# Learn Japanese: Manabi Reader — Blogs, news, EPUB + flashcards

> Learn Japanese through reading native content with integrated vocabulary tools. (iPhone/iPad app by John A Ehlke.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/learn-japanese-manabi-reader/id1247286380 (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: 4.50/5 from 225 App Store ratings · 141 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 17+
- Requires: iOS 15.0 · 202 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2017-07-04
- Data updated: 2026-08-27
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/learn-japanese-manabi-reader/id1247286380/reviews.md

## What is Learn Japanese?

Expand your Japanese vocabulary and kanji comprehension by getting in the habit of reading short, native content daily. Manabi Reader makes it easy to jump into interesting  material without having to worry about your level: just one tap on any word you don't know to see its reading and definition. Tap again to add flashcards into Manabi or Anki.

Don't waste time trying to find engaging reading material—a curated selection of news feeds, online magazines, blogs, folktales and ebooks are collected here for you. You can of course also open any webpage or RSS feed in Manabi Reader to help you through it.

Make a habit out of getting your news in Japanese and you'll find your skills multiply. With even a few minutes each day, reading is essential to picking up Japanese. Memory is one of those things where it sticks best when you're having fun, so dive in!

• Read native texts.
• One-tap word lookups (with audio!).
• Word tracking: you'll see how much of an article's vocabulary is already familiar. New words are highlighted for you.
• Kanji tracking: we'll also track the kanji you're familiar with as you read articles. Check your progress within JLPT levels.
• One-tap flashcard creation: memorize the words you look up.
• Review flashcards from an article once you're done reading it.
• Automatic furigana.
• BYOC (bring your own content) via URL or copy/paste; or, choose from our curated selection of reading materials.
• EPUB ebooks.
• 3rd-party dictionary apps are supported.
• Offline-friendly.
• Respects your privacy like a web browser.

=========================

The core app is fully functional without payment. Word tracking behaviors are limited to a subset as a preview. The companion Manabi flashcard app is limited to 10 flashcard reviews per day. Full word tracking functionality as well as unlimited flashcard reviews in the companion app may be purchased as a subscription. You may purchase a subscription, which will be charged to your iTunes Account upon purchase and will auto-renew within 24 hours prior to the end of the purchasing period. You can manage this in your Account Settings after purchase. Manabi Reader subscriptions are offered on a monthly or annual basis, with free trials—the annual subscriptions offer a discounted rate. This purchase supports the ongoing development of Manabi.

We offer a substantial discount for students, educators, and parents.

Privacy Policy: https://manabi.io/privacy-policy/
Terms of Service: https://manabi.io/terms-of-service/
Chat with Team Manabi: https://tawk.to/manabi

## Key features

- One-tap word lookups with audio
- Automatic furigana
- Flashcard creation and review
- Word and kanji tracking
- Curated and custom reading materials
- EPUB ebook support
- Offline-friendly

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Annual Subscription | $39.99 | per year |
| Annual Subscription (Student) | $14.99 | per year |
| Annual Subscription (Student) | $12.99 | per year |
| Monthly | $7.99 | per month |
| Annual Subscription | $39.99 | per year |
| Monthly Subscription (Student) | $4.99 | per month |
| Monthly | $7.99 | per month |


## Recent user reviews (10 of 141)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/learn-japanese-manabi-reader/id1247286380/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Amazing so far!

*2026-07-30*

I don’t have a ton to say other than the reader is a phenomenal tool. I adore the color coding, and I really love the flashcard integration. 

I mainly use Anki but I’m having a lot of fun reviewing cards in both apps. I just keep them separate and figure there will be overlap here and there. But that’s just helping to reinforce my vocabulary anyway. 

I grabbed the 1 year subscription and I feel like there’s a lot of value to be had here. I am massively looking forward to the manga support update, and I will be recommending this app to my friends (we’re planning a group trip to Japan in a couple of years!)

### 3/5 — Abandoned?

*2026-06-04, version 3.11*

The app is useful but sometimes bugs out. no updates in a year?

### 5/5 — Very helpful for Japanese reading

*2026-04-21*

Thank you for creating such a helpful app. I use it to read Japanese EPUB books, and it has been a great support in my Japanese learning journey.

I really appreciate having an iOS app that makes it easy to read Japanese books and news articles. One issue I’ve noticed is that on my iPad, the app sometimes freezes and becomes unresponsive.

I also understand that adding flashcards to Anki is limited to subscribers. While I understand the reason for that, I wish free users could have at list for adding new words.

**Developer response:** Hi, I’m glad you like the app and find it useful in your studies. I have a hotfix nearly ready which resolves the responsiveness issues. Thanks for your patience and support -Alex

### 4/5 — Awesome app with some nitpicks

*2025-12-20*

This is a super handy app for Japanese lookups! It even works on any web page so you can read whatever you want. That being said, my first impression of the app was kind of soured by the fact that I was instantly greeted with a subscription popup before I even had the chance to try anything. Also I’m not sure if there is a setting somewhere I’ve missed, but is it possible to view alternate definitions instead of whatever gets parsed first? I find this can be a problem with certain verb forms, like 変わってる gets parsed as “to be unusual” rather than a form of 変わる. Anyhow, really like the app and keep up the good work!

**Developer response:** Hi, thanks for the detailed feedback! I'm currently working on a full redesign update with many quality improvements. I've added the verb form issue to my list. If you find other such issues, please reach out by email or Discord and I will be sure to follow up on them in an upcoming update if not the next update. I am also redoing the onboarding experience so that the full app functionalities are demonstrated and given a chance to be used and learned interactively. I hope I can push the app to a 5 star experience for you soon enough. Don't hesitate to reach out with any other feedback, it's very helpful. Meanwhile I am glad to hear it is helping your studies. Cheers -A

### 5/5 — Wonderful app!

*2025-11-22, version 3.11*

Found this app after searching for other resources on reddit r/learnjapanese and cant be happier! This app has so many useful features and the developer is working hard to add even more exciting ones!

