Comparison

Midori (Japanese Dictionary) vs Luminous E

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

Head to head
About

Midori (Japanese Dictionary)

A comprehensive Japanese dictionary app offering extensive word and kanji entries, example sentences, and advanced search capabilities. It supports offline use and includes features like flashcards and stroke order diagrams to aid language learning.

Highlights
  • Extensive Japanese-English dictionary
  • Kanji entries with stroke order
  • Example sentences with furigana
  • Offline functionality
  • Flashcards for vocabulary
  • JLPT level lists
  • Drawing and photo search for kanji
Features
Read full description

Midori is a comprehensive Japanese-English, English-Japanese dictionary. It's a perfect tool for Japanese learners, with 910,000 entries, 150,000 example sentences, and numerous features designed to enhance your Japanese learning experience. DICTIONARY ENTRIES • More than 190,000 word entries. Each entry shows readings, meanings, and a kanji breakdown. • More than 12,000 kanji entries. Each entry shows readings, meanings, and example compounds. • Example sentences with furigana (small hiragana above kanji) • Over 6,000 kanji with stroke order diagrams and stroke order animations • Over 730,000 Japanese proper names, place names, given names, company names and product names • Japanese pitch accent SEARCH & TRANSLATE • Search words by using kana or romaji, such as あき or aki • Search words by capturing a photo. (Note: Only horizontal text is supported.) • Search kanji by drawing them • Search kanji by combining radicals, e.g. 禾 + 火 -> 秋 • Search suggestion when the input is in a conjugated form, e.g. 走った -> 走る • Search with wildcard characters, e.g. 日*人 returns all words that start with 日 and end with 人 • Search with the SKIP system • Partial results when the full word is not found, e.g. searching for 青い本 returns the results for 青い and 本 • Fast incremental search gives you the result instantly as you type LISTS & BOOKMARKS • List of kanji as taught in Japanese schools from grade 1 to 6 • List of kanji by frequency as appeared in Japanese newspapers • List of kanji and words by Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) levels • Lists of hiragana and katakana, each with stroke diagram and animation • Bookmarks with folders support. You can export, import, or share bookmarks with your friends. OTHER FEATURES • Flashcards for bookmarked words and kanji • Audio pronunciations (via speech synthesis) • Create a vocabulary list with definitions from Japanese text in one tap • Scratch pad for practicing writing kanji on iPad • No internet connection required. The app is completely offline. • French and German definitions for some words • Universal app. Run on all your iOS devices, whether it's iPhone or iPad Follow us on Twitter at @MidoriApp Acknowledgements: This application has included material from the JMdict (EDICT, etc.), KANJIDIC2, ENAMDICT, and KRADFILE dictionary files in accordance with the licence provisions of the Electronic Dictionaries Research Group. See https://www.edrdg.org/

About

Luminous E

This comprehensive English-Japanese and Japanese-English dictionary app offers extensive vocabulary and grammar explanations. It includes audio pronunciations, search functionalities, and export options, making it a powerful tool for all English learners.

Highlights
  • Extensive vocabulary (approx. 100,000 entries each)
  • Audio pronunciations for words
  • Incremental search and spelling suggestions
  • Bookmark with notes
  • Export definitions and bookmarks
  • Daily vocabulary notifications
  • iPad multitasking and Drag & Drop support
Features
Read full description

