Comparison

Kotonoki vs Japanese Learning

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

Head to head
About

Kotonoki

Learn Japanese vocabulary and grammar by watching anime. The app generates lessons based on selected series and episodes, offering kanji, furigana, and romaji support. It features spaced repetition for review and daily vocabulary practice.

Highlights
  • AI-generated Japanese lessons from anime
  • Vocabulary and grammar study
  • Spaced repetition review system
  • Kanji, furigana, and romaji support
  • Daily vocabulary and phrase practice
  • Contextual example sentences
Features
Read full description

Learn Japanese through the anime you love. Choose a series and episode, then Kotonoki builds a focused lesson around its Japanese vocabulary. For learners from JLPT N5 to N1. Choose your level during onboarding, and Kotonoki introduces vocabulary at and just above it. Kanji, furigana, and Hepburn romaji give you the support you need as you build confidence. Start with a ready-made lesson during onboarding and begin studying in your first minute. LESSONS IN CONTEXT Lessons use Japanese subtitles when available and episode synopses when they are not. Each item includes kanji, a kana reading, romaji, a translation, and a contextual example sentence. Tap a word for an AI explanation of the grammar in its example sentence. REVIEW THAT ADAPTS TO YOU Spaced repetition supports review of vocabulary, kana, and kanji. Kanji meanings and readings are tracked separately, so you can review what you need. Study kanji from components to compounds; every kanji in the app includes an example word and an AI mnemonic story. A LITTLE JAPANESE EVERY DAY Add Kana of the Day, Kanji of the Day, and Phrase of the Day to your Home Screen or Lock Screen. Phrase of the Day includes a kana reading. MORE IN KOTONOKI - Choose System, Light, or Dark appearance - Search your library and the anime catalog in one place - Follow lesson-generation progress as words are prepared SUBSCRIPTION Try Kotonoki free for 7 days. A subscription includes 30 new AI lesson generations each month and unlimited access to ready-made lessons. Cancel anytime in your App Store account settings. Kotonoki is built by an independent studio. Send feedback directly to the maker. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://kotonoki.addicted.sh/privacy.html Terms of Service: https://kotonoki.addicted.sh/terms.html

About

Japanese Learning

Features
Read full description

Japanese Learning the right way, one day at a time. Whether you're just starting out or looking to sharpen what you already know, this app gives you a clear, structured path to actually speak Japanese and understand it in real life. The daily word learning plan is at the heart of the experience. Each day, you get a focused set of Japanese words to study in short, manageable sessions. You'll work through them step by step, with related phrases and quick practice built right in. It takes the guesswork out of studying by answering one simple question: what should I learn today? Here's what you get with the app: Home Dashboard: See your daily plan, track your streak, and check your weekly activity at a glance. Words Module: Study Japanese vocabulary through flashcards, image-to-word matching, quizzes, example sentences, and fill-in-the-blank exercises. Practice with typing, dictation, listening-based quizzes, and production drills to really lock in what you've learned. Phrasebook: Browse phrases organized by category. Practice with listening exercises, listening quizzes, and phrase dictation across 30 different topics. Recall with Spaced Repetition: The built-in SRS review system brings back words at the right time so you remember Japanese vocabulary long-term, not just for the next quiz. Listening and Reading Practice: Audiobooks let you listen at your own pace and pick up where you left off. Word Immersion walks you through vocabulary using images, pronunciation, translations, and examples with calming background audio. Phrase Immersion plays Japanese phrases with their meanings so you can absorb natural expressions. While You Sleep plays a continuous mix of word and phrase content with ambient audio, and premium users can set a sleep timer. Progress Tracking: The stats section gives you a clear picture of how your study sessions are going and how far you've come. Offline Support: Core content is available offline so you can keep studying even without a connection. Learning to speak Japanese takes consistency, and this app is built around that. Short daily sessions, a streak to keep you motivated, and a variety of exercise types mean you're always practicing in a way that feels fresh. Whether you're working on Japanese words, building up your listening skills, or getting comfortable with everyday phrases, there's always something to do. Free Plan: The free plan covers the full basic learning journey. You can follow the daily vocabulary learning plan, study with the core Words modules, complete standard word exercises, learn 5 sentences in each of the 30 phrase categories, review with spaced repetition, and track your progress in the Stats section. Premium Plan: Premium gives you everything in the free plan plus advanced word practice tools including Weak Spot, Speed Test, and Matching. You also get access to 100 sentences per category in the Phrasebook, along with Sentence Search, Sentence Review, and Listening Lab for a deeper, faster study experience. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.chaptio.com/language/privacy-policy.html

Screenshots

Kotonoki4 screens
Japanese Learning4 screens

Verdict

The call

Kotonoki and Japanese Learning are too close to call on the numbers: across 5 compared parameters — price, ads, in-app purchases and device support among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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. Kotonoki sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month and Japanese Learning sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Kotonoki versus Japanese Learning: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKotonokiJapanese Learning
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB27 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperEgor SazanovAHMET DOGAN

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Kotonoki

Subscriptions2
  • Kotonoki Monthly$7.991 Month
  • Kotonoki Yearly$59.991 Year
3 purchases

Japanese Learning

Subscriptions2
  • Learn Japanese Weekly$4.997 Days
  • Learn Japanese Yearly$24.991 Year
One-time1
  • Learn Japanese Lifetime$34.99

Questions

Is Kotonoki free?
Kotonoki is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Japanese Learning free?
Japanese Learning is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Kotonoki or Japanese Learning have ads?
Neither Kotonoki nor Japanese Learning shows ads.

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