NIE Library vs Kancil
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side β with what reviewers say about each.
NIE Library
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LibGO! is created for NIE Library members to access library services and information anytime, anywhere at their convenience. NIE Library members can search the catalogue, access E-Resources, access their library accounts, renew loans, reserve materials, check out events and announcements as well as submit forms. The use of the application is governed by NIE's privacy policy.
Kancil
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Give Malay a little more room in your child's day. Kancil is a Bahasa Melayu learning game for primary school children aged 6 to 12, from Primary 1 to PSLE. Children listen, match pictures and build sentences, then help Sang Kancil cross a river full of crocodiles. Each boss they beat unlocks a page of a comic storybook. FOUR TAHAP, MATCHED TO SCHOOL YEARS β’ Tahap 1 Β· Primary 1-2 (new): hear the word, tap the picture. Every lesson works for children who can't read Malay yet. β’ Tahap 2 Β· Primary 3-4: everyday words, simple sentences, first imbuhan and peribahasa. β’ Tahap 3 Β· Primary 5: apitan, kata hubung, kata ganda, and active and passive sentences. β’ Tahap 4 Β· Primary 6 Β· PSLE: kata terbitan, penanda wacana, peribahasa and simpulan bahasa. Your child starts by picking their school year. The parent area shows the matching school years in Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei, and you decide when to move up or down. A CROCODILE RIVER AT THE END OF EVERY UNIT Every unit ends at Sungai Buaya, a boss challenge where each right answer is a hop across the river. Win, and a treasure chest opens. From Tahap 2, each unit also opens with a scene from Kancil's Jurnal and three new words to find. Finish a Tahap for a finale that looks back on the whole journey. BUKU CERITA Hikayat Sang Kancil is a comic of the classic tales, starring the same Kancil your child plays. Every boss your child beats unlocks the next page. Part 1, eight pages, is in this version, and new pages arrive in free updates. PRACTICE THAT COMES BACK β’ Buku Kata: a sticker album with a painted sticker for every word learned. β’ Latihan: quick review, Dengar & Pilih listening drills, and Kata Lemah, which brings back the words your child found tricky. β’ Words and sentences are spoken aloud in Malay, with English help when it's needed. β’ Streaks, coins, badges, and a daily reminder at the time you choose. FOR PARENTS The PIN-protected parent area shows lessons completed, skills, tricky words and progress in each Tahap, in English or Bahasa Melayu. Brothers and sisters each get their own profile on the same phone. You can turn earned coins into screen-time minutes at your own rate. You grant the time; Kancil does not control the device. PAY ONCE, NO SUBSCRIPTION The first unit of every Tahap is free to play and replay. Unlock a Tahap with one payment, or every Tahap at once. Deals for more than one Tahap are shown in the app before you buy. No ads. No account. Your child's progress is saved on your device. Anonymous usage statistics help us improve the lessons, and you can turn them off in the app's settings. Mapped to the MOE Primary Malay Language Syllabus (2024). Kancil is an independent app, not affiliated with MOE. One lesson is a place to start. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://getkancil.app/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: NIE Library at none against Kancil's 2. NIE Library also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (13.4 vs 16.4). Kancil's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 21 months). On price and ads there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Kancil sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. NIE Library asks for nothing beyond the download.
NIE Library ships an update every 21 months, Kancil weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | NIE Library | Kancil |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 21 months | Weekly β better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No β better | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod β better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 13.4 β better | 16.4 |
| Further details β not scored | ||
| Size | 32 MB | 131 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | National Institute of Education (NIE) Singapore | Razil Zulkarnain Taha |
In-app purchases
NIE Library
No in-app purchases
Kancil
- Kancil Premium (Bulanan)7 Days trial$2.991 Month
- Kancil Premium (Tahunan)7 Days trial$24.991 Year
Questions
Is NIE Library free?
Is Kancil free?
Do NIE Library or Kancil have ads?
Which is updated more often, NIE Library or Kancil?
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