# Japanese Flashcards – Manabi — Learn Japanese vocab and kanji

> Intelligent flashcards for learning Japanese vocabulary and kanji with spaced repetition. (iPhone/iPad app by John A Ehlke.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/japanese-flashcards-manabi/id1180710626 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [John A Ehlke](https://appshunter.io/developer/1180710625)
- Category: Education, Reference
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.15/5 from 33 App Store ratings · 18 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 17+
- Requires: iOS 15.0 · 141 MB
- Languages: English
- Released: 2018-03-11
- Data updated: 2026-08-17
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/japanese-flashcards-manabi/id1180710626/reviews.md

## What is Japanese Flashcards?

Intelligent flashcards, purpose-built for Japanese. Join an online community of 日本語 learners!

OPTIMIZE
Manabi optimizes what and when you learn to make the most of your time. With its state-of-the-art spaced repetition algorithm called FSRS (the same exact implementation used by Anki), it'll remind you to review cards right as you're likely to forget them to maximize efficiency. If you fall behind, Manabi prioritizes the highest-impact cards rather than guilt-trip you about it.

BEYOND ROTE
Learn more than just "the answers". Example sentences from Weblio are pulled in automatically, as well as relevant StackExchange Q&A. Just scroll down on a card to learn more and make those memories more vivid so that they stick! You can also practice your kanji skills by drawing kanji right inside the app with vivid stroke animations to help you remember the answers.

COMMUNITY
Users can share decks for others to subscribe to, with automatically-synced updates. Manabi is a community of Japanese learners, and comes with handy pre-built decks out-of-the-box.

READER INTEGRATION
One of the best ways to learn Japanese is by reading native materials. Use our companion app, Manabi Reader, for one-touch dictionary look-ups that let you seamlessly add flashcards into Manabi for the words you come across.

Privacy Policy: https://manabi.io/privacy-policy/
Terms of Service: https://manabi.io/terms-of-service/

## Key features

- Spaced repetition algorithm (FSRS)
- Example sentences and Q&A integration
- Kanji drawing practice
- Community deck sharing
- Companion reader app integration

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| Annual Subscription | $16.99 | per year |
| Monthly Subscription (Student Discount) | $0.99 | per month |
| Annual Subscription (Student Discount) | $9.99 | per year |


## Recent user reviews (10 of 18)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/japanese-flashcards-manabi/id1180710626/reviews.md

### 2/5 — Very buggy

*2025-11-17*

Good in theory but I am constantly running into technical issues with the app that render it unstable.

**Developer response:** Update: I'm sorry for the server downtime a few days ago. I've also released updates that resolve instability issues. If you have any other trouble please reach out and I will fix it ASAP. I hope to deliver a much more reliable experience for you and all. -A

Hi RJ - very sorry about this. I've resolved this for you and am taking steps to ensure this never happens again for anyone. Thanks for reporting the issue, and feel free to reach out via the support chat if there's anything else I can help you with.

### 3/5 — Error popup And my ‘flashcards’ deck disappear

*2025-11-17, version 2.9.3*

plus can’t re/add new ones because of constant error popup. i adore manabi reader so i downloaded the flash cards version.. i hOpe some angel there fix it

### 3/5 — App crashed

*2024-05-20, version 2.1*

Great app like Anki with more user friendly interface, but it’s constantly crashed whenever I tried to review the flashcard.

Too bad..
I hope you can fix this bug soon.

### 4/5 — very good

*2023-05-17, version 2.0.7*

it's a very beneficial app along with the manabi reader in your journey of reading and understanding Japanese kanji, I love it 10/10, my only problem is with the archived decks, I tried to get them out of the archive but didn't know how, there is no button to un-archive no matter which way I swipe

### 1/5 — Too slow and too buggy

*2023-04-27, version 2.0.7*

The app is too slow; whenever I add a card, it would always fail. If I retried, it still fails. It takes more than a minute to load the deck, which is too slow. Using the app also feels really heavy. Scrolling the dictionary is not smooth and also feels heavy.

### 2/5 — So unfortunate

*2023-01-14, version 2.0.7*

Great concept in principle and so much potential, but all that is unfortunately lost with all the bugs… 残念…

### 5/5 — Works great again!

*2022-04-15*

OLD: Before the update, the app was running more or less okay, although it took a while for each new set of reviews to load. Now, it’s disconnecting and not saving any of my progress. I can only get one review in per day. I really liked this app and its connection to Manabi Reader; I hope it can be fixed soon!

EDIT: the latest update fixed everything! It’s back to working very well again. Great flashcard app, especially with the reader integration.

**Developer response:** Hi Evykun - deepest apologies, please stay tuned very soon for a full upgrade

### 4/5 — Excellent! But...

*2021-10-06*

This app is wonderful and easy to use. I like that I can edit definitions on the card so I can learn the meanings in a way that sticks for me.
One thing I wish, though, is that one could see the English first and then flip to the kanji. I understand this is a kanji learning app, but after a few months use I see that I know what these kanji mean, but not how to pronounce them. I've turned off furigana to try and help this, but honestly I've just started making physical flash cards to supplement.

