Comparison

MAKU vs Phrasepocket

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

Head to head
About

MAKU

Discover local gems and unique experiences in Makubetsu and the Tokachi region of Hokkaido. This guide offers curated recommendations for food, nature, shops, and hidden spots, providing a more authentic travel experience beyond typical tourist routes.

Highlights
  • Local guide to Makubetsu and Tokachi
  • Curated places by locals
  • Food, nature, shops, gardens
  • Map-based area information
  • Seasonal suggestions
  • Travel tips for Hokkaido
Features
Read full description

MAKU is a local travel guide for Makubetsu and the Tokachi area of Hokkaido. The app is designed for travelers who want to discover places beyond the usual sightseeing routes. It introduces Makubetsu as the main destination while also helping visitors understand the surrounding Tokachi area. Inside MAKU, you can find local places, short travel ideas, map-based area information, seasonal suggestions, and curated picks from people who know the town well. Features: - Local guide to Makubetsu and the Tokachi area - Curated places selected by local residents and creators - Food, nature, shops, gardens, parks, and hidden local spots - Map-based guide to the three main areas of Makubetsu - Travel tips for visitors to Hokkaido - Information available for international travelers MAKU is not only a list of tourist spots. It is a guide for finding the atmosphere, food, people, and small discoveries that make Makubetsu worth visiting. Whether you are already planning a trip to Tokachi or just exploring Hokkaido, MAKU helps you find a more local way to travel.

About

Phrasepocket

This offline travel phrasebook helps you communicate quickly and practically without needing an account or subscription. It features a "Travel Coach" to build custom phrase packs for common travel scenarios, helping you prepare for your trip.

Highlights
  • Offline phrase categories
  • Favorites and fast lookup
  • Scenario-based Travel Coach
  • Readiness scoring and phrase drills
  • Shareable travel prep summary
  • Quick, practical communication
Features
Read full description

Trip Decks saves the phrases you choose into an ordered offline rehearsal that resumes where you stopped and revisits the lines you found difficult. HOW IT WORKS 1. Open Trip Decks from Phrases. Build an ordered deck of up to 24 phrases in the current language, or try the arrival essentials deck. 2. Start rehearsal, try to recall each phrase, reveal the saved translation and phonetic guide, then mark your own recollection. Use slow speech when a compatible system voice is available. 3. Close and resume at the next phrase. Revisit difficult phrases in their original order, and share the complete bilingual deck. The bundled phrasebook, favorites, pronunciation coaching, quizzes, reviews, Travel Coach, field cards and tip calculator remain available. New decks refuse missing translations instead of silently substituting English. Rehearsal progress saves after each rating, and corrupt library files are preserved. WHAT TO KNOW Up to 50 saved decks with 1–24 phrases each. Decks retain their selected language and phrase text when the browsing language changes. Ratings are self-reported; completed passes do not measure or certify fluency. Text works offline, while speech needs an installed compatible system voice. Check important or sensitive communication with a qualified speaker. This does not translate arbitrary text or listen to a conversation. iPhone and iPad.

Screenshots

MAKU4 screens
Phrasepocket3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: MAKU at Free against Phrasepocket's $1.99. MAKU also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.0). On ratings volume, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

MAKU is free to download; Phrasepocket costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

MAKU holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 4 days. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
MAKU versus Phrasepocket: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMAKUPhrasepocket
PriceFree — better$1.99
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better4.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings11
Update frequencyEvery 4 daysEvery 4 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size66 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEUIHYUNG JUNGRobert Corbin

Customer experience

MAKU

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Phrasepocket

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

MAKU

No in-app purchases

None

Phrasepocket

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is MAKU free?
MAKU is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Phrasepocket free?
Phrasepocket costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, MAKU or Phrasepocket?
MAKU is rated higher. MAKU averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Phrasepocket averages 4.0 from 1 ratings.
Do MAKU or Phrasepocket have ads?
Neither MAKU nor Phrasepocket shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MAKU or Phrasepocket?
MAKU ships an update every 4 days, and Phrasepocket every 4 days. Most recently, MAKU was updated on October 31, 2026 and Phrasepocket on October 31, 2026.

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