Best Apps to Learn Hiragana and Katakana (2026)
Japanese from Japan is this site, and our free kana pages are in the table with their gaps. No link on this page is an affiliate link.
To learn the kana fast, use picture mnemonics and come back to them daily. For mnemonics: Tofugu: Learn Hiragana and Learn Katakana and Dr. Moku. For stroke order and writing practice: Tofugu: Learn Hiragana and Learn Katakana, Dr. Moku, Kana Pro, Renshuu and Duolingo Japanese (characters tab). For spaced review that brings back the ones you forget: Tofugu: Learn Hiragana and Learn Katakana, Kana Pro and Renshuu. If you want a course that keeps going after the kana, Dr. Moku, Renshuu, Duolingo Japanese (characters tab), LingoDeer (Japanese Alphabet unit) and Real Kana do. Our own kana pages are free charts, worksheets and a quiz, with no app and no mnemonics.
Eight ways to learn the kana, side by side
| Feature | Japanese from Japan(this site) | Tofugu: Learn Hiragana and Learn Katakana | Dr. Moku | Kana Pro | Renshuu | Duolingo Japanese (characters tab) | LingoDeer (Japanese Alphabet unit) | Real Kana |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All kana freeLearn every hiragana and katakana without paying. | Yes Quiz: 5 starts a day before free sign-up | Yes Hiragana and katakana guides | Yes Free web guides; app packs are paid | Yes All kana in the free quiz; some modes paid | Yes Hiragana and katakana paths, free | Yes In the free plan, with ads | Yes The whole Alphabet unit is free | Partly Hiragana free; katakana is paid |
| Stroke orderShows how to write each kana, stroke by stroke. | Yes In the printable tracing PDFs | Not found None found in the guide | Yes Animated in the app | Not checked Not checked: not on its official pages | Partly Tracing exercises; order not explained | Not found None found for kana | Not found None found | |
| Writing practiceYou draw the kana on screen or on paper with a guide. | Yes Printable tracing and practice sheets | Yes Trace and write pages in the free PDF book | Yes Free printable sheets | Yes Follow the strokes on screen | Partly Writing answers in quizzes; kana use not stated | Yes Trace characters on screen | Not found None found: Character Drill is for kanji | Not found None found: you type romaji |
| Picture mnemonicsA picture or story to remember each kana. | Not found None found | Not checked Not checked: kanji mnemonics listed, kana not | Not found None found | Not found None found | Not found None found | |||
| Spaced reviewBrings back the kana you forget more often (spaced repetition). | Partly Timed worksheet steps and an Anki deck | Not found None found | Partly Adaptive picks; not called spaced repetition | Not found None found for characters | Not found None found: flashcards and quizzes | Not checked Not checked: lists "Review", no schedule | ||
| Audio for each kanaPlays how each kana sounds. | Yes Audio charts in the app | Not checked Not checked for single kana | Yes Female and male voices | |||||
| Works in a browserNo app needed: use it on a website. | Yes Free guides on the web | Not checked Not checked: blog describes the app tab | ||||||
| iOS and Android appA native app in the App Store and Google Play. | Not found None found: web guide and PDF | Partly iPhone only | ||||||
| Goes on past kanaContinues into words, grammar or kanji after the kana. | Yes Free lessons and daily news posts | Partly Grammar articles; kanji via WaniKani (paid) | Yes Kanji and phrasebook packs | Not found None found: kana only | Yes Kana words, sentences and kanji decks |
Checked on each product's own pages. Click a mark to see where. Swipe sideways on a phone to see every column.
Pick them if
Pick Tofugu: Learn Hiragana and Learn Katakana if
Self-learners who want a free, step-by-step article that teaches each kana with a picture mnemonic and has them reading hiragana "in a few hours".
- A picture mnemonic and an audio clip for every kana, free
- A clear order to follow, with worksheets and a quiz at each step
- A free printable PDF book with writing practice
Not for: People who want an app that tracks progress and schedules reviews; it is a long web article with worksheets and a separate quiz.
Pick Dr. Moku if
Visual learners: "a picture and a story for every character", with animated stroke order in the app and free guides and worksheets on the web.
- Picture mnemonics for every kana, free on the web
- Animated stroke order and audio charts in the app
- Free printable writing sheets with stroke order
Not for: People who want spaced review or a free app: the app's kana content is sold in packs.
Pick Kana Pro if
Learners who want a focused kana trainer that "adapts to your progress", with writing drills, in the browser or the app, with no account needed.
- Adaptive quiz that tracks each kana and brings back weak ones
- Stroke order, sound and writing drills, on the web and in iOS and Android apps
- Lifetime Premium for one small payment
Not for: People who want mnemonics or lessons past kana: it is a kana trainer only.
Pick Renshuu if
Learners who want kana in a spaced-repetition system that then carries on into vocabulary, kanji and grammar; the free version has no time limit.
- Spaced-repetition review with mastery schedules, free with no time limit
- Goes on from kana to vocabulary, kanji and grammar in the same account
Not for: Someone who only wants a quick kana chart or quiz without an account.
Pick Duolingo Japanese (characters tab) if
People already doing the Duolingo Japanese course who want short, game-like character lessons with tracing, matching and sound exercises, in the app.
- Kana lessons sit inside a full course that goes on to words and sentences
- Short tracing, matching and listening drills with streaks that keep people practising
Not for: Learners who want mnemonics, stroke order explained or a quick standalone kana tool without an account.
Pick LingoDeer (Japanese Alphabet unit) if
Beginners who want a free kana unit with audio as the first step of a structured Japanese course written by teachers.
