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Best Japanese Learning Apps

237+ iOS apps curated and reviewed

4.8 avg rating
20 free apps
Updated May 2026

Every iPhone needs a few good japanese learning apps. We benchmark 237+ of them on App Store rating, freshness, and pricing, then surface the standouts so you don't have to scroll the App Store yourself.

Compare top Japanese Learning Apps (May 2026)

#AppPriceRatingAdsIn-App PurchasesUpdated
1MARU: Learn Japanese HiraganaMARU: Learn Japanese HiraganaFree4.9★ (18K)YesYesAug 2026
2Japanese!! Learn Kana & KanjiJapanese!! Learn Kana & KanjiFree4.8★ (22K)NoYesAug 2026
3Duolingo: Language LessonsDuolingo: Language LessonsFree4.7★ (5.4M)YesYesAug 2026
4Teuida: Learn LanguagesTeuida: Learn LanguagesFree4.9★ (57K)YesYesAug 2026
5renshuu - Japanese learningrenshuu - Japanese learningFree4.9★ (1.3K)NoYesAug 2026
6LingoDeer - Learn LanguagesLingoDeer - Learn LanguagesFree4.7★ (28K)NoYesAug 2026
7Bunpo: Language LearningBunpo: Language LearningFree4.9★ (18K)NoYesAug 2026
8Kanji Study - Learn Japanese!Kanji Study - Learn Japanese!Free4.7★ (7K)NoYesAug 2026

Top Picks for Japanese Learning

MARU: Learn Japanese Hiragana#1

MARU: Learn Japanese Hiragana by Overdreamer, LLC

Free Beginner Kana Practices
Editor's Choice
📚 Education
4.9😊(18K ratings)
FreeAdsIn-App Purchases
MARU: Learn Japanese Hiragana screenshot 1
MARU: Learn Japanese Hiragana screenshot 2
MARU: Learn Japanese Hiragana screenshot 3
MARU: Learn Japanese Hiragana screenshot 4
MARU: Learn Japanese Hiragana screenshot 5
MARU: Learn Japanese Hiragana screenshot 6

Master Japanese Hiragana and Katakana with this engaging app. It offers authentic pronunciation, diverse practice methods, and vocabulary building to make learning enjoyable and effective. Start your Japanese journey with a supportive mascot and smart learning tools.

What We Love

  • 🚀 Fun way to learn Japanese
  • 👍 Great for memorizing hiragana and katakana
  • 👍 User-friendly and simple
  • 👍 Convenient and easy to use

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Issues with distinguishing similar sounds
  • 🐛 Lack of writing practice
  • 🐛 Limited vocabulary
Japanese!! Learn Kana & Kanji#2

Japanese!! Learn Kana & Kanji by Luli Languages LLC

Hiragana, Katakana & Grammar
Strong Contender
📚 Education
4.8😊(22K ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
Japanese!! Learn Kana & Kanji screenshot 1
Japanese!! Learn Kana & Kanji screenshot 2
Japanese!! Learn Kana & Kanji screenshot 3
Japanese!! Learn Kana & Kanji screenshot 4
Japanese!! Learn Kana & Kanji screenshot 5

Master Japanese writing with comprehensive lessons for Hiragana and Katakana. Build vocabulary and grammar skills through engaging quizzes and spaced repetition. Practice reading and writing with audio pronunciation, all offline.

What We Love

  • 🚀 Great language application
  • 🚀 Fantastic app to learn hiragana characters
  • 👍 Helpful and useful for beginners
  • 👍 Well-balanced mix of lessons

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Lacks explanations for some concepts
  • 🐛 Confusing wording in explanations
  • 🐛 Not enough example sentences
Duolingo: Language Lessons#3

Duolingo: Language Lessons by Duolingo

Languages, Math, Music & Chess
Worth Considering
📚 Education
4.7😊(5.4M ratings)
FreeAdsIn-App Purchases
#1in Education
Duolingo: Language Lessons screenshot 1
Duolingo: Language Lessons screenshot 2
Duolingo: Language Lessons screenshot 3
Duolingo: Language Lessons screenshot 4
Duolingo: Language Lessons screenshot 5

Learn languages, math, music, and chess through fun, bite-sized lessons. Build vocabulary, grammar, and real-world skills with a science-based methodology. Track progress and stay motivated with a global community.

