# Ringotan vs KakiKata

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Ringotan at none against KakiKata's 2. Ringotan also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.5) and ratings volume (567 vs 2). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. KakiKata sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Ringotan asks for nothing beyond the download.

Ringotan holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ringotan has 567 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 96% of Ringotan's written reviews are positive against 100% of KakiKata's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Ringotan ships an update every 3 days, KakiKata every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Ringotan | KakiKata |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (567 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ringotan/id1633001064/reviews)** | [4.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kakikata/id6479497524/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **567** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 95.7% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Every 5 days |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 206 MB | 139 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.2** | 15.5 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Daniel Pflughoeft](https://appshunter.io/developer/1633001066) | [pretty normal stuff inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1736059887) |

## 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


### KakiKata

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kakikata/id6479497524)

Master Japanese kanji handwriting with interactive lessons and advanced recognition. Features stroke-by-stroke guidance, spaced repetition, and progress tracking for learners of all levels. Covers all Jōyō kanji and JLPT exam requirements.

**Highlights:** Learn over 2,000 Kanji, Interactive stroke-by-stroke guidance, Spaced Repetition System (SRS), Advanced handwriting recognition, Progress tracking, JLPT N5 Kanji free

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly plan | $3.99 | per month |
| English annual | $39.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Ringotan free?

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

### Is KakiKata free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Ringotan or KakiKata?

Ringotan is rated higher. Ringotan averages 4.9 out of 5 from 567 ratings, while KakiKata averages 4.5 from 2 ratings.

### Do Ringotan or KakiKata have ads?

Neither Ringotan nor KakiKata shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Ringotan or KakiKata?

Ringotan ships an update every 3 days, and KakiKata every 5 days. Most recently, Ringotan was updated on October 14, 2026 and KakiKata on October 8, 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.*