Sakura NL vs HelloStory
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Sakura NL
Learn Japanese through engaging video lessons and real-life contexts. This app supports learners from beginner to advanced levels, making language acquisition fun and practical. Discover Japanese culture and progress at your own pace towards fluency.
- Video-based lessons
- Real-life contexts
- Cultural insights
- Step-by-step learning
- All skill levels supported
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Unlock the charm of the Japanese language with Sakura NL, your go-to app for learners of all levels! Whether you're just starting out or aiming to master advanced skills, Sakura NL helps you grow step by step. Dive into video-based lessons designed to make Japanese fun, practical, and engaging. Learn through real-life contexts and cultural insights, all at your pace. Experience Japanese like never before with Sakura NL – your gateway to fluency! 利用規約 https://www.kiyac.app/termsOfService/zVoEeJiDWbgzU2jfapgh
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 in-app purchases: HelloStory at none against Sakura NL's 4. Sakura NL's advantage is update cadence (every 8 days vs every 2 months). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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. Sakura NL sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. HelloStory asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Sakura NL against 5.0 for HelloStory. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 9 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.
Sakura NL ships an update every 8 days, HelloStory every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Sakura NL | HelloStory |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (4 ratings) | 5.0 (9 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 4 | 9 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 8 days — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 14.0.0 — better | 14.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 53 MB | 49 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Yuta Takahashi | Chong Li |
Customer experience
Sakura NL
HelloStory
In-app purchases
Sakura NL
- Monthly Subscription$3.991 Month
- Monthly Subscription$6.991 Month
- Yearly Premium$39.991 Year
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- Yearly Premium$59.991 Year
HelloStory
No in-app purchases







