Japanese · App comparison · 2026
Best apps to learn Japanese (2026)
Japanese is the deep end: three writing systems (hiragana, katakana, kanji) and a grammar unlike anything in Europe — which is exactly why app choice matters more here than for any other language.
Short answer: the best app to learn Japanese depends on your goal. For real-life and relocation Japanese, Language Lab is purpose-built; Babbel is the best structured course, Duolingo the best free habit-builder, and Pimsleur the best for speaking. The smart move is to pair a conversation app with a vocabulary tool like Anki.
This comparison is our own assessment, written for people learning Japanese for real life abroad. Other apps’ features and pricing change often — please check each app directly before you decide. All product names belong to their respective owners.
The apps to learn Japanese, at a glance
| App | Best for | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Language Lab | Real-life & relocation conversation | Free to start |
| Babbel | Structured, practical courses | Subscription |
| Duolingo | Free daily habit & basics | Free + paid tier |
| Busuu | Structured path + native feedback | Free + paid tier |
| Pimsleur | Audio speaking & pronunciation | Subscription |
| Memrise | Native-speaker video + AI chat | Free + paid tier |
| Anki | Vocabulary retention (flashcards) | Free (paid on iOS) |
| WaniKani | Kanji & vocabulary (Japanese only) | Free levels + paid |
The hard part of learning Japanese
No single app covers Japanese well. You almost always need a dedicated kanji/vocabulary SRS tool (Anki or WaniKani) alongside a conversation app — the scripts and the speaking are two separate battles.
The apps, reviewed for Japanese
1. Language Lab
Built for the reason many people learn Japanese at all — moving to a Japanese-speaking country. It teaches the real-life and bureaucratic conversations most apps skip and lets you rehearse them out loud with Sonia, a live AI voice tutor. Free to start; newer and pre-launch, but uniquely relocation-focused.
2. Babbel
The reliable structured course for Japanese: short, practical, linguist-designed lessons that build steadily. The best paid all-rounder if you want a clear path rather than a game.
3. Duolingo
One of the best-known free ways to build a daily Japanese habit and foundational vocabulary. Its style is game-like and focused on the basics, so in our view it works best as a warm-up alongside real speaking practice.
4. Busuu
A structured Japanese course with a nice extra: native speakers can review your writing and speaking. A good option if you want feedback alongside lessons.
5. Pimsleur
Audio-first Japanese lessons that focus on speaking and pronunciation, hands-free. More geared to listening and speaking than reading — a good fit for practising on the go.
6. Memrise
Its edge for Japanese is thousands of short clips of real native speakers plus an AI chat partner — great for training your ear to how Japanese is actually spoken.
7. Anki
The free spaced-repetition flashcard tool serious learners use to actually retain Japanese vocabulary. A tool, not a course — pair it with one of the above.
8. WaniKani
A Japanese-specific standout: it teaches kanji and vocabulary through a structured spaced-repetition system with mnemonics. Not a conversation app, but the most efficient way to climb the kanji mountain — pair it with a speaking tool.
Learning Japanese because you're moving to Japan and need both the scripts and real spoken Japanese, not just phrases?
Language Lab teaches the Japanese of real life — start free and rehearse it out loud.
Start learning Japanese free