Comparison

Simeji vs JPDBreader+α (Plus Alpha)

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

Head to head
About

Simeji

This keyboard app offers a customizable Japanese input experience with a vast library of emoticons, emoji, and stickers. It features a cloud-based dictionary for up-to-date slang and phrases, along with options to personalize your keyboard's appearance. Advanced users can enjoy VIP features like OCR and unlimited theme customization.

Highlights
  • Skinnable keyboard with custom wallpapers and themes
  • Extensive emoticon and emoji library with rankings
  • Cloud-based dictionary with 2M entries
  • Preset and user-shared phrases
  • Popular Simeji stickers
  • VIP exclusive themes and custom parts
  • OCR function for text conversion
Features
Read full description

Simeji is a free Japanese input keyboard that has reached over 39M downloads! It comes with a skinnable keyboard, cute emoticons, emoji, and more! This is the most popular keyboard app in Japan! Try it today! Simeji is a keyboard with these features! Skinnable keyboard - Add a wallpaper to your keyboard using a photo,image and video. - Chock-full of keyboard themes! - Also lots of features to change your text color and decorate your flick keyboard. Use cute emoticons and emoji - See the emoticon and emoji rankings to find the most popular ones! - Popular emoticons can be inserted immediately and let you add some spice to your chats on LINE, Twitter, and Facebook! Robust Japanese input and conversion features - The cloud-based dictionary contains 2M entries, covering everything from anime slang to the latest buzzwords - Lots of preset phrases you can use for Nico Nico, in-game chat, telling someone you're late, and more - As requested by users, the "Fun conversion" feature has now been added! There's also the "Everyone's Dictionary" feature, which lets you share cute emoticons with others. Easy keyboard input - Rapidly switch from the top of the keyboard to select emoticons, emoji, numerals, and special characters Popular Simeji stickers - Comes with the popular set of Simeji stickers New fun stickers are being uploaded by users every day! These cool stickers are free to use! [Simeij VIP] Plan 1) Simeji VIP monthly 400 yen / month 2) Simeji VIP 12 month 200 yen / month (2,400 yen per year) 50% OFF every year [About automatic renewal and cancellation] Free trial is only available when you register for VIP for the first time in the App Store. After the free trial, you will be automatically charged 400 yen per month. A monthly fee will be charged within 24 hours before the end of the subscription period. Unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the subscription period, your subscription will automatically continue. Payment will be charged to Apple ID account. Deleting an app does not cancel your subscription. Cancellation procedure cannot be performed on the Simeji App side. Please manage or cancel your subscription in your App Store account settings. Benefits VIP exclusive theme Unlimited use VIP special theme -Unlimited use of luxury keyboard custom parts theme and deco parts are upgraded for VIP only -Unlimited photo theme settings No need to organize when you create a new photo theme VIP fixed phrase & reverse lookup dictionary -You can select frequently used sentences incrementaly. VIP backup -Easy backup of user user dictionary OCR function -You can convert and save text and text when you take a picture of the screen or paper. Remove ads -Smooth input operations! * VIP exclusive theme function is not available on iPad. Please note. The information desk - Customer Support (simeji_support@baidu.com) Business hours: Monday to Friday 10: 00-18: 00 (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, and our designated holidays) * The contract for this service is automatically renewed. You will be automatically charged for renewal on a service-provided basis until the customer is suspended on the AppStore. * If the service is in the free trial period, the free period ends when you apply for the service. - Terms of use https://simeji.me/termofuse/ - Privacy Policy https://simeji.me/privacy/ - Display based on the Specified Commercial Transaction Law https://stat.ime.baidu.jp/page/terms/ios/premium/index.html

About

JPDBreader+α (Plus Alpha)

This Safari extension allows users to parse Japanese text on websites, access a dictionary, and identify unknown words. It also enables adding and reviewing flashcards, with unique 2D review modes for vocabulary learning at your own pace. Requires a JPDB.io account.

