# HanaKata vs NihongoLoop

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: HanaKata at none against NihongoLoop's 4. NihongoLoop's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 4 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. NihongoLoop sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. HanaKata asks for nothing beyond the download.

HanaKata ships an update every 4 months, NihongoLoop every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HanaKata | NihongoLoop |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 4 days** |
| Size | 36 MB | 56 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Ivan Rodriguez](https://appshunter.io/developer/1837401197) | [Matteo Applauso](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896772791) |

## What reviewers say

### HanaKata

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hanakata/id6753166674)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### NihongoLoop

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nihongoloop-learn-japanese/id6771153952)

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Monthly Discount | $5.99 | per month |
| NihongoLoop Premium Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| Premium Yearly Discount | $39.99 | per year |
| NihongoLoop Premium Yearly | $44.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HanaKata free?

HanaKata is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is NihongoLoop free?

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

### Do HanaKata or NihongoLoop have ads?

Both HanaKata and NihongoLoop show ads.

### Which is updated more often, HanaKata or NihongoLoop?

HanaKata ships an update every 4 months, and NihongoLoop every 4 days. Most recently, HanaKata was updated on October 30, 2026 and NihongoLoop on October 31, 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.*