JLPT N5 Past Papers vs Nihongo Flow
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
JLPT N5 Past Papers
Read full descriptionHide full description
JPmate is a focused JLPT N5 study app for beginners just starting Japanese and preparing for their first JLPT. Build the basics from hiragana and katakana to simple kanji, essential vocabulary, beginner grammar, reading, and slow, clear listening practice. WHY JPmate N5 • Built for the N5 exam format. Question types, sections, and timing follow the JLPT structure, so even your first mock test feels familiar. • Explanations in your language. Every answer is explained in English, Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese (Simplified & Traditional), and Burmese — read the why, not just the what. • Spaced repetition that works. An FSRS-based review schedule resurfaces weak items right before you forget them, helping you build a steady foundation. • Listening built in. Slow, clear listening (聴解) practice with hide/show scripts — train your ear, then check yourself. • Academically grounded. Vocabulary and grammar are checked against authoritative Japanese references and official guidelines-based exam structure. WHAT'S INSIDE • N5 vocabulary, grammar, reading (読解), and listening (聴解) questions • Listening audio practice for slow, clear 聴解 training • Hiragana, katakana, about 100 basic kanji, about 800 basic words, and beginner grammar practice • Full-length mock tests in the JLPT N5 section structure • Wrong-answer notes that collect everything you missed • Daily streaks and a study heatmap to keep momentum • A clean, distraction-free interface in light or dark mode PAST EXAM QUESTIONS, WITHOUT ADS OR PAYMENT N5 Language Knowledge and Reading past exam questions from 「日本語能力試験 公式問題集 第二集(2018)」, published by The Japan Foundation (国際交流基金) and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services (日本国際教育支援協会), are included with attribution. These past questions may be used on condition that no fee is charged for the material, so solving them shows no ads, does not reduce your daily allowance, and never asks for payment. Past exam questions include answers and explanations, but no detailed explanations. Listening past questions and passages reproduced from other copyrighted works are not included. WHO IT'S FOR • Beginners just starting Japanese from kana and basic words • First-time JLPT takers who want to know the N5 test format before exam day • Self-learners who want to build the foundation properly from the beginning USING THE APP You can study in JPmate N5 for free. A subscription or a one-time lifetime purchase removes ads and the daily limit — the options are shown at checkout. Studying for another level? JPmate is released per level, so each app stays focused on one exam. Questions or feedback: contact@daylab.dev Terms of Use (EULA): https://jpmate.daylab.dev/terms Privacy Policy: https://jpmate.daylab.dev/privacy
Nihongo Flow
Read full descriptionHide full description
Nihongo Flow teaches you hiragana, katakana and kanji, builds a vocabulary that sticks, and shows you how Japanese sentences work. A few minutes a day is enough. Explanations are in English or German. VOCABULARY THAT STICKS • Your learning path takes you through the most common words: 2,000, 4,000 or more than 5,800, you choose. • Every word comes back just before you would forget it (spaced repetition). • Practice with flashcards, multiple choice or romaji typing, or say the word out loud and Apple speech recognition checks your pronunciation. • The memory heatmap shows which words are solid and which are fading. HIRAGANA, KATAKANA, KANJI • Hiragana and katakana with all basic and voiced characters, plus 40 N5 kanji with on and kun readings. Quizzes and typing drills in rounds of 10. • Handwriting (Premium): write kana and kanji with your finger and get an instant check of stroke count and size. SENTENCES AND GRAMMAR • Grammar from N5 to N1: 52 lessons and a level check for your grammar level. • Sentence Blocks: see how a sentence snaps together from colored blocks, build your own from words you've learned, and stack verb endings from polite to passive. MORE PATHS • Baby Path: picture first, then the word, the way toddlers learn. • Topic Path: nature, seasons, home and more. • Slang & Colloquial: how people in Japan really talk, with the textbook version for comparison. Includes crude expressions, clearly marked. • Business Japanese & Keigo: 463 forms and terms in 29 chapters. • Immersion: short texts on anime, travel, daily life, news and business. Tap a word to add it to your vocabulary. • Hokkaidō Densetsu (Premium): travel across Hokkaidō in 18 stations, with culture cards, Ainu culture, a collector's album and a dice race against rivals. SENSEI: AI FEATURES FOR AGES 16+ • Chat with Sensei in Japanese or English, as a friendly teacher, an anime character or a business mentor. • Voice call with Sensei (Ultra Maxx): you speak, Sensei listens and answers out loud. • Plus "Teacher explains", example sentences, the Sentence Puzzle, an AI check for your sentences, text correction and "Your level today". • AI features use Claude by Anthropic. They are available from age 16, and only after you agree once. You can withdraw consent anytime in Settings, and you can report any AI answer. Everything else works without AI. KEEP GOING Streaks, levels and XP, "What to learn today?", a Japanese proverb every day and your own avatar. No ads. Speak Japanese? Settings > Course also offers a German course with a Japanese interface. WITHOUT A SUBSCRIPTION OR WITH PREMIUM You need an account with email and password. Without a subscription you learn with energy: each answer uses one point, and energy refills over time. AI features have a daily limit. "Nihongo Flow Premium" gives you unlimited energy, all AI features with no daily limit, handwriting practice and Hokkaidō Densetsu. "Nihongo Flow Ultra Maxx" is Premium plus the voice call with Sensei, up to 15 minutes a day. SUBSCRIPTION TERMS • "Nihongo Flow Premium" is an auto-renewable subscription, billed monthly (1 month) or yearly (1 year). Prices vary by country and are shown in the app before you buy. • You can try Premium free for 3 days, once per Apple Account. Unless you cancel at least 24 hours before the trial ends, it converts to the plan you chose. • Payment is charged to your Apple Account when you confirm the purchase or, with a trial, when the trial ends. • The subscription renews automatically for another month or year unless you cancel at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Renewal is charged within the 24 hours before the period ends. • You can manage and cancel it anytime in your Apple Account settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://nihongo-flow.app/privacy.html
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Nihongo Flow at none against JLPT N5 Past Papers's shown. Nihongo Flow also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 3 weeks). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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
Both are free to download. JLPT N5 Past Papers sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Nihongo Flow sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
JLPT N5 Past Papers ships an update every 3 weeks, Nihongo Flow daily. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | JLPT N5 Past Papers | Nihongo Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Daily — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 169 MB | 95 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | dasong sim | LEONARD SCHAPER |
In-app purchases
JLPT N5 Past Papers
- Premium Monthly$2.991 Month
- Premium 3-Month$5.993 Months
- Premium Lifetime$19.99
Nihongo Flow
- Nihongo Flow Premium (Monthly)3 Days trial$6.991 Month
- Nihongo Flow Ultra Maxx$29.991 Month
- Nihongo Flow Premium (Yearly)3 Days trial$79.991 Year
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- Nihongo Flow Ultra Maxx$299.991 Year
Questions
Is JLPT N5 Past Papers free?
Is Nihongo Flow free?
Do JLPT N5 Past Papers or Nihongo Flow have ads?
Which is updated more often, JLPT N5 Past Papers or Nihongo Flow?
Other comparisons















