Immersion Reader vs HelloStory
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Immersion Reader
Easily look up Japanese words while reading ebooks with a single tap. Import custom dictionaries and export saved vocabulary for spaced repetition learning. Offers customizable themes for a comfortable reading experience.
- One-tap word lookup in Japanese ebooks
- Import Yomichan and frequency dictionaries
- Export vocabulary to Anki
- Light and dark mode themes
- Lookup neighboring words
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Look up Japanese words as you read! Features - One tap to look up words in Japanese Ebooks. Tabs to help you look up neighboring words - Import Yomichan dictionaries and frequency dictionaries - Export saved vocabulary to Anki via Anki Dojo - Light mode, dark mode, and other themes for the dictionary
HelloStory
This app helps you improve your Japanese language skills by reading graded stories tailored to your JLPT level. It offers instant translations, native speaker audio, and customizable display modes. Build a personalized vocabulary list with AI-powered flashcards for effective review.
- Graded Japanese stories by JLPT level
- Bilingual translations for words and sentences
- Native speaker audio recordings
- Multiple display modes (Kanji, Hiragana, Romaji)
- Personalized vocabulary list with AI flashcards
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HelloStory helps you truly use the Japanese you've learned by reading stories at your level—and it's completely free. As a graded reading app, HelloStory offers a wide variety of stories tailored to different JLPT levels, helping you apply Japanese effectively while mastering natural expressions. Our features help you not only read but truly understand each story: - Dive into Stories of Your Level Enjoy engaging tales across a wide range of topics, crafted by experienced native authors to reflect real, natural Japanese. - Instant Understanding Made Easy Access professional, bilingual translations for every word and sentence—no more guessing, just clear meaning in real time. - Listen and Learn Naturally Immerse yourself in audio recordings by native speakers. Sharpen your listening skills and perfect your pronunciation effortlessly. - Multiple Display Modes Toggle between Kanji, Hiragana, or Romaji to help you recognize and read Japanese characters with confidence. - Save and Master Challenging Words Add tricky vocabulary to your personalized wordlist. Our AI-powered flashcards prioritize what you need most, ensuring focused review and long-term retention. - Completely Free All stories and features are available at no cost—no hidden fees, no clickbait. Start reading to boost your Japanese skills today with HelloStory! ------------------------------------------------ Have any questions? Feel free to contact us at hellostory@yuspeak.com Privacy Policy: https://www.yuspeak.com/hellostory/privacy.html Terms of Use: https://www.yuspeak.com/hellostory/terms.html
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: HelloStory at 5.0 against Immersion Reader's 4.0. HelloStory also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 62%) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). Immersion Reader's advantage is update cadence (every 6 days vs every 2 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support 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
Both are free to download. Immersion Reader sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. HelloStory asks for nothing beyond the download.
HelloStory holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 26 and 9 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 62% of Immersion Reader's written reviews are positive against 100% of HelloStory's.
Immersion Reader ships an update every 6 days, HelloStory every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Immersion Reader | HelloStory |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.0 (26 ratings) | 5.0 (9 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 61.5% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 26 — better | 9 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 days — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 14.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 80 MB | 49 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Mathew Chan | Chong Li |
Customer experience
Immersion Reader
HelloStory
In-app purchases
Immersion Reader
- Immersion Reader Premium$4.99
HelloStory
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Immersion Reader free?
Is HelloStory free?
Which has better reviews, Immersion Reader or HelloStory?
Do Immersion Reader or HelloStory have ads?
Which is updated more often, Immersion Reader or HelloStory?
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