Japanese LS Touch vs Yaiba
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Japanese LS Touch
Learn Japanese vocabulary with a comprehensive dictionary and an interactive trainer. Practice drawing Kanji and Kana with stroke-order guidelines and test your knowledge with various question types. Supports custom vocabulary sets and Leitner system learning.
- 145,000 Japanese vocables
- Kanji/Kana stroke-order guidelines
- Multiple test types and modes
- Customizable vocabulary sets
- Leitner system (SRS) learning
- Backup and sync via iCloud
- Sample sentences for vocables
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Japanese LS Touch is a program for learning japanese vocables. It combines a comprehensive japanese dictionary with a topnotch vocable trainer. The vocable trainer utilizes the unique touch interface to intuitively teach you how to draw the Kanji/Kana of the japanese words by displaying strokeorder guidelines. But that's just one of the many features helping you in learning japanese vocables. FEATURES - 145.000 japanese vocables - all vocables have readings (if word contains kanji) and english translations - 75.000 vocables have german translations and 14.800 vocables have french translations - possibilty to import your own translations for the vocables - default vocabulary sets (JLPT Level 1 - 5 and all level in one set) - possibilty to create custom vocabulary sets within the program - possiblity to import your own custom vocabulary sets (of vocables in the programs database) - sample sentences availabe for 27.800 vocables (90% of the JLPT Level 1-5 set‘s vocables have sample sentences) - Strokeorder guidelines for all kanji used in all the program‘s vocables - numerous ways to select the vocables you want to train: - All vocables of the current set - custom selection (vocables selected via browser) - Range of vocables (e.g. vocable 40 till vocable 60) - Vocable Reader reads vocable and translation TEST - 7 Testtypes: - Vocable --> Translation - Translation --> Vocable - Vocable --> Reading - Reading --> Vocable - Word --> missing Character - Sentence --> missing Word - Audio -> Meaning - 2 Testmodes: - Direct Input (drawing or keyboard) - Multiple Choice VOCABLE BROWSER - list of all vocables in the current vocabulary set or all vocables of the program‘s database - search for a specific vocably by translation, reading or the japanese word itself - display details of a specific vocable - select specific vocables for a custom selection you want to train MISC - Import your own custom vocabulary set (e.g. if you want to train only the vocables of lesson x of your textbook) - Import your own translations for the vocables (e.g. if you learn by certain translation that differs from the default translation in the program or if the translation for your language is missing) - Backup & Sync between devices via iCloud - Learning with the Leitner system (SRS) - Practice mode (for learning how to draw the japanese characters of the vocable) - User Interface fully localized in English, French and German for more information/videos/screenshots/handbook: www.asia-ls.com/ios/japanese.html If you like this application check out: KANA LS TOUCH KANJI LS TOUCH If you find a bug in the software please send me an email [jan(a)asia-ls.com] with as many information as possible so I can try to reproduce and fix it: - device & firmware - what did you do step by step - settings (current set, test mode, Leitner actice...) - does it happen always/sometime/once Japanese LS Touch uses the KANJIDIC & JMDICT dictionary files. These files are the property of the Electronic Dictionary Research and Development Group, and are used in conformance with the Group's licence. (www.edrdg.org) The sample sentences in this application are form the Tanaka Corpus. (www.csse.monash.edu.au/~jwb/tanakacorpus.html) The french & german translations of the sample sentences are from the Tatoeba Project (tatoeba.org) This app uses Icons form icon8 (https://icons8.com/license/)
Yaiba
This app revolutionizes Japanese Kanji learning through engaging stories and AI-powered handwriting practice. Connect with a global community, track your progress, and unlock achievements for a fun and effective study experience.
- Story-based Kanji learning
- AI handwriting practice with feedback
- Create and share mnemonics
- Community features for learners
- Personalized progress tracking
- Gamified challenges and achievements
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Tired of boring flashcards and endless memorization? Yaiba’s here to change the way you learn Japanese Kanji—forever. It’s all about making Kanji learning more effective, fun, and totally your vibe. Make Kanji Stick with Stories Forget cramming. Yaiba uses a story-based system, inspired by the Heisig method. Create and share your own mnemonics to make each Kanji click in your brain. Learning feels less like a chore and more like connecting the dots. Write Like a Pro with AI Ditch the paper! Write Kanji directly on your phone or tablet and get instant feedback from our AI. Practice anywhere, level up your handwriting, and skip the old-school drills. Join a Squad of Kanji Learners Learning’s better together. With Yaiba, you can swap stories, trade tips, and celebrate wins with a global community of Kanji learners. It’s like having a built-in study crew wherever you go. Learn Your Way Yaiba adapts to you. It tracks your progress, zones in on where you’re crushing it (and where you’re not), and serves up challenges to keep you sharp. Actually Fun Kanji doesn’t have to be a grind. With Yaiba, you’ll tackle challenges, unlock achievements, and have a blast while building real skills. Yaiba was made for learners, by a learner who got sick of traditional methods. Whether you’re just starting or looking to sharpen your skills, Yaiba’s got your back. Ready to take on Kanji like never before? Download Yaiba now and see what’s possible.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Yaiba at Free against Japanese LS Touch's $8.99. Yaiba also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 61%) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 10 months). On rating, ads, 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
Yaiba is free to download; Japanese LS Touch costs $8.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Japanese LS Touch against 5.0 for Yaiba. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Yaiba has 6 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 61% of Japanese LS Touch's written reviews are positive against 100% of Yaiba's.
Japanese LS Touch ships an update every 10 months, Yaiba every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Japanese LS Touch | Yaiba |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $8.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) | 5.0 (6 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 60.6% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 6 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 10 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 171 MB | 159 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Jan Bogner | Victor Hofstetter |
Customer experience
Japanese LS Touch
Yaiba
In-app purchases
Japanese LS Touch
No in-app purchases
Yaiba
No in-app purchases









