# BALCOM Nihongo vs Flashcards by FocusWord

The clearest difference is update cadence: Flashcards by FocusWord at every 8 days against BALCOM Nihongo's every 6 weeks. BALCOM Nihongo's advantage is iOS requirement (15.2 vs 26.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. BALCOM Nihongo sells 9 one-off in-app purchases and Flashcards by FocusWord sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

BALCOM Nihongo ships an update every 6 weeks, Flashcards by FocusWord every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BALCOM Nihongo | Flashcards by FocusWord |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flashcards-by-focusword/id6755127642/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **2** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | — | Freemium |
| Size | 102 MB | 311 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.2** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Horizontal Line Co.,Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1781901735) | [Andres Rivera](https://appshunter.io/developer/1852101020) |

## What reviewers say

### BALCOM Nihongo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/balcom-nihongo/id6738698251)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| N3 Course - Part 2 | Free | one-time |
| N3 Course - Part3 | Free | one-time |
| N3 Course - Part 1 | Free | one-time |
| N5 Course - Part 3 | Free | one-time |
| N5 Course - Part 2 | Free | one-time |
| N5 Course - Part3 | Free | one-time |
| N4 Course - Part 1 | Free | one-time |
| N4 Course - Part 2 | Free | one-time |
| N5 Course - Part 1 | Free | one-time |


### Flashcards by FocusWord

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flashcards-by-focusword/id6755127642)

Learn vocabulary in context by annotating words you don't know in sentences. This app tracks your progress and helps you build essential word knowledge. It offers native dictionary access, text-to-speech, and iCloud syncing.

**Highlights:** Learn vocabulary in context, Track word progress and milestones, Native dictionary and translation access, iCloud device syncing, Import custom decks and text files, Progress dashboard and streak tracking

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $12.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Purchase | $24.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BALCOM Nihongo free?

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

### Is Flashcards by FocusWord free?

Flashcards by FocusWord is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do BALCOM Nihongo or Flashcards by FocusWord have ads?

Neither BALCOM Nihongo nor Flashcards by FocusWord shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BALCOM Nihongo or Flashcards by FocusWord?

BALCOM Nihongo ships an update every 6 weeks, and Flashcards by FocusWord every 8 days. Most recently, BALCOM Nihongo was updated on October 6, 2026 and Flashcards by FocusWord on September 28, 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.*