Hourly Kana: Learn Japanese

Hourly Kana: Learn Japanese

Kanji, JLPT & Vocabulary

324 ratings
48 reviews
Free
In-App PurchasesWith Ads

Details

  • Released
  • Updated
  • July 2, 2026
  • August 26, 2026

Features

Hourly Kana: Learn Japanese screenshot #1 for iPhone
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Hourly Kana: Learn Japanese screenshot #10 for iPhone
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About

Learn Japanese vocabulary and characters through bite-sized lessons and review tools. Access content via widgets, notifications, or the app itself, with features like native audio and progress tracking. Offers structured courses for beginners and JLPT levels.

Scheduled vocabulary notifications
Lock-screen and home-screen widgets
Kana, meanings, and example sentences
Native Japanese audio
Foundations course for Katakana & Hiragana
JLPT N5-N1 vocabulary
Flashcards and quizzes
Offline access
Show original description
+3

What's New in Hourly Kana

3.1.0

August 26, 2026

Japanese Foundations now follows a clearer path from kana sounds to reading words and building first sentences. Kana Drill has been redesigned with smoother navigation, consistent lesson styling, and better support for blended sounds. The All Lessons hub is now fully unlocked.

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Subscription plans

Hourly Kana Pro

Full Japanese study with widgets, audio, and review

$34.991 Year
7 Days trial
Price Updates
August 28, 2026$34.99
July 27, 2026$32.95
July 17, 2026$24.99
How to cancel Hourly Kana subscription ⁉️
2

In-App Purchases

$4.99

Hourly Kana Pro - 30 Days

30 days of Pro

User reviews

Fake ratings

App has been out for 1 month, won’t teach you Japanese, costs too much and yet has a ton of 5-star ratings… AI slop at its finest

Response from developer

Hi, We want to clarify one important point: our ratings are not fake, and we would never fake ratings. The app may be relatively new, but the response is real, and we’re grateful to already have thousands of learners using and enjoying Hourly Kana. Hourly Kana is designed to supplement Japanese study by making vocabulary and regular practice easier to fit into everyday life, not to replace an entire Japanese curriculum on its own. We are actively developing our learning curriculum and have gotten a lot of positive feedback and are always updating it. We also understand that the app and its pricing won’t be the right fit for everyone, but we allow our users to try the app first before committing. We’re always actively developing the app based on learner feedback, so if there are specific areas you felt were lacking, we’d genuinely appreciate hearing them. Best, support@radish.software

Wonderful

The only reason I didn't give this five stars is because I don't think that the different types of learners or segments of learners were well considered. For instance I've been speaking Japanese for well over a decade and I love the idea of being able to learn new words. The app is crowded a little bit with some of the beginner stuff, which isn't helpful to me personally. I think all of the functionality is here. It just needs to be either onboarded a little better or through the UX, connected to the experience. For instance I like the idea of creating some decks and having that go into rotation of words I learn using The hourly concept. Also I want it to be really easy to disqualify or hide words that I know very well. I would hope that through the daily practice the spaced repetition memorization concept also influences what words are shown on my screen, for instance, and prompted at me. Perhaps I would like to see a mix of 80% new words but mix in 20% review. Also I forgot to mention I think that having grammar as a separate widget or being complementary to the hour notification.

For context I lived in Japan for three years in my 20s. That was about 14 years ago and I am living in the States now. I consume some Japanese media but it's not a central part of my life so I passively and casually maintain and increase my vocabulary. I think this is a great app for people who who want to maintain their Japanese long-term. Finally on the pricing I would be comfortable. Actually I would prefer buying a lifetime access to the app. It would be neat if there was a Discord or something else for users.
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Mes trajets passent vite

Je l’utilise dans le bus le matin, avec seulement quelques minutes devant moi. Les exercices sont courts, alors je peux revoir les kana sans sortir un cahier. J’aime bien répéter les caractères qui me posent problème pendant le trajet.

Great

Very easy, and los of updates all the time to fix issues, nice app

Seriously great app

This is hands-down the very best app I’ve used to support my Japanese learning. The ability to learn a bite-sized piece of vocab, along with the written form AND with additional example sentences that add more practice, vocab, grammar and context, continually throughout the day, at your own pace and convenience, even in the middle of work, is just brilliant. I’d describe it as micro-immersion learning that hits on all fronts. My tutor is blown away at the increase in my vocabulary and my ability to read kanji and hiragana, and frankly, I’m blown away myself. Highly recommend subscribing to this, it is worth every penny.
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Developer apps

FAQ

How does Hourly Kana teach Japanese?

Hourly Kana uses a spaced repetition system with bite-sized lessons, delivering new vocabulary via notifications or widgets. It includes meanings, natural sentence examples, native audio, flashcards, and quizzes to reinforce learning.

What are the learning levels in Hourly Kana?

Hourly Kana offers a 'Foundations' course for mastering Katakana and Hiragana. It also provides vocabulary for JLPT levels N5 through N1, with placement tests to help users find their starting point.

Does Hourly Kana work offline?

Yes, Hourly Kana is designed for focused learning and works offline, allowing users to study without an internet connection.

What is the pricing for Hourly Kana?

Hourly Kana is free to use with a 7-day trial. After the trial, all features require a paid subscription, with various monthly, weekly, and annual plans available.

Does Hourly Kana have ads?

No, Hourly Kana is ad-free, providing an uninterrupted learning experience for users.

What devices does Hourly Kana support?

Hourly Kana is available on iPhone and Apple Watch, allowing for convenient learning on multiple devices.

How often is Hourly Kana updated?

The latest version is 1.1, and the app was last updated on July 15, 2026, indicating active development and regular updates.

What is the age rating for Hourly Kana?

Hourly Kana has an age rating of 9+, making it suitable for younger learners and adults alike.