MandarinGo vs Kashikan
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side โ with what reviewers say about each.
MandarinGo
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PiinTalk is the most efficient way to master Mandarin Chinese, designed specifically for English native speakers who value focus and simplicity. **Key Features:** - **Full HSK Coverage:** Comprehensive vocabulary from HSK 1 to HSK 6. - **Offline First:** Learn anytime, anywhere. No internet connection required for your core learning experience. - **Smart SRS (Spaced Repetition System):** Our algorithm tracks your progress and schedules reviews perfectly to ensure long-term retention. - **Talk & Listen:** Interactive speech practice with high-quality TTS and real-time visual karaoke-style highlighting. - **Minimalist Design:** No distractions. Just you and the language. - **Activity Tracking:** Visualize your dedication with our learning heatmap. Start your journey to fluency today with PiinTalk. Simple. Focused. Effective.
Kashikan
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Love an anime opening but can't read the lyrics? Now you can. Open any Japanese song from your Apple Music library and read along โ with romaji, kana hints above the kanji, and English meanings under every line. Built for beginners โ no prior Japanese needed. New: a tap-along mode that gently loops the line when you fall behind. Tap on a song you already love, and start learning! 1. Play along, learn along: Each line brings you a study card, featuring a Japanese phrase/ vocabulary 2. Beginner Friendly: Furigana over kanji, with romaji support 3. For serious learners: Professional study notes included HOW IT WORKS 1. Sign in with Apple: no separate account. 2. Connect Apple Music. Kashikan scans your library to find Japanese songs. 3. Pick a song to play. When you play the song, cards advance with the music, or swipe to jump anywhere! KANA REFERENCE A grid of hiragana and katakana is always one tap away from any study card. Both scripts shown side-by-side for the same sound, with romaji underneath โ useful when you hit a character you don't recognize mid-listening. FREE AND PREMIUM Free Kashikan picks 5 songs from your library and shows study cards per song. Premium unlocks every Japanese song Kashikan can match, and the ability to re-sync your library anytime as you add new music. KASHIKAN PREMIUM SUBSCRIPTION Premium is offered as a Monthly subscription with a 7-day free trial, a Yearly subscription, or a one-time Lifetime purchase. Pricing is shown in the app. Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at the confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage and cancel your subscription in your Apple ID account settings on the App Store after purchase. Any unused portion of a free trial is forfeited when you purchase Premium. REQUIREMENTS Kashikan needs Apple Music to read which songs are in your library. We only use song titles and artist names to identify Japanese songs and look up lyrics; we never play, store, or transmit your audio. Privacy Policy: https://memoirji.com/kashi/privacy/ Terms of Use: https://memoirji.com/kashi/terms/ Subscription Terms: https://memoirji.com/kashi/subscription-terms/ Support: https://memoirji.com/kashi/support/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: MandarinGo at none against Kashikan's 3. MandarinGo also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). Kashikan's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (daily vs every 3 weeks). On price and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Kashikan sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. MandarinGo asks for nothing beyond the download.
MandarinGo ships an update every 3 weeks, Kashikan daily. Both last shipped on September 8, 2026.
| Parameter | MandarinGo | Kashikan |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Daily โ better |
| Ads | Yes | No โ better |
| In-app purchases | No โ better | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod โ better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 โ better | 18.0 |
| Further details โ not scored | ||
| Size | 31 MB | 5 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | ๆฝๅจด ๅผ | Memoirji LLC |
In-app purchases
MandarinGo
No in-app purchases
Kashikan
- All you can sing (Monthly)7 Days trial$9.991 Month
- All you can sing (Yearly)$99.991 Year
- All you can sing (Lifetime)$149.99









