Comparison

Japanese Study Step 1 vs Influent Language Learning

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Japanese Study Step 1

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
Read full description

■ Japanese language study STEP 1 with "Writing Princess" (For iPhone & iPad.) ■ Elementary Japanese language education APP by enjoyable learning with writing. ■ Japanese language dictation learning is possible by writing with this APP. 'Writing Princess STEP 1' is an innovative APP through which people can learn Japanese language as if mother teach English words to young child by writing those words on the notebook. Not only visual factor(figures) and auditory factor(sounds) of traditional APPs, but writing recognition system which is developed by ourselves in this APP make it possible for people to study without notebook or pens. Now, why don't you, young boys and girls, enjoy writing and study with 'Writing Princess STEP 1'? ■ Japanese language education APP which can do dictation! ■ Maximizing the effectiveness of learning Japanese language by using the concept that mother teach Japanese words to young child by writing those words on the notebook! ■ Patent for writing recognition system! ■ Appeared on TV program, MBC Power Magazine! ■ Appeared on TV program, KBS 9 NEWS! ■ Characteristics of Writing Princess STEP 1 1. First stage - Phonics - Learning elementary Japanese alphabet! - Japanese language can be learned by writing 'hiragana' sound (あ~ん), katakana (ア~ン) as the order of making each letter. 2. Second stage - Dictation - Learning Japanese by listening & writing memorized letter. - Japanese language can be learned by writing and listening pronunciation of Writing Princess 3. Third stage - Game - Learning Japanese by Game memorized First stage & Second stage. 4. "Writing Princess & Writing King" Characters' awesome voice ■ 'Korean Study STEP I with Writing Princess' is also released for studying Korean. ■ 'Mathematics study STEP I with Wiriting Princess" is also being developed for student. ■ Please leave your opinions, and it will be considered carefully for further development. ■ e-mail - ceosoftheaven@gmail.com ■ Produced by Softheaven Inc.

About

Influent Language Learning

Learn new vocabulary and improve pronunciation through an interactive 3D environment. Discover the names of countless objects by tapping them, with additional details available on a second tap. Open drawers and cabinets to find even more items to learn, all while listening to native audio pronunciations.

Highlights
  • Interactive 3D environment
  • Object identification via tapping
  • Native audio pronunciations
  • Vocabulary acquisition
  • Pronunciation practice
  • Explorable interiors
Features
Read full description

Influent is a Language Learning Game focusing primarily on vocabulary acquisition and pronunciation. It was initially developed in Japan at the University of Tsukuba's Entertainment Computing Laboratory under the Monbukagakusho Government Research Scholarship. Inspired by Dreamcast titles of old (namely Shenmue and Toy Commander) Influent immerses players in a fully interactive 3D environment where the names for absolutely every object in the game can be gleaned with a single tap! In fact, even more information can be learned with a double-tap! Every door, drawer, and cabinet can be opened with a tap-and-hold, revealing more things to be learned! Packed to the brim with hundreds of native audio pronunciations (painstakingly recorded specifically for this game), Influent offers players of all ages a unique opportunity to enjoy learning both vocabulary and pronunciation in the language of their choice.

Screenshots

Japanese Study Step 14 screens
Influent Language Learning4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Influent Language Learning at none against Japanese Study Step 1's shown. Influent Language Learning also leads on review sentiment (57% vs 33%) and ratings volume (76 vs 2). Japanese Study Step 1's advantage is update cadence (every 3 months vs every 6 months). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Japanese Study Step 1 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Influent Language Learning sells 19 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Japanese Study Step 1 against 4.4 for Influent Language Learning. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Influent Language Learning has 76 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 33% of Japanese Study Step 1's written reviews are positive against 57% of Influent Language Learning's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Japanese Study Step 1 ships an update every 3 months, Influent Language Learning every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on September 13, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Japanese Study Step 1 versus Influent Language Learning: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterJapanese Study Step 1Influent Language Learning
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (2 ratings) — better4.4 (76 ratings)
Positive reviews33.3% of reviews56.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings276 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 6 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.012.0
Further details — not scored
Size184 MB402 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSOFTHEAVENRobert Howland

Customer experience

Japanese Study Step 1

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral33.3%
Negative33.3%

Influent Language Learning

All ratings76 ratings
Positive82.9%
Neutral7.9%
Negative9.2%
Written reviews58 reviews
Positive56.9%
Neutral12.1%
Negative31.0%

Bugs and requests

Japanese Study Step 1

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Influent Language Learning

Reported bugs

21 issues
  • Tutorial freezes or breaks
  • Unable to add languages
  • App crashes or stops responding
  • Lost progress
  • Game freezes during vocabulary menu
Show 16 more
  • Words not working in challenges
  • Sound issues (only headphones)
  • No audio
  • UI becomes unresponsive
  • Unable to pan or interact
  • Game gets stuck at the beginning (clicking on objects)
  • Transaction complete but language not downloaded
  • Cannot unlock game after payment
  • iOS update issues
  • Controls don't work
  • Freezes and loses progress
  • Game gets stuck in tutorial
  • UI elements unresponsive
  • Cannot click on phone at the beginning
  • Cannot select middle tab to unlock adjective words
  • Game blocks on a simple interaction

Requested features

9 requests
  • Add more environments (airport, school, city, forest, cafe)
  • Expand the game world beyond the house
  • Add cloud saves
  • Allow PC DLC to be used in app
  • Add English language for free
Show 4 more
  • More instructions on how to play
  • Ability to skip tutorial
  • Controller support
  • More different places to learn from

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Japanese Study Step 1

One-time1
  • Remove ADS$1.99
19 purchases

Influent Language Learning

One-time19
  • FrenchFree
  • ItalianFree
  • KoreanFree
Show 16 more
  • Hindi$2.99
  • Finnish$2.99
  • Welsh$2.99
  • Swedish$2.99
  • Polish$2.99
  • Latin$2.99
  • Portuguese$2.99
  • Brazilian$2.99
  • Dutch$2.99
  • Japanese$2.99
  • Spanish$2.99
  • German$2.99
  • English$2.99
  • Mandarin Chinese$2.99
  • Norwegian$2.99
  • Russian$2.99

Questions

Is Japanese Study Step 1 free?
Japanese Study Step 1 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Influent Language Learning free?
Influent Language Learning is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Japanese Study Step 1 or Influent Language Learning?
Japanese Study Step 1 is rated higher. Japanese Study Step 1 averages 4.5 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Influent Language Learning averages 4.4 from 76 ratings.
Do Japanese Study Step 1 or Influent Language Learning have ads?
Japanese Study Step 1 shows ads; Influent Language Learning does not.
Which is updated more often, Japanese Study Step 1 or Influent Language Learning?
Japanese Study Step 1 ships an update every 3 months, and Influent Language Learning every 6 months. Most recently, Japanese Study Step 1 was updated on September 13, 2026 and Influent Language Learning on September 23, 2026.

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