What We Love

  • 🤩 Fun and entertaining learning experience
  • 🎉 Motivating streak and league features
  • 🎨 Cute and engaging animations
  • 📚 Effective for learning vocabulary and basics

Room to Improve

  • 🤖 Issues with voice recognition and pronunciation feedback
  • 🤑 Aggressive monetization tactics and paywall for key features
  • 🤯 Frustrating heart/health system that penalizes mistakes

More Japanese Learning apps to explore

4
Teuida: Learn Languages
Teuida: Learn Languages
Teuida: Learn Languages
Easy Spanish, Japanese, Korean
Free

Learn to speak Korean, Japanese, and Spanish through interactive, first-person POV scenarios. Practice essential expressions and gain confidence with AI-powered pronunciation feedback. Focus on speaking from day one with short, effective lessons.

First-person POV speaking practiceReal-life scenario simulationsAI pronunciation analysis
📚 Education
(57K)
free with in-app purchases
5
renshuu - Japanese learning
renshuu - Japanese learning
renshuu - Japanese learning
Pick up words, kanji, and more
Free

Learn Japanese vocabulary, kanji, and grammar through engaging quizzes and games. Offers personalized learning paths, rich study materials with audio and images, and a unique quiz system designed for the Japanese language. Enjoy a fun, ad-free experience with a supportive community.

Personalized learning pathsExtensive vocabulary and kanji databaseGrammar explanations and quizzes
📚 Education
(1.3K)
free with in-app purchases
6
LingoDeer - Learn Languages
LingoDeer - Learn Languages
LingoDeer - Learn Languages
Learn Japanese,Korean,Spanish
Free

This app offers structured language lessons created by teachers, making learning effective and easy. It covers 20 languages, from beginner alphabets to conversational fluency, with interactive exercises and native speaker audio.

Short, interactive lessonsClear learning pathGrammar tips and notes
📚 Education
(28K)
subscription
7
Bunpo: Language Learning
Bunpo: Language Learning
Bunpo: Language Learning
Learn Japanese,Korean,Spanish
Free

Master multiple languages with this comprehensive learning app. It offers detailed grammar explanations, vocabulary building, and smart review systems to help you progress from beginner to advanced levels. Learn Japanese, Korean, Spanish, French, German, and Chinese with interactive exercises and personalized study plans.

Learn 6 languagesMaster grammar with detailed explanationsBuild vocabulary and kanji knowledge
📚 Education
(18K)
free with in-app purchases
8
Kanji Study - Learn Japanese!
Kanji Study - Learn Japanese!
Kanji Study - Learn Japanese!
Learn via vocab, JLPT N5–N1
Free

This app teaches Japanese kanji by focusing on vocabulary words. It offers writing practice with stroke detection and spaced repetition reviews for effective memorization. Learn kanji readings naturally through over 5,000 JLPT-aligned words.

Vocabulary-first kanji learningWriting lessons with stroke detectionSpaced repetition reviews
📚 Education
(7K)
free with in-app purchases
9
Learn Japanese - Phrasebook
Learn Japanese - Phrasebook
Learn Japanese - Phrasebook
Learn, Speak Japanese Language
Free

Learn to speak and write Japanese effectively with this easy-to-use phrasebook app. It offers essential translated phrases, native speaker audio, and vocabulary to help you communicate with locals and navigate Japan. Start with free content and unlock more for comprehensive learning.

Essential Japanese phrasesNative speaker audioOffline learning
✈️ Travel
(2K)
free with in-app purchases
10
Kana - Hiragana and Katakana
Kana - Hiragana and Katakana
Kana - Hiragana and Katakana
Learn Japanese • quiz & draw
Free

Master Japanese Hiragana and Katakana with this app. It offers customizable tables, drawing practice, and various quiz modes including handwriting recognition. Track your learning progress and set study reminders to effectively learn the Japanese alphabets.

Customizable Kana tablesDrawing practiceMultiple quiz modes
📚 Education
(13K)
ad-supported
11
iago - Learn Japanese
iago - Learn Japanese
iago - Learn Japanese
Speak Japanese from day one
Free

Embark on an adventure through Japan to learn conversational Japanese. This visual novel game uses real-world scenarios and dynamic conversations to teach grammar and phrases. Get pronunciation feedback and practice essential Japanese scripts.

Visual novel stories with charactersDynamic, personalized conversationsCurriculum design from various situations
📚 Education
(1.8K)
free with in-app purchases
12
Busuu: Language Learning App
Busuu: Language Learning App
Busuu: Language Learning App
Learn Spanish, French, English
Free

Learn new languages through bite-sized lessons and interactive exercises. Connect with native speakers for feedback and practice, and track your progress with personalized study plans and official certificates.

Learn up to 14 languagesConnect with native speakersExpert-designed courses
📚 Education
(100K)
free with in-app purchases
13
Todaii: Learn Japanese N5-N1
Todaii: Learn Japanese N5-N1
Todaii: Learn Japanese N5-N1
Read Japanese news daily N5-N1
Free

Practice Japanese reading, listening, and speaking with daily news articles tailored to your JLPT level. Features AI conversation practice, pronunciation scoring, and mock tests for exam success.

