Comparison

Kanji Now vs Ringotan

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

Head to head
About

Kanji Now

Master Japanese Kanji with this free, interactive study tool. Learn through stroke-order practice, reading, writing, and engaging quizzes. Ideal for all levels, including JLPT preparation.

Highlights
  • Study Kanji by grade level
  • Stroke-order learning
  • Hand-writing Kanji dictionary
  • Over 1,000 Kanji quizzes
  • JLPT exam preparation
  • Learn four-character idioms
Read full description

Why wait? Start your journey to mastering Japanese Kanji today with ""Kanji NOW"" for free! Download now and unlock the fascinating world of Kanji with this comprehensive study tool that is perfect for learners of all levels, from beginners to advanced in a fun and interactive way. *Study Kanji Perfectly* You can easily study Kanji by grade, following the curriculum of Japanse elementary schools and master 1026 Kanji characters. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced learner, this feature allows you to progress at your own pace and build a solid foundation in Kanji recognition. Our app is designed to help you learn Kanji through stroke-order learning, reading practice, and writing practice. By following the correct stroke order, you'll develop a solid foundation and enhance your Kanji writing skills. *Hand-writing Kanji Dictionary* To further support your learning journey, we provide a handwriting dictionary. Look up any Kanji character and explore its stroke order, meanings, and example words. *Kanji Quizz* Get ready for some fun and engaging quizzes! ""Kanji NOW"" offers over 1,000 exciting Kanji quizzes to test your knowledge and improve your retention. From multiple-choice questions to fill-in-the-blanks exercises, our quizzes are designed to be both educational and enjoyable. You can even learn four-character idioms through Kanji quizzes! *For JLPT* ""Kanji NOW"" is also highly recommended for JLPT learners. Our app covers a wide range of Kanji that are frequently tested in JLPT exams. Whether you're preparing for N5 or aiming for the advanced levels like N1, ""Kanji NOW"" is the good study companion to help you achieve your goals. Don't miss out on this opportunity to enhance your Japanese language skills and expand your cultural horizons.

About

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.

Highlights
  • Learn Kanji by writing
  • Advanced input detection
  • Spaced repetition system (SRS)
  • Focus on writing, not just reading
  • Frequent updates with new features
Features
Read full description

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

Kanji Now4 screens
Ringotan2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Ringotan at none against Kanji Now's 2. Ringotan also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 3 weeks). 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. Kanji Now sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Ringotan asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Kanji Now ships an update every 3 weeks, Ringotan every 3 days. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Kanji Now versus Ringotan: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKanji NowRingotan
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.9 (574 ratings) — better
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews95.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings—574 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.012.2 — better
Further details — not scored
Size271 MB206 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNOWPRODUCTION, CO.,LTDDaniel Pflughoeft

Customer experience

Kanji Now

Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

Ringotan

All ratings567 ratings
Positive98.9%
Neutral0.4%
Negative0.7%
Written reviews92 reviews
Positive95.7%
Neutral2.2%
Negative2.2%

Bugs and requests

Kanji Now

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

2 purchases

Kanji Now

One-time2
  • Remove advertisements$0.49
  • Additional kanji and hide AD$1.99
None

Ringotan

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Kanji Now free?
Kanji Now is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Ringotan free?
Ringotan is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Kanji Now or Ringotan have ads?
Kanji Now shows ads; Ringotan does not.
Which is updated more often, Kanji Now or Ringotan?
Kanji Now ships an update every 3 weeks, and Ringotan every 3 days. Most recently, Kanji Now was updated on October 24, 2026 and Ringotan on October 24, 2026.

Other comparisons