Umi vs Soroban Path
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Umi
Master a new language through engaging TV clips, from beginner to fluent in a year. This app offers a fun, scientifically backed immersion method with vocabulary, listening, and reading practice. Learn from native speakers in real-life contexts without textbooks or lectures.
- Learn languages from 0 to fluency
- Watch TV clips for learning
- Vocabulary, listening, and reading practice
- Immersion method
- Learn from native speakers
- 24 free lessons
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Learn a language from 0 to fluency in 1 year, by watching TV clips! 24 lessons for free! Learn Japanese, Korean, Spanish, French, German or English! Vocabulary, listening, and reading all in one app... and it's fun! A revolutionary scientifically backed method; natural exposure with short videos is the best way to gain REAL comprehension. No textbooks. No boring lectures. Learn from native speakers! Understand how people talk in real life situations. Start learning today with the revolutionary immersion method, and actually achieve fluency! Privacy: https://www.umiapp.co/privacy/ Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Soroban Path
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Learn the Japanese abacus, then do the math in your head. Soroban Path teaches the soroban step by step. Every lesson starts with a short demonstration. Then guided beads show exactly where to move, and you try it yourself, with hints ready whenever you need them. Little by little the beads turn into a picture in your mind. That picture is why soroban students are so quick at mental math. MEET THE COMPLEMENTS When a sum does not fit on the beads, a complement steps in: the number that makes 5 or 10 together with it. Soroban Path teaches all 34 complement formulas - 5-complements, 10-complements and the mixed ones - and, just as important, when and why each one is needed. Knowing the reason is what turns memorized moves into real number sense. HOW IT WORKS - 46 short lessons in 10 units, from "Meet the Soroban" to "Mental Math & Flash" - Watch, follow the arrows, then try it on your own, with three levels of hints - Review that brings each complement formula back at just the right time, and a star for every one you know well - Already know some soroban? Take a short test and skip ahead - Four kinds of practice: Bead Drills, Soroban Sums, Flash Anzan and Listening Math - Instructions are read aloud, and one tap in any lesson turns the voice off when you need quiet - A weekly practice goal, with no lives, no penalties and no leaderboards - Certificates for finished units, and a progress report you can share FREE TO START The first 12 lessons and a starter set of practice levels are free, so you can try the whole way of learning before you buy anything. PREMIUM, ONE TIME Premium unlocks all 46 lessons, every practice level, every certificate and the full progress report. It is a single purchase: no subscription and no renewals. You can restore it on any device that uses the same Apple ID. PRIVATE BY DESIGN No accounts, no ads and no tracking. Progress stays on the device, and the app works offline. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://hirokishingu.github.io/soroban-site/privacy.html
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Soroban Path at none against Umi's shown. Umi's advantage is chart position (#187 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence, 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
Both are free to download. Umi sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month and Soroban Path sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Umi ships an update every 10 days, Soroban Path every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Umi | Soroban Path |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (2.8K ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 52.8% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 2.8K — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 10 days | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Best chart rank | #187 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 79 MB | 31 MB |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Immersely Inc. | Hiroki Shingu |
Bugs and requests
Umi
Reported bugs
3 issues- Frequent app crashes and loading issues
- Inability to delete account or access full free version
- Inconsistent performance and playback problems
Requested features
4 requests- Add more language options like Mandarin and Russian
- Improve spaced repetition and word review system
- Provide more detailed grammar and conjugation explanations
- Add a search function to find specific vocabulary
Soroban Path
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Umi
- Umi Plus + Monthly7 Days trial$12.991 Month
- Umi Plus - Monthly3 Days trial$12.991 Month
- Umi Premium - Monthly3 Days trial$14.991 Month
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- Umi Pro - Monthly3 Days trial$17.991 Month
- Umi Plus - 6 months3 Days trial$34.996 Months
- Umi Plus + Annual7 Days trial$49.991 Year
- Umi Plus - Annual3 Days trial$49.991 Year
- Umi Premium - Annual3 Days trial$59.991 Year
- Umi Pro - Annual3 Days trial$69.991 Year
- Umi - Plus$149.99
Soroban Path
- Soroban Premium$4.99









