Comparison

JEDict vs Kanji Study

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

Head to head
About

JEDict

This app helps users learn Japanese kanji and words through various search methods, including readings, English translations, and graphemes. It features handwritten recognition, OCR, stroke order animations, and JLPT lists for comprehensive study.

Highlights
  • Kanji and word search
  • Handwritten kanji recognition
  • Kanji search by graphemes
  • Japanese OCR
  • Kanji stroke order animation
  • JLPT lists
Features
Read full description

JEDict is Japanese kanji and word searching application. It uses the dictionaries from Monash University FTP Archive. The following features are supported: • Kanji and word search by Japanese reading or English translation • Handwritten kanji recognition of all 6355 kanji • Kanji search by graphemes • Japanese optical character recognition • Word by word translation • Japanese kanji stroke order with kanji vector graphics • JLPT lists

About

Kanji Study

Master Japanese kanji through vocabulary words rather than rote memorization. Features include writing lessons with stroke detection, spaced repetition reviews, and full JLPT level coverage. Learn readings naturally, one word at a time, with audio pronunciation and offline access.

Highlights
  • Vocabulary-first kanji learning
  • Writing lessons with stroke detection
  • Spaced repetition reviews
  • JLPT N5-N1 coverage
  • Audio pronunciation
  • Offline functionality
Features
Read full description

Most kanji apps show you a character and its readings and expect you to memorize them cold. Kanji Study takes a different approach: you learn kanji through the vocabulary words they appear in. By studying real JLPT words, over 5,000 of them across N5 to N1, you absorb kanji readings naturally, one word at a time, the way they actually appear in Japanese. What makes it different: Vocabulary-first learning: master readings through words, not rote memorization Writing lessons with stroke detection: learn correct stroke order and get instant feedback Spaced repetition reviews: English → Japanese and Japanese → English, including writing quizzes Full JLPT coverage: structured levels from N5 through N1 Audio pronunciation: hear every word read aloud Works offline: no internet connection required Ideal for JLPT test prep, Japanese language students, or anyone preparing to live or work in Japan.

Screenshots

JEDict4 screens
Kanji Study4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Kanji Study at 4.7 against JEDict's 3.7. Kanji Study also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (7.3K vs 3). JEDict's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases 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. JEDict sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Kanji Study sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Kanji Study holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Kanji Study has 7.3K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 71% of JEDict's written reviews are positive against 67% of Kanji Study's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

JEDict ships an update every 3 months, Kanji Study every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
JEDict versus Kanji Study: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterJEDictKanji Study
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.7 (3 ratings)4.7 (7.3K ratings) — better
Positive reviews70.6% of reviews — better67.5% of reviews
Number of ratings37.3K — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.5
Further details — not scored
Size104 MB140 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSergey KurkinLuli Languages LLC

Customer experience

JEDict

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews17 reviews
Positive70.6%
Neutral5.9%
Negative23.5%

Kanji Study

All ratings7,299 ratings
Positive94.3%
Neutral2.2%
Negative3.5%
Written reviews861 reviews
Positive67.5%
Neutral12.2%
Negative20.3%

Bugs and requests

JEDict

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Kanji Study

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Certain kanji not recognized correctly
  • App crashing or freezing, especially during long review sessions
  • Progress not syncing across devices

Requested features

4 requests
  • Option to customize review sessions (select specific kanji, JLPT levels, etc.)
  • Add both on and kun readings for kanji
  • Implement sentence practice and vocabulary exercises
  • Add support for more languages (e.g. Russian)

In-app purchases

2 purchases

JEDict

One-time2
  • JEDict Pro$19.99
  • OSX Basic$23.99
6 purchases

Kanji Study

One-time6
  • Level 1$9.99
  • Level 2$12.99
  • Level 3$14.99
Show 3 more
  • Level 4$14.99
  • Level 5$14.99
  • All Levels3 variants$29.99

Questions

Is JEDict free?
JEDict is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Kanji Study free?
Kanji Study is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, JEDict or Kanji Study?
Kanji Study is rated higher. JEDict averages 3.7 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Kanji Study averages 4.7 from 7.3K ratings.
Do JEDict or Kanji Study have ads?
Neither JEDict nor Kanji Study shows ads.
Which is updated more often, JEDict or Kanji Study?
JEDict ships an update every 3 months, and Kanji Study every 2 days. Most recently, JEDict was updated on November 1, 2026 and Kanji Study on November 11, 2026.

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