Comparison

Kata++ vs ShotokanKata

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

Head to head
About

Kata++

Track your martial arts practice by logging the number of times you perform each kata and basic technique. Customize your list of techniques and kata to suit your specific style and training needs.

Highlights
  • Log kata and technique repetitions
  • Customizable kata and technique lists
  • Track progress with running totals
  • Based on Karate Do Kyohan
  • Editable basic techniques list
Features
Read full description

"You must make 10,000 or more of your favorite kata before you begin to understand its true meaning." -Tsutomu Ohshima, Notes On Training This simple app will help you track your progress in your favorite and required kata by keeping a running total of the number of each kata you've made. You begin by entering the total number of kata you've made so far (or start from zero), and each time you practice you can add the number performed. The list of kata is taken from Gichin Funakoshi's "Karate Do Kyohan", but the kata can be edited for karateka or martial artists from different styles. Also included is an editable list of basic techniques such as kicks and punches to help track progress with those. NB: Kata++ collects anonymous usage data to help us improve the app. This can be disabled from the info screen.

About

ShotokanKata

Master martial arts sequences with detailed illustrations and adjustable animation speeds. Track your progress, zoom into details, and practice in various modes to perfect your kata forms. Supports multiple languages.

Highlights
  • Detailed kata illustrations
  • Adjustable animation speeds
  • Zoomable graphics
  • Progress tracking to-do list
  • Portrait and landscape modes
  • Multiple background options
Features
Read full description

*** We are constantly improving our App. Thus we are thankful for every hint. *** Discover our App ShotokanKata! Have you already experienced this situation? You study a kata form, than let it slide and soon you forget the sequence. So it happens often, that the student forgets the next step in the middle of the kata form. „If I only had the chance to look the sequence up real quick, then I would master it pretty soon again.“ Even prospects and beginners can easily follow the kata sequences because of many illustrations. This App is supposed to be nothing else, than the required support and even more: • Which kata did I study last ? The list with the kata forms is build as a to-do-list. Depending on your progress, you can hook a kata off to change its order for a better overview. •The portrait mode allows you to recognize and study important details, since illustrations are bigger. • Illustrations can be zoomed in. • Two final techniques are always bound with three movements inbetween. Thus you can exactly follow how to get from one technique to another. • 3 different animation speeds and free scrolling allow you to adjust the app to the individual learning progress. • Landscape mode offers you a view of multiple graphics at one time to be able to better follow the sequences. • Eight freely eligible backgrounds put you in the right training mood. • Always available legend allows you to look up the symbols really fast. This App contains 3 Shôtôkan-Kata inc. 3 Enbusens: Taikyoku shodan Heian shodan Heian nidan The upgrade to "ShotokanPro" contains additional 24 Shôtôkan-Kata: Heian sandan Heian yondan Heian godan Tekki shodan Tekki nidan Tekki sandan Bassai dai Bassai shô Kankû dai Kankû shô Empi Hangetsu Jion Jitte Ji’in Chinte Gankaku Nijû shi ho Sôchin Wankan Meikyô Gojû shi ho dai Gojû shi ho shô Unsu Enbusens: Contain all Enbusens for each Kata We wish you a lot of fun at practicing and hope that we could support you a little bit ! Available in german, english, french, italian and spanish.

Screenshots

Kata++3 screens
ShotokanKata4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Kata++ at free against ShotokanKata's free with in-app purchases. Kata++ also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.8) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 12.0). ShotokanKata's advantage is review sentiment (86% vs 69%) and update cadence (every 3 months vs every 6 months). On price, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Kata++ sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and ShotokanKata sells 21 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Kata++ holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ShotokanKata has 46 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 69% of Kata++'s written reviews are positive against 86% of ShotokanKata's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Kata++ ships an update every 6 months, ShotokanKata every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on June 5, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Kata++ versus ShotokanKata: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKata++ShotokanKata
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (4 ratings) — better4.8 (46 ratings)
Positive reviews69.2% of reviews86.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings446 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsEvery 3 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS8.0 — better12.0
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB121 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTimothy WaterhouseSpectra-Verlag

Customer experience

Kata++

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews13 reviews
Positive69.2%
Neutral0.0%
Negative30.8%

ShotokanKata

All ratings46 ratings
Positive95.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative4.3%
Written reviews50 reviews
Positive86.0%
Neutral2.0%
Negative12.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Kata++

One-time2
  • Remove Ads$0.99
  • Support Developer$0.99
21 purchases

ShotokanKata

One-time21
  • Hangetsu$0.99
  • Goju shi ho dai$1.99
  • Gankaku$1.99
Show 18 more
  • Tekki sandan$1.99
  • Kanku sho$1.99
  • Sochin$1.99
  • Goju shi ho sho$1.99
  • Ji'in$1.99
  • Meikyo$1.99
  • Jion$1.99
  • Heian godan$1.99
  • Heian sandan$1.99
  • Heian yondan$1.99
  • Tekki shodan$1.99
  • Tekki nidan$1.99
  • Bassai dai$1.99
  • Bassai sho$1.99
  • Kanku dai$1.99
  • Empi$1.99
  • Enbusen$5.99
  • All kata unlocked$19.99

Questions

Is Kata++ free?
Kata++ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ShotokanKata free?
ShotokanKata is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Kata++ or ShotokanKata?
Kata++ is rated higher. Kata++ averages 5.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while ShotokanKata averages 4.8 from 46 ratings.
Do Kata++ or ShotokanKata have ads?
Neither Kata++ nor ShotokanKata shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Kata++ or ShotokanKata?
Kata++ ships an update every 6 months, and ShotokanKata every 3 months. Most recently, Kata++ was updated on June 5, 2026 and ShotokanKata on September 23, 2026.

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