Onyomi vs OpenKoto
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Onyomi
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### Onyomi — Learn Japanese On’yomi and Loanword Pronunciation Through Chinese Onyomi is a Japanese learning app designed specifically for Chinese speakers. By connecting Chinese Pinyin with Japanese on’yomi readings, the app helps you understand Japanese kanji pronunciation intuitively. It also clearly explains the differences between Go-on and Kan-on readings, as well as the relationship between original English pronunciation and Japanese katakana pronunciation. Use your existing knowledge of Chinese and English sounds to learn Japanese pronunciation and vocabulary more efficiently. Key Features - Pinyin Comparison: Compare Chinese pronunciation with Japanese on’yomi and discover common sound patterns and pronunciation shifts. - Go-on and Kan-on: Understand the origins and differences of Japanese kanji readings while building related vocabulary systematically. - Loanword Pronunciation: Compare original English sounds with their Japanese katakana forms and learn how pronunciation changes. - Sound-Based Vocabulary Learning: Use familiar sounds as clues to remember new Japanese words more naturally. Recommended For - Chinese speakers who want to use their pronunciation knowledge to learn Japanese - Learners who want to master Japanese kanji readings efficiently - Anyone interested in understanding Go-on and Kan-on readings - Learners who want to understand the differences between English and Japanese katakana pronunciation With Onyomi, use the sounds of Chinese and English as a bridge to make learning Japanese easier and more enjoyable.
OpenKoto
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OpenKoto is an open-source, privacy-first language-learning app. Turn the articles, books, and videos you genuinely care about into study material, understand sentences in context, collect vocabulary, and review it on a schedule. Key features: • Paste text or import TXT, Markdown, and web content • Import TXT and EPUB books with automatic chapter splitting, in either a sentence-by-sentence view or the book's original layout • Import video and audio with SRT / VTT subtitles — or generate subtitles on device when you have none (requires iOS 26) • Subtitles follow playback sentence by sentence; tap a line to jump to it, loop a single sentence, change speed without changing pitch, and hide the text to shadow by ear • Read sentence by sentence, resume where you left off, and add bookmarks and highlights • Show word-level readings above Japanese and Chinese text (furigana / pinyin), generated entirely on device • Search the full text of everything you have imported — articles, book chapters, and media transcripts — and jump straight to the sentence • Save vocabulary, organize word packs, and use spaced-repetition review; jump from any card back to the sentence it came from • View reading and review statistics • Use the app in English, Simplified Chinese, or Japanese • Choose light, dark, and multiple visual themes • Send web pages or selected text to OpenKoto from the iOS share sheet Optional AI features use a bring-your-own-key model. Configure a compatible provider of your choice for translations and sentence explanations. API keys are stored in the iOS Keychain, while learning content and progress stay on your device. AI requests go directly from your device to your selected provider and do not pass through an OpenKoto app server. No account is required. Sample articles are included, so reading, vocabulary, and review features work without configuring an AI provider. OpenKoto is free and open source.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: OpenKoto at Free against Onyomi's $0.99. OpenKoto also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months). On ads, device support and iOS requirement 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
OpenKoto is free to download; Onyomi costs $0.99 up front. Onyomi sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. OpenKoto asks for nothing beyond the download.
Onyomi ships an update every 3 months, OpenKoto weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Onyomi | OpenKoto |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 | Free — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 284 MB | 9 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | 玉杰 罗 | 倍铭 刘 |
In-app purchases
Onyomi
- Premium$0.99
OpenKoto
No in-app purchases









