Best Apps to Learn Japanese (2026), Honestly Compared
Keiko is our sister app: the company that runs Japanese from Japan makes it. We list it with its gaps. No link on this page is an affiliate link.
No single app covers everything, so most learners combine two. For a course from zero: Duolingo, LingoDeer, Busuu Japanese, JapanesePod101 and Pimsleur Japanese. For kanji with spaced review: WaniKani and Renshuu. For grammar explained in English: Bunpro, Renshuu, LingoDeer, Busuu Japanese and JapanesePod101. For speaking: Duolingo and Pimsleur Japanese. Free plans you can really learn on: Duolingo, Renshuu, Busuu Japanese and Anki. If you are preparing for the JLPT, Keiko (our sister app) is test practice, not a course.
Ten apps side by side
| Feature | Duolingo | WaniKani | Bunpro | Renshuu | LingoDeer | Busuu Japanese | JapanesePod101 | Pimsleur Japanese | Anki | Keiko: JLPT Study Coach(our sister site) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Useful free planYou can learn a lot without paying, not only a short trial. | Yes Full course free, with ads and hearts | Partly Levels 1 to 3 free (about 100 kanji) | Partly Reading pages free; reviews need Premium | No Only the alphabet and Unit One are free | Yes Main course free; kana courses paid | Partly First 3 lessons per pathway | No Free lesson and 7-day trial only | Yes Free except on iPhone and iPad | Partly Daily drills, weekly mini mock; limits | |
| Course from zeroLessons in a set order for a complete beginner. | Partly Kanji in set levels, not a full course | No Grammar and vocab SRS, not a lesson course | Partly Lesson packs from kana up; you choose | Yes Complete Japanese, A1 to B2 | Yes Pathways by level | Yes "Level 1 starts at absolute zero" | No Flashcards only; no course | No Practice and review, not lessons | ||
| Kanji with spaced reviewTeaches kanji and brings them back on a spaced-repetition schedule. | Not checked Not checked (its course page doesn't say) | No Vocab SRS; no kanji course found | Partly SRS reviews of the course; no kanji deck | Partly Kanji course; spaced review not stated | Partly Kanji tools and SRS flashcards, Premium | No Reads some kanji; no kanji SRS found | Partly SRS for any deck; kanji decks are shared | Not found None found: mistake review, no kanji SRS | ||
| Grammar explained in EnglishGrammar points written up in English, not only drills. | Not checked Not checked (its course page doesn't say) | Not found None found: kanji and vocabulary only | Yes 900+ grammar write-ups | Yes 800+ grammar points | Yes Grammar tips in each lesson | Yes Grammar Bank, lesson notes | Partly Short grammar "Minis", no grammar course | No None of its own | Partly AI explanations of questions, can be wrong | |
| Native speaker audioRecorded audio from Japanese speakers. | Not checked Not checked (page doesn't say who records) | Partly Vocabulary audio, two Tokyo voices | Yes On all grammar example sentences | Yes 15,000+ native-recorded word files | Not checked Not checked (its page doesn't say) | Yes Audio and video lessons | No Only if a deck you add has it | Not checked Not checked (listening drills; voices not stated) | ||
| Speaking practiceYou speak and the app responds, checks or prompts you. | Yes Course teaches speaking | Not found None found | Not found None found | Not found None found | Partly Speaking practice with stories | Partly AI chat on Premium Plus, select languages | Partly Pronunciation tools, Premium plans | Yes Speak-aloud lessons and AI Voice Coach | Not found None found | Not found None found |
| Organised by JLPT levelContent sorted by JLPT level N5 to N1. | Not found None found | No Its own 60 levels, not JLPT levels | No Course levels A1 to B1, not JLPT | No Uses CEFR levels A1 to B2 | Partly JLPT page and N4, N5 study plans | Not found None found | No None of its own (shared decks may be) | Yes N5 to N1 | ||
| iOS and Android appA native app in the App Store and Google Play. | No No official app (third-party apps only) | Yes AnkiMobile is paid; AnkiDroid is free | Yes iPhone, iPad and Android | |||||||
| Works in a browserCan be used on a website, not only in an app. | Yes Web-based app listed | Partly Review on AnkiWeb; full app is desktop | Yes On JLPTPracticeTest.com |
Checked on each product's own pages. Click a mark to see where. Swipe sideways on a phone to see every column.
