Comparison

FirstKaruta vs EnglishTouchCD

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

Head to head
About

FirstKaruta

This app helps children memorize the Hyakunin Isshu by breaking down the 100 poems into smaller groups. It offers various menus, including practice modes, a cat character opponent, and a quick memorization tool, all with furigana and child-friendly explanations.

Highlights
  • Memorize poems in small groups
  • Furigana for all text
  • Child-friendly explanations of poem meanings
  • Audio readings by a professional voice actor
  • Practice modes and opponent battles
  • Quick memorization tool for fixed phrases
  • Includes 101 poems, including competitive karuta intro songs
Features
Read full description

Begin your child's first steps into Hyakunin Isshu with Chamame the cat. This Japanese karuta learning app helps children from age 3 enjoy and memorize all 100 classic poems, gently and at their own pace. Every screen includes furigana, with clear narration by a trained vocalist. "100 poems is far too many." "The old words make no sense." These are the two walls that trip children up, and Hajimete Karuta was built to break down both. ◆ Learn alongside Chamame the cat With a charming companion by their side, children keep going. Winning and losing at karuta makes them naturally want to learn more. ◆ 100 poems, a little at a time The full set is split into small groups and practiced in a steady cycle — letters, meaning, sound, key syllables (kimariji), and a final challenge — so it sinks in without feeling overwhelming. ◆ Furigana on everything, so even young children can play alone From the reading cards to the poem explanations, every screen includes furigana. Any child who can read hiragana can focus and play on their own. ◆ When the meaning clicks, the poems stop being a mystery Even the love and quiet sadness in the poems are retold in short, gentle words, so each one feels close and familiar. ◆ Easy-to-hear narration by a real voice Recorded by a trained vocalist with the warm, gentle tone of a mother — clear, correctly pronounced Japanese. ◆ Learn the key syllables naturally The kimariji, the opening syllables that decide a card, make all the difference in karuta. Children pick them up through play. ◆ More to explore, a full set of modes - Kimariji speed memorization: sort the cards you know from the ones you don't, and repeat just the tricky ones - Recitation: 101 poems recorded, including the joka opening verse used in competitive karuta, so you can play real karuta with your own cards - Card sweep: check the key syllables from the second half of each poem, great for competitive karuta practice A great first step toward competitive karuta, too. For ages 3 to adult — your child's Hyakunin Isshu debut, right at home. - Recommended age: 3 and up - Save data: up to 3 players per device (great for siblings) - Universal app for iPhone and iPad

About

EnglishTouchCD

Features
Read full description

アプリEnglishTouch, little, Juniorの中のストーリー、ワード、チャンツ、フォニクスの音源のアプリです。 CDの音を聞きなながら、また音源のガイドの後にリピートすることでストーリーの文章に触れ、、また自然的に真似しながら、 英語の楽しさを満喫することができると構成となっています。 子供が一人で聴きながら読み進める事が出来る内容で、また、ブックごとに全ての音源を再生するボタンも用意されています。

Screenshots

FirstKaruta4 screens
EnglishTouchCD4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: EnglishTouchCD at Free against FirstKaruta's $5.99. EnglishTouchCD also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). FirstKaruta's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 4 months). On ads, in-app purchases 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

EnglishTouchCD is free to download; FirstKaruta costs $5.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

FirstKaruta ships an update fortnightly, EnglishTouchCD every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 5 level
FirstKaruta versus EnglishTouchCD: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFirstKarutaEnglishTouchCD
Price$5.99Free — better
Positive reviews70.0% of reviews—
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size149 MB17 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developerpolygondrill co.,Ltd.AlqMedia Co., Ltd

In-app purchases

None

FirstKaruta

No in-app purchases

None

EnglishTouchCD

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is FirstKaruta free?
FirstKaruta costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is EnglishTouchCD free?
EnglishTouchCD is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do FirstKaruta or EnglishTouchCD have ads?
Neither FirstKaruta nor EnglishTouchCD shows ads.
Which is updated more often, FirstKaruta or EnglishTouchCD?
FirstKaruta ships an update fortnightly, and EnglishTouchCD every 4 months. Most recently, FirstKaruta was updated on November 1, 2026 and EnglishTouchCD on October 30, 2026.

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