# Japanese Study Step 1 vs JLRPG Quest

The clearest difference is review sentiment: JLRPG Quest at 89% against Japanese Study Step 1's 33%. JLRPG Quest also leads on ratings volume (267 vs 2) and rating (4.7 vs 4.5). Japanese Study Step 1's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Japanese Study Step 1 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and JLRPG Quest sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

JLRPG Quest holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: JLRPG Quest has 267 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of Japanese Study Step 1's written reviews are positive against 89% of JLRPG Quest's.

Japanese Study Step 1 ships an update every 3 months, JLRPG Quest every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Japanese Study Step 1 | JLRPG Quest |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/japanese-study-step-1/id592661606/reviews) | **[4.7 (267 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jlrpg-quest-learn-japanese/id1492887921/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **267** |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | **88.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 184 MB | 358 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | +12 |
| Developer | [SOFTHEAVEN](https://appshunter.io/developer/588713602) | [Skydea K.K.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1489554047) |

## What reviewers say

### Japanese Study Step 1

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/japanese-study-step-1/id592661606)

This app offers an engaging way to learn elementary Japanese through writing. It utilizes a unique writing recognition system to teach hiragana and katakana, followed by dictation and game-based learning.

**Highlights:** Writing recognition system, Learn hiragana and katakana, Dictation exercises, Game-based learning, Phonics instruction, Character voiceovers

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

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


### JLRPG Quest

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jlrpg-quest-learn-japanese/id1492887921)

Embark on story-driven quests across Japan to learn practical Japanese. Master hiragana and katakana with bite-sized lessons and engage in real-world dialogues. This app offers an RPG-style learning experience with daily challenges for consistent progress, all without textbooks.

**Highlights:** Story-driven quests across Japan, Learn hiragana and katakana, Practical vocabulary and grammar, Real-world dialogue practice, RPG-style progression, Short daily challenges

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Coffee Sized Tip | $0.99 | one-time |
| Supporter Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Ramen Sized Tip | $2.99 | one-time |
| Sushi Sized Tip | $4.99 | one-time |
| Adventurer Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Elite Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| God Mode Pack | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun and engaging learning experience
- 🚀 Effective for learning kana and vocabulary
- 💡 Immersive RPG-style gameplay
- 🎨 Cute and visually appealing design
- 🏫 Helpful for beginners and review for intermediate learners

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional issues with word acceptance and pronunciation
- 🔍 Limited content and short playtime
- 💰 Stamina/energy system can feel restrictive
- 🤖 Robotic-sounding audio for pronunciation

**Reported bugs**

- Rewards and money not properly registering
- Certain quiz answers not being accepted correctly

**Requested features**

- More content and levels to expand the experience
- Ability to disable romaji and focus on kana/kanji
- Customizable flashcard/review system
- Stroke order practice for kanji
- Sync progress across multiple devices


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Japanese Study Step 1 free?

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

### Is JLRPG Quest free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Japanese Study Step 1 or JLRPG Quest?

JLRPG Quest is rated higher. Japanese Study Step 1 averages 4.5 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while JLRPG Quest averages 4.7 from 267 ratings.

### Do Japanese Study Step 1 or JLRPG Quest have ads?

Both Japanese Study Step 1 and JLRPG Quest show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Japanese Study Step 1 or JLRPG Quest?

Japanese Study Step 1 ships an update every 3 months, and JLRPG Quest every 2 months. Most recently, Japanese Study Step 1 was updated on November 1, 2026 and JLRPG Quest on November 10, 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.*