Daily news articles for N5-N1 levelsAI conversation practice with feedbackAI pronunciation scoring
📚 Education
(1.5K)
free with in-app purchases
14
Japanese
Japanese
Japanese
More than a dictionary
Free

This comprehensive language learning tool offers an extensive dictionary with over 175,000 entries and 58,000 example sentences. It includes advanced features like handwriting recognition, conjugation search, and a text reader, alongside flashcard study tools and JLPT-specific lists. Learn Japanese offline with this pocket-sized study companion.

Extensive dictionary with 175,000+ entries58,000+ example sentencesHandwriting recognition for kanji/kana
🔍 Reference
(3.6K)
paid
15
Babbel - Language Learning
Babbel - Language Learning
Babbel - Language Learning
Speak Spanish, French & more
Free

Master a new language with expert-designed, bite-sized lessons that fit your schedule. Build conversational confidence quickly through interactive practice and a smart review system. Learn Spanish, French, German, and more for travel, work, or fun.

Bite-sized lessonsExpert-built coursesInteractive conversation practice
📚 Education
(750K)
subscription
16
Easy Japanese for Beginners
Easy Japanese for Beginners
Easy Japanese for Beginners
Learn japanese with NHK
Free

Master Japanese with engaging audio-drama style lessons. This app offers a structured approach to learning basic grammar and essential expressions, perfect for beginners. It includes comprehensive writing practice for Hiragana and Katakana, along with vocabulary and pronunciation guides.

Audio-drama style lessonsHiragana and Katakana writing practiceVocabulary and grammar lessons
📚 Education
(230)
free
17
Umi - Language Learning
Umi - Language Learning
Umi - Language Learning
Japanese Korean Spanish French
Free

Master a new language through engaging TV clips, from beginner to fluent in a year. This app offers a fun, scientifically backed immersion method with vocabulary, listening, and reading practice. Learn from native speakers in real-life contexts without textbooks or lectures.

Learn languages from 0 to fluencyWatch TV clips for learningVocabulary, listening, and reading practice
📚 Education
(2.3K)
free with in-app purchases
18
Rosetta Stone Classic (2024)
Rosetta Stone Classic (2024)
Rosetta Stone Classic (2024)
Spanish, Korean, French & More
Free

Master a new language through an immersive, intuitive method that focuses on speaking with confidence. Personalized plans and instant pronunciation feedback help you learn effectively. Download lessons for offline access and sync your progress across devices.

Personalized language learning planIntuitive immersion methodInstant pronunciation feedback
📚 Education
(238K)
subscription
19
Learn Japanese - Drops
Learn Japanese - Drops
Learn Japanese - Drops
Japanese Vocab Learning Games
Free

Learn Japanese vocabulary through engaging, visually-driven mini-games. Daily five-minute lessons make learning addictive and effective, focusing on practical words and essential scripts like Kanji and Kana. Build a consistent learning habit with this fun, illustrated approach.

Illustrated vocabulary learningDaily 5-minute lessonsQuick swipe and tap games
📚 Education
(2K)
freemium
20
Japanese Games: Infinite
Japanese Games: Infinite
Japanese Games: Infinite
Learn vocabulary the fun way!
Free

Master Japanese vocabulary through engaging, space-themed games. This app uses a multi-sensory approach with text, audio, and visuals to aid memorization. It supports all Japanese writing systems and offers offline learning with customizable review challenges.

Hundreds of Japanese vocabulary wordsMulti-sensory learning (audio, text, visual)Supports romaji, hiragana, katakana, kanji
📚 Education
(2.4K)
free with in-app purchases

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FAQ about Japanese Learning

What are the best japanese learning apps for iPhone?
MARU: Learn Japanese Hiragana tops our japanese learning apps ranking as of May 2026, with a 4.9-star average from 18K App Store ratings, and it's free to download.
Yes — 20 of the top japanese learning apps we rank are free to download, including MARU: Learn Japanese Hiragana and Japanese!! Learn Kana & Kanji.
MARU: Learn Japanese Hiragana shows ads and offers in-app purchases, according to its App Store listing as of May 2026.
We track 237+ japanese learning apps on the iOS App Store as of May 2026, ranked by rating, recency, and analysis of real user reviews.
This app helps beginners learn Japanese Hiragana and Katakana. It focuses on making the learning process enjoyable and effective through various practice methods, authentic audio, and vocabulary building exercises.
The app is free to use with minimal ads. Users can choose to upgrade to a Pro Version through a one-time purchase for an ad-free experience, offline practice, writing and typing exercises, and access to more vocabulary words.

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