Best Japanese Learning Apps

250+ iOS apps & games curated and reviewed

4.4 avg rating
20 free apps & games
Updated October 2026

Learn Japanese!! Kana & Kanji is the household name in japanese learning apps, but it's far from the only option. We track 250+ alternatives and competitors on iOS — many free, many higher-rated than you'd expect.

Compare top Japanese Learning Apps (October 2026)

#AppPriceRatingAdsIn-App PurchasesUpdated
1Learn Japanese!! Kana & KanjiLearn Japanese!! Kana & KanjiFree4.8★ (23K)NoYesNov 2026
2Learn Japanese - PhrasebookLearn Japanese - PhrasebookFree4.7★ (2K)NoYesNov 2026
3Kanji Study - Learn Japanese!Kanji Study - Learn Japanese!Free4.7★ (7.3K)NoYesNov 2026
4renshuu - Japanese learningrenshuu - Japanese learningFree4.9★ (1.5K)NoYesNov 2026
5JapaneseJapaneseFree4.8★ (3.6K)NoNoNov 2026
6Chicken Scream ChallengeChicken Scream ChallengeFree2.3★ (32)YesYesOct 2026
7Learn Japanese - DropsLearn Japanese - DropsFree4.8★ (2K)NoYesNov 2026
8Teuida: Learn LanguagesTeuida: Learn LanguagesFree4.9★ (59K)YesYesNov 2026

Top Picks for Japanese Learning Apps

Learn Japanese!! Kana & Kanji#1

Learn Japanese!! Kana & Kanji by Luli Languages LLC

Hiragana, Katakana & Grammar
Editor's Choice
📚 Education
4.8😊(23K ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
Learn Japanese!! Kana & Kanji screenshot 1
Learn Japanese!! Kana & Kanji screenshot 2
Learn Japanese!! Kana & Kanji screenshot 3
Learn Japanese!! Kana & Kanji screenshot 4
Learn Japanese!! Kana & Kanji screenshot 5

Master Japanese from basic characters to reading kanji and forming sentences. This app offers a structured, offline learning path for beginners, covering hiragana, katakana, vocabulary, grammar, and conjugation up to N5 level.

What We Love

  • 🚀 Great language application
  • 🚀 Fantastic app to learn hiragana characters
  • 👍 Helpful and useful for beginners
  • 👍 Well-balanced mix of lessons
  • 👍 Teaches writing and pronunciation
  • 👍 Tracks progress and focuses on weak areas
  • 👍 Engrossing and makes learning enjoyable
  • 👍 Worth the price for the content provided

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Lacks explanations for some concepts
  • 🐛 Confusing wording in explanations
  • 🐛 Not enough example sentences
  • 🐛 Finicky writing recognition
  • 🐛 Crashes on certain devices
  • 💰 Requires payment to unlock full content
Learn Japanese - Phrasebook#2

Learn Japanese - Phrasebook by Webron Software LTD

Learn, Speak Japanese Language
Strong Contender
✈️ Travel
4.7😊(2K ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
Learn Japanese - Phrasebook screenshot 1
Learn Japanese - Phrasebook screenshot 2
Learn Japanese - Phrasebook screenshot 3
Learn Japanese - Phrasebook screenshot 4

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.

What We Love

  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 🎉 Helpful for learning basic Japanese
  • 🔊 Clear audio pronunciation
  • 💪 Useful for travelers
  • 🤩 Great app overall

Room to Improve

  • 💰 Paid features required for more content
  • 🤔 Some translations/romanizations are inaccurate
  • 🙄 Lack of grammar/cultural explanations
  • 📱 Compatibility issues with app updates
Kanji Study - Learn Japanese!#3

Kanji Study - Learn Japanese! by Luli Languages LLC

Learn via vocab, JLPT N5–N1
Worth Considering
📚 Education
4.7😊(7.3K ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
Kanji Study - Learn Japanese! screenshot 1
Kanji Study - Learn Japanese! screenshot 2
Kanji Study - Learn Japanese! screenshot 3
Kanji Study - Learn Japanese! screenshot 4
Kanji Study - Learn Japanese! screenshot 5

Master Japanese kanji through vocabulary words rather than rote memorization. Features include writing lessons with stroke detection, spaced repetition reviews, and full JLPT level coverage. Learn readings naturally, one word at a time, with audio pronunciation and offline access.

What We Love

  • 🚀 Great app for learning kanji
  • 👍 Effective review system
  • 💡 Organized by JLPT levels
  • 👍 Affordable one-time purchase
  • 👍 Helps with writing practice and muscle memory

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Sensitive kanji recognition, sometimes doesn't accept correct strokes
  • 🐛 Review sessions can get very long and tedious
  • 🐛 Inconsistent kanji definitions and translations
  • 🐛 Lack of syncing progress across devices

More Japanese Learning Apps apps to explore

FAQ about Japanese Learning Apps

What are the best japanese learning apps for iPhone?
Learn Japanese!! Kana & Kanji tops our japanese learning apps ranking as of October 2026, with a 4.8-star average from 23K App Store ratings, and it's free to download.
Yes — 20 of the top japanese learning apps we rank are free to download, including Learn Japanese!! Kana & Kanji and Learn Japanese - Phrasebook.
Learn Japanese!! Kana & Kanji has no ads and offers in-app purchases, according to its App Store listing as of October 2026.
We track 250+ japanese learning apps on the iOS App Store as of October 2026, ranked by rating, recency, and analysis of real user reviews.