Duolingo vs WaniKani
Duolingo: People who want a daily habit: short, game-like lessons ("Learn Japanese in just 5 minutes a day. For free.") with streaks and reminders.
WaniKani: Learners who want to read kanji: over 2,000 kanji and over 6,000 words taught with mnemonics, radicals and a spaced-repetition review schedule.
So the question is usually not which one, but whether you need a kanji app on top of a course. If you can read kana and want kanji to stick, WaniKani's free levels show you in a week whether its pace suits you.
Pick them if
Pick Duolingo if
People who want a daily habit: short, game-like lessons ("Learn Japanese in just 5 minutes a day. For free.") with streaks and reminders.
- The whole course is free, on a phone or in a browser
- Streaks, reminders and games that keep people practising every day
Not for: Learners who want grammar explained in depth, kanji drills or JLPT prep; the free plan has limited hearts and ads.
Pick WaniKani if
Learners who want to read kanji: over 2,000 kanji and over 6,000 words taught with mnemonics, radicals and a spaced-repetition review schedule.
- A clear kanji path with mnemonics for every radical, kanji and word
- A strict spaced-repetition schedule that makes kanji stick
Not for: Anyone who wants grammar, speaking or a phone app from the maker: it teaches kanji and vocabulary only, in a browser.
Pick Bunpro if
Learners who want to drill grammar: write-ups for over 900 grammar points with spaced-repetition reviews, vocabulary decks and progress by JLPT level.
- Over 900 grammar points with example sentences and native audio
- Spaced reviews for grammar, which most apps don't have
- A long free trial (30 days) and a lifetime option
Not for: Complete beginners who want a guided course with speaking, or anyone who wants reviews for free: SRS reviews need Premium.
Pick Renshuu if
Self-learners who want one free place for vocabulary, kanji and grammar, with lessons for textbooks like Genki and Minna no Nihongo and for each JLPT level.
- Most of it is free with no time limit and no ads
- Vocabulary, kanji and grammar together, sorted by JLPT level and textbook
Not for: Learners who want a polished, guided course: you pick or build your own path, and there are many settings to learn.
Pick LingoDeer if
Beginners who want a Duolingo-style app with real grammar notes: a Japanese course "from scratch" (A1 to B1) with native speaker audio for every sentence.
- Clear grammar explanations inside a step-by-step app course
- Every sentence voiced by native speakers
- One-time multi-year plans if you don't want a subscription
Not for: Anyone who wants to stay free (only the alphabet and Unit One are free) or who is past intermediate level.
Pick Busuu Japanese if
Beginners who want a general course: Complete Japanese has 570+ lessons (A1 to B2), plus kana, kanji and travel courses and feedback from Japanese speakers.
- A long course from beginner to B2, with separate kana and kanji courses
- Feedback on your writing and speaking from Japanese speakers
Not for: JLPT learners who want content by N level, or anyone who wants the kana and kanji courses free (they need Premium).
Pick JapanesePod101 if
Learners who study by listening: a large audio and video lesson library in pathways by level, with lesson notes and, on Premium PLUS, a teacher.
- Hundreds of audio and video lessons in order, with new ones every week
- Lesson notes, a grammar bank and a teacher on the top plan
Not for: Anyone who wants it free (the free plan has the first 3 lessons of each pathway) or a short, game-like daily app.
Pick Pimsleur Japanese if
People who want to speak and understand: 30-minute audio lessons, 5 levels from zero, made to use hands-free while driving or walking.
- Speaking from day one, with pronunciation feedback
- Lessons work hands-free and offline, even in the car
Not for: Learners who want grammar rules, kanji study or JLPT prep: it teaches by listening, with only short grammar notes and some reading.
