Comparison

Kotoba vs Nihongo Pocket

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

Head to head
About

Kotoba

Features
Read full description

Learn a language by reading stories, articles, and books you actually care about. Kotoba helps you build vocabulary in context, not through boring drills. Read stories, articles, or any text in your target language. Tap any word you don't know to see instant translations, then save it to your personal vocabulary. Kotoba turns every text into a personal language lesson. LEARN IN CONTEXT Unlike traditional apps that make you memorize word lists, Kotoba shows you how words are actually used. Every word you save comes with the sentence where you found it, helping you remember meaning and usage naturally. AI CONVERSATION PRACTICE Chat with an AI tutor that adapts to your level. Practice writing in your target language and get instant feedback on grammar and word choice. The tutor gently corrects your mistakes and keeps the conversation flowing naturally. SMART FLASHCARDS Review your vocabulary with spaced repetition — a scientifically-proven method that optimizes your memory. Cards appear right when you're about to forget them, making your study time more efficient. NATIVE-QUALITY AUDIO Listen to any text with natural text-to-speech. Train your ear to recognize words and improve your pronunciation by hearing how native speakers sound. MULTIPLE LANGUAGES Start learning Japanese, Spanish, French, German, Korean, Chinese, Italian, Portuguese, and more. Switch between languages anytime. FEATURES • Tap-to-translate reading experience • AI conversation practice with grammar correction • Spaced repetition flashcards • Text-to-speech for any content • Personal vocabulary tracker • Curated stories for learners • Progress tracking and statistics • Clean, distraction-free design Kotoba Pro unlocks: • Unlimited translations • Unlimited stories • Unlimited AI chat • Text-to-speech for all content • No daily limits Start your language learning journey today. --- Privacy: https://kotoba.fyi/privacy Terms: https://kotoba.fyi/terms Support: https://kotoba.fyi/support

About

Nihongo Pocket

Features
Read full description

Nihongo Pocket is a Japanese learning app designed for Myanmar language speakers who want to build practical, everyday skills at their own pace. Study vocabulary quizzes, conversation stories, drills, short readings, and an audio dictionary in one place. Choose a level from N5 to N1 and make steady progress with short learning sessions. Key features: • Vocabulary quizzes with Burmese meanings and Japanese audio • Conversation stories with line-by-line translations, word notes, and auto-play • Five drill styles for varied practice • Short reading exercises based on daily life and workplace situations • An audio dictionary searchable in Japanese and Burmese • Learning levels from N5 to N1 • Daily goals, streaks, XP, and achievement badges • Downloaded lessons remain available without an internet connection • Anonymous use without creating an account Wrong answers never stop a lesson. Save words for review and continue learning at your own pace. Nihongo Pocket is free to use and may show a small number of ads on selected screens. Ad spaces disappear while offline and never block downloaded learning content.

Screenshots

Kotoba4 screens
Nihongo Pocket4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Nihongo Pocket at none against Kotoba's 2. Kotoba's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, update cadence and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

Both are free to download. Kotoba sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Nihongo Pocket asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Kotoba ships an update every 6 days, Nihongo Pocket every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences Ā· 3 level
Kotoba versus Nihongo Pocket: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKotobaNihongo Pocket
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 6 days — betterEvery 11 days
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.1 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size47 MB46 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAleph MeloRYO MOCHIZUKI

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Kotoba

Subscriptions2
  • Kotoba Pro Monthly$5.991 Month
  • Kotoba Pro Yearly$49.991 Year
None

Nihongo Pocket

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Kotoba free?
Kotoba is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Nihongo Pocket free?
Nihongo Pocket is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Kotoba or Nihongo Pocket have ads?
Nihongo Pocket shows ads; Kotoba does not.
Which is updated more often, Kotoba or Nihongo Pocket?
Kotoba ships an update every 6 days, and Nihongo Pocket every 11 days. Most recently, Kotoba was updated on October 24, 2026 and Nihongo Pocket on October 31, 2026.

Other comparisons