# Korean Study Step 1 vs Bunpo

The clearest difference is rating: Bunpo at 4.9 against Korean Study Step 1's 3.0. Bunpo also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 3 months). Korean Study Step 1's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.0). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Korean Study Step 1 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Bunpo sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Bunpo holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bunpo has 18K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 45% of Korean Study Step 1's written reviews are positive against 73% of Bunpo's.

Korean Study Step 1 ships an update every 3 months, Bunpo every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on July 6, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Korean Study Step 1 | Bunpo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/korean-study-step-1/id591368369/reviews) | **[4.9 (18K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bunpo-language-learning/id1279720052/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **18K** |
| Positive reviews | 44.8% of reviews | **72.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 327 MB | 189 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SOFTHEAVEN](https://appshunter.io/developer/588713602) | [Bunpo Language Learning](https://appshunter.io/developer/1279720051) |

## What reviewers say

### Korean Study Step 1

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/korean-study-step-1/id591368369)

This app teaches elementary Korean language through interactive writing exercises. It uses a unique writing recognition system to help users learn phonics and dictation, making learning engaging for young children.

**Highlights:** Elementary Korean alphabet learning, Korean language dictation, Writing recognition system, Phonics and letter learning, Character voiceovers, Interactive writing exercises

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove ADS | $1.99 | one-time |


### Bunpo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bunpo-language-learning/id1279720052)

Master multiple languages with this comprehensive learning app. It offers detailed grammar explanations, vocabulary building, and smart review systems to help you progress from beginner to advanced levels. Learn Japanese, Korean, Spanish, French, German, and Chinese with interactive exercises and personalized study plans.

**Highlights:** Learn 6 languages, Master grammar with detailed explanations, Build vocabulary and kanji knowledge, Spaced repetition for smart review, Interactive quizzes and example sentences, Offline learning for Spanish, French, German, Chinese

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bunpo Plus Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Bunpo Platinum Monthly | $19.99 | per month |
| Bunpo Platinum Monthly | $19.99 | per month |
| Bunpo Plus Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| Bunpo Plus Yearly | $39.99 | per year |
| Bunpo Platinum Yearly | $79.99 | per year |
| Bunpo Platinum Yearly | $79.99 | per year |
| Bunpo Plus Lifetime | $39.99 | one-time |
| Bunpo Plus Lifetime | $44.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Helpful for learning Japanese
- 👍 Well-designed and organized
- 👍 Explains grammar and usage well
- 👍 Customizable to learning needs
- 👍 Effective spaced repetition

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Too much content locked behind paywall
- 🐛 Bugs and crashes reported
- 🐛 Issues with keyboard and text display
- 🐛 Inconsistencies in question answers
- 🔒 Lack of offline access to paid content

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes during lesson reviews
- Incorrect answers marked as wrong
- Text and keyboard issues on smaller screens
- Audio playback problems

**Requested features**

- Add landscape mode support for tablets
- Improve review options to revisit specific grammar points
- Expand vocabulary lessons and practice
- Add more languages beyond Japanese


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Korean Study Step 1 free?

Korean Study Step 1 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Bunpo free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Korean Study Step 1 or Bunpo?

Bunpo is rated higher. Korean Study Step 1 averages 3.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Bunpo averages 4.9 from 18K ratings.

### Do Korean Study Step 1 or Bunpo have ads?

Korean Study Step 1 shows ads; Bunpo does not.

### Which is updated more often, Korean Study Step 1 or Bunpo?

Korean Study Step 1 ships an update every 3 months, and Bunpo every 9 days. Most recently, Korean Study Step 1 was updated on July 6, 2026 and Bunpo on September 26, 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.*