Comparison
Katakana Rocks! and the other apps for learning Japanese
These apps don’t all do the same job. This table sets out, feature by feature, what each one offers for learning Japanese, based on the publishers’ public information (sources at the bottom of the page). Checked on 11 September 2026.
Feature by feature
✓yes –partly, or only with the paid option ✗no Not stated : no public information from the publisher
| Feature | Katakana Rocks! | Duolingo | Rosetta Stone | HelloTalk | Praktika | MARU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No subscription | Yes. One-time purchase | Partly. Free, subscription optional (Super, Max)D1 | No. Monthly or annual subscriptionR2 | Partly. Free, VIP subscription optionalH1 | Partly. Limited free versionP1 | Yes. Free, Pro version as a one-time purchaseM1 |
| No ads | Yes. | Partly. Ads in the free versionD1 | Yes. R1 | Partly. Ads in the free versionH1H2 | Yes. No “Contains ads” label on Google PlayP2 | Partly. One ad after 5 mistakes, removed by ProM1 |
| No account needed | Yes. | You can start without oneT | No. Account requiredR2 | No. Profile required (social network)H2 | No. Free account requiredP2 | Yes. T |
| Hiragana and katakana, one by one | Yes. | Yes. “Characters” tabD2 | No. In the course, without dedicated lessonsR3 | Not stated | Not stated | Yes. M1 |
| Introduction to kanji | Yes. 244 everyday words | Yes. D2D3 | Yes. 300 to 400 kanji in the courseR3 | Not stated | Not stated | No. Kana onlyM1 |
| Writing, stroke order | No. | Yes. Tracing exercisesD2 | No. No stroke orderR3 | Not stated | Not stated | Yes. M1 |
| Speaking practice (microphone) | No. | Yes. D1 | Yes. TruAccent speech recognitionR1R2 | Yes. Voice messages and calls with native speakersH1 | Yes. P1 | No. Listening onlyM1 |
| Conversation with an AIneither an advantage nor a drawback | No | Yes, Video Call (Max subscription)D4 | Yes, Chat MissionsR2 | Yes, in separate apps (Talksy), free or included in VIPH3 | Yes, it is the core of the appP1 | NoM1 |
| Works offline (airplane mode) | Yes. | Partly. With the Super subscriptionD1 | Not stated | No. Online social networkH2 | Not stated | Partly. With ProM1 |
| Grammar through sentences | No. | Yes. D1 | Yes. Immersion in sentences, without explanationsR3 | Not stated | Yes. In conversationP1 | No. M1 |
| A video gamestory, levels, mini-games | Yes. Story, 36 levels, 5 game modes | Partly. Mini-games along the lessons, which remain the core of the appT | No. Language courseR2 | No. Social networkH2 | No. AI tutorP1 | No. Short exercisesM1 |
Each app, in one sentence
- Katakana Rocks! — A small game that teaches you, in a few hours, to read on your own the signs, menus and borrowed words of a trip to Japan — 5 minutes whenever you like.
- Duolingo — A complete course, lesson after lesson, that teaches the language through sentences, with the characters alongside. Katakana Rocks! vs Duolingo →
- Rosetta Stone — Immersion: matching pictures, sounds and sentences, without translation or grammar explanations. Katakana Rocks! vs Rosetta Stone →
- HelloTalk — A language-exchange social network: you chat with native speakers, who learn your language in return. Katakana Rocks! vs HelloTalk →
- Praktika — Speaking with an AI tutor avatar, to build the confidence to talk. Katakana Rocks! vs Praktika →
- MARU — Mastering the kana through short, varied exercises, without a story or real-life scenes. Katakana Rocks! vs MARU →
Sources
Consulted on 11 September 2026.
- D1 Duolingo — App Store listing
- D2 Duolingo — Blog: learning to read Japanese characters
- D3 Duolingo — Duolingo Wiki, Japanese course
- D4 Duolingo — Blog: Duolingo Max
- R1 Rosetta Stone — App Store listing (Rosetta Stone Classic)
- R2 Rosetta Stone — App Store listing (Rosetta Stone Sapphire), getting started guide
- R3 Rosetta Stone — Japademy review of the Japanese course (2026)
- H1 HelloTalk — App Store listing
- H2 HelloTalk — Blog: is HelloTalk free?, Tofugu review (“a social network built around language exchange”)
- H3 HelloTalk — HelloTalk AI apps, Talksy
- P1 Praktika — App Store listing, website
- P2 Praktika — Google Play listing
- M1 MARU — App Store listing
- T Tested by us in the app on 11 September 2026
Comparison made on 11 September 2026 by the publisher of Katakana Rocks!, from each publisher’s public information cited above. Offers change: if a cell is no longer accurate, let us know and we will correct it. Duolingo, Rosetta Stone, HelloTalk, Praktika, MARU are trademarks of their respective owners; Katakana Rocks! is not affiliated with any of them.
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