### 5/5 — Fills a gap for Japanese learners on mobile

*2025-11-15*

This has completely changed my approach to reading in Japanese. As an intermediate learner, I’ve known for a while it’s been time to get involved in reading more native content, but the process of looking up readings and meanings from physical books is honestly really tedious. And I can never seem to get my hands on material that captures my interest with furigana, especially because I’m more interested in nonfiction. 

I am aware of some tools that work with web browsers, websites that add furigana to text, and workflows for desktop/laptop users but as a primarily iPhone user those workflows didn’t work for me. And while furigana automation is great, nothing brought it all together like this app. All this is just to say I think this app fills perfectly a need I’ve had for years and I wish I found it sooner! 

I would honestly use it if it JUST displayed furigana with dictionary lookups when you tap the word. When I found out it also keeps track of your vocabulary and you can browse the web with it, I was blown away. This app immediately became a part of my regular study on a weekly basis now. 

The creator also reached out and interacted with me on reddit to ask about feature improvements and requests which gives me a huge relief that this isn’t one of the many abandoned apps, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store next.

### 5/5 — A great sentence mining option for iOS

*2025-11-10, version 3.11*

I have used a few different options since switching to iOS including Migaku but Manabi just flows better and with direct to Anki mining is perfect for getting extra reading in when out and about.

With manga integration planned I’m excited to see where this app will go in the near future!

Thank you for your hard work!

### 5/5 — Exactly what I was looking for

*2025-10-30, version 3.11*

I wanted something that would allow me to not only look up words in any web page that I was reading but also had the ability to send those words to Anki. There was nothing on mobile that seemed to fit this until I found Manabi. Now I can build out my vocabulary deck anywhere, anytime! Thanks for a great app!

### 1/5 — Never ending crashes

*2025-10-22, version 3.11*

Every time I try to open it, it crashes

### 5/5 — Great resource

*2025-10-07, version 3.11*

I’m beyond grateful, 学び has been with me since the start of my taking up kana a few months ago

## Frequently asked questions about Learn Japanese

### What does Learn Japanese: Manabi Reader do?

This app helps you expand your Japanese vocabulary and kanji comprehension by reading native content. It provides one-tap word lookups with definitions and audio, allows you to create flashcards for new words, and tracks your vocabulary and kanji familiarity.

### What are the key features of Manabi Reader?

Key features include one-tap word lookups with audio, automatic furigana, word and kanji tracking (including JLPT level progress), one-tap flashcard creation, review of flashcards, support for curated reading materials and your own content (URLs, RSS, EPUBs), and offline functionality.

### How much does Manabi Reader cost?

The core app is functional for free. Limited word tracking and flashcard reviews are available in the free version. Full word tracking and unlimited flashcard reviews require a subscription, offered monthly or annually, with free trials. Discounts are available for students, educators, and parents.

### What kind of content can I read in Manabi Reader?

You can read a curated selection of news feeds, online magazines, blogs, folktales, and ebooks provided within the app. Additionally, you can import your own content by opening webpages or RSS feeds, or by copying and pasting text. EPUB ebooks are also supported.

### Is Manabi Reader compatible with other apps?

Yes, the app supports integration with 3rd-party dictionary apps. Furthermore, you can add flashcards to popular spaced repetition systems like Anki. The app also respects user privacy, functioning similarly to a web browser in this regard.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 3.11 — 2025-06-19

- Adds Manabi Flashcards review buttons to webpages & ebooks
- Adds downloads for Anki note types (Manabi & Lapis)
- Bug fixes and performance improvements

### 3.10.1 — 2025-06-14

- Adds option to learn new cards even when cards are due
- Performance improvements and bug fixes
3.10:
- Crash fixes, bug fixes, performance fixes
- Adds sentence translations to Anki flashcards
- Adds "jump to:" option to ebook table of contents, accessible by tapping the % progress indicator
- Synchronizes ebook progress slider with scroll position in real-time
- Ebook navigation UI refinements

### 3.10 — 2025-06-10

- Crash fixes, bug fixes, performance fixes
- Adds sentence translations to Anki flashcards
- Adds "jump to:" option to ebook table of contents, accessible by tapping the % progress indicator
- Synchronizes ebook progress slider with scroll position in real-time
- Ebook navigation UI refinements

### 3.9.2 — 2025-05-21

- Fixes iCloud synchronization
- Ebooks preload all chapters once opened
- Performance improvements
- Various bugs squashed and crashes resolved
3.9:
- Adds pitch accents to Anki flashcards
- Fixes iCloud and other issues
- Anki integration improvements
- Refreshed lookup UI
- Performance improvements
- iOS 15-17 navigation fixes
- Restore the text selection menu on iOS for "Mark as Familiar" and "Mark as Known"

### 3.9.1 — 2025-04-21

3.9.1:
- Fixes and optimizes performance regression with content loading
- Fixes occasional iOS word lookup crash
3.9:
- Adds pitch accents to Anki flashcards
- Fixes iCloud and other issues
- Anki integration improvements
- Refreshed lookup UI
- Performance improvements
- iOS 15-17 navigation fixes
- Restore the text selection menu on iOS for "Mark as Familiar" and "Mark as Known"

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## More apps by John A Ehlke

- [Japanese Flashcards – Manabi](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/japanese-flashcards-manabi/id1180710626)
- [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

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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 2026-08-27.*