# iKnow! vs Bunpo

The clearest difference is update cadence: Bunpo at every 9 days against iKnow!'s every 5 weeks. Bunpo also leads on ratings volume (18K vs 490). iKnow!'s advantage is device support (4 vs 2) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. iKnow! sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Bunpo sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for iKnow! against 4.9 for Bunpo. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bunpo has 18K ratings behind it against 490, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 78% of iKnow!'s written reviews are positive against 73% of Bunpo's.

iKnow! ships an update every 5 weeks, Bunpo every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iKnow! | Bunpo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (490 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iknow/id417713473/reviews) | **[4.9 (18K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bunpo-language-learning/id1279720052/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 490 | **18K** |
| Positive reviews | **77.9% of reviews** | 72.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 19 MB | 189 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [DMM.com LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/373765747) | [Bunpo Language Learning](https://appshunter.io/developer/1279720051) |

## What reviewers say

### iKnow!

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iknow/id417713473)

Master Japanese, Chinese, and English with this app's adaptive learning engine. It offers multiple study modes and synchronizes your progress across devices for flexible learning. Ideal for anyone looking to efficiently acquire new vocabulary and sentence structures.

**Highlights:** Adaptive learning engine, Spaced rehearsal pattern, Five study modes, Vocabulary and sentence mastery, Progress synchronization, Audio playback with speed control

**Features:** iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 3 Month Plan | $23.99 | one-time |
| 12 Month Plan | $39.99 | one-time |
| 12+1 Month Plan | $39.99 | one-time |
| 6 Month Plan | $47.99 | one-time |
| 6+1 Month Plan | $47.99 | one-time |
| 12+3 Month Plan | $54.99 | one-time |
| 12 Month Plan | $59.99 | one-time |
| 12 Month Plan | $64.99 | one-time |
| 12+1 Month Plan | $64.99 | one-time |
| 12 Month Plan | $69.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent for vocabulary learning
- 👍 Great for learning Japanese and Chinese
- 👍 Effective spaced repetition system
- 👍 Useful example sentences and audio
- 👍 Convenient for studying on the go

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Stability issues with recent updates
- 🐛 Crashes and freezes reported
- 🐛 Audio playback problems
- 🔒 Subscription-based model
- 👎 Limited customization options

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on startup
- Blank screens during multiple-choice questions
- Issues with typing answers and registering input
- Audio not playing for some example sentences

**Requested features**

- Add more languages beyond Japanese and Chinese
- Improve community course integration
- Implement a dark mode
- Add more example sentences per word
- Provide an option to learn without kanji


### Bunpo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bunpo-language-learning/id1279720052)

Master multiple languages with this comprehensive learning app. It offers detailed grammar explanations, vocabulary building, and smart review systems to help you progress from beginner to advanced levels. Learn Japanese, Korean, Spanish, French, German, and Chinese with interactive exercises and personalized study plans.

**Highlights:** Learn 6 languages, Master grammar with detailed explanations, Build vocabulary and kanji knowledge, Spaced repetition for smart review, Interactive quizzes and example sentences, Offline learning for Spanish, French, German, Chinese

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bunpo Plus Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Bunpo Platinum Monthly | $19.99 | per month |
| Bunpo Platinum Monthly | $19.99 | per month |
| Bunpo Plus Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| Bunpo Plus Yearly | $39.99 | per year |
| Bunpo Platinum Yearly | $79.99 | per year |
| Bunpo Platinum Yearly | $79.99 | per year |
| Bunpo Plus Lifetime | $39.99 | one-time |
| Bunpo Plus Lifetime | $44.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Helpful for learning Japanese
- 👍 Well-designed and organized
- 👍 Explains grammar and usage well
- 👍 Customizable to learning needs
- 👍 Effective spaced repetition

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Too much content locked behind paywall
- 🐛 Bugs and crashes reported
- 🐛 Issues with keyboard and text display
- 🐛 Inconsistencies in question answers
- 🔒 Lack of offline access to paid content

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes during lesson reviews
- Incorrect answers marked as wrong
- Text and keyboard issues on smaller screens
- Audio playback problems

**Requested features**

- Add landscape mode support for tablets
- Improve review options to revisit specific grammar points
- Expand vocabulary lessons and practice
- Add more languages beyond Japanese


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iKnow! free?

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

### Is Bunpo free?

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

### Which has better reviews, iKnow! or Bunpo?

Bunpo is rated higher. iKnow! averages 4.8 out of 5 from 490 ratings, while Bunpo averages 4.9 from 18K ratings.

### Do iKnow! or Bunpo have ads?

Neither iKnow! nor Bunpo shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iKnow! or Bunpo?

iKnow! ships an update every 5 weeks, and Bunpo every 9 days. Most recently, iKnow! was updated on September 21, 2026 and Bunpo on September 24, 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.*