# Shinobi vs Callback

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Callback at none against Shinobi's 10. Shinobi's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (16.4 vs 18.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Shinobi sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Callback asks for nothing beyond the download.

Shinobi ships an update every 9 days, Callback every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Shinobi | Callback |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (845 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shinobi-read-and-learn-japanese/id6479197432/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **845** | — |
| Positive reviews | 95.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 117 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.4** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jeremy Pitault](https://appshunter.io/developer/1735120953) | [Vladimir Babin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1557125814) |

## What reviewers say

### Shinobi

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shinobi-read-and-learn-japanese/id6479197432)

Learn Japanese through engaging, illustrated stories. This app offers immersive reading and listening practice with interactive tools for vocabulary, kanji, and grammar. Track your progress and build fluency with daily new content and SRS flashcards.

**Highlights:** Illustrated Japanese stories, One-click word translation and explanations, Full-page translation view, Furigana toggle, Japanese audio with slow speed option, Kanji learning in context, SRS flashcards for vocabulary review

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Premium Subscription | $9.99 | per month |
| Monthly Premium | $17.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $33.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription | $45.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription | $57.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription | $57.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription | $57.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription | $99.99 | per year |
| Yearly Premium Subscription | $119.99 | per year |
| Streak Restore | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Immersive and engaging stories
- 👍 Easy to use with convenient features
- 🎓 Helpful for learning and improving Japanese
- 🎨 Interesting and enjoyable content
- 💡 Useful for reading practice and vocabulary building

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Subscription model with limited free access
- 🔍 Difficulty finding specific stories or content
- 🔠 Small text size on mobile devices

**Reported bugs**

- Occasional crashes or freezing
- Inconsistencies in translations and definitions

**Requested features**

- Ability to adjust text size
- Option to read stories without illustrations
- More advanced quizzing and comprehension testing
- Expanded story library and content variety


### Callback

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/callback-interview-prep/id6796242315)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Shinobi free?

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

### Is Callback free?

Callback is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Shinobi or Callback have ads?

Neither Shinobi nor Callback shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Shinobi or Callback?

Shinobi ships an update every 9 days, and Callback every 2 months. Most recently, Shinobi was updated on November 4, 2026 and Callback on October 31, 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.*