# 简明日语 vs 五十音图

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: 简明日语 at none against 五十音图's 5. 简明日语 also leads on iOS requirement (7.0 vs 12.0). 五十音图's advantage is ratings volume (793 vs 9) and rating (4.9 vs 4.7). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. 五十音图 sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. 简明日语 asks for nothing beyond the download.

五十音图 holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: 五十音图 has 793 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 90% of 简明日语's written reviews are positive against 98% of 五十音图's.

简明日语 ships an update every 3 months, 五十音图 every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | 简明日语 | 五十音图 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nhk/id514969174/reviews) | **[4.9 (793 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/id1078506545/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 9 | **793** |
| Positive reviews | 90.0% of reviews | **97.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 290 MB | 156 MB |
| Requires iOS | **7.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [力 彭](https://appshunter.io/developer/514969177) | [早道(大连)教育科技有限公司](https://appshunter.io/developer/883065289) |

## What reviewers say

### 简明日语

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nhk/id514969174)

Learn practical Japanese expressions through engaging radio dramas. Follow a character's journey in Tokyo and master 50 basic sentences by the end of the series. This app offers background playback and interactive dialogue for focused learning.

**Highlights:** Radio drama format for lessons, Learn 50 basic Japanese sentences, Character-driven narrative, Background playback, Interactive dialogue playback

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### 五十音图

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/id1078506545)

This app is a user-friendly Japanese learning assistant for beginners. It offers comprehensive features including pronunciation practice with AI scoring, vocabulary building, and interactive exercises to master the Japanese syllabary and basic grammar.

**Highlights:** AI pronunciation scoring, Learn kana, vocabulary, and culture, Handwriting practice with stroke order, Mnemonics and video tutorials, Interactive games and quizzes, Progressive learning through levels

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 50音图人气精品课 | $0.99 | one-time |
| 20分钟扫清日语发音“雷区” | $0.99 | one-time |
| 零基础日语畅学-周卡 | $0.99 | one-time |
| 【口语课堂】生活必备日常用语 | $0.99 | one-time |
| 零基础日语畅学-月卡 | $37.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Efficient learning process
- 💡 Helpful learning tools (e.g. association, tests)
- 🎓 Suitable for beginners
- 💯 Comprehensive coverage of 50 sounds

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional login/signup issues
- 🔍 Limited vocabulary/content
- 🔢 Lack of customization options

**Reported bugs**

- Login/signup problems
- Compatibility issues with older devices

**Requested features**

- Add more vocabulary/content
- Implement randomized test questions
- Include writing practice for characters
- Provide listening/pronunciation feedback


## Frequently asked questions

### Is 简明日语 free?

简明日语 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is 五十音图 free?

五十音图 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, 简明日语 or 五十音图?

五十音图 is rated higher. 简明日语 averages 4.7 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while 五十音图 averages 4.9 from 793 ratings.

### Do 简明日语 or 五十音图 have ads?

Neither 简明日语 nor 五十音图 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, 简明日语 or 五十音图?

简明日语 ships an update every 3 months, and 五十音图 every 6 weeks. Most recently, 简明日语 was updated on November 1, 2026 and 五十音图 on November 2, 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.*