WaniKani

Mnemonic-driven SRS that takes you through 2,000 kanji and 6,000 words in order.

AppsToolsPaidBeginnerIntermediateA1–B2

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What it actually is

Radicals build into kanji which build into vocabulary, all on a spaced-repetition schedule you cannot rush — that enforced pacing is exactly why it works for people who bounce off self-managed Anki decks. Levels 1–3 are free; after that it is $9/month, $89/year or $299 lifetime (lifetime goes on sale most Decembers). Downsides: you cannot skip kanji you already know, the pace is fixed at roughly 1.5 years to finish, and it teaches readings rather than how to use the words in sentences.

Who it suits

Self-studying adults who want kanji handled for them: a fixed order, daily reviews and mnemonics, with no deck-building or scheduling decisions. It suits people who have tried Anki, stalled, and do better when a system tells them what to do each day.

Who should skip it

Anyone who already reads a few hundred kanji, since paying doesn't let you skip ahead, and anyone short on daily time, because missed days turn into a large review pile. Readers who want vocabulary drawn from what they actually read will get more from a frequency-based deck.

What it costs

Levels 1-3 are free (about 100 kanji and 200 words). Premium is USD 9.00 a month, USD 89.00 a year or USD 299.00 once for lifetime; tax or VAT may be added at checkout, and all three unlock the same content.

Checked 29 Sept 2026 on the official pricing page. Prices change and can differ by country.

How it compares

  • jpdb.io

    Pick jpdb instead if you want vocabulary ordered by the anime, novels or games you plan to consume, and kanji learned through those words.

  • Anki

    Pick Anki with a premade deck instead if you want free kanji study and are happy to manage your own settings and pace.

  • Renshuu

    Pick Renshuu instead if you want kanji, vocabulary and grammar drills in one free app that lets you choose what to study.

  • MaruMori

    Pick MaruMori instead if you want kanji study tied to grammar lessons and sentences in one structured path.

What it covers

  • Reading
  • Vocabulary

Listed for

Official links

Similar tools

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  • Kanji Study (Chase Colburn)

    The most complete Android kanji app: custom sets, writing practice, offline.

  • Satori Reader

    Graded Japanese stories with native audio and a note on every tricky sentence.

  • MaruMori

    All-in-one gamified path covering grammar, kanji, vocabulary and reading in one SRS.

  • Renshuu

    Remarkably generous free study platform with schedules built around your textbook.

  • Ringotan

    SRS app that drills kanji handwriting stroke by stroke, on your phone.

Sources

Prices and features above come from these pages, read on 29 Sept 2026. The judgements are ours.