Comparison

KanjiBox vs Nihongo Lessons

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

Head to head
About

KanjiBox

Master Japanese language skills offline with interactive drills, quizzes, and flashcards. Track progress with detailed stats and game-like achievements. Includes handwriting practice and preparation for standardized tests.

Highlights
  • Offline Japanese study
  • Drills, quizzes, and flashcards
  • Handwriting practice modules
  • Progress tracking and achievements
  • JLPT and Kanji Kentei preparation
  • Adaptive learning with SRS
  • Customizable study sets
Features
Read full description

KanjiBox is a focused Japanese kanji and vocabulary trainer for learners at every level, from first-time beginners to advanced JLPT N1 candidates. • Simple yet effective algorithm Spaced Repetition System and smart Multiple Choice algorithm, combined to optimize your learning and track your progress • Multiple Modes to keep you motivated From Flashcards, to Drill training, to Gamified Quiz • No AI Slop KanjiBox was first released 19 years ago, and has helped hundreds of thousands achieve written Japanese mastery ever since. It does not, and will never, rely on half-baked LLM-driven content — — — — — — — — — — — — — KANJIBOX IS SMART — — — — — — — — — — — — — KanjiBox adapts to your performance by prioritizing items you struggle with, and reducing repetition of material you already know. As you progress, it will introduce new kanji and vocabulary, but always while following your pace. Spend more time on what needs work, and less time reviewing what you have already mastered. — — — — — — — — — — — — — KANJIBOX IS A MEAN TEACHER — — — — — — — — — — — — — Behind the deceptively simple Multiple Choice Question format, is a well-oiled algorithm designed to trip you up: similar-looking kanji, subtle pronunciation differences, closely-related grammatical words… Because the goal is to learn the language, not how to beat the test. — — — — — — — — — — — — — KANJIBOX IS ENGAGING — — — — — — — — — — — — — Exhaustive stats across levels and categories show you what you have mastered, what needs more practice, and how your results improve over time. Quiz mode adds a fun competitive element to your studying. Because serious should not mean tedious! — — — — — — — — — FEATURES — — — — — — — — — • Full JLPT N5–N1 kanji and vocabulary coverage • Sensei mode with 6,355 kanji, ~40,000 vocab words • Beginner mode with hiragana and katakana • Works fully offline • Custom Study Sets • Sync all learning stats and progress across devices • Add-ons to practice handwriting kana and kanji • Add-ons to practice specific grammar points Whether you are preparing for the JLPT, studying Japanese at school, or building your reading ability for everyday use, KanjiBox gives you a clear and practical way to improve. 始めましょう!Let's get started!

About

Nihongo Lessons

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
Read full description

A new app for people serious about becoming fluent in Japanese, from the maker of Nihongo: a modern Japanese dictionary. Nihongo Lessons is based off the excellent Japanese Level Up (Jalup) series, and is made to help all levels of learners. * If you're a complete beginner, the app starts you off by teaching you to write the Japanese alphabets hiragana and katakana, and then quickly starts building your vocabulary and grammar fundamentals. * If you're at an intermediate level, you can jump into content that will help you grow your Japanese grammar, vocabulary, and listening skills more efficiently than ever before. * If you're an advanced learner diving into the world of native content or studying for JLPT N1, Nihongo Lessons can help fill in the gaps in your knowledge with vocabulary and grammar pulled directly from real manga. Instead of a traditional textbook, everything in Nihongo Lessons is in a flashcard format. Flashcards are easier to take in, easier to know how much to learn and how often to review, and simplify the mountain of information you need to absorb. Each flashcard introduces one new sentence for you to understand, and every new sentence introduces exactly one new word, grammar point, or concept. This keeps you constantly moving forward in your learning journey - never bored, never overwhelmed. * Learn to write hiragana and katakana, the main alphabets of the Japanese language. * Progress from beginner to fluent across 7000 handcrafted sentences, each introducing a single new word or concept. * Listen to sentences spoken out loud by a professional voice actor. * Advanced Spaced Repetition (SRS) to help you retain everything you've learned for the long-term. * Nihongo Lessons doesn’t just plop a fun game on top of the language. It engages the brain’s natural urge to solve problems by making learning the language itself the game.

