Comparison

Kiku vs SQUIZE

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

Head to head
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/

About

SQUIZE

Read full description

Squize turns screen time into an opportunity for learning by requiring children to complete short math, logic, or educational challenges before accessing selected entertainment apps. It helps parents encourage healthier digital habits while keeping access simple and immediate after each challenge. Squize is free to download. App monitoring and daily time limits require Squize Unlimited, an auto-renewing subscription: • Monthly - billed every month • Yearly - billed every 12 months Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase. The subscription renews automatically for the same period and price unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel in Settings > your name > Subscriptions. Prices are shown in the app in your local currency before you purchase. Terms of Use (EULA): https://squize.app/terms.html Privacy Policy: https://squize.app/privacy.html

Screenshots

Kiku4 screens
SQUIZE4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: SQUIZE at none against Kiku's shown. On price, update cadence, in-app purchases 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 and SQUIZE sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Kiku ships an update every 9 days, SQUIZE fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Kiku versus SQUIZE: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKikuSQUIZE
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (129 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews73.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings129 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 9 days — betterFortnightly
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscription—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size98 MB236 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperHAKEEM O DIMOZANTOSEden Fransis

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Kiku

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

SQUIZE

Subscriptions2
  • Squize Monthly7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Squize Yearly7 Days trial$39.991 Year

Questions

Is Kiku free?
Kiku is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SQUIZE free?
SQUIZE is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Kiku or SQUIZE have ads?
Kiku shows ads; SQUIZE does not.
Which is updated more often, Kiku or SQUIZE?
Kiku ships an update every 9 days, and SQUIZE fortnightly. Most recently, Kiku was updated on October 31, 2026 and SQUIZE on October 29, 2026.

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