# Harrap's Shorter dictionary vs The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide

Harrap's Shorter dictionary and The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide both sit at 4.5 stars, but that hides the real split: 67% of The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide's written reviews are positive against 50% of Harrap's Shorter dictionary's. The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide also leads on price ($9.99 vs $10.99). On rating, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Harrap's Shorter dictionary costs $10.99 and The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 3 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Harrap's Shorter dictionary's written reviews are positive against 67% of The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide's.

Harrap's Shorter dictionary ships an update every 22 months, The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide every 24 months. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Harrap's Shorter dictionary | The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $10.99 | **$9.99** |
| Rating | [4.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/harraps-shorter-dictionary/id700580389/reviews) | **[4.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-kodansha-kanji-usage-guide/id1069262969/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **3** |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | **66.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 22 months** | Every 24 months |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Size | 152 MB | 15 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 9.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Editions Larousse](https://appshunter.io/developer/326290567) | [CJKI](https://appshunter.io/developer/344405633) |

## What reviewers say

### Harrap's Shorter dictionary

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/harraps-shorter-dictionary/id700580389)

This comprehensive dictionary app provides extensive word definitions, translations, and usage notes. It includes features like verb conjugations, proverbs, and cultural insights, with customizable font sizes for readability.

**Highlights:** 400,000 words and phrases, 600,000 translations, Usage and cultural notes, Proverbs and idiomatic phrases, Verb conjugations, Customizable font sizes

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-kodansha-kanji-usage-guide/id1069262969)

This reference app helps intermediate Japanese learners understand and differentiate between kun homophones, words with the same kun reading but different kanji and meanings. It provides detailed usage articles, examples, and indexes for over 1,600 kanji.

**Highlights:** Detailed usage articles for kun homophones, Thousands of compound words and examples, Indexes for On-Kun reading and English meaning, Offline access, History and bookmarks, Jump to related dictionary app

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Harrap's Shorter dictionary free?

Harrap's Shorter dictionary costs $10.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide free?

The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Harrap's Shorter dictionary or The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide?

The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide is rated higher. Harrap's Shorter dictionary averages 4.5 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide averages 4.7 from 3 ratings.

### Do Harrap's Shorter dictionary or The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide have ads?

Neither Harrap's Shorter dictionary nor The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Harrap's Shorter dictionary or The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide?

Harrap's Shorter dictionary ships an update every 22 months, and The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide every 24 months. Most recently, Harrap's Shorter dictionary was updated on November 6, 2026 and The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide on November 6, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*