Highlights
  • Parse Japanese text on websites
  • Access Japanese dictionary
  • Identify unknown words
  • Add and review flashcards
  • 2D SRS vocabulary review
  • Learn words at your own pace
Features
Read full description

Everything that you know and love about the JPDBreader with just a little bit more! With this Safari extension, you can: - Parse Japanese you find on websites using your JPDB account. This means you can have easy access to a Japanese dictionary and can see at a glance which words you don't know yet. - Add new flashcards and review them straight from the popup - Lots of quality-of-life improvements aimed at touchscreen users - Review on JPDB.io in 2D! Introducing a new concept where all of your SRS vocabulary words are spread out on the screen, allowing you to review in your own order! - Learn new words at your own pace. Never again will you have to wait until all of your reviews are done Notes: This requires a JPDB.io account and the API key found in the settings page. Credit: This extension is built using Max-Kamp's original jpd-breader with additions/changes applied. Huge shoutout to him for his amazing work!

Screenshots

Simeji4 screens
JPDBreader+α (Plus Alpha)4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: JPDBreader+α (Plus Alpha) at none against Simeji's 19. JPDBreader+α (Plus Alpha) also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). Simeji's advantage is ratings volume (1.2K vs 2). On price, update cadence, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Simeji sells 18 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. JPDBreader+α (Plus Alpha) asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

JPDBreader+α (Plus Alpha) holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Simeji has 1.2K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Simeji ships an update every 2 weeks, JPDBreader+α (Plus Alpha) fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Simeji versus JPDBreader+α (Plus Alpha): the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSimejiJPDBreader+α (Plus Alpha)
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (1.2K ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews64.2% of reviews—
Number of ratings1.2K — better2
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterFortnightly
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size193 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBaidu Japan Inc.Franklin Fanelli

Customer experience

Simeji

All ratings1,193 ratings
Positive89.1%
Neutral5.5%
Negative5.4%
Written reviews159 reviews
Positive64.2%
Neutral11.3%
Negative24.5%

JPDBreader+α (Plus Alpha)

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Simeji

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Keyboard keeps asking for full access
  • Saved emojis/emoticons disappear
  • Intrusive popup ads

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add English language support
  • Improve QWERTY keyboard layout
  • Add auto-capitalization feature
  • Introduce simplified and traditional Chinese keyboards

JPDBreader+α (Plus Alpha)

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

18 purchases

Simeji

Subscriptions10
  • 月間会員7 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Simeji月間 VIP$2.991 Month
  • Simeji 月間VIP1 Month trial$2.991 Month
Show 7 more
  • Simeji VIP Lv1 1ヶ月コース(初月半額)1 Month trial$2.991 Month
  • 月額会員7 Days trial$3.491 Month
  • プレミアムサービス$9.996 Months
  • Simeji VIP7 Days trial$15.991 Year
  • 年間会員7 Days trial$21.991 Year
  • Simeji VIP年間会員$30.991 Year
  • Simeji VIP Lv2 年間コース$199.991 Year
One-time8
  • ガーリーうさぎ$1.99
  • クールブルー$1.99
  • ゆめかわユニコーン$1.99
Show 5 more
  • ユリ$1.99
  • クラシックピアノ$1.99
  • きらきらジュエリー シルバー$1.99
  • 白薔薇切り絵$1.99
  • [有料]まふまふきせかえ$2.99
None

JPDBreader+α (Plus Alpha)

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Simeji free?
Simeji is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is JPDBreader+α (Plus Alpha) free?
JPDBreader+α (Plus Alpha) is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Simeji or JPDBreader+α (Plus Alpha)?
JPDBreader+α (Plus Alpha) is rated higher. Simeji averages 4.6 out of 5 from 1.2K ratings, while JPDBreader+α (Plus Alpha) averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Simeji or JPDBreader+α (Plus Alpha) have ads?
Simeji shows ads; JPDBreader+α (Plus Alpha) does not.
Which is updated more often, Simeji or JPDBreader+α (Plus Alpha)?
Simeji ships an update every 2 weeks, and JPDBreader+α (Plus Alpha) fortnightly. Most recently, Simeji was updated on October 2, 2026 and JPDBreader+α (Plus Alpha) on September 30, 2026.

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