Comparison

Sand Nihongo vs Mainichi JLPT

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

Head to head
About

Sand Nihongo

Features
Read full description

Tap, Listen, Write Japanese - Sand Nihongo No complicated lessons. Just a few taps a day. Start from hiragana and katakana basics, all the way to JLPT vocabulary and real-world sentences and learn Japanese the way that fits you. How you learn • Multiple-choice quizzes - memorize the easy way by picking the right answer • Listening - train your ear with Japanese pronunciation every day • Kanji writing - trace every stroke by hand and make it stick • Time attack - test your skills against the clock From basics to fluency • Master hiragana & katakana completely • Vocabulary - essential words organized by category • Sentences - pick up conversational feel with expressions you'll actually use Built to keep you going • Stats & progress - see your history and growth at a glance • Light, intuitive screens made for daily practice Start today and grow a little closer to Japanese every day. • Terms of Use (EULA) : https://sandpia.com/sand-nihongo/terms • Privacy Policy : https://sandpia.com/sand-nihongo/privacy

About

Mainichi JLPT

Features
Read full description

JLPT Everyday – Your all-in-one solution for JLPT N5, N4, and N3 prep. This single app packs everything you need to pass: Kanji, Vocabulary, Grammar, Reading, Listening, Mock Tests, and even a Dictionary. Visualize your current ability with a "Predicted Score (out of 180 points)" and efficiently target your weaknesses to get closer to passing. ■ Massive Content – Over 20,000 Questions With over 20,000 questions covering Kanji, Vocabulary, Grammar, Reading, and Listening, you'll have an endless supply of learning. ・Characters/Vocabulary: Over 14,000 questions ・Grammar: Over 2,000 questions ・Listening: Over 2,300 questions (with native audio) ・Reading: Full-length passages, information comprehension, and content understanding in exam format ■ Master Each Word "Multifacetedly" – Aspect-Based Learning Measure proficiency across four aspects: "meaning, reading, writing, and listening." For Kanji, it's five aspects: "reading, writing, meaning, form, and listening." This ensures true retention, not just rote memorization. ■ Little by Little, in Your Spare Time Each session takes just a few minutes, allowing consistent daily study during commutes or breaks. Easy to "keep going," your skills will steadily build up. ■ Realistic Mock Tests – With a "Pass" Celebration Includes mock tests with actual exam scoring and time limits (over 2,600 exclusive questions). Words don't repeat within a single mock test. A "Pass Celebration" awaits to boost your sense of accomplishment. ■ AI Coach Tells You "Where You Stand" ・Predicted Score: Your likely score on the actual exam (out of 180 points) ・Category Outlook: Points needed to reach passing score for each subject ・Field Radar: Your accuracy rate across 5 fields: Kanji, Vocabulary, Grammar, Reading, and Listening ・Your Position Among Test Takers: Your predicted score overlaid on official score distribution data ・Coverage Rate: How much of the exam scope you've memorized ・Review Waiting: Words you're about to forget, presented at the right time ・Outlook to Passing: Weeks until you're in the passing range at your current pace ■ Learn in Your Native Language – Supports 12 Languages App display, question texts, choices, answer meanings, explanations, and example sentences are all available in your native language. No more getting stuck on unfamiliar words. Supports 12 languages (Japanese, English, Nepali, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Myanmar, Bengali, Thai, Korean, Chinese (Simplified/Traditional), Hindi). ■ Built-in Kanji, Vocabulary, and Grammar Dictionaries Three tap-to-access dictionaries with native language translations. ・Kanji Dictionary: Approx. 2,000 characters. Includes On-yomi, Kun-yomi, stroke count, grade level, meaning, and example sentences. ・Vocabulary Dictionary: Approx. 8,000 words. Includes reading, part of speech, meaning, rich synonyms, and example sentences. ・Grammar Dictionary: Approx. 400 grammar patterns. Understand meanings and usage with simple explanations and example sentences. A total of approximately 8,000 example sentences. Check unfamiliar words instantly to keep learning. ■ "Japanese Learner's Town" – Learn with Friends Worldwide Connect with fellow learners aiming for the same JLPT pass. See friends' progress, levels, and encourage each other. Daily study naturally "continues" when you're not alone. Recommended for: ・Those aiming to pass JLPT N5-N3 through self-study ・Those who don't know where to start ・Those who want to learn efficiently while confirming meanings in their native language Download for free. Start your journey to passing today. Terms of Use (EULA): https://safa-lang.com/jlpt/en/terms/ Privacy Policy: https://safa-lang.com/jlpt/en/privacy/

Screenshots

Sand Nihongo4 screens
Mainichi JLPT4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Mainichi JLPT at every 2 days against Sand Nihongo'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. Sand Nihongo sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.59 per month and Mainichi JLPT sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sand Nihongo ships an update every 2 weeks, Mainichi JLPT every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 5 level
Sand Nihongo versus Mainichi JLPT: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSand NihongoMainichi JLPT
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 2 days — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.515.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size128 MB246 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSandpiaJin Kato

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Sand Nihongo

Subscriptions1
  • Premium - Monthly$1.591 Month
One-time1
  • Premium - Lifetime$4.59
8 purchases

Mainichi JLPT

Subscriptions4
  • Pro 1 Month$2.991 Month
  • Pro 3ヶ月$5.993 Months
  • Pro 6ヶ月$9.996 Months
Show 1 more
  • Pro 12ヶ月$19.991 Year
One-time4
  • JLPT Pro N3 lifetime$5.99
  • JLPT Pro N4 lifetime$5.99
  • JLPT Pro N5 lifetime$5.99
Show 1 more
  • All-Level Lifetime Pro$11.99

Questions

Is Sand Nihongo free?
Sand Nihongo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Mainichi JLPT free?
Mainichi JLPT is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Sand Nihongo or Mainichi JLPT have ads?
Both Sand Nihongo and Mainichi JLPT show ads.
Which is updated more often, Sand Nihongo or Mainichi JLPT?
Sand Nihongo ships an update every 2 weeks, and Mainichi JLPT every 2 days. Most recently, Sand Nihongo was updated on October 31, 2026 and Mainichi JLPT on November 5, 2026.

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