Bubuling Nihongo vs KanaGo
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Bubuling Nihongo
This app helps you learn Japanese vocabulary through curated paths and interactive quizzes. It offers features like word lookups, handwriting input, and progress tracking to make studying efficient and engaging.
- Curated vocabulary study paths
- Instant word lookups
- Multiple quiz modes
- Handwriting input for kanji
- Progress tracking
- Study reminders
- Cross-device progress sync
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Bubuling makes Japanese vocabulary study clear, fast, and consistent. Build your wordbook with curated learning paths, look up words instantly, and practice with quiz modes that keep you engaged every day. What you can do in Bubuling: - Study curated vocabulary, including JLPT-focused sets and beginner-friendly lists - Search by kanji, kana, romaji, or meaning - Learn each word with readings, examples, related words, and conjugation support - Use handwriting input to find kanji when you can’t type it - Practice with multiple quiz modes: spelling, meaning, listening, and conjugation - Save words to My Words and track your learning progress - Sync your progress across devices when signed in - Get study reminders so you stay on pace Bubuling Pro: - Unlimited bookmarks in My Words - Access to current and future Pro features - Monthly, yearly, and lifetime purchase options available as in-app purchases Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
KanaGo
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Learn to read and write Japanese step by step: hiragana, katakana and kanji from N5 to N1. LEARN • Every hiragana and katakana, with dakuten (が, ぱ…) and combinations (きゃ, しょ…). • Stroke order animations for every character. • Almost 900 kanji sorted by JLPT level and by theme, with meanings and on and kun readings. PRACTICE • Short sessions of 10, 20 or 40 questions, with a summary at the end and a review of your mistakes. • Three difficulty levels: pick the answer, type it, or draw the character. • AI handwriting recognition that works offline. • Choose which kana rows to practice, and whether to practice kanji meanings or readings. • Practice focuses more on the characters you miss. TRACK YOUR PROGRESS • Per-character stats: see which ones you've mastered and which need work. • Daily streak and accuracy over time. AND MORE • Built-in Japanese dictionary. • Import your own vocabulary lists from CSV. • Dark mode. • Available in 11 languages. KANAGO PREMIUM One-time purchase, no subscription: • No ads. • Kanji from every JLPT level (N4 to N1). N5 is free. • Hard difficulty with drawing. • Your own materials. • Backup of your stats.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Bubuling Nihongo at none against KanaGo's shown. KanaGo's advantage is update cadence (daily vs fortnightly). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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
Both are free to download. Bubuling Nihongo sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and KanaGo sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Bubuling Nihongo ships an update fortnightly, KanaGo daily. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Bubuling Nihongo | KanaGo |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Daily — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 165 MB | 107 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Codingmiao PTE. LTD. | Arturo Compte |
In-app purchases
Bubuling Nihongo
- Pro (1 Month)$0.991 Month
- Pro (1 Year)7 Days trial$5.991 Year
- Pro (Lifetime)$69.99
KanaGo
- Premium access$0.99









