Comparison

ShadowFlow vs Ascent

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

Head to head
About

ShadowFlow

Features
Read full description

ShadowFlow turns YouTube videos into living language lessons. ■ Watch with karaoke subtitles Subtitles highlight word by word in sync with the video, so you never lose your place. Tap any line to jump to that scene. ■ Tap any word you don't know The dictionary opens instantly. Save words with one tap — review them as flashcards, hear the pronunciation, and jump back to the exact scene where each word appeared. ■ Practice speaking with shadowing (MAX) Record your own voice line by line and compare with the original. With headphones, your voice plays in the right ear and the original in the left. Pronunciation scoring shows exactly which words didn't come through, and rhythm bars compare your timing with the original. ■ A shared pool of subtitles (Pro) Subtitles created by users are shared in a pool — once someone transcribes and fixes a video, everyone can learn from it. New subtitles are created on the desktop web version (kotomori.app/shadowflow). ■ Plans - Free: watch subtitles you created, word list - Pro: unlimited access to the shared subtitle pool + folders - MAX: everything in Pro + shadowing practice Available in English, Japanese, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Korean, French, and German. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the period. Manage or cancel anytime in your App Store account settings. Terms of Use: https://kotomori.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://kotomori.app/privacy

About

Ascent

This app turns learning Algebra 1 into a game, simulating a climb up Mount Everest. It breaks down the full curriculum into manageable skill-building steps with hints and progress tracking. The app works offline and prioritizes user privacy.

Highlights
  • Adaptive learning path
  • Step-by-step equation rewriting
  • Hint system for stuck users
  • Offline functionality
  • Progress tracking and certificates
  • Multiple climber profiles
  • Finger-drawn graph input
Features
Read full description

Ascent is the whole of Algebra 1, played as one long climb up Everest. Twelve legs, one skill at a time, from signed numbers at the trailhead to radicals on summit day. HOW IT CLIMBS An adaptive guide keeps you on exactly one new skill at a time, mixed with review of the ground you already hold. Equations rewrite themselves step by step as you choose the moves. When you are stuck, the radio gives hints that teach the next step, never just the answer. Every correct answer banks real altitude on the mountain. THE ROUTE Foundations. The language of algebra. Linear equations. Inequalities. Functions. Linear functions and data. Systems of equations. Exponents and growth. Polynomials. Factoring. Quadratic equations. Radicals and Summit Day. Twelve units, the full course. ON THE MOUNTAIN - Draw graphs with your finger and get graded on the line you drew - The Weather Window: five problems a day, the same five for everyone at your point on the route - Route Tests for every camp, plus the final over the whole route - Expedition patches, streaks, and a summit certificate with your name on it - Multiple climbers on one device, each with their own mountain - Works offline, in a tent or on a bus FREE, AND PAID HONESTLY Legs 1 to 3 are free forever: all of linear equations, every feature, no time limit. One purchase opens legs 4 through 12 for good. No subscription. No ads. Family Sharing included, and the free route stays free. PRIVATE BY DESIGN No accounts. No tracking. No data collected. Progress lives on your device. FOR Students taking Algebra 1, students getting ahead over a summer, students taking it again, and grown-ups who want the mountain back under their feet. The route is drawn. Start climbing.

Screenshots

ShadowFlow4 screens
Ascent4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: ShadowFlow at 17.0 against Ascent's 26.0. On price, 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

Both are free to download. ShadowFlow sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month and Ascent sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ShadowFlow ships an update every 5 days, Ascent every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
ShadowFlow versus Ascent: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShadowFlowAscent
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—3 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 daysEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB4 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperDaichi TanabeJaco-Stefan Olwagen

In-app purchases

4 purchases

ShadowFlow

Subscriptions4
  • ShadowFlow Pro (Monthly)7 Days trial$6.991 Month
  • ShadowFlow MAX (Monthly)7 Days trial$14.991 Month
  • ShadowFlow Pro (Yearly)7 Days trial$59.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • ShadowFlow MAX (Yearly)7 Days trial$129.991 Year
1 purchases

Ascent

One-time1
  • Full Expedition$7.99

Questions

Is ShadowFlow free?
ShadowFlow is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Ascent free?
Ascent is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do ShadowFlow or Ascent have ads?
Neither ShadowFlow nor Ascent shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ShadowFlow or Ascent?
ShadowFlow ships an update every 5 days, and Ascent every 4 days. Most recently, ShadowFlow was updated on October 25, 2026 and Ascent on October 11, 2026.

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