Japanese learners
The best app to learn Japanese
Lingden, Duolingo, Babbel, Memrise, and Anki — compared specifically for Japanese learners. We make one of them, but we'll tell you when each alternative is the better pick.
What matters specifically for Japanese
Japanese kanji can have multiple readings (on'yomi vs kun'yomi) that aren't obvious from spelling. IPA + furigana support is essential.
The right app for Japanese isn't just the most popular one — it's the one that handles Japanese-specific quirks well. Below: which app gets each angle right.
The ranking
1. Lingden — for pronunciation-first learners
Every Japanese word has IPA pronunciation, per-word audio, and shows up in a real sentence with English translation + word-by-word breakdowns. Curated A1–B2 deck. Free to start with no ads.
Best for: learners who want to actually speak Japanese understandably, not just translate single words.
Try Lingden free →2. Anki — for DIY power users
Free SRS engine, unlimited customization, no curated Japanese content. You build your own deck from textbooks, films, or articles.
Best for: Japanese learners studying a specific book or field-specific vocabulary that no curated deck covers.
Compare Lingden vs Anki →3. Babbel — for lesson-style learners
Structured 15-minute Japanese lessons with grammar instruction + dialogues. No IPA. No real spaced repetition. Most expensive of the mainstream apps.
Best for: learners who prefer guided lessons over flexible flashcard-style review.
Compare Lingden vs Babbel →4. Memrise — for audio-first learners
Strong native-speaker audio on every Japanese card, but no IPA and variable content quality across decks. Heavy ads on the free tier.
Best for: ear-training without caring about IPA-level pronunciation analysis.
Compare Lingden vs Memrise →5. Duolingo — for casual / beginner habits
Best free tier of any Japanese app. Single-word and simple-phrase drilling. Gamification builds habit but doesn't scale past A2 for most learners.
Best for: Japanese beginners building a daily habit before graduating to a more serious app.
Compare Lingden vs Duolingo →The 60-second test
Install two of these apps. Use each for one week. The app you actually open every day — that's your winner. There's no algorithmic test that beats real friction. Lingden is free to try with no card.
Start learning Japanese today
Free forever for the basics. No ads. No commitment.
Try Lingden free