7 Japanese Learning Apps for Kana, Kanji, Grammar, and Speaking

Yes. Japanese appeared in Duolingo's official course selector when checked on August 8, 2026. The course also has dedicated practice for hiragana, katakana, and kanji.

No single app below does every Japanese job equally well. A practical setup gives each resource one responsibility: a core course, character review, grammar reference, native audio, or speaking. Start with two tools, not seven.

1. Duolingo

Duolingo Japanese is useful for short daily lessons and early exposure to all three writing systems. Its character tools make it a reasonable free starting point if maintaining a habit is your first problem.

The course is not a complete guide to Japanese politeness, natural conversation, or pronunciation. Read each answer aloud, then make one new sentence without the word bank.

2. LingoDeer

LingoDeer Japanese combines sequenced lessons with grammar notes and native-speaker audio. It suits beginners who want explanations alongside compact exercises rather than learning mainly through trial and error.

Most course access requires payment. Try the available material before subscribing, and still schedule open listening and speaking outside its guided tasks.

3. WaniKani

WaniKani is a focused kanji and vocabulary system built around lessons, mnemonics, and scheduled reviews. Choose it when recognizing kanji readings is the bottleneck that stops you from reading.

It is deliberately narrow. It does not replace kana practice, grammar, listening, or conversation, and its review queue can become demanding if you add lessons too quickly.

4. Bunpro

Bunpro organizes Japanese grammar by level, with explanations, example sentences, and review. Its current materials cover grammar from beginner through advanced JLPT bands, so it can help you diagnose a recurring particle or sentence-pattern error.

Grammar recognition is not spontaneous use. After each review, say one personal example and check disputed nuance with a teacher or another trusted reference.

5. JapanesePod101

JapanesePod101 offers a large library of audio and video lessons, dialogue breakdowns, notes, and level pathways. Pick one pathway if you want short explanations and repeated native dialogue.

The catalogue is easy to browse and easy to scatter across. Follow one sequence, and confirm which tools are included in the current subscription before paying.

6. NHK Easy Japanese

NHK World's Easy Japanese lessons provide free situational lessons with audio and cultural context. They are a useful secondary source when you want a small amount of practical Japanese from a public broadcaster.

The lesson set is finite and is not an adaptive course. Shadow one short exchange, then reuse its pattern with a different place, time, or request.

7. ChickyTutor

ChickyTutor Japanese practice can turn checked phrases into a private roleplay. It is most useful after a structured lesson: bring five words, request one scene, and repeat one repaired answer before the scene changes.

It is not a Japanese curriculum, native pronunciation model, or authority on pitch accent, kanji readings, politeness, or natural register. Verify important language against native audio or with a proficient speaker.

Run an eight-turn beginner station roleplay in polite Japanese. Start after I say "すみません、東京駅はどこですか。" Use Japanese script first and do not add romaji unless I ask. Correct one sentence-level mistake, make me repeat the repaired sentence, then change the platform or departure time.

A two-tool starting plan

Choose Duolingo or LingoDeer as your core. Add WaniKani only if kanji review is the immediate constraint, or JapanesePod101/NHK if listening is weaker. End the week with the station exchange in ChickyTutor or with a speaker. Keep the tool that fixes a measured gap; drop the one that only adds notifications.