Comparison

Nihondex vs NihonGo

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

Head to head
About

Nihondex

Master Japanese vocabulary, grammar, and kanji with a structured learning approach. Utilizes spaced repetition for efficient memorization and includes interactive games and reading practice to build fluency.

Highlights
  • Spaced repetition system (SRS)
  • Interactive kana games
  • Grammar pattern exercises
  • Kanji stroke order
  • Graded reading stories
  • Island Builder customization
Features
Read full description

Master Japanese from zero to fluent, at your own pace. Nihondex is a structured Japanese learning app that takes you from absolute beginner to advanced level. No fluff, no endless loops just steady, measurable progress built around proven spaced repetition science. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN • 7,500+ vocabulary words organized by JLPT level (N5 to N1) • 800+ grammar patterns with interactive exercises and real examples • 4,000+ kanji characters with stroke order and readings • All 92 hiragana and katakana characters through fun, interactive games • Japanese conjugation: plain, polite, negative, past, te-form and more • Reading comprehension with graded stories from N5 to N1 HOW IT WORKS Every day you learn a batch of new vocabulary and grammar points. Nihondex's spaced repetition system (SRS) then schedules your reviews at the perfect moment right before you forget. This daily loop is how real progress is built. KEY FEATURES • Smart SRS reviews that adapt to your learning pace • Kana games combining memory, writing, and speed drills • Conjugation practice with all major verb forms • Reading practice with tap-to-look-up vocabulary • Island Builder earn coins and decorations as you progress, build and customize your own Japanese island • Detailed progress tracking and statistics • Daily goals to keep your streak alive • Leaderboards and social features to learn with friends Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

NihonGo

Features
Read full description

Master Japanese step by step — from your first hiragana letter to real conversations. NihonGo isn't just a flashcard app. It's a complete Japanese course, built for the parts of the language generic apps skim over. Whether you're here for anime, manga, J-pop, JLPT prep, Tokyo travel, or heritage reasons — NihonGo meets you at your level and walks you through the tricky parts with clarity. A COMPLETE JAPANESE COURSE • Structured unit-by-unit curriculum — beginner to conversational • Four lesson types per unit: Recognize, Practice, Produce, Master • Per-unit guidebooks with grammar notes and culture tips • 100% offline — zero data use, learn on the train JAPANESE-SPECIFIC, NOT GENERIC • Kana explorer — hiragana + katakana with mnemonics and native audio • Kanji root explorer — high-frequency kanji + the words built from them • Keigo explorer — 敬語 in casual, polite, respectful, and humble side by side • Wasei-eigo gallery — Japan's English with origin stories (サラリーマン, マイペース, ドンマイ) • Grammar drills — particles, te-form, conjugation, keigo quick drills JLPT-READY • N5 + N4 vocabulary packs aligned to official exam ranges • Targeted drills for grammar + counters + mimetic words SIX WAYS TO PRACTICE • Flashcards with native Japanese audio on every word • Multiple-choice, word-matching, word-building • Listen-and-pick, listen-and-build, true/false • Spaced repetition (SRS) — cards return exactly when you'd forget • Themed sentence packs for real-life conversations • SmartPacks — curated vocab around anime, J-pop, business, news • Custom decks — build your own from any word you meet BUILT TO KEEP YOU GOING • Daily challenges — a fresh mini-goal every day • Streaks with Streak Freeze for sick days • 50 levels, XP rewards, and 40+ achievements • Celebratory session-complete moments • Smart reminders that adapt to your pace • Statistics that track every word, streak, and session LEARN IN YOUR LANGUAGE Interface in English, Spanish, French, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, Indonesian, Malay, and Filipino. WHO IT'S FOR • Absolute beginners — start from こんにちは • Anime and manga fans — finally catch what's actually being said • Travelers — restaurant, train, and shopping phrases you'll use • JLPT N5 and N4 candidates • Heritage learners reconnecting with the language NihonGo is free to start. A Pro subscription unlocks JLPT packs, kanji roots, premium SmartPacks, and unlimited custom decks — but the core curriculum, kana, keigo, wasei-eigo, daily practice, and streak system stay free forever. 日本語、始めよう — let's begin. Terms of Use: https://app4a.github.io/learn-japanese/terms.html Privacy Policy: https://app4a.github.io/learn-japanese/privacy.html

Screenshots

Nihondex4 screens
NihonGo4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Nihondex at every 9 days against NihonGo's every 2 months. On price, ads, 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

Both are free to download. Nihondex sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month and NihonGo sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Nihondex ships an update every 9 days, NihonGo every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Nihondex versus NihonGo: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNihondexNihonGo
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (31 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings31 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 9 days — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB86 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperThomas MauranNam Cho

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Nihondex

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly$7.991 Month
  • Yearly$71.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime$129.00
3 purchases

NihonGo

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Monthly$3.991 Month
  • Pro Yearly$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Pro Lifetime$39.99

Questions

Is Nihondex free?
Nihondex is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is NihonGo free?
NihonGo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Nihondex or NihonGo have ads?
Neither Nihondex nor NihonGo shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Nihondex or NihonGo?
Nihondex ships an update every 9 days, and NihonGo every 2 months. Most recently, Nihondex was updated on November 8, 2026 and NihonGo on November 5, 2026.

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