# Basic vs Hiragana / Katakana Master

The clearest difference is update cadence: Hiragana / Katakana Master at every 2 days against Basic's every 22 months. Basic's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Basic sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Hiragana / Katakana Master sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Basic ships an update every 22 months, Hiragana / Katakana Master every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Basic | Hiragana / Katakana Master |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[3.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hiragana-katakana-master/id6758200265/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **1** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 22 months | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 902 MB | 101 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ludo-Vic](https://appshunter.io/developer/1621267084) | [Ryuichi Aida](https://appshunter.io/developer/1553473481) |

## What reviewers say

### Basic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/basic-francais/id6443545776)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| full_access_ja_JP_NonConsumable | $9.99 | one-time |
| フルバージョンへのアクセス | $11.99 | one-time |


### Hiragana / Katakana Master

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hiragana-katakana-master/id6758200265)

This app uses AI to provide real-time feedback on your Japanese handwriting for Hiragana and Katakana. It offers gamified learning modes, native audio, and illustrations to help you master the Japanese syllabary.

**Highlights:** AI handwriting recognition, Gamified learning modes, Native audio pronunciation, Step-by-step practice, Vocabulary challenges, Writing speed games

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium - Unlock All | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Basic free?

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

### Is Hiragana / Katakana Master free?

Hiragana / Katakana Master is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do Basic or Hiragana / Katakana Master have ads?

Neither Basic nor Hiragana / Katakana Master shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Basic or Hiragana / Katakana Master?

Basic ships an update every 22 months, and Hiragana / Katakana Master every 2 days. Most recently, Basic was updated on November 3, 2026 and Hiragana / Katakana Master on October 28, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*