SubWise vs Trace and Learn
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SubWise
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SubWise turns the videos you already watch into a light, focused language lesson. Keep the video on your laptop or desktop, follow the same subtitles on your phone, and dig into words and phrases only when you care—without juggling tabs. How it works Install the SubWise browser extension and open a video with subtitles. Connect the mobile app by scanning the QR code from the extension. Subtitles appear on your phone in real time, in step with playback. Built for learners • Live captions synced from the browser, with playback status • Control playback from your phone—pause and resume the video remotely • Set subtitle language and your language for quicker reading • Select text for translation and phrase explanations (usage limits may apply on Free; Premium unlocks more) • Save translated words to your personal dictionary for later review • Copy or share lines you want to revisit later • Sign in with email or Apple; dark and light appearance Terms of Use (EULA): https://subwise.org/terms Privacy Policy: https://subwise.org/privacy
Trace and Learn
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Learn the 80 kanji taught in grade 1 of Japanese elementary school by tracing them in the correct stroke order. The 80 kanji follow the “Allocation of Kanji by School Year” of Japan’s Ministry of Education (MEXT). TRACE The stroke that is lit up is the one to write. Follow it from the start of the stroke (the numbered dot) to the end. The strokes come one at a time, in the correct stroke order. When the whole kanji is traced, Namamono holds it up and cheers. Lines that have nothing to do with the lit stroke are not counted, and a voice asks you to trace it again. WRITE IT Write the kanji that goes in the box of an example sentence without looking (5 questions each time). If you are not sure, tap “Show me” to see the model kanji and its stroke order numbers, and practice by writing over it. At the end, the kanji written without looking are counted up with a flower circle. No score is shown. If the writing is clearly different, for example lines simply placed side by side, you are asked to try writing it again. The app does not grade how neat the writing is. FRIENDS When you finish tracing your first kanji of the day, a new friend joins you (one a day). Sakigaki writes the stroke first to show you how, Hakari weighs the kanji you traced today, Karappo finds kanji you haven’t written yet, Sekisho gives you a stamp for every 10 kanji you complete in the order of the school list, Pokayoke guards the lock on the settings, Yamedoki lets you know when it’s time to stop, and Namamono cheers you on. Each friend speaks in their own voice. In the friends’ room, choose a favorite friend to cheer when you finish a kanji. READING VOICE Example sentences and questions are read aloud in the voice of Zundamon (VOICEVOX:ずんだもん). PLEASE NOTE The app screen is in English, but the reading voice, the example sentences and the readings are in Japanese. The app is for children who can read hiragana. FOR PARENTS ・ No ads and no in-app purchases ・ The app does not connect to the internet, and collects no names or other information ・ Practice records are kept on this device only ・ Settings open only after an arithmetic question for grown-ups (two-digit multiplication). You can set a daily play time (just a reminder, or ending for the day) ・ You can rate this app on the App Store from Settings SOURCES ・ Kanji: Japan’s Course of Study for elementary schools (2017), appended table “Allocation of Kanji by School Year” (学年別漢字配当表) ・ Readings: Japan’s Ministry of Education (MEXT), “Table of On and Kun Readings by School Level” (音訓の小・中・高等学校段階別割り振り表) CREDITS ・ Voices: VOICEVOX:ずんだもん, VOICEVOX:中部つるぎ, VOICEVOX:九州そら, VOICEVOX:中国うさぎ, VOICEVOX:四国めたん, VOICEVOX:東北きりたん, VOICEVOX:東北イタコ ・ Stroke order and model character shapes: adapted from KanjiVG (c) Ulrich Apel (CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ · http://kanjivg.tagaini.net). The adapted stroke data is published under the same license (https://nazotte.github.io/stroke-data/).
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Trace and Learn at none against SubWise's 1. On price, update cadence, ads 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. SubWise sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per month. Trace and Learn asks for nothing beyond the download.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 days. Both last shipped on October 14, 2026.
| Parameter | SubWise | Trace and Learn |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 3 days | Every 3 days |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | 16.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 68 MB | 8 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Arthur Valiullin | Takahiko Kato |
In-app purchases
SubWise
- Monthly subscription$9.991 Month
Trace and Learn
No in-app purchases









