Comparison

Kotonoha vs Echotter

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

Head to head
About

Kotonoha

Features
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Kotonoha is a Japanese course built around everyday scenes. Every lesson from N5 to N1 now comes with explanations in English (beta). The interface is available in English, Japanese and Simplified Chinese. LEARN N5–N1 IN ENGLISH (BETA) Choose English under Settings → Language. All 180 lessons, N5 to N1, then come with English translations of each dialogue, grammar notes written for English speakers, and comprehension questions in English. Every word in the lessons has an English dictionary gloss, the N5–N4 grammar points have English notes, and conjugation drills name each form in English. This English layer is new; if something reads oddly, please let us know. 180 SCENE-BASED LESSONS 180 lessons across 12 themes (meeting people, eating out, shopping, getting around, travel, work and more), with 36 lessons at each level from N5 to N1. Dialogues come with furigana, can be played in full or line by line, and are illustrated with 36 scene pictures. Each lesson tracks reading, listening, flashcards and practice; "Continue" opens the step you haven't finished. Level labels are a study guide only, not an official JLPT rating. WORDS, KANA AND GRAMMAR Learn each lesson's word list (6,767 entries in total) with flashcards, then check yourself with sentence building, matching, comprehension questions and a lesson test. Complete beginners can start with the kana chart and kana listening practice. Grammar lessons cover 369 grammar points from N5 to N2, with example sentences and practice questions. REVIEW Spaced repetition based on FSRS, with flashcard, multiple-choice, typing and listening questions. After a correct answer you see the meaning, an example sentence and its translation. RADIO AND SENTENCE LISTENING Play lesson dialogues and 180 selected sentences with subtitles, in order, shuffled or on loop. Choose 0.75× to 1.25× speed; the lock screen and headphone previous/next buttons move one sentence at a time. WHAT IS STILL IN CHINESE ONLY Outside the English layer above, explanations are in Simplified Chinese only. That includes the N2 prep section and the reading and listening practice. N2 PREP (CHINESE EXPLANATIONS) The N2 prep home shows the days left until your exam date, your progress and a daily target based on the days remaining. "Today's prep" is five steps: due reviews, grammar review, new words, grammar, and listening or reading (alternating days). Grammar you have learned comes back with a different question after 2, 5, 12, 30 and 60 days, and points you miss go into a grammar mistakes list. - 199 N2 grammar points with examples and practice questions - 110 original reading passages (80 at N2, 30 at N3) - 114 original listening questions (84 at N2, 30 at N3) in five question types, audio only - 2 full mock exams: timed, with real-test pacing for listening in formal mode, judged by the pass line (90+ overall and 19+ in every section), with a radar chart and explanations; per-part weights are unofficial approximations All questions and passages are original practice material, not official JLPT items, and passing the exam is not guaranteed. AUDIO DOWNLOADS Lessons, words, practice, review and N5 audio are included in the app and work offline. Audio for N4–N1 and for listening practice (13 packs, about 716 MB in total) is downloaded the first time you need it: automatically on Wi-Fi, and not automatically on cellular unless you allow it. Manage packs in Settings; downloaded audio plays offline. PRIVACY AND BACKUP Progress, bookmarks, review schedule and settings stay on your device; no account is needed. The app keeps an automatic local backup and restores from it if the save file is damaged. It also saves a snapshot before your first session each day and before any import or reset, so you can roll back in Settings → Backup & restore → Auto snapshots. You can export a backup yourself too. Contact: pp5066t@gmail.com (or Send feedback in Settings)

About

Echotter

Features
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Echotter,让真实播客成为你的外语学习材料。 从感兴趣的节目开始,借助逐字稿、中文译文和语境讲解,把听不懂的句子一步步听清楚。 • 双语逐字稿 边听边读原文与中文译文,跟随播放定位当前句子。 • 沉浸式精听 遮住原文,逐句重听,按需要调整语速、重复次数和句间停顿。揭开原文后,标记没听出的词语,存入词汇集;例句可连播回听,支持慢速。 • 结合语境查词 点击单词或选择短语,查看 AI 提供的释义与用法讲解。 • 收藏与复习 保存生词、搭配和句子,结合原句与原声复习;把精听中没听出的内容收藏起来,之后继续练习。 • 多语言学习 支持瑞典语、日语、英语、韩语、法语、西班牙语、泰语、挪威语和丹麦语学习,界面与讲解以简体中文呈现。 部分 AI 功能按额度使用,会员权益与价格以 App 内购买页面为准。AI 生成的逐字稿、翻译和讲解可能存在误差。 服务条款(EULA):https://echotter.com/terms 隐私政策:https://echotter.com/privacy

Screenshots

Kotonoha4 screens
Echotter4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Kotonoha at none against Echotter's 6. Kotonoha also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). Echotter's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 weeks). On price, ads and device support 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. Echotter sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Kotonoha asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Kotonoha ships an update every 2 weeks, Echotter every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 3 level
Kotonoha versus Echotter: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKotonohaEchotter
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size174 MB12 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCHANGTAI - DUYanlu Li

In-app purchases

None

Kotonoha

No in-app purchases

6 purchases

Echotter

Subscriptions6
  • Lite Monthly1 Month trial$2.991 Month
  • Core Monthly1 Month trial$4.991 Month
  • Deep Monthly1 Month trial$9.991 Month
Show 3 more
  • Lite Yearly$14.991 Year
  • Core Yearly$24.991 Year
  • Deep Yearly$49.991 Year

Questions

Is Kotonoha free?
Kotonoha is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Echotter free?
Echotter is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Kotonoha or Echotter have ads?
Neither Kotonoha nor Echotter shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Kotonoha or Echotter?
Kotonoha ships an update every 2 weeks, and Echotter every 3 days. Most recently, Kotonoha was updated on October 31, 2026 and Echotter on November 6, 2026.

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