- A free kana unit with audio for each character, in the app and on the web
- Leads straight into a structured course with grammar notes
Not for: People who want mnemonics, writing practice for kana or a full free course: lessons after Unit 1 need a paid membership.
Pick Real Kana if
Learners who already met the kana and want fast drills: pick characters, words or sentences and type the romaji.
- Fast typing drills for single kana, words and sentences
- Audio for each character and hundreds of practice words
Not for: Complete beginners who need the kana taught (no mnemonics or stroke order), or anyone who wants katakana free: it is a paid unlock.
Pick Japanese from Japan if
Learners who like paper: free kana charts and tracing worksheets from a Japanese elementary-school publisher, plus a quick multiple-choice quiz for all 71 hiragana and katakana.
- Tracing worksheets with stroke order from a Japanese elementary-school publisher, free
- A quick quiz both ways (kana to romaji and back) for all 71 kana
- Free lessons and tools to move on to after kana
Where we're weaker
- vs Tofugu: Learn Hiragana and Learn Katakana: Tofugu teaches each kana with a mnemonic and audio; we give a chart, worksheets and a quiz
- vs Dr. Moku: Dr. Moku teaches each kana with a picture and has an app with audio; we have neither
- vs Kana Pro: Kana Pro has audio, on-screen writing and adaptive review; our quiz has none of these
- vs Renshuu: Renshuu brings back the kana you miss on a schedule; our quiz picks characters at random
- vs Duolingo Japanese (characters tab): Duolingo is an app with sound and a full course; our kana pages have no audio and no app
- vs LingoDeer (Japanese Alphabet unit): LingoDeer's kana unit has audio and an app; ours has neither
- vs Real Kana: Real Kana drills real words and sentences with audio; our quiz drills single characters, with no sound
And in general:
- No audio: you can't hear any kana on our pages
- No mnemonics and no spaced review: the quiz picks characters at random
- No app, and no on-screen writing: stroke order is only in printable PDFs with Japanese labels
- The quiz stops after 5 starts a day unless you join
Prices side by side (as of Nov 2026)
Japanese from Japan as of Nov 2026
- Charts, worksheets and quiz: FreeNo payment. The quiz allows 5 starts a day, then asks you to join (free).
Tofugu: Learn Hiragana and Learn Katakana as of Nov 2026
- Guides, quiz, worksheets and PDF book: FreeNo account. The Learn Hiragana Book is a free PDF download.
Dr. Moku as of Nov 2026
- Web guides and worksheets: FreeHiragana and katakana guides, printable PDFs
- Hiragana Content Pack (app): US$4.99App Store (US); its site says one-time payment, no subscription
- Katakana Content Pack (app): US$4.99App Store (US)
- All Japanese Content (app): US$12.99App Store (US)
- The Complete Bundle (app): US$24.99App Store (US); all languages
Kana Pro as of Nov 2026
- Free: FreeNo account needed; some study modes and limits need Premium
- Premium (lifetime): US$4.99One purchase, all devices. Price from App Store (US); kana.pro shows it at checkout
Renshuu as of Nov 2026
- Free: US$0"The free version is unlimited", ad-free
- renshuu pro subscription: US$3.99 or US$6.99App Store (US) list; billing period not shown. No price on the signed-out site
- 1 year of renshuu pro: US$49.99 or US$59.99App Store (US) list
- Lifetime renshuu pro: US$109.99 or US$129.99App Store (US) list
Duolingo Japanese (characters tab) as of Nov 2026
- Free: US$0With ads and limited hearts
- Super Duolingo: US$9.99 to US$119.99App Store (US) price list; billing period not shown. No price on duolingo.com/super
LingoDeer (Japanese Alphabet unit) as of Nov 2026
- Free: US$0"Everything in Alphabet", Unit One and the Travel Phrasebook
- Monthly: US$14.99Renews automatically
- Quarterly: US$39.99Renews automatically
- Annually: US$95.99Shown as 40% off US$159.99 (sale on Nov 4, 2026)
- 3-year premium: US$189.99Black Friday offer; app prices can differ
Real Kana as of Nov 2026
- Hiragana: Free"Hiragana is free with all app features"
- Membership: US$5Unlocks katakana and kanji on iOS and web; billing period not stated
- Katakana (iOS): US$2.99App Store (US); also Katakana + Kanji US$4.99
FAQ
What is the fastest way to learn hiragana?
Most learners do it in one to two weeks with picture mnemonics and daily review. Options here with mnemonics: Tofugu: Learn Hiragana and Learn Katakana and Dr. Moku. With spaced review: Tofugu: Learn Hiragana and Learn Katakana, Kana Pro and Renshuu. Then read real words as soon as you can.
Is there a free app to learn all the kana?
Yes. All kana are free on Japanese from Japan, Tofugu: Learn Hiragana and Learn Katakana, Dr. Moku, Kana Pro, Renshuu, Duolingo Japanese (characters tab) and LingoDeer (Japanese Alphabet unit). Some others are free for hiragana only and charge for katakana.
Should I learn hiragana and katakana at the same time?
Most courses teach hiragana first, then katakana, because hiragana carries grammar and most words. Katakana goes faster once you know hiragana: the sounds are the same.
Do I need to learn stroke order?
It helps if you plan to write by hand, and it makes kanji easier later. Options that show it: Japanese from Japan, Dr. Moku, Kana Pro and Duolingo Japanese (characters tab).
Do you earn money from these links?
No. None of the links on this page are affiliate links.
We checked every fact on this page on each product's own site in Nov 2026. Spotted an error, or a product we should add? Email support@sblocktechnologies.com and we'll check it within a week. Being listed is free.