# Phrases vs Bunpo

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Bunpo at 18K against Phrases's 140. Bunpo also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 5 weeks) and rating (4.9 vs 4.6). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Phrases sells 19 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Bunpo sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Bunpo holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bunpo has 18K ratings behind it against 140, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 75% of Phrases's written reviews are positive against 72% of Bunpo's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Phrases ships an update every 5 weeks, Bunpo every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Phrases | Bunpo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (140 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phrases-learn-languages-fast/id949423502/reviews) | **[4.9 (18K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bunpo-language-learning/id1279720052/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 140 | **18K** |
| Positive reviews | **74.7% of reviews** | 72.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 200 MB | 202 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.1 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Andrey Lebedev](https://appshunter.io/developer/636486462) | [Bunpo Language Learning](https://appshunter.io/developer/1279720051) |

## What reviewers say

### Phrases

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phrases-learn-languages-fast/id949423502)

Master a new language with engaging exercises and a smart learning algorithm. Offers ready-made or custom lessons, a built-in dictionary, and hands-free learning options. Track progress, earn rewards, and achieve fluency in just 20 minutes a day.

**Highlights:** 8 unique exercises, Customizable lessons, Built-in dictionary, Accurate pronunciations, Smart learning algorithm, Progress tracking and rewards, Hands-free and offline modes

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

**In-app purchases (19)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Plus | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Plus | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium (English) | $13.99 | per month |
| Premium (Spanish) | $19.99 | per year |
| Premium (English) | $19.99 | per year |
| Premium (German) | $19.99 | per year |
| Premium Plus | $24.99 | per year |
| Premium (English) | $39.99 | per 3 months |
| Premium (Spanish) | $39.99 | per 3 months |
| Premium (French) | $39.99 | per year |
| Premium (German) | $39.99 | per year |
| Premium Plus | $47.99 | per year |
| Premium (Russian) | $79.99 | per year |
| Premium (German) | $79.99 | per year |
| Premium (English) | $79.99 | per year |
| Premium (English) | $79.99 | per year |
| Premium (Spanish) | $79.99 | per year |
| Premium Plus | $95.99 | per year |
| Premium Plus | $129.99 | one-time |


### Bunpo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bunpo-language-learning/id1279720052)

Master multiple languages with this comprehensive learning app. It offers detailed grammar explanations, vocabulary building, and smart review systems to help you progress from beginner to advanced levels. Learn Japanese, Korean, Spanish, French, German, and Chinese with interactive exercises and personalized study plans.

**Highlights:** Learn 6 languages, Master grammar with detailed explanations, Build vocabulary and kanji knowledge, Spaced repetition for smart review, Interactive quizzes and example sentences, Offline learning for Spanish, French, German, Chinese

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bunpo Plus Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Bunpo Platinum Monthly | $19.99 | per month |
| Bunpo Plus Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| Bunpo Plus Yearly | $39.99 | per year |
| Bunpo Platinum Yearly | $79.99 | per year |
| Bunpo Plus Lifetime | $39.99 | one-time |
| Bunpo Plus Lifetime | $44.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Helpful for learning Japanese
- 👍 Well-designed and organized
- 👍 Explains grammar and usage well
- 👍 Customizable to learning needs
- 👍 Effective spaced repetition

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Too much content locked behind paywall
- 🐛 Bugs and crashes reported
- 🐛 Issues with keyboard and text display
- 🐛 Inconsistencies in question answers
- 🔒 Lack of offline access to paid content

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes during lesson reviews
- Incorrect answers marked as wrong
- Text and keyboard issues on smaller screens
- Audio playback problems

**Requested features**

- Add landscape mode support for tablets
- Improve review options to revisit specific grammar points
- Expand vocabulary lessons and practice
- Add more languages beyond Japanese


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Phrases free?

Phrases is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Bunpo free?

Bunpo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Phrases or Bunpo?

Bunpo is rated higher. Phrases averages 4.6 out of 5 from 140 ratings, while Bunpo averages 4.9 from 18K ratings.

### Do Phrases or Bunpo have ads?

Neither Phrases nor Bunpo shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Phrases or Bunpo?

Phrases ships an update every 5 weeks, and Bunpo every 9 days. Most recently, Phrases was updated on October 24, 2026 and Bunpo on October 25, 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.*