ルミナス英和・和英辞典 (InApp購入版) This app is not free! For new users, an InApp purchase is required to activate the dictionary. Japanese language ability required. 英和・和英それぞれ約10万の豊富な収録語句に加え、アプリ独自に単語の英米音声ファイルを収録。もちろんiPhone・iPad両対応。大学入試からTOEIC®受験まで、全ての英語学習者にお薦めする学習用英和・和英辞典の「最強ツール」です。 【全体】 総収録語数は英和・和英各10万,用例は各 5 万以上。豊富な語彙だけでなく、文法や語法、ライティングのための解説も充実させた、英語学習辞典の定番。大学受験生から社会人まで全ての英語学習者・使用者にお勧めの最強ツール。 【英和】 日常用語はもちろん、時事用語、科学用語を豊富に収録し、成句や句動詞も充実。語彙だけでなく、詳細な文法・語法解説に加え、ライティングにも使える「コロケーション」や「言い換え」、語彙増強のための「単語の記憶」や「語源」など、学習・実用に役立つ情報が満載。英和辞典として初めてTOEIC®頻出2千語句を表示。 【和英】 「振り込め詐欺」「ニート」「認知症」から「源義経」「額紫陽花」「丑の時参り」まで広範な分野の語彙・慣用句・成句を採録。日本固有の風物・文化・固有名などには簡潔な英語の説明も施した。日本語的発想を自然な英語にするために不可欠な「発想指示」や学習者の間違えやすい点を分かりやすく解説した「語法」「日英比較」も充実。 ■ アプリケーションの特徴: * ロングマンシリーズの約90,000点の英米音声ファイルを収録 * 単語タップで表示される、便利なリンクメニュー * インクリメンタル検索(逐次検索)機能 * スペリングのサジェスト機能 * ワイルドカード検索機能 * 収録画像の拡大・縮小機能 * メモ付きブックマーク機能 * 語義やブックマークをメールやFacebook, Twitterなどに出力可能 * 自動履歴機能 * 書籍の付録部分を収録 * AI強化アナグラム生成機能 * "今日"とロックスクリーンのウィジェット * iCloudを利用したブックマーク機能 * 日替わり英単語の通知機能。(TOEIC®やTOEFL®の単語リスト付き) * 3D Touch 対応 * DarkMode 対応 * iPadのマルチスクリーンとDrag & Drop 対応 * iPhone 17 対応 * iOS12〜iOS26 完全対応 * iPhoneとiPodとiPadとmacOS 対応 ■ 外部辞書ハイパーリンク機能 * 「ロングマン現代英英辞典」や「アメリカンヘリテージ® 」など英英辞典へのリンク * 「Roget's II: 新類語辞典」へのリンク * 「ロングマン英和辞典」へのアプリケーションリンク * 「大辞林」「大辞泉」へのアプリケーションリンク (外部辞書は別途インストールが必要です) コピーライト: ルミナス英和辞典 (第2版)/ルミナス和英辞典 (第2版) © 2005, 2012 株式会社研究社

Screenshots

Midori (Japanese Dictionary)4 screens
Luminous E4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Midori (Japanese Dictionary) at 90% against Luminous E's 24%. Midori (Japanese Dictionary) also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). Luminous E's advantage is device support (4 vs 2) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.0). On price, update cadence and ads 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

Both are free to download. Luminous E sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Midori (Japanese Dictionary) asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Midori (Japanese Dictionary) holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Midori (Japanese Dictionary) has 214 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 90% of Midori (Japanese Dictionary)'s written reviews are positive against 24% of Luminous E's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Midori (Japanese Dictionary) ships an update every 6 weeks, Luminous E every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Midori (Japanese Dictionary) versus Luminous E: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMidori (Japanese Dictionary)Luminous E
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (214 ratings) — better4.0 (6 ratings)
Positive reviews90.2% of reviews — better23.5% of reviews
Number of ratings214 — better6
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS16.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size191 MB1021 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperSukolsak SakshuwongEnglish Channel, Inc.

Customer experience

Midori (Japanese Dictionary)

All ratings211 ratings
Positive94.3%
Neutral2.4%
Negative3.3%
Written reviews215 reviews
Positive90.2%
Neutral4.2%
Negative5.6%

Luminous E

All ratings6 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral16.7%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews17 reviews
Positive23.5%
Neutral23.5%
Negative52.9%

Bugs and requests

Midori (Japanese Dictionary)

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Translate function has issues with word boundaries
  • Bookmarks export/import feature is unreliable

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add ability to create custom flashcard sets
  • Implement iCloud/cloud sync for bookmarks and settings
  • Improve kanji handwriting recognition accuracy
  • Add option to use device's default text-to-speech voice
  • Expand dictionary coverage, especially for specialized vocabulary

Luminous E

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Midori (Japanese Dictionary)

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Luminous E

One-time1
  • Luminous activation$14.99

Questions

Is Midori (Japanese Dictionary) free?
Midori (Japanese Dictionary) is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Luminous E free?
Luminous E is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Midori (Japanese Dictionary) or Luminous E?
Midori (Japanese Dictionary) is rated higher. Midori (Japanese Dictionary) averages 4.8 out of 5 from 214 ratings, while Luminous E averages 4.0 from 6 ratings.
Do Midori (Japanese Dictionary) or Luminous E have ads?
Neither Midori (Japanese Dictionary) nor Luminous E shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Midori (Japanese Dictionary) or Luminous E?
Midori (Japanese Dictionary) ships an update every 6 weeks, and Luminous E every 5 weeks. Most recently, Midori (Japanese Dictionary) was updated on November 1, 2026 and Luminous E on November 1, 2026.

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