Updated September 30, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
JapanesePod101 vs Novakid
What sets them apart
| Compare | JapanesePod101 ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |  Novakid |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $4 | ₪379 |
| Price per month | $10 | ₪379 |
| Money-back period | 60 daysHigher | 14 days |
| Languages | Japanese | English |
| Lesson length (minutes) | 30 to 60 | 25 to 45 |
| Lesson price from | $37.25 | Not confirmed |
| Free trial length | 7 days | Not confirmed |
| Highest CEFR level | Not confirmed | B1 |
| AI conversation practice | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Offline use | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Kids version | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Family subscription | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Markets | Not confirmed | IL, AE, SA, AM, CN, HK, TW, HR, CZ, DK, NL, EE, FI, FR, DE, CH, GR, HU, ID, IT, JP, KZ, KR, LV, LT, MY, NO, PL, PT, BR, RO, RU, SK, SI, ES, AR, CL, CO, PE, MX, SE, TR, UA |
Same on both: Free tier (Yes), Certificate (Yes).
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Key differences
- JapanesePod101 scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 8.5.
- Money-back period is higher at JapanesePod101: 60 days vs 14 days.
- Support channels: only JapanesePod101 offers Email, Help centre.
- Support channels: only Novakid offers Chat.
- Languages: only JapanesePod101 offers Japanese.
- Languages: only Novakid offers English.
- Learning method: only JapanesePod101 offers Audio.
Our verdict on each
JapanesePod101
JapanesePod101 suits learners who want Japanese alone, combining app and audio study, offline downloads, a certificate and live classes in sessions of 30 to 60 minutes. An entry price of $4 and a 7 days free trial keep the first commitment small, with a free tier behind the trial.
Novakid
Novakid suits families who want live English lessons for children alongside app practice, and the ILS 379 monthly fee covers a 3,900 tutor pool with certified staff. Budget families starting from nothing should weigh it against free app-first options such as Bunpro.
Score breakdown
| Area | JapanesePod101 | Novakid |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0HigherEntry at $4 and $10 monthly sit above Bunpro at $0 and Reading Eggs at £6.99, though private lessons start at $37.25. | 8.2Monthly fees start at ILS 379, above €0 and $0, with a money-back window of 14 days. |
| Offer | 9.1HigherA single subscription spans app, audio and live 1to1, with a certificate available and offline downloads supported, so paid study covers private and group classes. | 9.0Free tier, free trial lesson, 3,900 tutors and AI conversation sit in a single subscription. |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 8.4Tutors are certified, the operator is Novakid Inc in US, founded 2017, with a 14 days refund window. |
How they place
| Ranking | JapanesePod101 | Novakid |
|---|---|---|
| Language learning apps | 17 of 46 | 33 of 46 |
| Online language tutors and classes | 9 of 25 | 14 of 25 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | JapanesePod101 | Novakid |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United States |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | JapanesePod101 | Novakid |
|---|---|---|
| Learning method | App, Audio, Live 1to1, Live groupCovers more | App, Live 1to1, Live group |
| Legal entity | Innovative Language Learning | Novakid Inc |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United States |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2017 |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre | Chat |
Tutoring
| Fact | JapanesePod101 | Novakid |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription price | Not confirmed | $95 |
| Trial lesson | Not confirmed | Free |
| Subjects | Not confirmed | English |
| Lesson format | Not confirmed | 1to1, Group, App |
| Number of tutors | Not confirmed | 3,900 |
| Tutor vetting | Not confirmed | Certified |
| Minimum age | Not confirmed | 4 |
| Cancellation notice | Not confirmed | 8 hours |
| Satisfaction guarantee | Not confirmed | 14-day money-back guarantee |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | JapanesePod101 | Novakid | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free trial length | 7 daysat the median | Not confirmed | 7 days |
| Money-back period | 60 dayshighest quarter | 14 daysbelow the median | 30 days |
| Lesson length (minutes) | 30 to 60at the median | 25 to 45below the median | 30 |
Median across 33 listed providers.
Pros and cons
JapanesePod101
Pros
- app, audio and live 1to1 puts app, audio, private classes and group classes in a single subscription, so a learner can move between formats without buying a second platform.
- Private classes start at $37.25 for 30 to 60 minutes, and that entry lesson price ranks 6 of 6 on the tutor comparison.
- A 60 days money back period ranks 2 of 29 on that measure, ahead of the rest of the group.
Cons
- Support runs on email and help centre only, so a spoken conversation is not part of the service.
- The catalogue covers Japanese alone, so a second language means a second subscription.
- A 7 days trial is brief, ranking 8 of 21 on trial length across the brands listed.
Novakid
Pros
- Live one-to-one and group lessons plus app practice, in 1to1, group and app formats, with sessions of 25 to 45 minutes
- A free tier and a free trial lesson mean a first month can be tested before any payment
- A kids version and a family subscription cover more than one child on the same account
Cons
- Only English is taught, since english lists english and English covers English alone
- Levels stop at B1, below the advanced bands that fluent learners work toward
- Support runs on chat only, with no email or phone line listed
Who each suits
JapanesePod101
Who it suits
- Learners who want live teacher contact as well as self study, since app, audio and live 1to1 puts app, audio, private classes and group classes in a single subscription.
- Readers who want a long window to change their mind, given the free tier, the 7 days trial and the 60 days money back period.
- Commuters and travellers, since offline downloads are supported for the app and audio side.
Who should look elsewhere
- Bunpro at $0 if starting at no cost matters more than having a teacher.
- Reading Eggs at £6.99 for a reader weighing subscriptions across several languages rather than a Japanese catalogue.
- Readers who need spoken support, since contact runs on email and help centre.
Novakid
Who it suits
- Parents buying live English tutoring for a child who prefers a real teacher to an app
- Families wanting one subscription covering a kids version and a family plan
- Learners who want a certificate at the end of a course
Who should look elsewhere
- Learners after the B1 level, since the programme does not extend past it
- Anyone wanting a second language, as English covers English only
- Price-first households who can start free with Bunpro or Reading Eggs before paying
Questions about each
JapanesePod101
What does JapanesePod101 cost for a first subscription?+
Two figures matter. The entry plan starts at $4, and the monthly plan is $10, both listed in USD. The entry figure is the number to check at sign-up, while the monthly plan is what a reader pays as the subscription continues. Private live classes are priced apart from both figures.
How much is a private lesson and how long does it last?+
A private live class has a lesson price of $37.25, and each session runs 30 to 60 minutes. That places it under the €44.31 for lesson prices across this comparison, so a reader moving to private classes sees a moderate rather than premium rate.
Novakid
How much does Novakid cost a month?+
The monthly plan is ILS 379, and entry pricing begins at the same level at ILS 379, so the lowest package and the monthly figure describe one spend. Both are quoted without a separate annual or lifetime tier. Families wanting live lessons should budget the monthly figure rather than a cheaper app rate.
Is there a free trial or free plan?+
Both exist. The free tier lets a family open the app and start without paying, and a free trial lesson adds a live session with a tutor at no cost. Together they mean a first month of live teaching can be sampled before any commitment, which is unusual for a subscription of this size.