Pick Anki if
Learners who want full control of their review: a flashcard program that schedules each card for when you're about to forget it, with shared decks for Japanese.
- Free on desktop and Android, with free sync
- Spaced review you can tune, for any words or kanji you choose
Not for: Anyone who wants lessons: Anki has no course of its own, so you bring or download decks and set them up.
Pick Keiko: JLPT Study Coach if (our sister site)
Learners who already study Japanese and are preparing for the JLPT: daily drills, mock tests, listening practice and AI explanations of missed questions, N5 to N1.
- Built for the JLPT: drills, timed mocks and listening for every level
- Explains why an answer is right or wrong, and keeps your mistakes for review
Not for: Complete beginners: it is a JLPT practice coach, not a course, and it doesn't teach kana, kanji or grammar step by step. It is new, with no ratings yet.
What to watch out for
- Duolingo: Not built around the JLPT or kanji study, so serious learners add other tools
- Duolingo: Free plan limits mistakes (hearts) and shows ads
- WaniKani: No grammar, speaking or listening practice: you need another resource for those
- WaniKani: No official phone app, and you can't skip ahead even if you pay
- Bunpro: Reviews, its main feature, are paid after the trial
- Bunpro: Costs more in the iOS app than on its website
- Renshuu: Busy screens and many settings; it takes time to set up
- Renshuu: No speaking practice found
- LingoDeer: Very little is free: you pay after Unit One
- LingoDeer: Stops at intermediate (B1) level
- Busuu Japanese: Prices change a lot between its website and the app
- Busuu Japanese: Some Premium Plus speaking tools are only "in select languages"; check Japanese first
- JapanesePod101: The low monthly prices assume a 24-month plan, and the app shows other prices
- JapanesePod101: Long listening lessons, less drill and review than SRS apps
- Pimsleur Japanese: One of the most expensive options here, with little free
- Pimsleur Japanese: Light on reading and writing: no kanji course or JLPT prep
- Anki: No lessons: you need decks, and shared decks vary in quality
- Anki: Setup and settings take time to learn; the iPhone app costs US$24.99
- Keiko: JLPT Study Coach: Not a course: no lessons for kana, kanji or grammar, and no speaking practice
- Keiko: JLPT Study Coach: New app (version 1.1.0) with no ratings yet on the App Store or Google Play; its AI explanations can make mistakes
Prices side by side (as of Nov 2026)
In-app prices are often higher than on the web, and several apps were running sales when we checked.
Duolingo as of Nov 2026
- Free: US$0Learning content, with ads and limited hearts
- Super: 1 week free, then a paid planNo price on its website (shown in the app); unlimited hearts, no ads
- Super (US App Store): US$9.99 to US$119.99Store lists several Super prices (US$9.99, US$12.99, US$83.99, US$95.99, US$119.99) without saying which is monthly or yearly
- Super Family: Paid, up to 6 accountsNo price shown on its Super page
WaniKani as of Nov 2026
- Free: US$0Levels 1 to 3 only
- Monthly: US$9 a monthTax or VAT may be added; charged in USD
- Annual: US$89 a yearTax or VAT may be added
- Lifetime: US$299 onceTax or VAT may be added
Bunpro as of Nov 2026
- Free: US$0Grammar and vocab pages and reading passages; no SRS reviews
- Premium (web): US$5 a month30-day free trial, no card needed; yearly plan is "12 months for the price of 10" (yearly price not shown without the toggle)
- Lifetime (web): US$150 one time
- In the iOS app: US$6.49 a month, US$64.99 a year, US$194.99 lifetimeApp Store prices are higher than on its website
Renshuu as of Nov 2026
- Free: US$0"The free version is unlimited"; ad-free
- renshuu pro: US$3.99 or US$6.99 a month; US$49.99 or US$59.99 a year; US$109.99 or US$129.99 lifetimeNo price on its website (shown in the app); US App Store lists two prices for each plan
