by Olly RichardsSo you want to learn Japanese online. But you aren't sure how to choose the best app to learn Japanese for you?
With so many apps for learning Japanese out there, you can have a hard time finding the ones that are worth your time. That's why I've put together this selection of the 24 best apps to learn Japanese.
Technology has drastically changed how we do things, making products more efficient, cheaper and faster. And that includes methods and materials for learning a foreign language.
In this post, you'll discover how Japanese language learning apps can boost your Japanese language skills, no matter your level or budget! No need to find time in your schedule for Japanese lessons. You'll find free Japanese language apps for Android and iOS and even some web versions.
Note: Apps are great, but if you really want to learn Japanese fast and have fun while doing it, my top recommendation is Japanese Uncovered which teaches you through StoryLearning®.
With Japanese Uncovered you’ll use my unique StoryLearning® method to learn Japanese naturally through story… not rules. It’s as fun as it is effective.
If you’re ready to get started, click here for a 7-day FREE trial.
Anyway, back to the best apps to learn Japanese. Smartphone at the ready – let's get into the list.
24 Best Apps For Learning Japanese For Every Level And Budget
The internet is a goldmine when it comes to gathering information and learning. But the internet also has many flaws. Just like the inside of a goldmine, to find value you have to sift through tonnes of worthless rubble.
In this post, you'll discover where to find the 24 biggest, shiniest pieces of Japanese-learning gold. Plus you'll find out how to get the most out of these Japanese language apps. And why they are ten times better than whatever traditional method you are using right now.
Thanks to this list, you'll find the best app to learn Japanese for you that you can download right now to help you learn, regardless of your current level.
Japanese Dictionary Apps
1. Japanese Dictionary App Imiwa
The. Best. Free. Mobile. Dictionary. Ever.
Download this Japanese language app to save yourself the $100+ your teacher wanted you to waste on an outdated electronic dictionary.
Imiwa is arguably the best free app to learn Japanese but it packs in high-value content.
It's an offline Japanese dictionary with extensive Japanese-English entries (currently over 170,000). It's also filled with sentence examples and kanji stroke order indications.
You can expect Imiwa to be updated all the time. No pushy dictionary salesman trying to sell you the new edition of the Oxford Japanese-English dictionary every new year.
With Imiwa, you will be getting new entries and example sentences for free.
Imiwa's search system sets it apart from the competition. Both kanji and vocabulary can be searched either via keyboard input, radicals search or JLPT levels.
This is a key function. You can't learn Japanese at your successfully without it.
There is one more great thing about Imiwa. Just like the other 4 tools you will find in this article, Imiwa is just an app. It weighs nothing.
Advances in technology now mean a dictionary is something you can carry with you at any time, just like Imiwa.
Do you want some advice for making new friends in Japan? Don't bring an 800-page Japanese-English dictionary out and about with you!
The app is free. And awesome. Download it, play with it a little – you'll love it.
2. Nihongo
This Japanese dictionary app is only available on iOS. Sorry Android users!
But if you're an iOS user then you're in luck. Nihongo is not only an offline Japanese dictionary but also a flashcard app and reading assistant. It's definitely among the best Japanese language learning apps.
One handy feature for overwhelmed learners is that words are marked as “common”, “uncommon”, or “rare”. So you'll know which ones you need to learn and which ones you can worry about later!
Even better, you can use “clippings”: this reading assistant lets you paste Japanese text from anywhere. And then after, the app adds furigana or romaji to every word. You can also tap on any word to see its definition.
What's more, The app also makes flashcard sets based on your search history and clippings – no more learning lists of random, decontextualised words!
3. Japanese
This app has many raving fans. Yes, people go crazy for this Japanese dictionary app, simply called “Japanese”.
It's more than just a dictionary app. Each entry comes with example sentences, common compounds, radicals, stroke order animations, and Japanese verb conjugations. The interface is well-designed and easy to use.
What's more, it's free!
You can also add new words to your “lists” and create flashcards. You can even find pre-made lists according to level and topic. The app also has great features for learning kanji. You can click on each kanji within a word to learn more about different meaning, radicals, and other words with this kanji.
Apps For Learning Japanese Vocabulary
4. Anki Flashcards App
Do you have a bad memory? Or do you just need a more effective way of memorising?
This flashcard app helped me learn the most common 1,000 Japanese words in less than three months with only 30 minutes of study per day.
After six months, I had already passed the 2,500 mark.
Anki is a free SRS system available for studying flashcards both online and offline.
Of course, you could just make your own flashcards from real-life pen and paper. But do you really want to?