### 4/5 — A great app, has potencial

*2021-05-23, version 2.0.7*

This is a really great app, easy to understand how it works and to create your own flash cards. However it’s missing something in my opinion, since my goal is to use it to study Kanji. It would come out in handy if Manabi also had an option for “various readings” as well as “examples” (phrases where this Kanji is used) in addition to the definition.

### 5/5 — Efficient, fun and especially effective with Manabi Reader!

*2020-08-13, version 2.0.7*

As a pre-intermediate Japanese speaker, I can say for sure that this app among others has helped tremendously in my comprehension of written and even spoken Japanese.

## Frequently asked questions about Japanese Flashcards

### What learning method does Manabi use?

Manabi utilizes a state-of-the-art spaced repetition algorithm called FSRS, similar to Anki. This method optimizes learning by reminding you to review cards just before you're likely to forget them, maximizing efficiency.

### Can I practice writing kanji with Manabi?

Yes, Manabi allows you to practice your kanji skills by drawing them directly within the app. It features vivid stroke animations to aid in remembering the correct stroke order and form.

### Does Manabi offer a free trial for its subscriptions?

Yes, all subscription plans for Manabi, including monthly and annual options with student discounts, come with a 1-month free trial period.

### How does Manabi help with understanding context beyond just words?

Manabi goes beyond rote memorization by automatically pulling in example sentences from Weblio and relevant StackExchange Q&A for each card. You can scroll down to access this additional information to make your learning more vivid.

### Can I share my learning decks with others on Manabi?

Absolutely. Users can share their custom decks with the Manabi community, and these decks can be automatically updated for subscribers. This fosters a collaborative learning environment.

### What devices is Manabi available on?

Manabi is available on Mac, iPhone, iPad, and iPod. This broad compatibility allows learners to study across multiple Apple devices.

### How often is Manabi updated?

The latest version, 2.10.4, was last updated on March 25, 2026. While this indicates a recent update, users can generally expect regular improvements and new features.

### What are the different subscription options for Manabi?

Manabi offers monthly subscriptions at $2.99/month (or $0.99/month with a student discount) and annual subscriptions at $16.99/year (or $9.99/year with a student discount). All plans include a 1-month free trial.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.11.1 — 2026-06-12

- Bug fix with stats
2.11:
- Adds support for multiline flashcard meanings. This is useful in its own right but also anticipates forthcoming Yomitan dictionary rollout in Manabi Reader
- Various improvements and bug fixes

### 2.10.6 — 2026-04-27

- Various fixes
2.10.4:
- Fixes card listings
2.10.3:
- Fixes reviews triggered by Manabi Reader
2.10:
- Adds new stats
- Improves flashcard UI
- Fixes various bugs

### 2.10.4 — 2026-03-25

- Fixes card listings
2.10.4:
- Fixes reviews triggered by Manabi Reader
2.10:
- Adds new stats
- Improves flashcard UI
- Fixes various bugs

### 2.10.3 — 2026-03-12

- Fixes reviews triggered by Manabi Reader
2.10:
- Adds new stats
- Improves flashcard UI
- Fixes various bugs

### 2.10.2 — 2026-03-08

- Fixes reviews triggered by Manabi Reader
2.10:
- Adds new stats
- Improves flashcard UI
- Fixes various bugs

## Apps similar to Japanese Flashcards

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Learn Japanese Kanji: Benkyō](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/learn-japanese-kanji-benkyo/id1541592138) | 4.7 (3,417) | Free | Education |
| [Bunpo: Language Learning](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bunpo-language-learning/id1279720052) | 4.9 (17,779) | Free | Education |
| [Japanese!! Learn Kana & Kanji](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/japanese-learn-kana-and-kanji/id1014955564) | 4.8 (22,103) | Free | Education |
| [Kanji Study - Learn Japanese!](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kanji-study-learn-japanese/id1078107994) | 4.7 (7,032) | Free | Education |
| [Learn Japanese Kanji and Kana](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/learn-japanese-kanji-and-kana/id1322000057) | 4.9 (1,955) | Free | Education |
| [Learn Japanese Vocabulary](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/learn-japanese-vocabulary/id6443979045) | 4.1 (18) | Free | Education |

## More apps by John A Ehlke

- [Learn Japanese: Manabi Reader](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/learn-japanese-manabi-reader/id1247286380)
- [ChatOnMac.com — AI Chat Bots](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chatonmaccom-ai-chat-bots/id1667686773)

All apps by John A Ehlke: https://appshunter.io/developer/1180710625

## Related topics

[migaku](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/migaku) · [japanese kanji flashcards](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/japanese-kanji-flashcards) · [shinobi japanese](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/shinobi-japanese) · [jpki](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/jpki)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-17.*