Comparison

WriteJP vs Kiku

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

Head to head
About

WriteJP

Features
Read full description

Japanese Writing Master is a simple and beginner-friendly app designed to help you practice Japanese writing from zero. This app focuses on learning Hiragana and Katakana through hands-on writing practice. Users can trace characters to learn correct shapes and stroke order, and use free writing space to practice freely at their own pace. The app is suitable for anyone who is new to Japanese and wants to become familiar with Japanese characters through writing. Key Features: • Hiragana writing practice • Katakana writing practice • Character tracing to learn basic shapes • Free writing space for additional practice • Simple and clean interface • No account required Japanese Writing Master is designed as a practice tool and does not require prior knowledge of Japanese. All content is provided for educational purposes only. Start practicing Japanese writing today and build a strong foundation step by step.

About

Kiku

Learn Japanese by scrolling through fun video clips, similar to social media feeds. Absorb real conversations, translate words instantly, and build vocabulary with flashcards. Ideal for students, travelers, and fans of Japanese culture.

Highlights
  • Learn through scrolling video clips
  • Tap to translate words and phrases
  • Build vocabulary with flashcards
  • Immersive learning from native speakers
  • Bite-sized, flexible learning sessions
  • Search and listen to words in context
Features
Read full description

Hear Japanese the way it’s actually spoken. Kiku turns your scrolling habit into real listening practice. Swipe through short clips of native speakers chatting, joking, and reacting. That’s the Japanese you’ll hear on the street, in anime, and on Japanese TV, not the stiff phrases from a textbook. Every clip comes with an interactive transcript. Don’t know a word? Tap it. Like a phrase? Save it. Your saved words become flashcards tied to the exact moment you heard them, so you remember the voice and the context as well as the meaning. HOW KIKU HELPS YOU LEARN Real native audio: Train your ear on natural speed, everyday slang, casual speech, and authentic pronunciation. Tap any word: Get an instant translation with an AI explanation of meaning, nuance, and grammar, right inside the transcript. Flashcards from what you watched: Review vocabulary pulled from your own clips, with the original audio and context attached. Hear any word in action: Search a word or phrase and get hundreds of real clips where native speakers use it. Short and easy to fit in: Each clip takes seconds, so you can practice on the train, in a queue, or between meetings. MADE FOR Anime and J-drama fans who want to rely less on subtitles Travellers getting ready to order food, ask directions, and chat with locals in Japan Students who want to add real listening practice to their classes or JLPT study Beginners and intermediate learners who’ve stalled with gamified apps and want real-world exposure Busy people who want a few minutes of Japanese a day without heavy study sessions WHY IMMERSION WORKS Fluent speakers didn’t learn from drills. They learned by hearing the language over and over in real situations. Kiku gives you that same exposure in short clips, so listening comprehension, vocabulary, and natural phrasing build up a little more with every scroll. Download Kiku and start understanding real Japanese today. *SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION* Kiku is available with an annual plan that includes a free trial, or a monthly plan without a trial. If you start a free trial, you won’t be charged until the trial is over. After that, payment is charged to your Apple ID account, and your subscription renews automatically at the same price unless you turn it off at least 24 hours before the current period ends. You can manage or cancel your subscription at any time in your Apple ID account settings. Prices are shown in the app and may vary by country or region. *TERMS OF SERVICE* https://kikulang.com/terms https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

WriteJP3 screens
Kiku4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: WriteJP at none against Kiku's 2. WriteJP also leads on ads (none vs shown). Kiku's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.6). On price 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. Kiku sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. WriteJP asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
WriteJP versus Kiku: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWriteJPKiku
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.5 (127 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—73.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—127 — better
Update frequency—Every 9 days
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Subscription
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.615.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB98 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperTakumi NittonoHAKEEM O DIMOZANTOS

In-app purchases

None

WriteJP

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Kiku

Subscriptions2
  • Kiku Pro — Monthly$9.991 Month
  • Kiku Pro — Yearly7 Days trial$49.991 Year

Questions

Is WriteJP free?
WriteJP is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Kiku free?
Kiku is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do WriteJP or Kiku have ads?
Kiku shows ads; WriteJP does not.

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