Comparison

kotomoことばのおとも vs NihongoShadow

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

Head to head
About

kotomoことばのおとも

Features
Read full description

Is your Japanese being understood clearly? Kotomo is a pronunciation practice app for people learning Japanese. Through Pronunciation Assessment, Shadowing Practice, Repeat Practice, AI Tutor Chat, and Online Reading, you can listen to your own voice and work toward speaking Japanese more naturally and clearly. Review your recorded results and learning history to stay motivated, maintain a daily practice routine, and track your progress over time. Key Features ■ Pronunciation Assessment Record your voice while reading a reference text and review your pronunciation. Use your scores and feedback to identify areas for improvement and practice them repeatedly. ■ Shadowing Practice Listen to reference audio and practice speaking along with it. Play back your recordings and compare your intonation and rhythm with the original audio. ■ Repeat Practice Listen to a reference sentence and repeat it aloud. Check whether your speech matches the reference text while practicing your listening and speaking skills together. ■ Communication Assessment (AI Tutor Chat) Practice natural Japanese conversation with “Kotomo Sensei,” your AI tutor. Speak into the microphone and receive a text response from the AI tutor. You can also play the response as audio, allowing you to experience practical Japanese conversations. ■ Online Reading Join other learners in real-time voice sessions for group reading practice. Create a room or join a public room, then read the displayed reference text aloud together. You can turn your microphone on or off and switch audio output. Room hosts can also manage participants. Recommended For Learners who want to check and improve their pronunciation and intonation Learners who want to develop natural, clear Japanese by comparing their speech with reference audio Learners who want to build a daily Japanese speaking practice habit, a little at a time Make your voice and progress visible as you work toward speaking Japanese more naturally and clearly. Start practicing spoken Japanese with Kotomo today.

About

NihongoShadow

Features
Read full description

NihongoShadow is a shadowing practice app for Japanese learners. Real Japanese teachers—not AI—personally correct your recordings so you can build natural pronunciation and intonation. WHY NIHONGOSHADOW • Corrections by native Japanese teachers Experienced teachers listen to every submission and give you specific, personalized feedback on your pronunciation habits and how to improve—advice tailored to your native language. • Human feedback, not AI Many services rely on automatic AI scoring. We insist on human corrections, so you receive feedback on the subtle nuances and intonation that AI simply cannot judge. • Exclusive original JLPT materials (N5–N1) Study with our own original materials for every JLPT level, developed in-house and optimized for shadowing. Build real skills with content you will not find anywhere else. • 24/7 chat with native teachers Ask about Japanese anytime—grammar, keigo, or “does this expression sound natural?” Casual conversation practice is welcome too. Learn real Japanese you will not find in textbooks. HOW IT WORKS 1. Choose a material suited to your level, from N5 to N1. 2. Listen to the native audio and record yourself shadowing. 3. Submit with a single tap. 4. Receive detailed corrections from native Japanese teachers within 24 hours.

Screenshots

kotomoことばのおとも4 screens
NihongoShadow4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: NihongoShadow at every 2 days against kotomoことばのおとも's every 2 weeks. 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

kotomoことばのおとも ships an update every 2 weeks, NihongoShadow every 2 days. Both last shipped on October 12, 2026.

Scorecard1 real difference · 5 level
kotomoことばのおとも versus NihongoShadow: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterkotomoことばのおともNihongoShadow
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.615.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size58 MB37 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSPI株式会社MIKIO MOCHIZUKI

In-app purchases

None

kotomoことばのおとも

No in-app purchases

None

NihongoShadow

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is kotomoことばのおとも free?
kotomoことばのおとも is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is NihongoShadow free?
NihongoShadow is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do kotomoことばのおとも or NihongoShadow have ads?
Neither kotomoことばのおとも nor NihongoShadow shows ads.
Which is updated more often, kotomoことばのおとも or NihongoShadow?
kotomoことばのおとも ships an update every 2 weeks, and NihongoShadow every 2 days. Most recently, kotomoことばのおとも was updated on October 12, 2026 and NihongoShadow on October 12, 2026.

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