Comparison

LangBook vs Active Recall

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

Head to head
About

LangBook

Features
Read full description

Build your Japanese writing habit, one sentence at a time. This app helps you practice Japanese through daily journaling, AI feedback, vocabulary review, and flashcards. Write about your feelings, your day, or a guided topic, then receive feedback on grammar, vocabulary, expression, and natural flow. It is designed for learners who want to write more Japanese, build confidence, and make Japanese study part of their daily routine. ■ Japanese journal Write freely about your day or choose a guided topic when you are not sure what to write. Start small with just one sentence a day. ■ AI feedback Get clear feedback on grammar, vocabulary, expression, and natural flow. The AI helps you make your Japanese sound more natural and easier to understand. ■ Track your progress See your score, study streak, learning time, and skill balance. Visual progress helps you stay motivated. ■ Vocabulary and flashcards Save important words and review them with flashcards. Practice forgotten words and turn them into usable vocabulary. ■ Recommended for: ・Learners who want to write a Japanese diary ・Students who want to improve Japanese writing ・People looking for AI Japanese correction ・Learners who want to practice Japanese grammar and vocabulary ・Anyone who wants to study Japanese every day ・Students who want to review words with flashcards One sentence a day can become tomorrow’s confidence. Start writing in Japanese today. Some AI features require a subscription. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://privacyenglsih.bridra.net

About

Active Recall

Features
Read full description

Active Recall turns what you're studying into flashcards — and schedules every review for the moment you were about to forget. WHY IT WORKS Of the ten study techniques reviewed in the research literature, only two earned top ratings for effectiveness: retrieval practice and spaced repetition. Active Recall is built on both, and nothing else. No quiz modes, no matching games, no word games — just the recall loop that actually moves things into long-term memory. Reviews are scheduled by FSRS, a modern spaced-repetition algorithm that models how your memory for each individual card decays, and learns from your own review history. The more you study, the better the timing gets. MAKE CARDS WITHOUT THE CHORE • Hand it a page of notes, a PDF or a photo and get a drafted deck back • A fast, keyboard-first editor for when you'd rather write them yourself • Cloze deletion (fill-in-the-blank) as a first-class card type • Cards stay organised in decks and chapters, so big subjects don't sprawl STUDY IN MINUTES A DAY • Five focused minutes clears a typical day's queue • Streaks, a forecast of what's coming, and progress charts that show real retention • Cards you already know stay in rotation, just spaced further out — dropping them is the fastest way to forget them YOURS, EVERYWHERE • Sign in with Apple or Google and your decks, streak and review history follow you to any device • Works offline — study on a plane, sync when you land • Full support for light and dark mode, Dynamic Type and VoiceOver • Available in English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese and Hindi PRICING Active Recall Plus is a subscription with a 3-day free trial: $3.99/month or $24.99/year (prices may vary by region), auto-renewing until cancelled. It unlocks everything — unlimited decks, chapters and cards, AI card generation, and FSRS-scheduled reviews. Cancel anytime in Settings. No ads. Ever. TERMS Terms of Use (EULA): https://rsaluja.com/apps/active-recall/terms Privacy Policy: https://rsaluja.com/apps/active-recall/privacy

Screenshots

LangBook4 screens
Active Recall4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Active Recall at every 3 days against LangBook's weekly. 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. LangBook sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Active Recall sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

LangBook ships an update weekly, Active Recall every 3 days. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

Scorecard1 real difference · 5 level
LangBook versus Active Recall: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLangBookActive Recall
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size21 MB15 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperKOSUKE NAKASONORohit Saluja

In-app purchases

2 purchases

LangBook

Subscriptions2
  • Basic$4.991 Month
  • Plus$11.991 Month
2 purchases

Active Recall

Subscriptions2
  • Plus Monthly3 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • Plus Yearly3 Days trial$24.991 Year

Questions

Is LangBook free?
LangBook is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Active Recall free?
Active Recall is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do LangBook or Active Recall have ads?
Neither LangBook nor Active Recall shows ads.
Which is updated more often, LangBook or Active Recall?
LangBook ships an update weekly, and Active Recall every 3 days. Most recently, LangBook was updated on October 31, 2026 and Active Recall on October 31, 2026.

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