# Ringotan vs Nihongo Lessons

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Ringotan at none against Nihongo Lessons's 13. Ringotan also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 3 weeks) and review sentiment (96% vs 85%). On price, rating and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Nihongo Lessons sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Ringotan asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Ringotan against 4.8 for Nihongo Lessons. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 567 and 126 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 96% of Ringotan's written reviews are positive against 85% of Nihongo Lessons's.

Ringotan ships an update every 3 days, Nihongo Lessons every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 9, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Ringotan | Nihongo Lessons |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (567 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ringotan/id1633001064/reviews)** | [4.8 (126 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nihongo-lessons/id1640204242/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **567** | 126 |
| Positive reviews | **95.7% of reviews** | 84.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 206 MB | 258 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.2** | 17 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Daniel Pflughoeft](https://appshunter.io/developer/1633001066) | [Serpenti Sei Japan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1767544234) |

## What reviewers say

### Ringotan

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ringotan/id1633001064)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Effective kanji learning system
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 🔓 No ads or paywalls
- 💡 Customizable settings and integration with other resources
- 🎨 Visually pleasing and engaging

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Keyword hints not always clear enough
- 🔀 Limited ability to customize word lists
- 🔆 Light mode only, no dark mode option
- 🔍 Difficulty identifying which kanji is being tested at times

**Reported bugs**

- Occasional issues with stroke order recognition
- Some kanji pronunciations not accurately represented

**Requested features**

- 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


### Nihongo Lessons

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nihongo-lessons/id1640204242)

This app helps learners of all levels achieve Japanese fluency. It uses a flashcard format to teach vocabulary, grammar, and writing systems, with advanced spaced repetition for effective retention. Content is sourced from real manga for advanced learners.

**Highlights:** Learn Hiragana and Katakana, 7000+ handcrafted sentences, Professional voice actor audio, Advanced Spaced Repetition System (SRS), Vocabulary and grammar from manga, Flashcard learning format

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| All Access Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| All Access Yearly | $49.99 | per year |
| Beginner Deck (Discounted) | $59.99 | one-time |
| Champion Deck (Discounted) | $59.99 | one-time |
| Expert Deck (Discounted) | $59.99 | one-time |
| Master Deck (Discounted) | $59.99 | one-time |
| Intermediate Deck (Discounted) | $83.99 | one-time |
| Beginner Deck (Discounted) | $101.99 | one-time |
| Beginner Deck | $119.99 | one-time |
| All Decks (Discounted) | $149.99 | one-time |
| All Decks (Discounted) | $254.99 | one-time |
| All Decks | $299.99 | one-time |
| All Decks (Discounted) | $299.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Ringotan free?

Ringotan is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Nihongo Lessons free?

Nihongo Lessons is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Ringotan or Nihongo Lessons?

Ringotan is rated higher. Ringotan averages 4.9 out of 5 from 567 ratings, while Nihongo Lessons averages 4.8 from 126 ratings.

### Do Ringotan or Nihongo Lessons have ads?

Neither Ringotan nor Nihongo Lessons shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Ringotan or Nihongo Lessons?

Ringotan ships an update every 3 days, and Nihongo Lessons every 3 weeks. Most recently, Ringotan was updated on October 9, 2026 and Nihongo Lessons on October 9, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*