# JiShop Concise vs Kanji Lookup

The clearest difference is rating: Kanji Lookup at 4.7 against JiShop Concise's 2.5. Kanji Lookup also leads on ratings volume (3.1K vs 2). JiShop Concise's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, review sentiment, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. JiShop Concise sells 5 one-off in-app purchases and Kanji Lookup sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Kanji Lookup holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Kanji Lookup has 3.1K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 80% of JiShop Concise's written reviews are positive against 75% of Kanji Lookup's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

JiShop Concise ships an update every 3 weeks, Kanji Lookup every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | JiShop Concise | Kanji Lookup |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jishop-concise/id353076424/reviews) | **[4.7 (3.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kanji-lookup/id973780102/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **3.1K** |
| Positive reviews | **80.0% of reviews** | 75.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 15 MB | 146 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [JISHOP Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/353066780) | [telethon k.k.](https://appshunter.io/developer/699508003) |

## What reviewers say

### JiShop Concise

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jishop-concise/id353076424)

This app serves as a comprehensive Japanese language learning tool, offering extensive kanji and word dictionaries with powerful search capabilities. It provides detailed information on kanji structure, meaning, and stroke order, making it suitable for both beginners and professionals.

**Highlights:** Kanji and word dictionaries, Element-based kanji search, Compound word search, Animated stroke order diagrams, Customizable study groups, Internal hyperlinks

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| JISHOP Plus License | $1.99 | one-time |
| License Transfer | $6.99 | one-time |
| JiShop Advanced License | $11.99 | one-time |
| JISHOP Advanced License | $14.99 | one-time |
| JISHOP Advanced License | $16.99 | one-time |


### Kanji Lookup

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kanji-lookup/id973780102)

Quickly find the meaning and pronunciation of unknown Kanji characters by drawing them. This app focuses on fast, easy lookup without complex methods, offering definitions and relevant word examples. It also supports keyboard and pasteboard searches.

**Highlights:** Handwriting recognition for Kanji lookup, Instantaneous search results, Pronunciation and definition display, Searchable list of relevant words, Keyboard search support, Pasteboard text search

**Features:** Apple Watch app, iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Stroke Animations | $0.99 | one-time |
| Remove Advertisements | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Accurate kanji recognition
- 💡 Comprehensive kanji information
- 👍 Helpful for learning Japanese
- 👍 Useful for travel to Japan

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional recognition issues
- 💰 Ads can be intrusive
- 🐛 Camera function not reliable
- 🔋 Drains battery quickly

**Reported bugs**

- Kanji recognition not always accurate
- Camera function doesn't work consistently
- App crashes or freezes occasionally

**Requested features**

- Add audio pronunciations
- Improve camera function
- Provide more customization options
- Implement kanji quizzing/testing


## Frequently asked questions

### Is JiShop Concise free?

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

### Is Kanji Lookup free?

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

### Which has better reviews, JiShop Concise or Kanji Lookup?

Kanji Lookup is rated higher. JiShop Concise averages 2.5 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Kanji Lookup averages 4.7 from 3.1K ratings.

### Do JiShop Concise or Kanji Lookup have ads?

Kanji Lookup shows ads; JiShop Concise does not.

### Which is updated more often, JiShop Concise or Kanji Lookup?

JiShop Concise ships an update every 3 weeks, and Kanji Lookup every 2 months. Most recently, JiShop Concise was updated on October 27, 2026 and Kanji Lookup on October 29, 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.*