Comparison

start japanese vs Nihongo Manabi

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

Head to head
About

start japanese

Enhance your Japanese language skills with daily exercises focused on vocabulary, listening, and pronunciation. Practice speaking using your microphone and build consistent study habits for gradual improvement.

Highlights
  • Vocabulary and phrase practice
  • Listening exercises with audio
  • Pronunciation practice with speech input
  • Simple daily training
  • Consistent study habit building
Features
Read full description

Start Japanese is a simple learning app designed to help users practice and improve their Japanese language skills through short daily exercises. This app focuses on vocabulary recall, listening, and pronunciation practice. Users can review Japanese words and phrases, listen to correct pronunciations, and practice speaking using the microphone. Key features: - Vocabulary and phrase practice - Listening exercises with audio - Pronunciation practice using speech input - Simple and focused daily training This app is intended for learners who want to build consistent study habits and gradually improve their Japanese language ability.

About

Nihongo Manabi

Features
Read full description

Want to learn Japanese but afraid to speak? Nihongo Manabi gives you an AI tutor that's available 24/7 to practice with - no need to find a Japanese friend, no language exchange queue, no fear of being judged. [Why learners pick Nihongo Manabi] AI Tutor - always on Practice ordering ramen, navigating Shinjuku station, business introductions, or any scenario. AI corrects your mistakes instantly and explains in your language. JLPT mock exam + AI explanations Five levels (N5 to N1). When you get a question wrong, an AI explains the grammar point in your native language. Better than a cram school. Watch & Learn (NEW) 80+ short teaching videos right in the app, vertical TikTok-style scroll. Anime catchphrase breakdowns, traveler phrases, JLPT grammar, kana drills - new content daily. Pronunciation Scoring (NEW) Tap the microphone on any phrase, say it aloud, get an instant A/B/C/D/F grade plus a transcript of what your iPhone heard. On-device speech recognition - your audio never leaves your phone. Camera Translate (NEW) Point at any Japanese sign, menu, or station board. The AI reads the kanji, translates, and extracts 3-5 key vocabulary words. Perfect for travel. 275+ vocab with smart SRS N5 to N1 essential words. The algorithm schedules your reviews - you just open the app. Streak Badges Earn badges for 3 / 7 / 14 / 30 / 60 / 100 / 200 / 365 consecutive days. Your longest streak is preserved forever. Dark mode + Tri-lingual UI Full dark mode. Switch between Traditional Chinese, English, and Korean anytime. [Who it's for] - Japanese beginners starting from zero - JLPT N5-N1 candidates - Anime fans who want to understand without subtitles - Travelers prepping for a Japan trip - Anyone who wants a 24/7 speaking partner [About the subscription] Free tier covers all core learning features. Nihongo Pro unlocks: - Unlimited AI conversations - JLPT N1 / N2 advanced prep - Unlimited camera translation - No ads Monthly and yearly auto-renewable plans; prices vary by region and are shown in the app before you buy. Cancel anytime in Settings > [your name] > Subscriptions. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

start japanese3 screens
Nihongo Manabi4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: start japanese at none against Nihongo Manabi's 2. start japanese also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 2 days vs fortnightly). On price, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Nihongo Manabi sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. start japanese asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

start japanese ships an update every 2 days, Nihongo Manabi fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
start japanese versus Nihongo Manabi: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameterstart japaneseNihongo Manabi
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 days — betterFortnightly
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.616.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB45 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperTakumi NittonoChuang Lung Chien

In-app purchases

None

start japanese

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Nihongo Manabi

Subscriptions2
  • Nihongo Pro Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Nihongo Pro Yearly$19.991 Year

Questions

Is start japanese free?
start japanese is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Nihongo Manabi free?
Nihongo Manabi is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do start japanese or Nihongo Manabi have ads?
Nihongo Manabi shows ads; start japanese does not.
Which is updated more often, start japanese or Nihongo Manabi?
start japanese ships an update every 2 days, and Nihongo Manabi fortnightly. Most recently, start japanese was updated on October 24, 2026 and Nihongo Manabi on October 31, 2026.

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