LingoDeer as of Nov 2026
- Free: US$0Alphabet, Unit One, Test Outs and the Travel Phrasebook
- Monthly: US$14.99 a monthAll languages; prices in local currency and vary by region and platform
- Quarterly: US$39.99 every 3 months
- Annually: US$95.99 a year (listed from US$159.99)
- 3-Year Premium: US$189.99 one time (US$119.99 in its Black Friday sale to Nov 28)
- 6-Year Premium: US$239.99 one time"Limited offer"
Busuu Japanese as of Nov 2026
- Free: US$0"Access to the complete course"; hiragana, katakana and other specialty courses need Premium
- Premium: US$12.49 a month, or US$72.99 for 12 months (listed from US$149.88)Grammar and vocabulary review, no ads; prices vary in the app (App Store lists US$6.99 to US$138.99)
- Premium Plus: US$14.90 a month, or US$87.90 for 12 months (listed from US$178.80)Adds AI conversations and pronunciation practice "in select languages"
JapanesePod101 as of Nov 2026
- Free: US$0First 3 lessons in every pathway, 50+ lesson Survival Phrases, 7-day Premium trial
- Basic: US$4 a month (US$1.80 in its sale to Nov 27)All lessons and notes; price based on a 24-month plan
- Premium: US$10 a month (US$4.50 in the sale)Adds assessments, word bank, spaced-repetition flashcards
- Premium PLUS: US$23 a month (US$10.29 in the sale)Adds 1-on-1 access to a teacher
- In the iOS app: US$7.99 Basic, US$9.99 Mobile, US$24.99 PremiumApp Store prices; billing period not shown
Pimsleur Japanese as of Nov 2026
- Free trial: 7 days freeNew customers only; cancel before day 7 to avoid a charge
- Premium Monthly: US$19.95 a monthJapanese only
- All Access Monthly: US$20.95 a month50+ languages
- All Access Annual: US$164.95 a year
- Lifetime, one level: US$150 (US$105 in its sale)Level 1, 30 lessons
- Lifetime, Levels 1 to 5: US$575 (US$402.50 in its sale)150 lessons
Anki as of Nov 2026
- Desktop (Windows, Mac, Linux): Free
- AnkiDroid (Android): FreeMade by contributors
- AnkiMobile (iPhone, iPad): US$24.99 one timeUS App Store price; no subscription, sync included
- AnkiWeb sync: Free
Keiko: JLPT Study Coach as of Nov 2026
- Free: US$0Daily drills, a free weekly mini mock and a listening sample; on the web, 10 Keiko messages a day
- Keiko Pro (in the app): US$7.99 a month or US$49.99 a yearUS App Store in-app prices; unlimited explanations, full listening, unlimited mocks
- Keiko Pro (on the web): US$4.99 a month or US$39.99 a yearCheaper on JLPTPracticeTest.com than in the app
- Final Mock Pack: US$4.99 per level2 full-length timed mocks for one level
- JLPT Exam Pass (Dec 2026): US$34.99 one timeKeiko Pro until Dec 7, 2026, plus all five study packs
More comparisons
FAQ
Duolingo or WaniKani?
They do different jobs. Duolingo is a course from zero with listening and speaking, free with ads. WaniKani teaches only kanji and vocabulary, with spaced review, and costs US$9 a month after the free levels. Many learners use a course and a kanji app together.
What is the best free app to learn Japanese?
With a useful free plan, not only a trial: Duolingo, Renshuu, Busuu Japanese and Anki. Renshuu says its free version is unlimited, and Anki is free on desktop and Android.
Which app is best for the JLPT?
Apps organised by JLPT level: Bunpro, Renshuu, JapanesePod101 and Keiko: JLPT Study Coach. Keiko, our sister app, is built for JLPT practice and has no lessons, so pair it with a course.
Which apps let me practise speaking?
Duolingo, LingoDeer, Busuu Japanese, JapanesePod101 and Pimsleur Japanese. For real conversation, a tutor helps more than any app: see our italki vs Preply comparison.
Do you earn money from these links?
No affiliate links on this page. Keiko is made by the same company as this site, so we're not neutral about it: check the table and judge for yourself.
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.