Comparison

Memory Kanji vs Kana Pop

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

Head to head
About

Memory Kanji

This app turns learning Japanese kanji into a fun memory card game. Match kanji with their readings and translations to improve recall and retention. It adapts to your study path and complements any learning method.

Highlights
  • Kanji matching memory game
  • Customizable kanji selection
  • JLPT N5, N4, N3 levels included
  • Offline functionality
  • Progress tracking with scoring
  • Multiple difficulty modes
Features
Read full description

Enhance your kanji learning with Memory Kanji! Based on the classic memory card game, this app transforms learning Japanese characters into an engaging experience: match each kanji with its correct reading and translation to earn points. An effective method to fix kanji in your long-term memory while having fun. Perfectly adapts to your study path The custom mode lets you select exactly the kanji you're studying as you encounter them in your textbook or Japanese course. Memory Kanji evolves along with your learning, providing targeted and always relevant support for your study goals. Effectively complements any study method Whether you're self-taught or attending a structured course, Memory Kanji is the ideal complementary tool to consolidate your knowledge. The app currently includes the complete libraries of JLPT levels N5, N4, and N3, perfect to use in parallel with any textbook or school program to achieve better results in less time. Key features Available in English, Italian, French, and German Over 600 kanji organized according to JLPT levels (N5, N4, and N3) Create your personal kanji library based on your study path Detailed kanji library with meanings and on'yomi and kun'yomi readings Search tool to quickly find a kanji by its reading or meaning Intuitive and attractive interface Variable difficulty modes (12 or 16 cards) Scoring system to track your progress Works completely offline Memory Kanji is the perfect ally for those who want to master Japanese kanji: an effective complementary tool that makes learning faster, more fun, and more lasting. Download Memory Kanji now and transform the study of Japanese characters into an exciting game!

About

Kana Pop

This app transforms learning Japanese kana into an engaging game. Instead of rote memorization, it uses timed challenges and personal bests to improve reading speed and accuracy. It tracks your mistakes to focus your practice on difficult characters.

Highlights
  • Timed kana matching games
  • Personal best tracking
  • Focus on difficult kana
  • Mistake tracking and stats
  • Optional pronunciation audio
  • All kana available from start
Features
Read full description

Kana Pop turns hiragana and katakana practice into a game, not a flashcard deck. No lessons, no memorizing lists. Just a board full of kana and a clock ticking down. Every run is timed and scored against your personal best. You're not studying — you're playing to beat your last run, while getting faster at reading kana on sight. **Four modes. One goal: read the kana before the clock runs out.** **HIRAGANA** Match the romaji prompt to the right hiragana tile. 90 seconds. 3 lives. 1 hint. **KATAKANA** Same game, katakana edition. 90 seconds. 3 lives. 1 hint. **MIXED** No romaji this time. Find the hiragana and katakana that share the same sound. 90 seconds. 3 lives. 1 hint. **CLEAR THE BOARD** 36 tiles. 18 pairs. 60 seconds. 3 lives. 3 hints. Nothing refills. Clear them all to win — the only mode you can actually beat. **WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT** • **Your score is yours to beat.** Every mode tracks a personal best. The clock is the same every run, so there's always a number to chase. • **The wrong answers aren't random.** You'll see kana that are easy to confuse, like シ/ツ, ぬ/め, or か/が. Every board is a reading test, not just a shape-matching exercise. • **No rounds, no memory grid.** The board keeps refilling in every mode except Clear the Board. There's always one more kana to read, and one more chance to beat your score. • **Your mistakes become your practice.** Every kana you miss is tracked. Stats shows your weakest kana first, while Chart shows which kana you've missed most often. The darker the kana, the more you've missed it. • **Pronunciation is built in.** Every correct answer can be spoken aloud in Japanese. Turn it off anytime in Settings. **ALL 102 KANA** Hiragana, katakana, gojūon, dakuten, handakuten, and yōon are all available from the start. No levels to unlock. No cards to collect. Just play. No account required. No analytics. Optional ads can give you an extra hint or a revive when you need one. Available in English, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese.

Screenshots

Memory Kanji4 screens
Kana Pop4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Kana Pop at Free against Memory Kanji's $3.99. Kana Pop also leads on iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.2). Memory Kanji's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On review sentiment, in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Kana Pop is free to download; Memory Kanji costs $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Memory Kanji versus Kana Pop: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMemory KanjiKana Pop
Price$3.99Free — better
Rating—5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—4 — better
Update frequency—Every 4 days
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.216.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAntonio CetrangoloWEIZHE ZHAO

Customer experience

Memory Kanji

Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Kana Pop

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Memory Kanji

No in-app purchases

None

Kana Pop

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Memory Kanji free?
Memory Kanji costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Kana Pop free?
Kana Pop is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Memory Kanji or Kana Pop have ads?
Kana Pop shows ads; Memory Kanji does not.

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