In Anki, you can create your own. Or you can use one of the thousands of high-quality Japanese flashcard decks already provided.
There is no debate about SRS systems being the best tool to learn Japanese words. And Anki is one of the best SRS apps out there.
Anki does have one tiny flaw. The web version of Anki is free for all. And if you're an Android user the app is free for you. The downside is that Apple users will pay a fee to download a mobile version from the app store.
But to put this in perspective, if you can afford a $700 phone to watch cat videos, you can afford a $15 app for learning Japanese.
If you've never used an SRS system before, it might take you a couple of minutes to figure it out. Go and download it now and then let me know how much you love it.
5. Clozemaster
Clozemaster is something between a game and a reading exercise. You're given loads of sentences and phrases and asked to fill in the missing Japanese word.
What’s great about Clozemaster is the use of context. Unlike some other apps, the words you learn are never to you in isolation. Instead, the main focus is to get you familiar with vocabulary in actual sentences and phrases.
Likewise, the Japanese learning app focuses on comprehensible input. That means nothing is ever too easy, but you can use context to help figure out the answer.
This helps you not only get familiar with new words, but also the words they come with and the correct word order. As such, using Clozemaster can help give you a natural sense of how Japanese tends to structure itself, which makes reading texts much easier.
6. Mondly
Mondly is another app for learning Japanese that’s best suited for the more goal-oriented learner. There are no games or points or progress bars. And the design is anything but flashy.
However, if you want to take a deeper dive into learning Japanese vocabulary and grammar, Mondly is great. The lessons start from basic phrases and core Japanese vocabulary and then build into more complicated topics.
What’s useful is that topics are focused on for longer and go into more depth than other good apps for learning Japanese. Likewise, there are clear explanations of Japanese grammar points in this Japanese learning app.
7. Lingo Deer
Lingo Deer is mainly an app for learning new words.
But it’s fun to use, making it a great way to recycle vocabulary or pick up some new expressions when you have a little downtime.
This is the kind of learning Japanese app that wouldn’t be much use on its own. But when used in conjunction with other apps and coursebooks, it can be a useful aid in your quest to become proficient in Japanese.
8. Busuu
The concept of Busuu is simple, but definitely engaging for beginning and intermediate Japanese learners. You go through a series of mini-lessons to learn vocabulary and some grammar.
This is ideal if you want to cram a lot of basic words and phrases before a trip or want to do a quick refresher. The structure is great as well since every lesson builds very directly on the previous one.
There is another aspect to Busuu however. If you choose to get Busuu premium, then you get a whole lot more with the app. At this level, you can have your work graded by native Japanese speakers with the expectation that you’ll grade someone else's.
It’s here that Busuu really stands out from the best Japanese learning apps because you’ll get bits of information about how people really speak. And having more input from natives and knowing that you’re interacting with a real person makes learning Japanese feel more personal.
Apps To Learn Japanese Grammar
9. Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
Learning Japanese without studying grammar is like buying IKEA furniture without nuts and bolts: you're going to have a lot of pieces of fancy wood, but every time you try to build something, it collapses to the ground.
Japanese grammar is a lot easier than that of other foreign languages. But there is a lot to learn. And I mean A LOT! Japanese grammar is simple, but plentiful.
The good thing though is that the percentage of grammar points you actually have to master is a lot smaller than you'd imagine.
So what's the best free resource to study the grammar you need to know?
Tae Kim's Guide to Learning Japanese.
I'll be honest with you – grammar is one thing in Japanese that isn't all fun and games. Unlike kanji and kana (the Japanese “alphabet”), there's no real easy way around it.
One top tip I'd give for learning Japanese grammar is this – find a clear systematic grammar guide that explains to you what you need to know. Tae Kim's app is just that.
If you're serious about learning Japanese, I'd still recommend using an online course with video lessons like Japanese Uncovered which is designed to take you from beginner to intermediate level through the power of story.
However, if you are on a shoestring budget, this Japanese grammar app will be enough to help you.
10. Bunpo
Bunpo is a Japanese language learning app that could go in both the grammar and alphabet categories as it teaches you both aspects of the language.
In fact, thanks to Bunpo, you can master Japanese alphabets (hiragana and katakana) and learn Japanese grammar from JLPT N5 all the way through N1.
The app also includes a Japanese grammar dictionary, plus a review function that allows you to go over what you've learned in small chunks.
Both free and paid versions are available.
Apps To Learn The Japanese Alphabet
11. Learn Hiragana & Katakana Mnemonics With Dr Moku
I laughed so hard when I first saw this app to learn the Japanese writing system. Their advert was just hilarious.
