal, cancel anytime Available plans: • 1 month • 6 months • 12 months • Lifetime (one-time purchase) — LEGAL INFORMATION Privacy Policy: https://www.xamisoft.com/privacy-policy Terms of Use: https://www.xamisoft.com/cgu

About

Act Study

Features
Read full description

For technical intern trainees who want to work in Japan, we have made it possible to study Japanese on mobile! You can access the app from your phone anytime, anywhere, and study Japanese with videos, tests, etc.

Screenshots

Japanese Guru4 screens
Act Study4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Japanese Guru at fortnightly against Act Study's monthly. Act Study's advantage is iOS requirement (15.2 vs 17.6). 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. Japanese Guru sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Act Study sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Japanese Guru ships an update fortnightly, Act Study monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Japanese Guru versus Act Study: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterJapanese GuruAct Study
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.615.2 — better
Further details — not scored
Size878 MB104 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSamuel REAUDANYONE INC.

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Japanese Guru

Subscriptions3
  • Monthly7 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • Six Months7 Days trial$17.996 Months
  • Yearly7 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time2
  • Lifetime subscription$42.99
  • Lifetime subscription$79.99
1 purchases

Act Study

One-time1
  • IQ TESTFree

Questions

Is Japanese Guru free?
Japanese Guru is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Act Study free?
Act Study is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Japanese Guru or Act Study have ads?
Neither Japanese Guru nor Act Study shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Japanese Guru or Act Study?
Japanese Guru ships an update fortnightly, and Act Study monthly. Most recently, Japanese Guru was updated on October 24, 2026 and Act Study on October 8, 2026.

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