Comparison

Kanji Memory vs NihongoShadow

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

Head to head
About

Kanji Memory

Features
Read full description

Learning Japanese Kanji has never been this minimal and effective. Kanji Memory strips away the clutter and gives you a pure space for focus. Powered by an advanced Spaced Repetition System (SRS), the app predicts exactly when you are about to forget a Kanji and tests you on it, ensuring it stays in your long-term memory. WHY KANJI MEMORY? • 30 Kanji a Day: Avoid burnout. The app serves you exactly what you need to review daily, making steady progress achievable in just 15 minutes. • Full JLPT Coverage: Master over 2,000 Kanji required for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) from N5 all the way up to N1. • Contextual Learning: Understand how to use each Kanji with provided Japanese vocabulary and real-life example sentences. • Native Text-to-Speech (TTS): Listen to the correct Japanese pronunciation of words and sentences instantly. • Smart Dictionary: Instantly search for any Kanji by its character, reading, or English/Turkish meaning. • Progress Tracking: Watch your knowledge grow with elegant progress bars for each JLPT level and stay motivated. Ready to unlock your memory? Start your Japanese journey with Kanji Memory 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

Kanji Memory4 screens
NihongoShadow4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: NihongoShadow at every 2 days against Kanji Memory's weekly. NihongoShadow also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.6). 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

Kanji Memory ships an update weekly, NihongoShadow every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 4 level
Kanji Memory versus NihongoShadow: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKanji MemoryNihongoShadow
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.615.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB37 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEngin BalikciMIKIO MOCHIZUKI

In-app purchases

None

Kanji Memory

No in-app purchases

None

NihongoShadow

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Kanji Memory free?
Kanji Memory is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is NihongoShadow free?
NihongoShadow is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Kanji Memory or NihongoShadow have ads?
Neither Kanji Memory nor NihongoShadow shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Kanji Memory or NihongoShadow?
Kanji Memory ships an update weekly, and NihongoShadow every 2 days. Most recently, Kanji Memory was updated on November 5, 2026 and NihongoShadow on November 13, 2026.

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