What blew my mind was how Dr Moku drilled the kana into my head through funny mnemonics in just a couple of hours.
In this app, Dr Moku associates all the kana with funny pictures, which makes it impossible for you to forget them.
My personal favourite is how he turned “?” into a cow making a smelly yellow mustard fart. Watch the app trailer to get an idea of how funny this actually gets.
If you have used Anki before, you know already how powerful mnemonic tools are.
Rote memorisation when compared to mnemonic hacks is like hot air balloons versus airplanes in terms of efficiency.
When was the last time you flew over the Atlantic Ocean in a hot air balloon? Mnemonics are much more useful for learning vast amounts of information.
Download the Android or iPhone version and test it out. After 30 minutes of learning with this app, your mind will be blown.
12. Skritter
If you want an app that can genuinely help you with the Japanese alphabet, Skritter leads the way.
With this app, you can practise writing Kanji and recognising Japanese characters as well as learning the way they are pronounced. You can choose to learn from pre-made lists.
But one of the best features is that it allows you to create lists of your own.
You have to pay a subscription for the full app. But if you’re serious about Japanese, a six-month or one-year subscription is good value. And it’s more than worth it! Click here to get 10% off your first Skritter purchase.
13. Scripts
Scripts is an app that will help you to learn Japanese kana in just five minutes a day.
The particularity of Scripts is that you use your finger to draw the kana, stroke by stroke.
The app is free, but there's a premium version available too.
Apps For Japanese Listening And Reading
14. NHK Easy Japanese News
Odds are, you don't live in Japan. If you do, good for you.
If you don't, it might be hard to constantly find interesting Japanese content to read and learn from.
Here's the problem with most of the Japanese reading material online – it's either too easy or too difficult.
Content designed for beginners is dumbed-down and over-simplified. More advanced content is, well, designed for native speakers.
The NHK Easy Japanese News app is the most successful attempt I've seen so far at finding a happy medium.
It is a simple way to practise your Japanese reading skills every single day, while actually learning real relevant information about the world.
The app also has free audio features, allowing you to get a wider spectrum of training.
The best way to use apps like this one without being overwhelmed is to set a timer on your phone and just do 15 minutes a day.
Don't worry about how much you learn every time, just focus on putting in the time.
The improvement you will see is going to surprise you. A lot.
15. JapanesePod 101
Japanese Pod 101 is more traditional. But it’s still a useful resource that can help you with your Japanese learning. It’s been around for a while, and its advantage lies in the amount of material it now contains.
There are loads of lessons based on dialogues that you can use to improve your listening and reading skills, increase your vocabulary and work on your grammar.
You have to pay for a subscription. But some of the plans are very reasonable. And you can try it for a week for free, meaning you’ve got nothing to lose. Another useful learn Japanese app that’s well worth checking out.
16. LingQ
Here’s another app that is full of great content that allows you to learn real Japanese in context. A far cry from the unsophisticated vocab list-style apps of the not-too-distant past.
You’ll find reading texts for all levels written in Japanese characters. You can read them or you can listen to the texts being read out, and any new Japanese vocabulary items are highlighted and explained.
There are loads of other features to help you learn, too, including a new word bank, a playlist of your favourite lessons, and more. This app is another great example of how much more advanced resources for Japanese have become compared to only a few years ago.
17. Fluent U
FluentU immerses users right away in Japanese culture and language while being much more fun than traditional textbooks.
With FluentU, you get real-world videos, including news, movie trailers, show clips, and music videos that are turned into language learning lessons.
If you're looking for a Japanese app that will help you take the step from book learning to real-life communication, this will be right up your alley!
Japanese Apps To Connect With Japanese Speakers
18. iTalki
No app to learn Japanese can replace actually talking with a native speaker. And that is actually what iTalki lets you do.
If you’re looking for a language partner to practise your Japanese with, then look no further. They have a committed community of users so that you can find native speakers and practise Japanese with them.
To get going, you can either find a tutor or do a language exchange and then take it from there.
19. Hello Talk
HelloTalk puts language learners together to help each other practise. So if you’re looking for a Japanese native speaker to set up a conversation, this language exchange app is another great option.
This app also includes a few extra features that Tandem (see below) doesn’t have.
One thing I love is that it allows you to post “moments” with your comments in Japanese (or any other language). Then other users can see your moments and give you a “like” – and they can even correct any mistakes in what you’ve written.
20. Tandem
Language learning requires plenty of input, that’s how we learn, and many of the apps above are perfect for that part. But you also need to practise what you’ve studied, and that’s where Tandem comes in.
