Competitor-published review · evidence labeled
Kinnu review: a near-free general-knowledge app, read by a competitor
Kinnu turns subjects into short reading pathways with spaced-repetition review. It is one of the cheapest ways to study history on a phone. Here is what its listing and catalog show, and what they do not.
Short version: Kinnu is a well-rated general-knowledge app (4.8 from about 500 US ratings) whose listing shows almost nothing to pay: a $1.99 monthly item and optional certificates. Its public catalog lists 20 history pathways, from Ancient Rome to World War II. The trade-offs: lessons are reading, not stories; history is one subject among many; and the company's homepage now leads with exam prep.
What Kinnu is
Kinnu - General Knowledge, from Kinnu Limited, organizes subjects into pathways of short lessons. Its App Store listing promises "bite-sized, expert edited content", "Memory Shield technology" to review what you learned before you forget it, "interactive, adaptive questions and games" and an "audio version of all content". Its site describes the daily commitment as under five minutes.
History sits alongside science, technology, culture and more. The listing names four history areas: World History, Ancient Civilizations, Near Modern Civilizations and Rome. The public catalog on Kinnu's site goes further, with 20 history pathways including World War II, the Cold War, the French Revolution, the American Civil War, the Ottoman Empire and the Age of Exploration. Its World War II pathway lists ten lessons, from the war's origins to its aftermath. We have not checked which of these pathways appear in the app today.
Is Kinnu free?
Mostly, by its own account. Kinnu's site describes "a universe of free and fascinating pathways", and its US App Store listing shows only a $1.99 monthly item and three paid certificates at $7.99, $14.99 and $19.99. What the $1.99 item unlocks is not described on the listing.
| Item | US App Store price | What we know |
|---|---|---|
| Download | Free | "This app contains an optional in-app subscription" |
| Monthly | $1.99 | Not described on the listing |
| Kinnu Certificate | $7.99, $14.99 or $19.99 | Paid certificates, listed separately |
| Google Play | $2.29 to $20.99 per item | Android price range shown on its listing |
US App Store and Google Play listings checked October 13, 2026.
What we could verify, and what we could not
| Claim | Evidence level |
|---|---|
| 4.8 stars from 508 US ratings; version 10.66.1 dated September 2, 2026; iPhone and iPad on iOS 17 or later | US App Store listing, October 13, 2026 |
| On Android, 4.3 stars from about 7,200 reviews and 500K+ downloads | Google Play listing, October 13, 2026 |
| 20 history pathways, including a ten-lesson World War II pathway | Kinnu's public catalog |
| Expert-edited content, spaced review, audio version of all content | Publisher's own description, not audited by us |
| Exam prep for SQE, SAT, CFA and BCBA listed first on its homepage | Kinnu's homepage, October 13, 2026 |
| Lesson quality, accuracy, what the $1.99 item unlocks, which pathways are in the app | Not tested; we make no claim either way |
We did not install the app, create an account or pay.
Is Kinnu still being updated?
Yes, but the company's focus has widened. The iOS app's latest version on the US App Store is dated September 2, 2026, while Kinnu's homepage now leads with exam-prep products for the SQE, SAT, CFA and BCBA exams, with the general-knowledge app listed after them.
That is not a problem in itself; a free app with a large catalog keeps its value. It is worth knowing if you plan to rely on new history pathways arriving regularly.
Who Kinnu fits
A good fit if you…
- want to spend almost nothing
- like structured pathways and regular review
- are curious about several subjects, history among them
- use Android as well as iPhone
Look elsewhere if you…
- want history told as a story, with narration
- want a game layer with characters and levels
- need a citable reference for study or work
Kinnu vs Histia, stated fairly
Kinnu is wide and cheap: many subjects, reading pathways and spaced review, for almost nothing, on iPhone and Android. Histia is history only and narrower in tools: 78 narrated stories you can hear, read or watch, a written quiz after 27 of them, and a map through time from 3000 BCE to 2025. Histia costs more, $7.99 a month or $69.99 once, with three stories free; it is iPhone and iPad only. If you want to read and review many subjects at minimal cost, Kinnu is the better pick. If you want history to feel like a story you listen to, Histia is.
Prefer to listen to history?
Histia tells history as five-minute narrated stories with a map through time. World War II, Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Moon landing play free with no subscription.
Download Histia freeFrequently asked questions
Is Kinnu free?
Mostly, by its own account. Kinnu's site describes "a universe of free and fascinating pathways", and its US App Store listing shows only a $1.99 monthly item and three paid certificates at $7.99, $14.99 and $19.99. What the $1.99 item unlocks is not described on the listing.
Is Kinnu good for learning history?
It is one of the better-stocked general apps for history: its public catalog lists 20 history pathways, including World War II, the Cold War, the French Revolution and Ancient Rome. Lessons are short readings with spaced-repetition review and an audio version, not narrated stories or animations.
Is Kinnu still being updated?
Yes, but the company's focus has widened. The iOS app's latest version on the US App Store is dated September 2, 2026, while Kinnu's homepage now leads with exam-prep products for the SQE, SAT, CFA and BCBA exams, with the general-knowledge app listed after them.
Kinnu or Histia for history?
Kinnu if you want structured reading pathways at almost no cost, across many subjects, on iPhone or Android. Histia if you want history only, as narrated five-minute stories you can listen to, with a map through time, on iPhone or iPad. Histia publishes this page.
How we checked
On October 13, 2026 we read Kinnu's US App Store listing signed out, its Google Play listing, its homepage and its public history catalog. We did not install the app, create an account, start a subscription or buy a certificate, so this review covers what Kinnu offers and charges, not how well its lessons teach.
Official sources
- Kinnu - General Knowledge — US App Store listing and Google Play listing.
- Kinnu homepage (products and exam prep) and public history catalog, including the World War II pathway.
- Histia — US App Store listing.
Checked October 13, 2026. Prices and offers change by market and account.