WaniKani

Free + paid optionsKana & Kanjiwanikani.com

Best for: Structured kanji learning

Overview

Kanji and vocabulary course built on radicals, mnemonics and spaced repetition, organised into levels. The first levels are free; the rest needs a subscription.

Strengths

  • Clear order from radicals up
  • Reviews are scheduled for you

Drawbacks

  • Fixed pace, can't skip ahead
  • Expensive next to free options like Anki decks

Alternatives to WaniKani

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Daily kanji practice on your phone
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Free + paid options

Android app for learning kanji, with stroke-order writing practice, flashcards, multiple-choice quizzes and spaced repetition, plus kanji and word search. The beginner kanji, radicals and kana are free with no ads; a one-time purchase unlocks the remaining kanji and custom study sets.

Android
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Tofugu for Hiragana

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Free step-by-step guide to learning hiragana with picture mnemonics and practice suggestions.

Tofugu for Katakana

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Free mnemonic-based guide to katakana, the follow-up to the Tofugu hiragana guide.