This app is not specifically for learning Japanese. It’s an app that connects you with language learners from around the world to practise together. In fact, you can use it to find speakers of almost any language.
21. HiNative
HiNative lets you ask native Japanese speakers questions about the language. This is a great way to check if a sentence you want to say or write sounds natural.
You can even get your pronunciation checked and listen to native speakers pronounce Japanese words and expressions.
Native speakers of Japanese will also be able to let you know if the word or phrase you want to use is formal or informal, so that you can use it in the right context.
The Classic Language Learning Apps
22. Duolingo
I have to mention Duolingo, the world’s most popular language-learning app. The thing about Duolingo is, when used alone, it’s not actually that useful.
Some of the sentences it gives you can be pretty bizarre, and it’s light on grammar. And compared to some of the other apps to learn Japanese on my list, it now feels quite dated.
However, if you do a couple of Japanese lessons each day, it can help fix vocab in your head as well as teach you a few new words. And just for that reason, it’s still worth using.
23. Rosetta Stone
Rosetta Stone is another well-known company with a long history of teaching learners of many languages.
One approach that sets the Rosetta Stone app apart from many others on this list is that it teaches Japanese in Japanese, rather than in English (or another native language).
Rosetta Stone also employs tutors for private lessons, allowing you to practise speaking right away. This app is a good choice if you're a visual learner, but some people do find the exercises a bit tedious. By the way, if you're hesitating between Duolingo and Rosetta Stone, check out this post for an honest comparison.
24. Memrise
Memrise is a nice midpoint between the fun and the practical. Content-wise, it’s got a lot going for it in terms of learning vocabulary and conversational phrases that you’ll actually use.
These are often supplemented with videos of native speakers to help you adjust to listening to the Japanese words as they’re spoken. So you learn reading and listening at the same time! One of the best aspects of Memrise is that you can make a personalized lesson to challenge yourself.
Like some other language-learning apps, Memrise has an element of gamification to it. There are badges, points, and streaks that track how many days you’ve made consistent progress. Memrise is a great place to start if you want to learn Japanese with a lot of positive reinforcement.
Best Apps To Learn Japanese, Whenever, Wherever
So there you have it – the 24 best apps to learn Japanese out there to help you learn Japanese online whenever and wherever is convenient for you.
There's no denying that apps have become part of the toolkit to learn languages. They make it easy to fit in a bit of language learning throughout your day, during dead time like commuting for instance.
And of course, there's no contest for convenience between a huge paper dictionary and an app like Imiwa. Or a set of hundreds of paper flashcards to carry around and an app like Anki.
But even the best Japanese language app won't do the hard work for you of speaking the language.
You can't become fluent in Japanese just by using an app.
For that, you'll need something more comprehensive. That's why I created…
Japanese Uncovered
Japanese Uncovered is my comprehensive beginner programme teaches you to speak Japanese through the power of story.
It's not an app, but you can still use it on ANY device – computer, laptop, smartphone or tablet.
This comprehensive beginner programme teaches you Japanese through a fun and natural method that makes learning a pleasure, and grammar a breeze!
It goes far deeper than the Japanese smartphone apps listed above and will give you a very thorough grounding in Japanese.
You see, language apps might appear flashy and modern…
But they lack the depth you need to truly master Japanese.
The only way to achieve a high level of Japanese is to immerse yourself in the Japanese language! And that's what you do in Uncovered by learning through story from Day 1.
With stories, you can:
- Learn Japanese faster through immersion, instead of rote learning
- Memorise vocabulary more easily, by seeing it in context
- Learn grammar naturally, not through rules!
- Understand Japanese more easily, thanks to lots of reading and listening practice
Watch this video clip to see how the learning emerges from the story in Japanese Uncovered:
Pretty effective, right?
If you’re ready to get started, click here for a 7-day FREE trial.
Looking for more helpful Japanese learning tips?
Check out 42 of the best ways to learn Japanese as recommended by successful language learners and polyglots from around the world. Hope you enjoyed this list of apps for learning Japanese.
Olly Richards
Creator of the StoryLearning® Method
Olly Richards is a renowned polyglot and language learning expert with over 15 years of experience teaching millions through his innovative StoryLearning® method. He is the creator of StoryLearning, one of the world's largest language learning blogs with 500,000+ monthly readers.
Olly has authored 30+ language learning books and courses, including the bestselling "Short Stories" series published by Teach Yourself.
When not developing new teaching methods, Richards practices what he preaches—he speaks 8 languages fluently and continues learning new ones through his own methodology.
