# Japanese Dictionary + vs Duolingo

The clearest difference is update cadence: Duolingo at every 5 days against Japanese Dictionary +'s every 2 months. Duolingo also leads on ratings volume (5.6M vs 223) and review sentiment (65% vs 48%). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Japanese Dictionary + sells 6 one-off in-app purchases and Duolingo sells 10 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 — 4.6 for Japanese Dictionary + against 4.7 for Duolingo. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Duolingo has 5.6M ratings behind it against 223, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 48% of Japanese Dictionary +'s written reviews are positive against 65% of Duolingo's.

Japanese Dictionary + ships an update every 2 months, Duolingo every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Japanese Dictionary + | Duolingo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (223 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/japanese-dictionary-plus/id504762414/reviews) | **[4.7 (5.6M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/duolingo-learn-languages/id570060128/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 223 | **5.6M** |
| Positive reviews | 47.5% of reviews | **64.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#1** |
| Size | 54 MB | 499 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [iThinkdiff](https://appshunter.io/developer/377715733) | [Duolingo, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/570060151) |

## What reviewers say

### Japanese Dictionary +

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/japanese-dictionary-plus/id504762414)

This app offers a comprehensive bilingual dictionary for English and Japanese, with translation capabilities for words and phrases. It supports offline use for over 350,000 entries, including pronunciation and text scanning from images. Gamified learning tools and vocabulary builders are included to aid language acquisition.

**Highlights:** Bilingual English-Japanese dictionary, Offline translation for words and phrases, Image text scanning, Pronunciation and vocabulary games, Flashcards and Word of the Day, Phrasebook for common phrases

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pronunciation | $0.99 | one-time |
| Online Translator | $0.99 | one-time |
| Flash Card | $0.99 | one-time |
| Phrase Book | $0.99 | one-time |
| Pro Upgrade | $2.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Full Version | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 📚 Helpful for learning Japanese
- 💡 Word of the day feature
- ✅ Good dictionary overall
- ✈️ Handy while traveling
- 🔊 Pronunciation audio works well

**What reviewers complain about**

- ❌ Data loss of saved words
- 📉 Limited saving capacity
- ⚠️ Inaccurate translations
- 🚫 No Romanji input/dictionary
- 😵 Camera scan feature not working

**Reported bugs**

- App erases saved words without warning
- App stops functioning after purchase
- App frequently forgets purchase
- Camera scan feature does not work
- OCR is only for English

**Requested features**

- Add Romanji input/dictionary
- Enable scanning Japanese characters (especially Kanji)
- Add keyboard option
- Make pricing for audio pronunciation clearer (one-time vs. per word)
- Improve saving capacity for words


### Duolingo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/duolingo-learn-languages/id570060128)

**Currently charting:** #1 Top Grossing · Education, #2 Top Free · Education, #25 Top Grossing, #85 Top Free (US App Store)

Master new languages, chess, and math with fun, bite-sized lessons. This educational app uses a game-like approach to build vocabulary, grammar, and strategic skills. Track your progress and compete with a global community.

**Highlights:** Bite-sized language lessons, Chess learning and play, Interactive math courses, Music reading and playing, Progress tracking and achievements, Competitive leaderboards

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Super Duolingo | $9.99 | per month |
| Super Duolingo | $12.99 | per month |
| Super Duolingo | $83.99 | per year |
| Super Duolingo | $95.99 | per year |
| Super Duolingo | $119.99 | per year |
| Chest of Gems | $0.99 | one-time |
| Barrel of Gems (1200) | $4.99 | one-time |
| Chest of Gems (1200) | $4.99 | one-time |
| Cart of Gems (3000) | $9.99 | one-time |
| Cart of Gems (6500) | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🤩 Fun and entertaining learning experience
- 🎉 Motivating streak and league features
- 🎨 Cute and engaging animations
- 📚 Effective for learning vocabulary and basics
- 🤖 Useful AI-powered features like voice lessons

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤖 Issues with voice recognition and pronunciation feedback
- 🤑 Aggressive monetization tactics and paywall for key features
- 🤯 Frustrating heart/health system that penalizes mistakes
- 🤔 Lack of grammar explanations and focus on just memorizing phrases
- 🤷‍♀️ Inconsistent app experience across platforms

**Reported bugs**

- Freezing or crashing during lessons
- Incorrect translations or answers marked wrong
- Inconsistent behavior of certain features like leagues

**Requested features**

- Add more languages, especially less common ones
- Improve grammar lessons and explanations
- Allow more flexibility in navigating the course content
- Provide better feedback and corrections for mistakes
- Sync progress and features consistently across app and web


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Japanese Dictionary + free?

Japanese Dictionary + is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Duolingo free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Japanese Dictionary + or Duolingo?

Duolingo is rated higher. Japanese Dictionary + averages 4.6 out of 5 from 223 ratings, while Duolingo averages 4.7 from 5.6M ratings.

### Do Japanese Dictionary + or Duolingo have ads?

Both Japanese Dictionary + and Duolingo show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Japanese Dictionary + or Duolingo?

Japanese Dictionary + ships an update every 2 months, and Duolingo every 5 days. Most recently, Japanese Dictionary + was updated on November 4, 2026 and Duolingo on November 6, 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.*