Screenshots

KanjiBox4 screens
Nihongo Lessons4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Nihongo Lessons at Free against KanjiBox's $4.99. Nihongo Lessons also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.6). KanjiBox's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). On review sentiment, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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

Nihongo Lessons is free to download; KanjiBox costs $4.99 up front. KanjiBox sells 8 one-off in-app purchases and Nihongo Lessons sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Nihongo Lessons holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 138 and 126 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 93% of KanjiBox's written reviews are positive against 85% of Nihongo Lessons's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

KanjiBox ships an update weekly, Nihongo Lessons every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
KanjiBox versus Nihongo Lessons: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKanjiBoxNihongo Lessons
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating4.6 (138 ratings)4.8 (126 ratings) — better
Positive reviews92.8% of reviews — better84.8% of reviews
Number of ratings138 — better126
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.0 — better17
Further details — not scored
Size361 MB258 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperUnknown Genius SoftwareSerpenti Sei Japan

Customer experience

KanjiBox

All ratings138 ratings
Positive91.3%
Neutral2.9%
Negative5.8%
Written reviews264 reviews
Positive92.8%
Neutral3.8%
Negative3.4%

Nihongo Lessons

All ratings126 ratings
Positive94.4%
Neutral2.4%
Negative3.2%
Written reviews33 reviews
Positive84.8%
Neutral6.1%
Negative9.1%

User reviews

KanjiBox

From 138 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Comprehensive kanji and vocabulary practice
  • 🚀 Efficient spaced repetition learning
  • 💡 Customizable study settings
  • 🚀 Syncs progress across devices
  • 👍 Integrates with dictionary app

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes or bugs
  • 👎 Limited grammar practice
  • 👎 Sensitive kanji writing recognition
  • 👎 Repetitive kanji/vocabulary selection

Nihongo Lessons

From 126 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Great app for learning Japanese
  • 🚀 Well-structured and effective learning format
  • 💡 Tailors lessons to user goals
  • 👍 Draws from real-life material
  • 👍 More intense and serious than Duolingo

Room to improve

  • 💰 Very expensive to unlock content
  • 💰 High cost for full unlock
  • 💰 Unlocking sections is costly
  • 💰 Pricing is a bit rough
  • 💰 Content is repetitive and not varied enough

Bugs and requests

KanjiBox

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App crashes when launching at higher JLPT levels
  • Syncing issues between mobile and web versions
  • Incorrect kanji/vocabulary definitions in some cases

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add more grammar and sentence-level practice
  • Improve kanji writing recognition accuracy
  • Allow searching for specific kanji or vocabulary
  • Provide more detailed review of missed questions

Nihongo Lessons

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Explanation modal flashed and cannot be brought back
  • Unclear how to interact with cards (swiping direction)

Requested features

11 requests
  • Add notifications
  • Add a way to add own notecards for review
  • Add meaning and context for some words in dictionary
  • Add monthly subscriptions or lower prices
  • Add Kanji section
Show 6 more
  • Add Kanji decks
  • Add dark mode
  • Automatically play audio when flipping card
  • Teach word in context, then quiz for understanding using only the Japanese word
  • Surface Japanese definition and make user remember the word
  • Optimize for iPad

In-app purchases

8 purchases

KanjiBox

One-time8
  • KanjiDraw$0.99
  • KanaDraw$0.99
  • Grammar - Beginner I: Particles$0.99
Show 5 more
  • Grammar - Intermediate I$0.99
  • Grammar - Beginner II: Where? When?$0.99
  • Grammar - Beginner III: 後, 前, 上, 下...$0.99
  • Advanced I: ところ+に,で,へ,を...$0.99
  • Vocab N5 Nouns (pt. 1)$0.99
13 purchases

Nihongo Lessons

Subscriptions2
  • All Access Monthly7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • All Access Yearly7 Days trial$49.991 Year
One-time11
  • Beginner Deck (Discounted)$59.99
  • Champion Deck (Discounted)$59.99
  • Expert Deck (Discounted)$59.99
Show 8 more
  • Master Deck (Discounted)$59.99
  • Intermediate Deck (Discounted)$83.99
  • Beginner Deck (Discounted)$101.99
  • Beginner Deck$119.99
  • All Decks (Discounted)$149.99
  • All Decks (Discounted)$254.99
  • All Decks$299.99
  • All Decks (Discounted)$299.99

Questions

Is KanjiBox free?
KanjiBox costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Nihongo Lessons free?
Nihongo Lessons is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, KanjiBox or Nihongo Lessons?
Nihongo Lessons is rated higher. KanjiBox averages 4.6 out of 5 from 138 ratings, while Nihongo Lessons averages 4.8 from 126 ratings.
Do KanjiBox or Nihongo Lessons have ads?
Neither KanjiBox nor Nihongo Lessons shows ads.
Which is updated more often, KanjiBox or Nihongo Lessons?
KanjiBox ships an update weekly, and Nihongo Lessons every 3 weeks. Most recently, KanjiBox was updated on October 20, 2026 and Nihongo Lessons on October 17, 2026.

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