Nihongo Catch! vs Kotonoki
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Nihongo Catch!
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Why not make mastering Japanese more fun? Just reading a textbook is often not enough to truly learn how to use Japanese. If that sounds familiar, this app is here to help. Nihongo Catch is a completely new kind of Japanese learning app, packed with all the fun and convenience that only a smartphone can offer. Whether you are just starting to learn Japanese or aiming to pass an exam, this app helps you catch Japanese you can actually use in real life. 【Watch: Understand intuitively through animation】 Even difficult grammar points are explained through charming animated characters. You can instantly see and understand how things work, so learning feels smooth and enjoyable. 【Touch: Game-like quizzes】 The app is filled with quizzes where you move blocks with your finger to build sentences. As you play as if solving puzzles, correct Japanese starts to come naturally. 【Speak: Your voice becomes your strength】 With speech recognition, you can check your pronunciation. By practicing speaking to the app again and again, you will gain the confidence to communicate in Japanese. 【Feel at ease: Support in 5 languages】 The app supports English, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Nepali, and Chinese. Whenever something is unclear, you can check it in your own language, so you can keep learning without giving up halfway. 【Convenient: Anytime, anywhere】 Once lessons are downloaded, you can keep studying even without an internet connection. That means you can make the most of spare moments and study whenever and wherever it suits you. From pronunciation and writing systems to the proper use of polite expressions, the app offers a full set of 84 lessons. It covers everything from the basics to more advanced content, making it a great choice for learners aiming to pass the JLPT N3. Download it now and step into a whole new world of Japanese.
Kotonoki
Learn Japanese vocabulary and grammar by watching anime. The app generates lessons based on selected series and episodes, offering kanji, furigana, and romaji support. It features spaced repetition for review and daily vocabulary practice.
- AI-generated Japanese lessons from anime
- Vocabulary and grammar study
- Spaced repetition review system
- Kanji, furigana, and romaji support
- Daily vocabulary and phrase practice
- Contextual example sentences
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Learn Japanese through the anime you love. Choose a series and episode, then Kotonoki builds a focused lesson around its Japanese vocabulary. For learners from JLPT N5 to N1. Choose your level during onboarding, and Kotonoki introduces vocabulary at and just above it. Kanji, furigana, and Hepburn romaji give you the support you need as you build confidence. Start with a ready-made lesson during onboarding and begin studying in your first minute. LESSONS IN CONTEXT Lessons use Japanese subtitles when available and episode synopses when they are not. Each item includes kanji, a kana reading, romaji, a translation, and a contextual example sentence. Tap a word for an AI explanation of the grammar in its example sentence. REVIEW THAT ADAPTS TO YOU Spaced repetition supports review of vocabulary, kana, and kanji. Kanji meanings and readings are tracked separately, so you can review what you need. Study kanji from components to compounds; every kanji in the app includes an example word and an AI mnemonic story. A LITTLE JAPANESE EVERY DAY Add Kana of the Day, Kanji of the Day, and Phrase of the Day to your Home Screen or Lock Screen. Phrase of the Day includes a kana reading. MORE IN KOTONOKI - Choose System, Light, or Dark appearance - Search your library and the anime catalog in one place - Follow lesson-generation progress as words are prepared SUBSCRIPTION Try Kotonoki free for 7 days. A subscription includes 30 new AI lesson generations each month and unlimited access to ready-made lessons. Cancel anytime in your App Store account settings. Kotonoki is built by an independent studio. Send feedback directly to the maker. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://kotonoki.addicted.sh/privacy.html Terms of Service: https://kotonoki.addicted.sh/terms.html
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Nihongo Catch! at every 6 days against Kotonoki's every 6 weeks. Nihongo Catch! also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads, 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
Both are free to download. Nihongo Catch! sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Kotonoki sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Nihongo Catch! ships an update every 6 days, Kotonoki every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Nihongo Catch! | Kotonoki |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 3.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 50.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 1 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 6 days — better | Every 6 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 74 MB | 9 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | TEPPEI TSUZUKI | Egor Sazanov |
In-app purchases
Nihongo Catch!
- Nihongo Catch! Full Version$24.99
Kotonoki
- Kotonoki Monthly$7.991 Month
- Kotonoki Yearly$59.991 Year









