Onoma Step vs Onomanabi
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side โ with what reviewers say about each.
Onoma Step
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Master Japanese Onomatopoeia with Onoma Step! Learn over 1,200 Japanese onomatopoeia (ๆฌ้ณ่ช) and mimetic words (ๆฌๆ ่ช) - essential vocabulary that brings your Japanese to life! KEY FEATURES 1,200+ Authentic Words โข Curated from JMdict, Japan's most trusted dictionary โข Covers sounds, emotions, movements, and states โข Real Japanese sentences for context Quiz Mode โข Test your knowledge โข Multiple choice questions โข Track your scores PERFECT FOR โข JLPT N3-N1 learners โข Manga and anime fans โข Anyone wanting natural Japanese โข Intermediate to advanced students DATA SOURCE All vocabulary data is sourced from JMdict, the renowned Japanese-English dictionary project, ensuring accuracy and reliability.
Onomanabi
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Stop translating. Start feeling. Onomanabi teaches Japanese onomatopoeia โ the sound and mimetic words (giongo and gitaigo) that carry nuance no dictionary translation captures. The kana themselves move, so you feel the difference before you read the explanation. Built for intermediate-to-advanced learners (JLPT N3โN1) and Japanese teachers alike. WHY ONOMATOPOEIA "Doki-doki." "Zaa-zaa." "Kira-kira." Japanese is full of words whose real meaning lives in a feeling, not a translation. Onomanabi makes that feeling visible. FEEL IT THROUGH MOTION Every word moves in its own way โ spinning, bouncing, stretching, trembling โ so you feel the difference between "zaa-zaa" and "para-para" instead of just reading about it. USAGE MAPS Each word sits on a map of nearby words, with axes chosen for the subject: soft to hard for textures, negative to positive for feelings. COMPARISON MODE (PREMIUM) Tap a nearby word on the usage map and the comparison opens right below, with a native note on the decisive difference โ the nuance dictionaries flatten out. QUIZZES THAT STICK Multiple quiz types (4-choice, typing, comparison) with mistake-prioritized, spaced-repetition review. LEVELS & COLLECTION A guided six-level path and word-collection progress, plus a daily word to keep you coming back. FOR TEACHERS A category- and level-organized reference for a subject most textbooks barely cover. FREE TO START Levels 1โ2, part of the dictionary, and usage maps are free โ no account needed. Your progress and reviews are saved on your device. The dictionary, quizzes, and reviews work offline. PREMIUM (ONE-TIME, NOT A SUBSCRIPTION) - 1,500+ words - Levels 3โ6 - Comparison mode and comparison quizzes - No further payments, ever Japanese nuance isn't something you translate. It's something you feel. Start with today's word.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Onomanabi at none against Onoma Step's shown. Onoma Step's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 6 days) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.4). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Onoma Step sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Onomanabi sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Onoma Step ships an update every 2 days, Onomanabi every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Onoma Step | Onomanabi |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 2 days โ better | Every 6 days |
| Ads | Yes | No โ better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod โ better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 โ better | 16.4 |
| Further details โ not scored | ||
| Size | 23 MB | 93 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | JIHUN JO | Takeshi Nogi |
In-app purchases
Onoma Step
- Remove Ads$1.99
Onomanabi
- Onomanabi Premium (Welcome)$11.99
- Onomanabi Premium$14.99
Questions
Is Onoma Step free?
Is Onomanabi free?
Do Onoma Step or Onomanabi have ads?
Which is updated more often, Onoma Step or Onomanabi?
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