Comparison

Rakulingo vs Aplora

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side โ€” with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Rakulingo

Read full description

Your AI companion for understanding Japanese. Instantly understand any Japanese you meet. Watching anime, reading manga, playing a game, studying a textbook, or walking through Tokyo - Rakulingo explains it on the spot, in your language. STORIES Read short stories that begin in English and slowly turn Japanese. Every sentence is narrated, every word can be tapped, and each chapter teaches a few words you will meet again in the next one. A gentle way into real Japanese - no flashcards, just a story you want to finish. YOUR JAPANESE COMPANION, EVERYWHERE Rakulingo works with whatever you are doing. Studying a textbook? Get a deeper explanation. Watching Netflix? Understand every line. Reading manga? Decode every panel. Gaming on the couch? Snap a photo of the TV and understand the dialogue. Walking in Tokyo? Read every sign. One app, endless possibilities. CAPTURE JAPANESE FROM ANYWHERE โ€ข Screenshot subtitles, text, or anything on screen โ€ข Record audio from videos, podcasts, or conversations โ€ข Photograph books, signs, menus, or handwriting โ€ข Point your camera at a TV or console screen while you play โ€ข Browse Japanese websites with instant help โ€ข Open your own PDFs, ebooks, and videos JLPT N5 PRACTICE Practice every N5 question type, one question at a time โ€” kanji readings, vocabulary, grammar, reading passages, and the full listening section. Listening questions come with real recorded audio and scene pictures: the practice material that is hardest to find on your own. Every answer gets a plain explanation of why it is right and why the others are not. Unofficial material written with AI assistance and reviewed; not affiliated with the JLPT organizers. GAME ROOM Play your own Japanese games and learn as you play. Bring a legal backup of a game you own โ€” Hana sees the screen and explains it live: press Explain and the text breaks down word by word, with translations and readings one tap away. Works with a controller too. SPECIALIZED AI ASSISTANTS โ€ข Sentence Explainer - a complete breakdown of grammar, particles, and vocabulary โ€ข Translator - instant translation in both directions โ€ข Furigana - reading guides for any kanji โ€ข Japanese Teacher - ask anything, anytime โ€ข Speaking Buddy - practice conversations with an AI that answers naturally and suggests how to keep the conversation going โ€ข Web Browser - read Japanese sites with live help, screenshots, audio capture, and copy-paste โ€ข Reader - understand your own PDFs, ebooks, images, videos, and audio OFFLINE DICTIONARY Tap any word in a reply or a story to look it up. Once downloaded, it works without internet. PERFECT FOR EVERY LEARNER โ€ข Beginners - understand from day one, with explanations in your language โ€ข Students - add instant, detailed explanations to your studies โ€ข Immersion learners - turn entertainment into practice โ€ข Advanced learners - tackle native content with nuanced support โ€ข Travelers - get around Japan with confidence โ€ข Casual users - quick translations whenever you need them WORKS IN YOUR LANGUAGE Explanations in 15 languages: English, Portuguese, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Korean, Chinese, Hindi, Polish, Dutch, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Turkish, and Thai. WHY RAKULINGO? Dictionaries translate; Rakulingo explains. Textbooks teach in isolation; Rakulingo works with real content. Classes end; Rakulingo is always with you. It is your personal Japanese expert in your pocket, ready for whatever Japanese you run into. FREE TO START Try every assistant with free credits and read the first story chapters for free. Subscribe when you want unlimited use. Understanding Japanese does not have to be hard. With Rakulingo, you are never alone on your Japanese journey. Download now and turn every encounter with Japanese into a chance to learn. By using Rakulingo, you agree to the Apple Standard Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Aplora

Features
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Your first lesson is free. No credit card, payment or subscription is required to try it. Further lessons are available with a paid lesson pack or subscription. Aplora is an AI language tutor you can actually talk to. Start a spoken lesson, choose a real-life topic, and practice out loud with an AI tutor that keeps the conversation moving. Aplora is built for learners who want more speaking time, less multiple choice, and practice that feels closer to real conversation. Practice in 16 learning languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Hindi, Polish, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Arabic, Russian, Turkish, Ukrainian, and Greek. What you can do with Aplora: - Speak out loud with an AI tutor in real time - Choose topics like travel, work, food, daily life, study, health, social situations, or open conversation - Pick a tutor style that fits the lesson - Save useful vocabulary as you go - Review lesson summaries, notes, and words to practice next - Build a record of your lessons, progress, and speaking practice Aplora is designed for practical conversation: ordering a coffee, preparing for a meeting, talking about your day, asking for help, or simply getting comfortable saying something out loud. Your tutor can adapt the conversation to your level and goals, give gentle corrections, and bring saved words back into future practice. You can use Aplora for quick speaking sessions, focused topic practice, or regular language-learning routines. Aplora does not replace a human teacher, exam program, medical provider, or professional translator. It is a practice tool for building confidence, vocabulary, and conversation habits through regular speaking. Terms of Use (EULA): https://aplora.org/terms/ Privacy Policy: https://aplora.org/privacy/

Screenshots

Rakulingo4 screens
Aplora4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Aplora at daily against Rakulingo's every 2 weeks. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. Rakulingo sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days and Aplora sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $39.95 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Rakulingo ships an update every 2 weeks, Aplora daily. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference ยท 5 level
Rakulingo versus Aplora: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRakulingoAplora
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksDaily โ€” better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod โ€” betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.5 โ€” better16.6
Further details โ€” not scored
Size160 MB51 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperAntonio ScandaroliJB LEARNING SYSTEMS PTY LTD

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Rakulingo

Subscriptions3
  • Access to premium AI$3.997 Days
  • Access to premium AI$9.991 Month
  • Access to premium AI3 Days trial$95.991 Year
9 purchases

Aplora

Subscriptions4
  • Monthly$39.951 Month
  • 3 months$107.993 Months
  • 6 months$197.996 Months
Show 1 more
  • 12 months$359.991 Year
One-time5
  • Single lesson$4.95
  • 5 lessons$21.95
  • 10 lessons$39.95
Show 2 more
  • 25 lessons$84.99
  • 50 lessons$144.99

Questions

Is Rakulingo free?
Rakulingo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Aplora free?
Aplora is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Rakulingo or Aplora have ads?
Neither Rakulingo nor Aplora shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Rakulingo or Aplora?
Rakulingo ships an update every 2 weeks, and Aplora daily. Most recently, Rakulingo was updated on October 30, 2026 and Aplora on November 10, 2026.

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